The W3C Vehicle Information API defines an Open Web Platform standard for HTML5/JavaScript application developers enabling Web connectivity through in-vehicle infotainment systems and vehicle data access protocols. This API can also be leveraged by HTML5/JavaScript applications running on mobile devices that access the data resources of a connected passenger vehicle.

This vehicle data API specification does not dictate or describe the access protocol or transport method used for the data connection. Data may come from numerous sources including OBD-II, CAN, LIN, etc. Bluetooth, WiFi, or cloud connections are all possible.

The key purpose of this specification is to promote an API enabling application development in a consistent manner across all automotive manufacturers. It is recognized, however, that the mechanisms required for access or control of vehicle Properties may differ between automobile manufacturers, makes and models. Furthermore, different automobile manufacturers may expose different Properties that can be read or set by an application.

As a result of these constraints, this specification shall allow for automobile manufacturer-specific extensions or restrictions. Extensions are only permitted for interfaces that are not already described by this API, and must be implemented to conform within the format and guidelines existing in this specification. If a Property is restricted, the automobile manufacturer would omit the optional feature in their implementation (see the Availability Section).

The target platform supported by the specification is exclusively passenger vehicles. Use of this specification for non-passenger applications (transportation, heavy machinery, marine, airline infotainment, military, etc.) is not prohibited, but is not covered in the design or content of the API and therefore may be insufficient.

Initially, a typical use case of Vehicle Information might be the implementation of a 'Virtual Mechanic' application that provides vehicle status information such as tire pressure, engine oil level, washer fluid level, battery status, etc. Future use case innovations in transportation, safety, navigation, smart energy grid and consumer infotainment and customization are all possible through this specification.

Web developers building interoperable applications based upon this W3C Vehicle API standard, will help empower a common web platform across consumer devices and passenger vehicles consistent with the Web of Things.

Introduction

The Vehicle Information API provides operations to get access to the vehicle data (henceforth "properties") available from vehicle systems and also to change (write) a number of properties. Vehicle data types are available in the Vehicle Data specification.

An example of use is provided below:

        var vehicle = navigator.vehicle;

        vehicle.vehicleSpeed.get().then(function(vehicleSpeed) {
          console.log("vehicle speed: " + vehicleSpeed.speed);
        },
        function(error) {
          console.log("There was an error");
        });

        var vehicleSpeedSub = vehicle.vehicleSpeed.subscribe(function(vehicleSpeed) {
          console.log("vehicle speed changed to: " + vehicleSpeed.speed);
          vehicle.vehicleSpeed.unsubscribe(vehicleSpeedSub);
        });

        var zone = new Zone;

        var zones = vehicle.climateControl.zones;

        for(var i in zones)
        {
           if(i.equals(zone.driver))
           {
              var value = {};
              value["acStatus"] = true;
              vehicle.climateControl.set(value, zone.driver).then(function(){
                console.log("successfully set acStatus");
             },
             function(error) {
               console.log("there was an error");
             });
           }
        }
  

This specification defines conformance criteria that apply to a single product: the user agent that implements the interfaces that it contains.

Implementations that use ECMAScript to implement the APIs defined in this specification MUST implement them in a manner consistent with the ECMAScript Bindings defined in the Web IDL specification [[!WEBIDL]], as this specification uses that specification and terminology.

Terminology

The Promise provide a convenient way to get access to the result of an operation.

Security and privacy considerations

It is expected that security of vehicle APIs described in this document is based on permissions dictated by:

  • The JavaScript runtime under which the APIs are used – in some cases
  • The underlying operating system – always

  • No separate permission or access control model will be defined for vehicle APIs. Depending on a specific platform, the JavaScript runtime SDK used may have to provide tools to generate permissions for application descriptors as required by the OS. Android is an example under which such a descriptor (Android app manifest) has to be generated if the runtime maps its apps to OS-level apps.

    Navigator Interface

    readonly attribute Vehicle vehicle
    The object that exposes the interface to vehicle information services.

    Vehicle Interface

    The Vehicle interface represents the initial entry point for getting access to the vehicle information services, i.e. Engine Speed and Tire Pressure.

    Zone Interface

    The Zone interface contains the constants that represent physical zones and logical zones

    Front = "Front"
    Middle = "Middle"
    the middle position of a row.
    Right = "Right"
    Left = "Left"
    Rear = "Rear"
    Center = "Center"
    the center row
    attribute DOMString[] value
    MUST return array of physical zones
    readonly attribute Zone driver
    MUST return physical zone for logical driver
    boolean equals(Zone zone)
    MUST return true if zone.value matches the contents of this.value. Ordering of elements within Zone.value does not matter.
    boolean contains(Zone zone)
    MUST return true if zone.value can be found within this.value

    VehicleInterfaceCallback Callback

    The VehicleInterfaceCallback

    AvailableCallback Callback

    The AvailableCallback

    VehicleInterfaceError Interface

    VehicleInterfaceError is used to identify the type of error encountered during an operation

    permission_denied
    Indicates that the user does not have permission to perform the operation. More details can be obtained through the Data Availability API.
    invalid_operation
    Indicates that the operation is not valid. This can be because it isn't supported or has invalid arguments
    timeout
    Operation timed out. Timeout length depends upon the implementation
    invalid_zone
    Indicates the zone argument is not valid
    unknown
    Indicates an error that is not known
    readonly attribute VehicleError error
    MUST return VehicleError
    readonly attribute DOMString message
    MUST return user-readable error message

    VehicleInterface Interface

    The VehicleInterface interface represents the base interface to get all vehicle properties.

