Technical requirements for the use of the WAP browser and BMW ASSIST online services are:
The WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) browser is a part of the Online Car project. This application enables online access via the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) network from the vehicle to a BMW portal. The WAP browser provides information, services and e-mail. It can be operated when the vehicle is at a standstill and while driving.
This function is offered only in Germany as special equipment.
In order to be able to use BMW ASSIST, an application must be made to BMW to book the online services. The data stated in the application is passed on by BMW to a service provider who takes over the handling.
The navigation computer is located in the trunk on the left-hand side under a flap and is cooled by an integral fan. If there is insufficient cooling, excess temperature leads to deactivation. The deactivation is indicated with a signal on the CD Control Display.
The WAP browser application is software implemented in the navigation computer.
The navigation computer is a node in the MOST network.
The telephone module (transmit-receive unit) is connected to the MOST network for integrating the telephone in the communications network.
The video module contains a TV receiver and the switchover facility for the video, audio and RGB signals. The video module controls the control display via RGB lines. After ”ignition ON”, the video module automatically recognizes whether a navigation system is a component part of the overall system and responds accordingly. The video module is a self-diagnostic control module in the MOST network. The video-module outputs are monitored by fault memories.
The RGB lines (red/green/blue lines) serve to transmit the image signals from the video module to the CD Control Display.
The CVBS (Composite Video Burst Sync) signals are bus signals that contain all the image information.
Control Display Apart from a few exceptions, the control display incorporates the controls and displays for the vehicle electronics. The Control Display coordinates the function requests from the system and assigns them to the relevant functions.
If the special equipment WAP browser is fitted, the functions are started via the menu item ASSIST Online of the BMW ASSIST on the Control Display. The information is displayed on the Control Display.
Controller: The Control Display is operated by means of the Controller located at the front in the center armrest.
The instrument cluster can also display navigation system information in conjunction with the Control Display.
The K-CAN SYSTEM data bus is the data connection between the instrument cluster and the control modules in the chassis and suspension, drive and body sections. Information is exchanged with data telegrams.
The MOST (Media Oriented Systems Transport) bus links the audio, video and navigation systems. Information relating to function requests is transmitted to the relevant control modules by means of MOST bus messages.
The WAP browser communicates via the MOST bus with the telephone, which functions as a modem. The data is sent across the MOST interface to the Control Display and displayed on the shield.
The ”Online Services” application is operated from the Control Display. The information is displayed on the shield in three independent windows.
Button bar: The button bar (left) contains the buttons for navigation in the WAP browser. From top to bottom, the buttons for the functions are:
RGB shield: The RGB shield (center) contains the functions to be displayed by the browser (login information, content of the WAP services, etc.). An RGB object contains links, input fields, buttons for browsing in a card as well as softkeys. These elements are termed hot spots. Softkeys are only displayed in the lowest line of an RGB object if they are required.
Hot spots are:
Assistance window: In the assistance window, information from other applications is displayed, e.g. data of the navigation system. The WAP browser cannot access this window.
Cursor movements: The cursor is moved by turning the Controller according to a fixed pattern.
Only one hot spot is permitted in each line, except for the bottom line. As many hot spots as fit can be in the bottom line. This hot spot arrangement means that the cursor can be moved as if in a circle.
Browsing: When browsing, if the content of a card is too large for complete representation on the shield, a function of the browser (rendering engine) splits it into windows. The content of each window can be shown in full on the shield.
The browser reports to the Control Display the number of buttons displayed in the button bar and how many hot spots are in the RGB shield. For the Controller, the following movement options are used:
Message boxes are used to report information and instructions of the applications or of the portal, e.g.:
The messages can be displayed with
A message box covers the button bar and the RGB object. To return to the previous shield, the OK button in the message box must always be operated.
For certain applications (e.g. weather information), a virtual typewriter appears for text input (e.g. postal code).
The WAP browser can specify the valid characters for each application in advance. Only characters that apply to the current situation can be selected, i.e. for entry of a postal code (Germany) only the digits 0 to 9.
The users of the BMW ASSIST services
can be registered with the services using different procedures.
When the vehicle is handed over to the customer, there is a unique VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) but no user-specific configuration.
The VIN and, following submission of application, the corresponding name and telephone number of the customer, is stored in the portal.
1. The customer selects BMW ASSIST Online Services.
If no other users are defined at this point in time, only the user name of the customer is displayed in the user list.
2. The ”registration shield” is displayed.
3. The customer selects his/her user name and confirms it.
A mobile communications connection is set up (via GSM) to the BMW portal and the VIN is transferred. The portal looks for the customer entry in the database.
4. The telephone number provided by the customer on submission of application is now transferred from the portal to the vehicle.
5. The customer confirms the initial registration by selecting his/her telephone number.
Following confirmation, other information is displayed. This operation ensures that only the registered customer receives the password.
