Determining Mobile Phone Number Assignment
Granted: April 2, 2009
Application Number:
20090088153
The present invention detects whether an initial mobile number assignment is suboptimal, resulting in excessive roaming. If excessive roaming is encountered, the telematics service provider determines the effective home area of the telematics unit and assigns an appropriate replacement number to the unit. In this way, the disclosed principles allow a telematics service provider to decrease its roaming charges, and/or those of its users, and more optimally manage its mobile phone number…
Method and System for Configuring a Telematics Device Using Two-Way Data Messaging
Granted: April 2, 2009
Application Number:
20090088187
A method and system for configuring a telematics device is constructed so as to use two-way short message service (SMS) to provide improved configuration execution. Mobile identification number (MIN), Mobile Directory Number (MDH), Home System Identification (SID) number, SID/NID pairs, NAI/password for packet data, over the air service provisioning (OTASP) number, and Preferred Roaming List (PRL) flag can be easily updated with no manual or voice channel configuration actions. In…
Control System for a Transmission with a Dual Area Apply Piston for a Torque-Transmitting Mechanism Engagement
Granted: April 2, 2009
Application Number:
20090088296
A control system is provided for selectively actuating a dual area apply piston having first and second piston areas each selectively biased by hydraulic pressure within a respective first and second fill cavities. The control system includes a pressure regulator valve, a dual area activation valve, and a solenoid valve operable to selectively and variable operate the pressure regulator valve to effect biasing of the first and second piston areas by communicating hydraulic pressure to…
Method to Prevent Excessive Current Drain of Telematics Unit Network Access Device
Granted: April 2, 2009
Application Number:
20090088910
The disclosed examples illustrate a system and method that prevent excessive current drain through the network access device (NAD) of a telematics unit and provide flexible discontinuous-receive management. Normally, when in a Standby State and where communication service is unavailable, the NAD may dissipate current at rate many times more than where communication service is available. A Standby Counter provides the length of the time interval for Standby State or the sleep cycle.…
Commuter Route Learning
Granted: April 2, 2009
Application Number:
20090088973
A commuter route learning program learns a telematics subscriber's common travel routes (e.g. work-home, home-school, etc.) and offers traffic reports based on the routes. In one aspect, three modes are used to establish routes and offer traffic reports. These modes include a Learn Mode during which the commuter route learning program learns new commuter trips, a Pattern Recognition Mode during which the commuter route learning program recognizes and categorizes routes from patterns of…
Vehicle Compass Using Telematics Unit and Vehicle Sensor Information
Granted: April 2, 2009
Application Number:
20090088974
A software compass used during a GPS outage calculates vehicle heading and presents it upon request. The software compass gathers information from a yaw rate sensor, wheel steering angle sensor, wheel speed sensor, and PRNDL gear position sensor to calculate vehicle heading using a weighting algorithm. Because the yaw rate sensor data is a central factor in calculating vehicle heading, the quality of calibration of the yaw rate sensor is of importance. The disclosed calibration algorithm…
Method of Automatically Configuring Replacement Modules in Vehicles
Granted: April 2, 2009
Application Number:
20090089068
Replacement modules are mapped to a telematics subscriber's account to allow a provider to properly manage a subscriber's services. Aspects of the invention allow vehicle dealer personnel to map replacement modules automatically through a provider website without contacting a live advisor. Subsequently, the provider automatically completes configuration of the replacement module via a wireless network.
METHOD FOR DEREGISTRATION OF REMOVED TELECOMMUNICATION MODULE
Granted: April 2, 2009
Application Number:
20090089069
A method for deregistering a module removed from a telematics unit associated with a vehicle employs a network-based deregistration interface for module data uniquely identifying the removed module as well as optionally for uniquely identifying the vehicle owner or subscriber and the vehicle, e.g., a subscriber ID and VIN. The interface may also comprise one or more authentication fields for receiving and transmitting authentication data.
Geo-Based Hands-Free Calling Minute Awards
Granted: April 2, 2009
Application Number:
20090089160
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…
Method and System for Conference Calling with Vehicle Occupant
Granted: April 2, 2009
Application Number:
20090088141
The disclosed system and method provide a mechanism for facilitating a conference call between a telematics subscriber and third parties through a call center. In one aspect, vehicle data may be uploaded data from the telematics unit while maintaining the conference call. The uploaded data may contain GPS location of the vehicle to assist a requester in locating and assisting the vehicle occupant.
Electro-Hydraulic Control System with Multiplexed Solenoid for Retarder Operation and Main Pressure Modulation
Granted: March 19, 2009
Application Number:
20090071777
An electro-hydraulic control system is provided that utilizes a shift solenoid and shift valve to multiplex a single pressure control solenoid to control both modulation of a main pressure regulator valve and retarder operation (fill and pressure).
