Targeted messaging for mobile vehicles using satellite-radio broadcasts

• US 20060046649A1
• Filed: 08/30/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Videtich, Matt C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,532,859 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/12.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/57 for mobile receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/16 on playing information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages

Abstract

A targeted message is sent to a mobile vehicle using a satellite broadcast system. A satellite broadcast message including a vehicle identification tag and the targeted message is received at the mobile vehicle. A determination is made on whether to play the targeted message at the mobile vehicle based on the vehicle identification tag, and the targeted message is played based on the determination. A system for sending a targeted message to a mobile vehicle and related computer programming code are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of sending a targeted message to a mobile vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a satellite broadcast message at the mobile vehicle, the satellite broadcast message including a vehicle identification tag and the targeted message;

determining whether to play the targeted message at the mobile vehicle based on the vehicle identification tag; and

playing the targeted message based on the determination.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination comprises comparing the received vehicle identification tag with a vehicle identifier of the mobile vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the vehicle identifier of the mobile vehicle is selected from the group comprising a vehicle identification number, an electronic serial number of a telematics unit within the mobile vehicle, a cell phone number of a telematics unit within the mobile vehicle, a satellite radio receiver identification number, and a pre-assigned vehicle reference number stored within the mobile vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle identification tag comprises at least one identification number associated with one or more mobile vehicles.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the received broadcast message comprises at least one information field selected from the group consisting of the vehicle identification tag, a message identifier field, a message action field, and the targeted message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the targeted message is selected from the group consisting of service information, an advertisement, a recall notification, and a vehicle alert message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the satellite broadcast message comprises a message response command to dial a predetermined number from an in-vehicle telematics unit to a call center in response to a user input.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the targeted message is played using one of an audio output device or a visual output device in the mobile vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the targeted message is played in response to a user input.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a play-delay indicator; and

storing the targeted message at the mobile vehicle responsive to the play-delay indicator.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a target group of mobile vehicles at a call center;

determining the vehicle identification tag for the determined target group of mobile vehicles; and

sending the determined vehicle identification tag and the targeted message from the call center to a satellite radio broadcaster for transmitting the satellite broadcast message to the mobile vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

filtering at least one customer data record at the call center to determine the target group of mobile vehicles.

13. A system for sending a targeted message to a mobile vehicle, the system comprising:

means for receiving a satellite broadcast message at the mobile vehicle, the satellite broadcast message including a vehicle identification tag and the targeted message;

means for determining whether to play the targeted message at the mobile vehicle based on the vehicle identification tag; and

means for playing the targeted message based on the determination.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

means for receiving a play-delay indicator; and

means for storing the targeted message at the mobile vehicle responsive to the play-delay indicator.

15. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

means for determining a target group of mobile vehicles at a call center;

means for determining the vehicle identification tag for the determined target group of mobile vehicles; and

means for sending the determined vehicle identification tag and the targeted message from the call center to a satellite radio broadcaster for transmitting the satellite broadcast message to the mobile vehicle.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

means for filtering at least one customer data record at the call center to determine the target group of mobile vehicles.

17. A computer usable medium including a program to send a targeted message to a mobile vehicle, the program comprising:

computer program code to receive a satellite broadcast message at the mobile vehicle, the satellite broadcast message including a vehicle identification tag and the targeted message;

computer program code to determine whether to play the targeted message at the mobile vehicle based on the vehicle identification tag; and

computer program code to play the targeted message based on the determination.

18. The computer usable medium of claim 17 further comprising:

computer program code to receive a play-delay indicator; and

computer program code to store the targeted message at the mobile vehicle responsive to the play-delay indicator.

19. The computer usable medium of claim 17 further comprising:

computer program code to determine a target group of mobile vehicles at a call center;

computer program code to determine the vehicle identification tag for the determined target group of mobile vehicles; and

computer program code to send the determined vehicle identification tag and the targeted message from the call center to a satellite radio broadcaster for transmitting the satellite broadcast message to the mobile vehicle.

20. The computer usable medium of claim 19 further comprising:

computer program code to filter at least one customer data record at the call center to determine the target group of mobile vehicles.