Telematics service buttons integrated with infotainment system using an uninterrupted power supply with optmized consumption

• US 10,459,504 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2016
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Veloso, Alex Jose, Barbosa, Leandro Zavarez
• Primary Examiner(s): Ell, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ayad, Maria S
• Application Number:
  US15/084,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20170285712A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,309 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3234 Power saving characterised by the action undertaken
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3262 Power saving in digitizer or tablet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

An in-vehicle system is described that initiates a telematics service call via a touch-based user interface. The in-vehicle system includes a telematics unit that supports communications relating to telematics services, an infotainment center, and a touchscreen interface configured to present user-selectable controls for invoking services provided by the infotainment center and the telematics unit. The system further comprises a backup battery configured to supply power, during a disruption of power supply from a primary power supply, to: the touchscreen interface, the telematics unit, and a microphone/speaker providing bi-directional audio communications with providers of telematics services. The system furthermore includes a backup battery mode control configured to sense a disruption of power provided by the primary power supply. In response to the disruption, the mode control activates a low-power operating mode for the touchscreen interface.

Claims

1. A system incorporated within a vehicle, the system being configured to initiate a telematics service call via a touch-based user interface, the system comprising:

a telematics system configured to support communications relating to telematics services;

an infotainment center;

a touchscreen interface configured to present user-selectable controls for invoking services provided by;

the infotainment center, and

the telematics system;

a backup battery configured to supply power, during a disruption of power supply from a primary power supply, to;

the touchscreen interface,

the telematics system, and

a microphone and a speaker providing bi-directional audio communications with providers of telematics services; and

a backup battery mode control processor configured for;

sensing a disruption of power provided by the primary power supply, and

activating, in response to the sensing, a low-power operating mode for the touchscreen interface;

wherein;

the touchscreen interface includes one or more user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons by which a vehicle occupant requests telematics services, including an emergency call service, in an event of an emergency;

the one or more user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons remain active during a disruption in power;

the processor is configured to provide instructions for the one or more user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons to remain active, while a remainder of the touchscreen interface is deactivated, during the low-power operating mode;

the processor is configured to, while in the low-power operating mode, power only a portion of a display of the touchscreen interface that produces visible images of the one or more user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons, while not powering the remainder of the touchscreen interface;

the processor is configured to, while in the low-power operating mode, energize only pixels of a portion of a display of the touchscreen interface that produces visible images of the one or more user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons, while not energizing pixels of the remainder of the touchscreen interface; and

the touchscreen interface uses a matrix of individually-switched self-illuminating diodes that are controllable to emit light without the use of a master backlight, and wherein the processor is configured to, while in the low-power operating mode, energize only pixels formed by triads associated with the one or more user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons, while leaving the remainder of the touchscreen interface unpowered.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is configured to display, via a home screen display interface for the touchscreen interface, a user-selectable control for invoking the services provided by the telematics system, including the one or more user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the user-selectable control, including the one or more user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons, occupies a minority portion of the home display screen display interface, and wherein the user-selectable control occupies a position along an edge of the home screen display interface;

and wherein a non-overlapping majority portion of the home screen display interface displays infotainment service controls, and non-emergency infotainment services are turned off, while the one or more user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons pertaining to the emergency call service remain on, during the disruption in power.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the system is configured to display, via an overlay on a child screen display interface for the touchscreen interface, the user-selectable control for invoking the services provided by the telematics system, including the one or more user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons;

wherein the system is configured to display the user-selectable control, for invoking the services provided by the telematics system, including the one or more user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons, in response to sensing a touch on the touchscreen interface while displaying the child screen display interface, and wherein the display of the user-selectable control continues until a triggering event occurs.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the triggering event is expiration of a timed period corresponding to the display of the user-selectable control.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the triggering event is sending a further touch on the touchscreen interface outside the user-selectable control.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the touchscreen interface incorporates an active matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display technology capable of operating in a low power state mode and in a minority of a full display area of the touchscreen interface to display the user-selectable control for invoking the services provided by the telematics system, including the one or more user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons.

8. The system of claim 4 wherein the touchscreen interface incorporates an LCD display technology capable of operating in a low power state mode where a backlight and a display are active only in a minority of a full display area of the touchscreen interface to display the user-selectable control for invoking the services provided by the telematics system, including the one or more user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons.

9. The system of claim 4 wherein the user-selectable control overlay, including the one or more user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons, occupies a minority portion of the child screen display interface, and wherein the overlay occupies a position along an edge of the child screen display interface.

10. The system of claim 2 wherein the system is configured to display and allow the user-selectable control for invoking the services provided by the telematics system, including the one or more user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons, without the keys and while the vehicle is in OFF power mode.

11. The system of claim 2 wherein the system is configured to display, via an overlay on a child screen display interface for the touchscreen interface, the user-selectable control for invoking the services provided by the telematics system, including the one or more user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons;

wherein the system is configured to display the user-selectable control, for invoking the services provided by the telematics system, including the one or more user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons, in response to sensing a touch on the touchscreen interface while displaying the child screen display interface, and wherein the display of the user-selectable control continues until a triggering event occurs, wherein the triggering event comprises a vehicle collision.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the backup battery is configured to power the telematics system and the touchscreen interface to initiate the telematics service call via the touch-based user interface, specifically, via the one or more user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons, after losing access to power supplied from the primary power supply.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the touchscreen interface supports selectively powering portions of a display interface for the touchscreen interface, and wherein, while operating in the low-power operating mode, the system selectively powers only a portion of the display interface including the user-selectable telematics control for invoking the services provided by the telematics system, namely, the one or more user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons, thereby reducing power consumption by the touchscreen interface while ensuring continuous access to the user-selectable telematics control.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein, during a disruption of power supply from the primary power supply, the microphone and vehicle audio system is available to the telematics services.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons comprises three user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons for making a call.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the three user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons comprise:

a first user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft button for making an emergency call;

a second user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft button for speaking with a call center advisor; and

a third user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft button for initiating a hands-free wireless call.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons remain active in the event of a vehicle collision.

18. A system incorporated within a vehicle, the system being configured to initiate a telematics service call via a touch-based user interface, the system comprising:

a telematics system configured to support communications relating to telematics services;

an infotainment center;

a touchscreen interface configured to present user-selectable controls for invoking services provided by;

the infotainment center, and

the telematics system;

a backup battery configured to supply power, during a disruption of power supply from a primary power supply, to;

the touchscreen interface,

the telematics system, and

a microphone and a speaker providing bi-directional audio communications with providers of telematics services; and

a backup battery mode control processor configured for;

sensing a disruption of power provided by the primary power supply, and

activating, in response to the sensing, a low-power operating mode for the touchscreen interface;

wherein;

the touchscreen interface includes one or more user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons by which a vehicle occupant requests telematics services, including an emergency call service, in an event of an emergency;

the one or more user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons remain active during a disruption in power;

the processor is configured to provide instructions for the one or more user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons to remain active, while a remainder of the touchscreen interface is deactivated, during the low-power operating mode;

the system is configured to display, via a home screen display interface for the touchscreen interface, a user-selectable control for invoking the services provided by the telematics system, including the one or more user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons; and

the user-selectable control, including the one or more user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons, occupies a minority portion of the home display screen display interface, and wherein the user-selectable control occupies a position along an edge of the home screen display interface; and

wherein a non-overlapping majority portion of the home screen display interface displays infotainment service controls, and non-emergency infotainment services are turned off, while the one or more user-selectable graphical touch-screen soft buttons pertaining to the emergency call service remain on, during the disruption in power.