Method and system for communicating with a vehicle in a mixed communication service environment

• US 20030232619A1
• Filed: 06/18/2002
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Fraser, Ronald W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,947,732 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0241 where no transmission is received, e.g. out of range of the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/287 when the channel is in stand-by
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of accessing a mobile vehicle using a wireless communication system. A vehicle communication device is placed into a first communication service sleep mode of a sleep cycle. It is determined if a first communication service is currently available to the vehicle communication device. If the first communication service is available, the vehicle communication device remains in a first communication service awake mode for a first interval of the sleep cycle. If the first communication service is not available, the vehicle communication device remains in the first communication service sleep mode for the first interval of the sleep cycle. Programs and systems of using the method are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of accessing a mobile vehicle using a wireless communication system, comprising:

placing a vehicle communication device into a first communication service sleep mode of a sleep cycle;

determining if a first communication service is currently available to the vehicle communication device;

if the first communication service is available, remaining in a first communication service awake mode for a first interval of the sleep cycle; and

if the first communication service is not available, remaining in the first communication service sleep mode for the first interval of the sleep cycle.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if a second communication service is currently available to the vehicle communication device; and

selecting the second communication service.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

re-determining if the first communication service is available; and

if the first communication service is not available, remaining in a second communication service awake mode for a second interval of the sleep cycle.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

returning to the first communication service sleep mode after the first interval of the sleep cycle has elapsed.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining if the sleep cycle is ended; and

if the sleep cycle is ended, turning the vehicle communication device off.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if the first interval of the sleep cycle is a continuous interval.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first interval of the sleep cycle is continuous, further comprising:

remaining in the first communication service awake mode until the sleep cycle is ended.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

turning the vehicle communication device off once the sleep cycle is ended.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the first interval is not continuous, further comprising:

returning to the first communication service sleep mode after the first interval of the sleep cycle has elapsed.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining if the sleep cycle is ended; and

if the sleep cycle is ended, turning the vehicle communication device off.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the first communication service is a digital service.

12. The method of claim 2 wherein the second communication service an analog service.

13. Computer program product in a computer usable medium for accessing a mobile vehicle using a wireless communication system, comprising:

means for placing a vehicle communication device into a first communication service sleep mode of a sleep cycle;

means for determining if a first communication service is currently available to the vehicle communication device;

if the first communication service is available, means for remaining in a first communication service awake mode for a first interval of the sleep cycle; and

if the first communication service is not available, means for remaining in the first communication service sleep mode for the first interval of the sleep cycle.

14. The product of claim 13, further comprising:

means for determining if a second communication service is currently available to the vehicle communication device; and

means for selecting the second communication service.

15. The product of claim 14, further comprising:

means for re-determining if the first communication service is available; and

if the first communication service is not available, means for remaining in a second communication service awake mode for a second interval of the sleep cycle.

16. The product of claim 15, further comprising:

means for returning to the first communication service sleep mode after the first interval of the sleep cycle has elapsed.

17. The product of claim 16, further comprising:

means for determining if the sleep cycle is ended; and

if the sleep cycle is ended, means for turning the vehicle communication device off.

18. The product of claim 13, further comprising:

means for determining if the first interval of the sleep cycle is a continuous interval.

19. The product of claim 18, wherein the first interval of the sleep cycle is continuous, further comprising:

means for remaining in the first communication service awake mode until the sleep cycle is ended.

20. The product of claim 18, wherein the first interval is not continuous, further comprising:

means for returning to the first communication service sleep mode after the first interval of the sleep cycle has elapsed.

21. A mobile vehicle access system, comprising:

means for placing a vehicle communication device into a first communication service sleep mode of a sleep cycle;

means for determining if a first communication service is currently available to the vehicle communication device;

if the first communication service is available, means for remaining in a first communication service awake mode for a first interval of the sleep cycle; and

if the first communication service is not available, means for remaining in the first communication service sleep mode for the first interval of the sleep cycle.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for determining if a second communication service is currently available to the vehicle communication device; and

means for selecting the second communication service.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

means for re-determining if the first communication service is available; and

if the first communication service is not available, means for remaining in a second communication service awake mode for a second interval of the sleep cycle.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising:

means for returning to the first communication service sleep mode after the first interval of the sleep cycle has elapsed.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

means for determining if the sleep cycle is ended; and

if the sleep cycle is ended, means for turning the vehicle communication device off.

26. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for determining if the first interval of the sleep cycle is a continuous interval.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the first interval of the sleep cycle is continuous, further comprising:

means for remaining in the first communication service awake mode until the sleep cycle is ended.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the first interval is not continuous, further comprising:

means for returning to the first communication service sleep mode after the first interval of the sleep cycle has elapsed.