Telematics unit access method

• US 20040180647A1
• Filed: 03/12/2003
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Mazzara, William E. Jr., Schwinke, Steven P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,035,631 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/417
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

The present invention is a system and method of providing access to a telematics unit in a mobile vehicle. A telematics unit access request corresponding to the telematics unit is received, and a mobile identification number and a telematics unit identifier associated with the telematics unit are determined. The mobile identification number and the telematics unit identifier are compared with a database of identifier records, after which a calling-state message is sent to the telematics unit based on the telematics unit access request, the mobile identification number, and the telematics unit identifier.

Claims

1. A method of providing access to a telematics unit in a mobile vehicle, comprising:

receiving a telematics unit access request corresponding to the telematics unit;

determining a mobile identification number associated with the telematics unit;

determining a telematics unit identifier associated with the telematics unit;

comparing the mobile identification number and the telematics unit identifier with a database of identifier records; and

sending a calling-state message to the telematics unit based on the telematics unit access request, the mobile identification number, and the telematics unit identifier.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the telematics unit identifier comprises at least a portion of an electronic serial number.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the telematics unit identifier comprises a coded security number.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the coded security number comprises a personal identification number.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the database of identifier records comprises an account number and a billing state associated with the telematics unit.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the calling-state message is sent using an air-interface function.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing an updated mobile identification number based on the calling-state message;

setting a calling-state indicator based on the calling-state message; and

enabling a cellular phone embedded in the telematics unit based on the calling-state indicator.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the calling-state indicator comprises a billing state consisting of a pre-pay state and a post-pay state.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

setting a calling-state indicator to a predefined billing state when the mobile identification number associated with the telematics unit is altered.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the calling-state indicator comprises a billing state.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the billing state is set to a pre-pay state.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

disabling a cellular phone embedded in the telematics unit based on a calling-state indicator.

13. A computer usable medium including a program to provide access to a telematics unit in a mobile vehicle, comprising:

computer program code to receive a telematics unit access request corresponding to the telematics unit;

computer program code to determine a mobile identification number associated with the telematics unit;

computer program code to determine a telematics unit identifier associated with the telematics unit;

computer program code to compare the mobile identification number and the telematics unit identifier with a database of identifier records; and

computer program code to send a calling-state message to the telematics unit based on the telematics unit access request, the mobile identification number, and the telematics unit identifier.

14. The computer usable medium of claim 13 further comprising:

computer program code to store an updated mobile identification number based on the calling-state message;

computer program code to set a calling-state indicator based on the calling-state message; and

computer program code to enable a cellular phone embedded in the telematics unit based on the calling-state indicator.

15. The computer usable medium of claim 13 further comprising:

computer program code to set a calling-state indicator to a predefined billing state when the mobile identification number associated with the telematics unit is altered.

16. The computer usable medium of claim 13 further comprising:

computer program code to disable a cellular phone embedded in the telematics unit based on a calling-state indicator.

17. A system for providing access to a telematics unit in a mobile vehicle, comprising:

means for receiving a telematics unit access request corresponding to the telematics unit;

means for determining a mobile identification number associated with the telematics unit;

means for determining a telematics unit identifier associated with the telematics unit;

means for comparing the mobile identification number and the telematics unit identifier with a database of identifier records; and

means for sending a calling-state message to the telematics unit based on the telematics unit access request, the mobile identification number, and the telematics unit identifier.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

means for storing an updated mobile identification number based on the calling-state message;

means for setting a calling-state indicator based on the calling-state message; and

means for enabling a cellular phone embedded in the telematics unit based on the calling-state indicator.

19. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

means for setting a calling-state indicator to a predefined billing state when the mobile identification number associated with the telematics unit is altered.

20. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

means for disabling a cellular phone embedded in the telematics unit based on a calling-state indicator.