| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080303693 | Methods and Systems for Automated Traffic Reporting - An automatic traffic reporting system comprising a vehicle mounted data transceiver (telematics device) and centrally operated information collectors and analyzers that generate real time traffic reports for selected areas of interest. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20090119657 | Methods and systems for software upgrades - Before delivery, a manufacturer records module information identifying hardware modules, and corresponding software modules, installed in a vehicle. The module information includes a part number and a unique identifier for each hardware module, and name and version identifier of software loaded for each hardware module. The manufacturer, or a telematics operator, may broadcast files with upgraded software to vehicles over a wireless network. Or, upgraded software may be delivered to a vehicle via a connection between the vehicle and a computer, or a wired network. A vehicle's computer system authenticates a software file before upgrading from it by performing steps of an authentication sequence as a server in a client-server relationship with a computer device that broadcasted the file to the vehicle. A telematics system onboard the vehicle may collect and store vehicle usage information for use in determining when to upgrade from the authenticated software file. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090187972 | METHODS AND APPARATUS OF OVER-THE-AIR PROGRAMMING OF A WIRELESS UNIT - Methods and apparatus for secure over-the-air (OTA) programming, and particularly, activation, of a wireless unit in a particular communications system. The unit stores a stored key having been generated by using a key algorithm (K-algorithm) with an identifier associated with the unit as an input to the K-algorithm. The unit may receive information such as parameters and a verification number from a communications system for the purpose of programming the unit. The verification number is generated by using an authorization algorithm (A-algorithm) having the parameters and a key as A-algorithm inputs. They key is generated by the K-algorithm having the identifier associated with the K-algorithm input. In response to the receipt of the parameters and the verification number, the wireless unit generates a trial verification number by using the A-algorithm with the parameters and the stored key as trial inputs. The unit compares the verification number to the trial verification number for a match. When finding the match, the unit uses the parameters for programming of the unit in the particular communications system. When failing to find the match, the unit fails to use the parameters for the programming. | 07-23-2009 |
| 20090222200 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND APPARATUSES FOR TELEMATICS NAVIGATION - Provided are methods, systems, and apparatuses for telematics navigation. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090284391 | Apparatus for mounting a telematics user interface - A user interface to an electronic unit, such as a telematics unit, couples with the unit. The interface can also provide access to audio, computer, communications, navigation, and other units besides telematics device units. A user can secure the interface to a rear view mirror of a vehicle using clips; a securing means that exerts force against the interface and a roof, or other surface, of the vehicle that the user wishes to fix the interface in; or other methods of attaching devices to one another. A housing of the interface may locate the biasing means so that the biasing means forces the housing against the rearview mirror. The interface may couple to a telematics, or other electronics, unit located, or installed, in the vehicle via a cable link, including wire and optical, or via a wireless link. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090287499 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY PROVISIONING A DEVICE AND REGISTERING VEHICLE MODULES WITH A TELEMATICS SERVICES PROVIDER - Upon crank-up of a newly manufactured vehicle, a TCU seeks a GPS. The TCU queries an equipment information table in a memory and determines if the table is empty. If the table is empty and the TCU detects a GPS signal, the TCU requests equipment information from modules installed in the vehicle, including an ECM, a PCM, a TCM, and other various modules typically installed in vehicles. The information typically includes a module name or type, a module's serial number, version of current software, and for some modules, the VIN of the vehicle. The TCU automatically associates the module equipment information with the VIN gleaned from one of the modules, automatically forms a message with the equipment information including the VIN, and then automatically transmits the message to a telematics services provider's centrally located server. The server automatically associates equipment information, TCU identifier, and subscriber identity information with the VIN. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20100217480 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING TARGETED AREA MARKETING AND SERVICES IN AN SDARS NETWORK - A targeted area audio distribution system for Satellite Digital Audio Radio Services Receivers (“SDARS”) provides specific content to listeners based on location. A service provider can facilitate delivery of local content using a telematics device installed in the listener's vehicle. The telematics device uses a content database indexed on an identifier formed from coordinates of a desired geographical area to target particular content for users in a targeted area as small as a few blocks. In addition, interstate drivers can receive location specific advertisements for exits that they may be approaching. Digital audio content can be queued up for insertion into the audio stream based on specific locations. The identifier can also be used to report vehicle performance information from a plurality of vehicles to facilitate providing real-time traffic conditions for many traffic corridors. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100228404 | Method and system for configuring and provisioning a vehicle - A telematics method and system facilitates customizing a plurality of vehicle content files, parameters, and features based on edits and selections from a user interface. A telematics provider maintains a database comprising a table, or tables that associate(s) user identification information with a vehicle VIN and equipment/features/content installed in/on vehicle devices associated with the VIN. Database updates may occur automatically, or upon a user instruction, when a TCU wirelessly transmits current equipment, content, and feature configuration information to a TOC coupled with the database. The telematics provider's server may provide the interface that facilitates the user logging in and editing features, content, and operational and performance parameters currently configured/installed in/on the vehicle' equipment and devices. The telematics provider may forward the user input from the interface to another provider after it verifies user log in credentials before the other provider begins a download to vehicle devices associated with the VIN. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100235891 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING SYNCHRONIZING MEDIA CONTENT BETWEEN A VEHICLE DEVICE AND A USER DEVICE - A user uploads content such as files containing audio, video, graphical, data, points of interest, and other information from a user device such as a personal computer to a central server over the interne. Upon determining that a trigger event has occurred, communication and processing circuitry in a vehicle device automatically download the previously uploaded content over the interne and a short-range wireless network and store the content for use by a device such as an audio/visual/navigation unit. Examples of a trigger event include proximity to a short-range wireless communication network coupled to the internet, presence within a geofence, turning off a vehicle's engine, or detecting an SMS wake-up message while the vehicle device's main processor, transceivers not used for SMS, and auxiliary circuitry are in sleep mode. The short-range wireless network can be a vehicle owner's home network, or a commercial wi-fi hot spot, or subscription wireless service. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100250369 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY SELECTING AND DISPLAYING TRAFFIC IMAGES - Software, at a networked central computer or at a wireless mobile user device, uses GPS coordinates of a mobile user device's current location to determine a polygon in which the GPS coordinates lie. Upon determining the polygon that surrounds the current location, the software can perform a task related to the polygon. Examples of tasks include: determining traffic camera images to display on the mobile user device based on the location, speed, and heading of the user device. The images can include advertisements that pertain to the general vicinity, or demographics of those typically in the vicinity, of the cameras' coverage area. Another task includes associating performance data from a vehicle, and stored in a table, for a given location with a corresponding polygon that surrounds the location; processing the data; and assigning a risk value to the polygon based on the corresponding performance data. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20110118934 | PERIPHERAL ACCESS DEVICES AND SENSORS FOR USE WITH VEHICLE TELEMATICS DEVICES AND SYSTEMS - A telematics method and system includes, and uses, a telematics device with a controller in communication with a diagnostic system configured to receive diagnostic information from a host vehicle; a position-locating system configured to determine location information of the host vehicle; a wireless transceiver configured to transmit and receive information through a wireless network to and from at least one Internet-accessible website; and, a communication interface including at least a short range wireless interface link. The telematics device may be embodied in an access device, which may include the position-locating system. The access device may be a smartphone, or similar device, that retrieves/transmits diagnostic data/information, and other data/information to/from the vehicle via the short range wireless link. The access device performs various telematics device functions; it uses a long range wireless interface to communicate diagnostic and related information to a central host computer, and to receive related information from same. | 05-19-2011 |