6. The customer closes down the WAP browser.
7. After a short time, the customer receives an SMS containing his/her password on the specified telephone.
8. The customer logs in again with the password and his/her user name with BMW ASSIST Online. After login, the customer can use the services.
Possible faults: During registration, faults can occur with
1. The customer applies for a password and user name. To do so, he/she specifies
When the data (incl. MSISDN) arrives at the portal, the password and user name are created automatically.
2. The customer is sent the password and user name as SMS text to the specified telephone number.
3. In addition, the customer is shown a first home page by the portal, informing him/her about the successful or unsuccessful registration.
If the registration was successful, this page enables the first ”login”.
4. The customer enters the password (the user name has already been entered by the portal).
5. The customer clicks the ”Send button” and sends the login data to the portal.
If the data is valid, an e-mail account is created. The e-mail account contains the first and last names of the customer and additional letters used to make his/her e-mail address unique. Example: hugh.ab.miller@bmw-assist.de
6. After the e-mail account has been created, the portal sends the customer a private home page.
This completes the registration process.
A customer can specify other users as secondary users of the BMW ASSIST online services for his/her vehicle in the following way:
1. Using an Internet PC, the customer goes to his/her personal home page on the BMW portal.
2. The customer creates a list of the secondary users he/she wishes to register.
In this list, a telephone number is stored against each user name. The services can be configured for each secondary user separately. The configuration can only be carried out by the customer.
3. The registration list in the vehicle is supplemented after entry of the secondary users. The initial registration of a secondary user then corresponds to that for initial registration of a customer.
Possible faults: For the registration of secondary users, the faults described for ”Initial configuration by customers in the vehicle” can occur.
1. The customer or secondary user selects the ASSIST online services in the display.
In the case of a registered customer or secondary user, the name is displayed for login.
2. The customer or secondary user selects his/her name.
On selection of a name, a password is requested.
3. The customer or secondary user uses the typewriter to enter his/her password.
4. The customer or secondary user confirms the password with ”OK”.
The password is checked in the portal. If the password is correct, the login is confirmed.
5. The home page is displayed.
If an incorrect password is entered, ”Login failed” is displayed. Following ”Next”, the login shield is displayed again.
If the customer or secondary user stored his/her password during a previous login, there is no need to enter the password. A message text points out the possibility to delete the password from the memory.
A login as guest is necessary if a vehicle is used by different persons who are not known in advance. This is case, for example, with company cars and rental cars, etc.
In order to be able to log in as a guest, the user must already be a customer of the online service with another vehicle. As a customer, the guest is registered in the portal and thus is shown a ”login shield”.
1. At login, the guest selects ”Guest” and confirms the attempt to log in.
2. After being requested to do so, the guest uses the typewriter to enter his/her user name and confirms this with ”OK”.
The Login shield is displayed and entry of the password requested.
3. The guest uses the typewriter to enter his/her password and confirms with ”OK”.
The portal checks whether the customer exists and whether the entered password matches the user name.
4. If the data matches up, the portal transfers the home page of the user or customer to the vehicle.
The user (e.g. in a rental car) can now use his/her customer profile, which is also available in his/her own vehicle.
If an incorrect password and/or user name is entered, this is indicated on the information shield and the login is canceled.
Following cancellation, the guest again sees the ”login shield”.
Possible faults: During registration, faults can occur with:
An update of the configuration is required in the following situations:
The customer informs the portal operator of the change that has occurred. The portal operator modifies the data record in the database accordingly.
1. If the customer no longer wishes to use the online services, the portal deletes the corresponding data record from the database. After deletion of the data, no customer is stored for this VIN.
2. If the customer has purchased a new vehicle and sold an old one, the portal deletes the existing link of the present VIN to the data record. Thereafter, the portal creates a new link of the present data record with the new VIN.
3. If the customer has purchased an additional new vehicle, the present data record with VIN and customer data is retained in the database. The customer places an order for BMW ASSIST online services for his/her new vehicle. The portal does not create a new data record, but rather a link of the new VIN to the existing data record.
4. If the customer has sold his/her vehicle, but still has other vehicles with BMW ASSIST online services, the existing data record is retained. Only the connection to the VIN of the of the sold vehicle is deleted.
The buyer of a BMW vehicle must place a new order in order to be able to use BMW ASSIST online services. The portal creates a new data record in the database. This data record contains the VIN, the name of the customer and his/her telephone number.
The buyer of a BMW vehicle who registers with the portal for the first time must place a new order.
A BMW ASSIST customer who attempts to use the online services in another vehicle will be refused access because the registered VIN of the customer does not match that of the vehicle.
Make changes to the configuration with the ”Settings” button on the left-hand button bar.
These actions can also be carried out after the customer has logged out.
The actions are only performed locally in the vehicle; no connection to the portal is set up.
If the vehicle is sold, these functions should always be applied.
The browser application can be closed by the following actions:
The [Delete memory] and [Default settings] functions can be grouped under the ”Standard” button.
The application of these functions is helpful in the case of problems with the browser or reloading software on the navigation computer.