Identification of the technology life cycle of telematics: A patent-based analytical perspective

• This study determined the current technology life cycle (TLC) of telematics.
• We investigated the mainstream technology and development focus at each TLC stage.
• A supervised assessment method was employed to identify the TLC stages.
• The curve matching analysis showed that telematics is in the maturity stage.
• At the maturity stage, telematics emphasizes wireless communication networks.

Identifying technology life cycles (TLCs), particularly TLCs that relate to promising technology, is crucial to managers, technological product investors, and inventors. Telematics technology has gained prevalence in the information and communication technology fields and been increasingly applied. This study determined the current TLC of telematics and investigated using a mainstream technology and development focus at each TLC stage. A supervised assessment method and the indicator pattern of current anchoring technology were employed, and a significance test of the results generated from a curve matching analysis was used to identify the TLC stages of telematics. The results revealed that telematics is in the maturity stage, and the technological focus of each of its TLC stages is distinct. At the maturity stage, telematics emphasizes wireless communication networks and diversified market applications. We assessed the development stage of telematics; governments can refer to this assessment to facilitate strategic development in technological industries.