Satellite Radio Recorder Predictive Buffering
Granted: July 2, 2009
Application Number:
20090170457
Aspects of the invention buffer user preferred radio content on a radio system by monitoring the content on multiple channels in case a user desires to record one of the monitored channels. The content on the monitored channels is buffered from the start of the radio content (i.e. song, talk show, program etc.) playing on each channel. For example, aspects of the invention allow a user to record a song playing on another channel in its entirety if the user switches channels and hears a…
MDN Switching Between Telematics Devices
Granted: July 2, 2009
Application Number:
20090170491
Aspects of the present invention provide for a telematics subscriber and provider to facilitate a wireless carrier to associate a cellular telephone number from a subscriber's previous telematics unit to a subscriber's newly purchased telematics unit. In addition, the telematics provider reconfigures a new telematics device in a newly purchased vehicle to retain the same cellular phone number as the subscriber's previous telematics device.
VEHICLE TELEMATICS UNIT DATA UPLOAD DEFERRAL
Granted: July 2, 2009
Application Number:
20090170537
A method for deferring a telematics data upload from a vehicle equipped with wireless telephony and wireless networking communications devices. The method steps include detecting the availability of a connection to one or more wireless networks along with an associated time of day during which the connection is available, determining that one of the one or more wireless networks is periodically available at a particular time of day, receiving a request to upload data from the vehicle to…
ENHANCED ON-DEMAND DIAGNOSTIC AND MAINTENANCE REPORTING
Granted: July 2, 2009
Application Number:
20090171684
A system and method for providing enhanced diagnostic and maintenance reporting for a vehicle over a wireless communication system. When receiving a telephone call from a subscriber requesting diagnostic assistance, a data connection is established between a call center and the subscriber's vehicle, and the needed diagnostic data is obtained by the call center so that an advisor at the call center can provide the requested assistance. The established data connection is also used to…
PROCESSING ELECTRONIC MESSAGES WIRELESSLY SENT TO A VEHICLE
Granted: July 2, 2009
Application Number:
20090172102
A processing system and method for controlling the distribution of certain types of electronic messages, such as SMS messages, instant messages, emails, etc., that are wirelessly sent to a vehicle. In one embodiment, a messaging application installed on a communication device diverts to a call center outgoing messages destined for the vehicle. Once the electronic message is properly checked and authenticated at the call center, it is wirelessly forwarded on to the vehicle where its…
METHOD OF VEHICLE TO VEHICLE COMMUNICATION
Granted: July 2, 2009
Application Number:
20090170434
A method of communicating information that has been formatted for Internet publication from a principal vehicle using short range wireless communication components to communicate with a second vehicle. The method includes storing a web page (blog, social networking page, etc.) or other information formatted for Internet publication in the principal vehicle. An introductory signal is transmitted to the second vehicle. A communication link is established between the principal vehicle and…
SMS AND PACKET DATA PERFORMANCE MONITORING
Granted: June 25, 2009
Application Number:
20090164551
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.
IN-VEHICLE CIRCUMSTANTIAL SPEECH RECOGNITION
Granted: June 25, 2009
Application Number:
20090164216
A method of circumstantial speech recognition in a vehicle. A plurality of parameters associated with a plurality of vehicle functions are monitored as an indication of current vehicle circumstances. At least one vehicle function is identified as a candidate for user-intended ASR control based on user interaction with the vehicle. The identified vehicle function is then used to disambiguate between potential commands contained in speech received from the user.
METHOD FOR PROVIDING A SECURITY SERVICE USING A VEHICLE KEYFOB
Granted: June 25, 2009
Application Number:
20090164053
A system and method that enables a user of a telematics-equipped vehicle to initiate security services by activating their vehicle keyfob. If a user senses an emergency situation, such as a person breaking into their home, they can engage a panic button on their vehicle keyfob. This causes the vehicle to send a wireless warning signal to a call center which already has emergency contact numbers on file. The call center can then call the user to see if they require assistance from a…
METHOD OF VEHICLE NOTIFICATION OF CALL CENTER SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS
Granted: June 25, 2009
Application Number:
20090161836
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…
VEHICLE KEY FOB HAVING A COMMUNICATIONS CIRCUIT
Granted: June 25, 2009
Application Number:
20090160607
A vehicle key fob for communicating information between one or more electronic devices, such as a personal or laptop computer, and a wireless-enabled vehicle. In one embodiment, a wired communications link is established between the electronic device and the vehicle key fob over a wired connection, such as a USB cable. A separate wireless communications link is established between a wireless interface located in the vehicle key fob, such as a wireless adapter, and the wireless-enabled…
SYNCHING ONLINE ADDRESS BOOK SOURCES FOR A VEHICLE USER
Granted: June 18, 2009
Application Number:
20090157615
A method for synching online address book sources for a vehicle user is disclosed. The method includes receiving, at a server, at least two different user selected destination entries from at least two different destination entry systems in selective communication with the server, and consolidating the destination entries received from the Internet-enabled programs into a personalized online and vehicle accessible address book.
