Method and system for managing a telematics unit based on vehicle power level

• US 20050136991A1
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Oesterling, Christopher L., McGarry, Daniel C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,277,736 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6083 by interfacing with the vehicle audio system

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for managing telematics unit within a telematics equipped mobile vehicle based on vehicle power level. The method includes receiving at least one mobile vehicle sensor input, determining a mobile vehicle system power value based on the at least one received vehicle sensor input, and operating the telematics unit based on the determined mobile vehicle system power value. The step of operating the telematics unit based on the determined mobile vehicle system power value may include comparing the determined mobile vehicle system power value to a mobile vehicle system target power level, determining if the difference between the mobile vehicle system power value and the mobile vehicle system target power level exceeds a system power level threshold, and initiating a standard operating mode interrupt when the system power level threshold is exceeded.

Claims

1. A method for operating a telematics unit within a mobile vehicle communication system, the method comprising:

receiving at least one mobile vehicle sensor input;

determining a mobile vehicle system power value based on the at least one received vehicle sensor input; and

operating the telematics unit based on the determined mobile vehicle system power value.

2. The method of claim 1, further-comprising:

monitoring at least one mobile vehicle sensor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one mobile vehicle sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

a system energy level sensor, a system voltage level sensor, a system current level sensor, and a temperature sensor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein operating the telematics unit based on the determined mobile vehicle system power value comprises:

comparing the determined mobile vehicle system power value to a mobile vehicle system target power level;

determining if the difference between the mobile vehicle system power value and the mobile vehicle system target power level exceeds a system power level threshold; and

initiating a standard operating mode interrupt when the system power level threshold is exceeded.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein initiating the standard operating mode interrupt when the system power level threshold is exceeded comprises:

determining if mobile vehicle system power value is greater than the mobile vehicle system target power level by the system power level threshold;

determining if a standard operating mode time increment value has been exceeded; and

continuing standard operating mode responsive to the threshold determination and the increment value determination.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein initiating the standard operating mode interrupt when the system power level threshold is exceeded comprises:

determining if mobile vehicle system power value is less than the mobile vehicle system target power level by the system power level threshold;

determining if a standard operating mode time increment value has not been exceeded; and

initiating a telematics unit power down interrupt responsive to threshold determination and the increment value determination.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the system power level threshold is a predetermined value.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a system power level threshold based on the at least one received vehicle sensor input.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein operating the telematics unit based on the determined mobile vehicle system power value comprises:

comparing the determined mobile vehicle system power value to a mobile vehicle system target power level;

determining if the difference between the mobile vehicle system power value and the mobile vehicle system target power level exceeds a system power level threshold; and

initiating a standard operating mode interrupt when the system power level threshold is exceeded.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one mobile vehicle sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

a temperature sensor, a system energy level sensor, a system voltage level sensor, a system current level sensor.

11. A computer readable medium for operating a telematics unit within a mobile vehicle, comprising:

computer readable code for processing at least one received mobile vehicle sensor input;

computer readable code for determining a mobile vehicle system power value based on the at least one received vehicle sensor input; and

computer readable code for operating the telematics unit based on the determined mobile vehicle system power value.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11, further comprising:

computer readable code for monitoring at least one mobile vehicle sensor.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the at least one mobile vehicle sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

a system energy level sensor, a system voltage level sensor, a system current level sensor, and a temperature sensor.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the computer readable code for operating the telematics unit based on the determined mobile vehicle system power value comprises:

computer readable code for comparing the determined mobile vehicle system power value to a mobile vehicle system target power level;

computer readable code for determining if the difference between the mobile vehicle system power value and the mobile vehicle system target power level exceeds a system power level threshold; and

computer readable code for initiating a standard operating mode interrupt when the system power level threshold is exceeded.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the computer readable code for initiating the standard operating mode interrupt when the system power level threshold is exceeded comprises:

computer readable code for determining if mobile vehicle system power value is greater than the mobile vehicle system target power level by the system power level threshold;

computer readable code for determining if a standard operating mode time increment value has been exceeded; and

computer readable code for continuing standard operating mode responsive to the threshold determination and the increment value determination.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the computer readable code for initiating the standard operating mode interrupt when the system power level threshold is exceeded comprises:

computer readable code determining if mobile vehicle system power value is less than the mobile vehicle system target power level by the system power level threshold;

computer readable code determining if a standard operating mode time increment value has not been exceeded; and

computer readable code initiating a telematics unit power down interrupt responsive to threshold determination and the increment value determination.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the system power level threshold is a predetermined value.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the system power level threshold is a predetermined value.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the computer readable code for operating the telematics unit based on the determined mobile vehicle system power value comprises:

computer readable code for comparing the determined mobile vehicle system power value to a mobile vehicle system target power level;

computer readable code for determining if the difference between the mobile vehicle system power value and the mobile vehicle system target power level exceeds a system power level threshold; and

computer readable code for initiating a standard operating mode interrupt when the system power level threshold is exceeded.

20. A system for operating a telematics unit within a mobile vehicle, the system comprising:

means for receiving at least one mobile vehicle sensor input;

means for determining a mobile vehicle system power value based on the at least one received vehicle sensor input; and

means for operating the telematics unit based on the determined mobile vehicle system power value.