| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080215336 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENABLING A DEVICE FUNCTION OF A VEHICLE - The current invention provides a method and system for enabling a device function of a vehicle. A speech input stream is received at a telematics unit. A speech input context is determined for the received speech input stream. The received speech input stream is processed based on the determination and the device function of the vehicle is enabled responsive to the processed speech input stream. A vehicle device in control of the enabled device function of the vehicle is directed based on the processed speech input stream. A computer usable medium with suitable computer program code is employed for enabling a device function of a vehicle. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20090070034 | METHOD FOR RECORDING AN ANNOTATION AND MAKING IT AVAILABLE FOR LATER PLAYBACK - A method that is used with a vehicle navigation system and enables a driver or other vehicle occupant to record personalized information, such as verbal annotations, so that they may be automatically played back at a later time. When the voice annotations are recorded, the vehicle navigation system assigns them a location tag that indicates the place where they were recorded. Therefore, when that vehicle navigation system, or another navigation system installed on a different vehicle, comes within a certain proximity of the location identified by the location tag, the associated voice annotation is played back. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090089160 | Geo-Based Hands-Free Calling Minute Awards - A method and system for customer incentives awards calling minutes for wireless telephone service based on the geographic location and the products and services provided to a vehicle. Illustrative examples include, but are not limited to, a user requesting calling minute awards based on a purchased service and a vehicle location at the time of purchase, a telematics service center automatically awarding minutes based on triggers generated by sensors within the telematics unit, and a telematics unit autonomously awarding hands-free minutes based on triggers generated by sensors and vehicle location. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090161836 | METHOD OF VEHICLE NOTIFICATION OF CALL CENTER SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS - A method of regulating data transmissions used with telematics-equipped vehicles. The steps include establishing a period of anticipated call center service outage, notifying a plurality of telematics units of the period of anticipated call center service outage, storing that outage information at the plurality of telematics units, and then when a call from the vehicle to the call center is desired during the service outage, the process implements a call handling procedure that delays most calls until the call center is available, but that provides alternative call solutions for urgent or occupant-placed calls. Once the call center is available, postponed calls can be staggered to avoid a large initial spike in calls received at the call center. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090164551 | SMS AND PACKET DATA PERFORMANCE MONITORING - A system and method for monitoring data transfer performance between a central facility and a vehicle that includes calculating the message latency between the transmission and receipt of a message from a call center to the vehicle, or vice-versa. The information can be used to generate a latency map that is useful in diagnosing wireless system problems and in deciding when and how to communicate with a vehicle depending upon its location. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090243828 | VEHICLE EMAIL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method provides vehicle information to an interested party, such as a vehicle owner or driver, regarding the operation of a vehicle. The method includes the step of measuring a parameter of operation produced by the vehicle. A level based on the parameter measured is then calculated. A notification message that includes information concerning the level is constructed. The method then sends the notification message to the interested party via an electronic messaging system. The electronic messaging system can be an email communication system. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090248222 | VEHICLE SLOWDOWN CONTROL VIA SHORT RANGE WIRELESS COMMUNICATION - A method and system for enabling police pursuing a vehicle to slow the vehicle down via short range wireless communication with the vehicle. The process can be carried out with or without involvement of a call center that provides telematics services to the vehicle. The method involves configuring the vehicle to accept a slowdown command, confirming the target vehicle at a pursuing police vehicle, establishing the short range connection between the police vehicle and target vehicle, and slowing the target vehicle by sending it the slowdown command over the wireless connection. The call center can enable or disable the slowdown service according to the vehicle owner's wishes. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090325596 | CONTROLLING VEHICLE TELEMATICS UNIT DATA TRANSMISSION BASED ON CALL CENTER LOCATION - A method and system that inhibits transmission of location information by a telematics unit outside of a geographic region in which such transmission is prohibited. The method includes identifying the relative location of the vehicle and a call center to which the information is to be sent. If the vehicle is in a country or other geographic region that prohibits transmission of vehicle location data outside of the region and, if the call center is determined by the vehicle to be outside of that region, then the telematics unit inhibits the location data from being sent in any communication between the vehicle and call center. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20090325612 | TRAFFIC DATA TRANSMISSION FROM A VEHICLE TELEMATICS UNIT - A method of sending traffic related data to a call center using a telematics unit of a vehicle. The method includes receiving a request at the telematics unit to transmit non-traffic data such as vehicle diagnostic information to the call center. Both the non-traffic data as well as traffic related data is obtained by the telematics unit and embedded into a short message service (SMS) message that is then sent to the call center. The traffic related data can be inserted only if it indicates a traffic problem and can be inserted into an otherwise unused portion of the SMS message. The received traffic related data can then be used by the call center or other remote facility to improve traffic reporting. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100100441 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF MONITORING AND RETRIEVING DEVICE USAGE - A method and system for monitoring and retrieving device usage for a device at a vehicle including storing a vehicle data record in the telematics unit, monitoring the device usage for device data, storing the device data at the vehicle, requesting the telematics unit to upload the device data, and transmitting the device data from the telematics unit to a remote location. At least one of the monitoring and the requesting is performed in accordance with the vehicle data record. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100185524 | TELEMATICS UNIT AND METHOD FOR OPERATING - A method of operating a telematics unit comprising the steps of: first operating the telematics unit in a logistical support mode containing a first set of operations assisting tracking of at least one of (a) the telematics unit and (b) a vehicle containing the telematics unit through storage and travel; and second operating the telematics unit in a customer service mode containing a second set of operations supporting a customer associated with the vehicle, wherein the first set of operations contains at least one operation unique from the second set of operations. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20110166739 | VEHICLE MAINTENANCE EVENT REPORTING SYSTEM - A vehicle maintenance event reporting system and method that utilizes a vehicle email notification system in which triggers are used to initiate the generation and transmission of email messages that provide diverse types of dynamic vehicle information to the owner or other authorized subscriber. The email notifications are triggered by different events, some of which are independent of the vehicle (e.g., a monthly trigger), and others of which occur at the vehicle, such as a mileage or low oil life trigger. The notification system builds and sends to the subscriber an email message that contains the dynamic vehicle information. Maintenance service events such as an oil change reset are detected and used to trigger email reporting to the subscriber as well as to transmit the oil change reset event back to a central data system where it is included in a vehicle maintenance record. | 07-07-2011 |