Gas Diffusion Layer for Fuel Cell
Granted: June 11, 2009
Application Number:
20090148726
A gas diffusion layer for a fuel cell is described. The gas diffusion layer includes a carbon fiber mat having a substantially open structure. Bloomed fibrillated acrylic pulp is added into a microporous layer ink. Alternatively, the bloomed fibrillated acrylic pulp can first be disposed on the carbon fiber mat, with the microporous layer ink added thereafter. When the microporous layer ink/bloomed fibrillated acrylic pulp mixture is coated on the carbon fiber mat, the ink penetrates…
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING VEHICLE DATA TO THIRD PARTY AUTHORIZED RECIPIENTS
Granted: June 11, 2009
Application Number:
20090150023
A system and method that reports vehicle data to one or more third parties using an onboard telematics unit. The method includes the steps of selecting a type of data to be reported and identifying a third party to receive the selected type of data. The onboard telematics unit receives a portion of the data that is classified as the type of data to be received by the third party. The vehicle information is then associated with the received data to create a report. The report is then…
METHOD FOR ORGANIZING DATA PRESENTED TO A USER IN A VEHICLE
Granted: June 11, 2009
Application Number:
20090150167
A method for organizing data presented to a user in a vehicle includes monitoring, at a call center, a routine of the user. Monitoring takes into account a then-current day, a then-current time of day, a then-current vehicle location, and a point of interest associated with the routine. At least one point of interest parameter, a time of day parameter, a day parameter, and a vehicle location boundary is generated based on the user's routine. The method further includes recognizing that…
AUTOMATICALLY COMMUNICATING REMINDER MESSAGES TO A TELEMATICS-EQUIPPED VEHICLE
Granted: May 28, 2009
Application Number:
20090134991
A method of automatically communicating reminder messages to a telematics-equipped vehicle includes the following steps: (a) establishing a reminder message and defining playback instructions for playing the reminder message; (b) generating a trigger based on the defined playback instructions; (c) setting the trigger; (d) monitoring for the occurrence of one or more conditions that satisfy the trigger; and (e) determining that the one or more conditions have occurred and, if so, then;…
CONNECTION MANAGEMENT FOR A VEHICLE TELEMATICS UNIT
Granted: May 28, 2009
Application Number:
20090135845
A connection management system and method manages connections between a vehicle telematics unit and a call center. A connection is established between the vehicle telematics unit and the call center over a wireless network. A first service is provided to the vehicle telematics unit during which a request for a second service is recognized for the vehicle telematics unit. A connection between the vehicle telematics unit and the call center is provided in response to the request for the…
SPEECH TO DTMF GENERATION
Granted: May 28, 2009
Application Number:
20090138264
A method of speech to DTMF generation involving ASR-enabled and DTMF-controlled communications systems. The ASR-enabled system is used to recognize speech received from the DTMF-controlled telecommunications system using sampling rate independent speech recognition. It then identifies a speech segment contained in the speech received from the DTMF-controlled system that corresponds with at least one keyword associated with user-defined data. Then, the ASR-enabled system transmits at…
SECURE OVER-THE-AIR MODIFICATION OF AUTOMOTIVE VEHICULAR OPTIONS
Granted: May 28, 2009
Application Number:
20090138942
A method and system are provided for secure over-the-air modification of vehicular options by a vehicle user. The system includes a vehicle and a secure server. The vehicle includes receiver circuitry for receiving and demodulating wireless signals and a controller coupled to the receiver. The secure server is accessible by the vehicle user and generates a vehicular option modification package for provision to the vehicle by generating option parameter modification instructions in…
FLUID TRANSFER TUBE
Granted: May 14, 2009
Application Number:
20090120757
A torque-transfer assembly includes a fluid transfer tube located within a bore of a shaft. The fluid transfer tube seals to the shaft and includes at least one fluid groove that communicates between a plurality of fluid ports located in the shaft. The fluid groove is defined by an outer surface of the fluid transfer tube.
