The Automotive Multimedia Interface Collaboration (AMI-C) has announced the release of the first of several specifications it is developing, which are collectively intended to help create a standardized platform for in-vehicle computing and communications functions and devices.

The spec released this week, called AMI-C Release 2, is the first of what the group says will be “a complete set of foundational specifications for building a common, in-vehicle, multimedia architecture,” and which will be completed between now and April 2003. The specifications will define “a common language, common physical interfaces and common electrical interfaces to allow for interoperability among telematics devices and applications,” the group said.

Auto manufacturers who are backing the initiative include Fiat, Ford, GM, Honda, Peugeot, Renault, Toyota, and Nissan.

Three documents -- AMI-C Use Cases, AMI-C System Requirements, and AMI-C Release 2 architecture overview -- are now available for public download, here.

The organization hopes to enable automotive manufacturers and their suppliers to achieve consensus on common core requirements for mobile information and entertainment systems. The benefit of this would be so that manufacturers can benefit from current developments in mobile information and entertainment systems, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction and safety, as well as accelerate development of mobile information and entertainment systems while improving their overall quality.

AMI-C claims its architecture and specifications will “significantly speed up product development cycles, enabling carmakers to [much more rapidly] introduce new consumer products and services, such as hands-free, voice-activated cell phones and entertainment applications.” Additionally, because the specifications encourage the manufacturing of components with compatible interfaces, the specs are expected to grow the telematics marketplace significantly, the group said.

“Member carmakers are now able to begin using these common specifications in their vehicle development programs,” said AMI-C president Dave Acton. “This is a significant accomplishment because of the challenges inherent in reaching agreement among such a broad base of carmakers, automotive suppliers, technology companies and other standards bodies.”

AMI-C architecture “Host” devices make use of a Java runtime environment to provide a platform-independent application execution environment. In addition to using Java, the standard specifies the Open Services Gateway Initiative (OSGi) as part of the application environment.

 
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