Electro-Hydraulic Control System for Transmission with Dual-Area Piston for Torque-Transmitting Mechanism
Granted: March 19, 2009
Application Number:
20090075772
An electro-hydraulic control system is provided for a transmission with a torque-transmitting mechanism that has a dual area piston. When pressurized fluid is provided to a first of the two piston areas, the position of a spring-biased shift valve controls whether pressurized fluid communicates with the second piston area. A solenoid valve in fluid communication with the shift valve is energizable to direct pressurized fluid to the shift valve to urge the shift valve to the unstroked…
Powertrain with Torque Converter-Mounted Generator for Multiple Voltage Electrical Power and Method for Assembling Same
Granted: March 19, 2009
Application Number:
20090071784
A torque converter-mounted generator is provided that, along with power electronics, offers at least two types of electrical power output and may be attached to a transmission without impacting the axial length of a powertrain in comparison to a powertrain with an identical transmission and a torque converter not having a generator mounted thereto. Different torque-converter mounted generators and power electronics configurations providing different combinations of electrical power…
Apparatus and Method of Engine Torque Control During Power Take-Off Operation in a Motor Vehicle
Granted: March 12, 2009
Application Number:
20090069154
An apparatus and method is provided for controlling torque in a powertrain having an engine and a transmission capable of operating a power take-off unit. The apparatus includes: a controller selectively operable to send a power take-off unit activation request to a transmission control module within the powertrain; a transmission control module capable of receiving the power take-off unit activation request; and wherein the apparatus is configured to prevent the torque of the engine…
FRICTION STIR NUT AND METHOD OF JOINING THEREWITH
Granted: March 5, 2009
Application Number:
20090061187
A friction stir nut is disclosed. The friction stir nut includes a body, a cap, and an anti-rotation feature. The body has an elongated cylindrical shank extending between a first end and a second end, the cap being disposed at the second end, and the anti-rotation feature being disposed at the cap and/or an outer surface of the body. The body and cap have a blind axial hole extending from the first end to the second end, the first end being blind and the second end being open. The outer…
METHOD OF AUTHENTICATING A SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE (SMS) MESSAGE
Granted: February 19, 2009
Application Number:
20090047929
An authentication method that can be used by a telematics-equipped vehicle to authenticate an SMS message and provide additional security features above and beyond those inherent to the SMS protocol. Generally speaking, a call center uses a mathematical function to derive a security code, and then sends an SMS message to a telematics-equipped vehicle that includes information related to the derived security code. The telematics-equipped vehicle can utilize the transmitted information to…
METHOD OF ESTABLISHING A COMMUNICATIONS CONNECTION FROM A DEACTIVATED TELEMATICS UNIT ON A MOTOR VEHICLE
Granted: February 5, 2009
Application Number:
20090036091
A system and method for communicating with a call center from a vehicle telematics unit that has had its cellular service deactivated. The method includes the step of receiving a request from the telematics unit to communicate with the call center via cellular telephony using a cleared telephone number. The call is then established and the type of request is determined at the call center and used to route the cellular call to an appropriate advisor or department in the call center based…
WEB-ENABLED CONFIGURABLE QUALITY DATA COLLECTION TOOL
Granted: February 5, 2009
Application Number:
20090037045
A method and system for configuring trigger parameters for captured test fleet vehicle data collection. The method includes selecting at least one vehicle identifier from a captured test fleet database, associating at least one trigger condition with the at least one selected vehicle identifier in the database, associating at least one vehicle parameter to be collected at an occurrence of the at least one associated trigger condition with the selected vehicle identifier in the database,…
AMBIENT NOISE INJECTION FOR USE IN SPEECH RECOGNITION
Granted: January 29, 2009
Application Number:
20090030679
A method of ambient noise injection for use with speech recognition in a production vehicle. The method includes the steps of monitoring audio including user speech, receiving an utterance from the user speech, retrieving vehicle-specific ambient noise, and prepending the vehicle-specific ambient noise to the utterance before pre-processing and decoding the utterance.
Service Provider Initiated Access Network Selection
Granted: January 22, 2009
Application Number:
20090023446
Examples of the invention allow a content service provider to utilize one or more overlapping wireless networks in a given area to efficiently and cost effectively deliver content and services to a mobile device contained within a terminal. Examples of the invention analyze the characteristics of each wireless network such as cost, latency, security, and bandwidth, the terminal capabilities, and the requested service to determine the most efficient manner to deliver services over one or…
