1. An AV data transmission apparatus including two or more output channels and transmitting encrypted AV data to a plurality of AV data reception apparatuses, each AV reception apparatus of the plurality of AV reception apparatuses corresponding to one output channel of said two or more output channels, said AV data transmission apparatus comprising:
an encryption device encrypting AV data using an encryption key;
an AV data transmission device transmitting the encrypted AV data to the plurality of AV data reception apparatuses through each output channel of said two or more output channels;
an encryption key switching device selecting at least one output channel of said two or more output channels, and switching an encryption key used for encrypting the AV data to be transmitted through said selected at least one output channel;
an output suspension device selecting, when a first AV data reception apparatus, of the plurality of AV reception apparatuses, which cannot decrypt encrypted AV data encrypted using a first encryption key switched to by said encryption key switching device is present, a first output channel, of said two or more output channels, corresponding to the first AV data reception apparatus, and suspending an output of the encrypted AV data transmitted through said selected first output channel; and
a control device causing (i) said output suspension device to suspend the output of the encrypted AV data transmitted through said selected first output channel, and (ii) said encryption key switching device to switch the first encryption key, used for encrypting the AV data for which the output through said first output channel is suspended, to a second encryption key and then to transmit AV data encrypted using the second encryption key through at least said first output channel of said two or more output channels.
2. The AV data transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control device (i) causes said output suspension device to suspend the output through said first output channel, and then (ii) disconnects from the first AV data reception apparatus which corresponds to said first output channel.
3. The AV data transmission apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a function verification device verifying whether or not the plurality of AV data reception apparatuses detects that the encryption key has been switched,
wherein said control device causes said output suspension device to not suspend the output of the encrypted AV data, which has been encrypted using the first encryption key, through a second output channel, of said two or more channels, which corresponds to a second AV data reception apparatus, of the plurality of AV apparatuses, for which said function verification device verifies that the first encryption key has been switched.
4. An AV data transmission method for transmitting, through two or more output channels, encrypted AV data to a plurality of AV data reception apparatuses, each AV reception apparatus of the plurality of AV reception apparatuses corresponding to one output channel of the two or more output channels, said AV data transmission method comprising:
encrypting AV data using an encryption key;
transmitting the encrypted AV data to the plurality of AV data reception apparatuses through each output channel of the two or more output channels;
switching, by selecting at least one output channel of the two or more output channels, an encryption key used for encrypting the AV data to be transmitted through the selected at least one output channel;
suspending, by selecting, when a first AV data reception apparatus, of the plurality of AV reception apparatuses, which cannot decrypt encrypted AV data encrypted using a first encryption key switched to by said switching is present, a first output channel, of the two or more output channels, corresponding to the first AV data reception apparatus, an output of the encrypted AV data transmitted through the selected first output channel; and
causing (i) said suspending to suspend the output of the encrypted AV data transmitted through the selected first output channel, and (ii) said switching to switch the first encryption key, used for encrypting the AV data for which the output through the first output channel is suspended, to a second encryption key and then to transmit AV data encrypted using the second encryption key through at least the first output channel of the two or more output channels.
5. The AV data transmission apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the AV data encrypted using the second encryption key and to be transmitted through said first output channel and the AV data encrypted using the first encryption key and to be transmitted through said second output channel are the same AV data.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for controlling a battery-powered vehicle having steerable wheels and a power steering system, a motor electrically coupled to the battery for powering vehicle traction wheels and a controllable vehicle suspension system for vertically adjusting the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
determining vehicle position relative to a stationary element of an electrical connector for a utility power grid;
determining a position of a second element of the electrical connector supported on the vehicle;
determining relative positions of the stationary element and the second connector element using x-axis, y-axis and z-axis coordinates;
using the motor to incrementally advance the position of the vehicle in an x-axis direction on a heading toward the stationary connector element;
using the power steering system to guide the vehicle toward the stationary connector element as vehicle y-axis position adjustments are made to align the connector elements; and
using the vehicle controllable suspension system to adjust the vehicle incrementally in a z-axis direction as vehicle position adjustments are made to align the connector elements;
the vehicle thereby being maneuvered with a heading in an auto-seek mode to mechanically connect the connector elements.
2. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein vehicle y-axis position adjustments are made by using differences in wheel rotation of steerable vehicle wheels in a unit of time.
3. A control system for a battery-powered vehicle having steerable wheels and a power steering system, a motor electrically coupled to the battery for powering vehicle traction wheels and an adjustable vehicle suspension system, the control system comprising:
an electrical connector comprising first and second electrical connector parts, one part being mounted on a stationary structure and connected electrically to a power grid, the second part being mounted on the vehicle;
the position of the one connector part relative to the other being identified by target x, y and z axes;
a first vehicle position signal and a second vehicle position signal being exchanged by the connector parts; and
a vehicle system controller for receiving the vehicle position signals;
the controller being configured to respond to the position signals to compute a distance in an x-axis direction, a y-axis direction and a z-axis direction between the first and second electrical connector parts, the x, y and z axes defining the vehicle position in a coordinate reference frame;
the motor being activated by the controller to incrementally reduce to zero an error between an actual x-axis vehicle position and a target x-axis vehicle position;
the power steering system being activated by the controller to incrementally reduce to zero an error between an actual y-axis vehicle position and a target y-axis position;
the vehicle suspension system being activated by the controller to incrementally reduce to zero an error between an actual z-axis vehicle position and a target z-axis vehicle position;
the vehicle thereby being maneuvered along a line of travel with a heading that will effect a mechanical coupling of the connector parts and completion of a battery charging circuit.
4. The control system set forth in claim 3 wherein the vehicle position signals are short-range radio frequency signals.
5. The control system set forth in claim 3 wherein the vehicle position signals are optical signals.
6. The control system set forth in claim 3 wherein the position signals are retro-reflective signals.
7. The control system set forth in claim 3 wherein the stationary structure is a vehicle garage wall, the vehicle being maneuvered along a line of travel that allows the connector parts to be coupled as the vehicle moves under battery and motor power following a driving event that partially depletes battery charge.
8. A method for controlling a battery-powered vehicle having a power steering system and a motor electrically coupled to the battery for powering vehicle traction wheels, the method comprising the steps of:
determining vehicle position relative to a stationary element of an electrical connection for a utility power grid;
determining a position of a second element of the electrical connection supported on the vehicle;
the motor being adapted to incrementally advance the position of the vehicle in an x-axis coordinate direction on a heading toward the stationary connector element to align the connector elements;
the power steering system being adapted to guide the vehicle in a y-axis coordinate direction toward the stationary connection element as vehicle y-axis position adjustments are made to align the connection elements;
a vehicle suspension being adapted to adjust the vehicle vertically in a z-axis coordinate direction to align the connector elements; and
determining relative positions of the stationary element and the second connection element using at least two of the x-axis, y-axis and z-axis coordinates;
the vehicle thereby being maneuvered with a heading in an auto-seek mode to mechanically connect the connector elements.
9. The method set forth in claim 3 wherein vehicle y-axis position adjustments are made by using differences in wheel rotation of steerable vehicle wheels in a unit of time.