    Promise get(optional Zone zone)
    MUST return the Promise. The "resolve" callback in the promise is used to pass the vehicle data type that corresponds to the specific VehicleInterface instance. For example, "vehicle.vehicleSpeed" corresponds to the "VehicleSpeed" data type. VehicleInterfaceError is passed to the 'reject' callback in the promise.
    readonly attribute Zone[] zones
    MUST return all zones supported for this type.
      vehicle.vehicleSpeed.get().then(resolve);
    
      function resolve(data)
      {
        //data is of type VehicleSpeed
        console.log("Speed: " + data.speed);
        console.log("Time Stamp: " + data.timestamp);
      }
      

    VehicleConfigurationInterface Interface

    The VehicleConfigurationInterface interface is to be used to provide access to static vehicle information that never changes: external dimensions, identification, transmission type etc...

    VehicleSignalInterface Interface

    The VehicleSignalInterface interface represents vehicle signals that, as a rule, and unlike vehicle configurations, can change values, either programmatically (necessitating support for set method) or due to external events and occurrences, as reflected by subscription management.

    Promise set(object value, optional Zone zone)
    MUST return Promise. The "resolve" callback indicates the set was successful. No data is passed to resolve. If there was an error, "reject" will be called with a VehicleInterfaceError object
    unsigned short subscribe(VehicleInterfaceCallback callback, optional Zone zone)
    MUST return handle to subscription or 0 if error
    void unsubscribe(unsigned short handle)
    MUST return void. unsubscribes to value changes on this interface.
      var zone = Zone
      vehicle.door.set({"lock" : true}, zone.driver).then(resolve, reject);
    
      function resolve()
      {
        /// success
      }
    
      function reject(errorData)
      {
        console.log("Error occurred during set: " + errorData.message + " code: " + errorData.error);
      }
      

    Data Availability

    The availability API allows for developers to determine what attributes are available or not and if not, why. It also allows for notifications when the availability changes.

    available
    data is available
    not_supported
    not supported by this vehicle
    not_supported_yet
    not supported at this time, but may become supported later.
    not_supported_security_policy
    not supported because of security policy
    not_supported_business_policy
    not supported because of business policy
    not_supported_other
    not supported for other reasons
    Availability availableForRetrieval(DOMString attributeName)
    MUST return whether a not this attribute is available for get() or not
    readonly attribute boolean supported
    MUST return true if this attribute is supported and available
    short availabilityChangedListener( AvailableCallback callback )
    MUST return handle for listener.
    void removeAvailabilityChangedListener( short handle )
       if( ( var a = vehicle.vehicleSpeed.availableForRetrieval("speed") ) === "available" )
       {
         // we can use it.
       }
       else
       {
         // tell us why:
         console.log(a);
       }
       
    Availability availableForSubscription(DOMString attributeName)
    MUST return whether a not this attribute is available for subscribe() or not
    Availability availableForSetting(DOMString attributeName)
    MUST return whether a not this attribute is available for set() or not
       var canHasVehicleSpeed = vehicle.vehicleSpeed.availableForSubscription("speed") === "available";
    
       vehicle.vehicleSpeed.availabilityChangedListener( function (available) {
         canHasVehicleSpeed = available === "available";
         checkVehicleSpeed();
       });
    
       function checkVehicleSpeed()
       {
         if(canHasVehicleSpeed)
         {
           vehicle.vehicleSpeed.get().then(callback);
         }
       }
      

    History

    The History API provides a way for applications to access logged data from the vehicle. What data is available and how much is up to the implementation. This section is OPTIONAL.

    readonly attribute any value
    MUST return value. This is ANY Vehicle Data Type.
    readonly attribute DOMTimeStamp timestamp
    MUST return time in which 'value' was read by the system.
    readonly attribute History? history
    MUST return History interface if the platform supports the History API
    Promise get(Date begin, Date end, optional Zone zone)
    MUST return Promise. The "resolve" callback in the promise is used to pass an array of HistoryItems.
    readonly attribute boolean isLogged
    MUST return true if this attribute is logged
    readonly attribute Date? from
    MUST return Date in which logging started from. Returns null if isLogged is false.
    readonly attribute Date? to
    MUST return Date in which logging of this attribute ends. Returns null if isLogged is false.
       /// check if there is data being logged for vehicleSpeed:
       if(vehicle.vehicleSpeed.history.isLogged)
       {
         /// get all vehicleSpeed since it was first logged:
    	   vehicle.vehicleSpeed.history.get(vehicle.vehicleSpeed.history.from, vehicle.vehicleSpeed.history.to).then( function ( data ) {
           console.log(data.length);
         });
       }
       

    Use-Cases

    Normative

    The primary purpose of this specification is to provide web developers the ability to access and set vehicle information through a simple common set of operations including get, set, subscribe, and unsubscribe. Thus normative use cases pertain to this access and do not cover higher application of business level use cases.

    Get

    Get a single value once from the vehicle.

    Set

    Set a single value once in the vehicle.

    Subscribe

    Subscribe to single value until unsubscribed.

    Set

    Unsubscribe to single value.