Method and apparatus for remote vehicle communication

• US 20060047385A1
• Filed: 06/15/2005
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Robinson, Timothy A., Hussey, Stephen J., Stewart, James H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,502,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link

Abstract

A method for remote vehicle communication is provided. The method monitors, stores and/or transmits data representative of the operation of a component or system, whereby the transmitted data may be analyzed and vehicle performance improved through the analysis thereof. Additionally, the vehicle systems are remotely accessible such that a technician can remotely analyze the vehicle without taking control of the vehicle away from the consumer.

Claims

1. A method for communicating with a vehicle having a plurality of vehicle systems, the method comprising:

initializing a recorder module;

receiving any recorder module commands from a remote source relative to the vehicle, wherein the recorder module command is directed to the recorder module;

processing the recorder module commands;

generating a response to the recorder module commands;

transmitting the response to a remote location relative to the vehicle; and

supplying power to the recorder module after the vehicle is turned off such that any unrecorded data may be preserved.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving any pass-through commands from a remote source relative to the vehicle wherein the pass-through command is directed to a vehicle system.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising processing the pass-through command including transferring the pass-through command to the vehicle system such that the pass-through command passes through the recorder module thereby allowing remote access to any of the vehicle systems.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said processing the recorder module commands includes collecting data from one or more predefined sources in response to the recorder module commands.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said processing the recorder module commands includes retrieving data from the recorder module in response to the recorder module commands.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said processing the recorder module commands includes recording data onto the recorder module in response to the recorder module commands.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said processing the recorder module commands includes reprogramming the recorder module in response to the recorder module commands.

8. The method of claim 8, further comprising powering-down the recorder module after the unrecorded data is preserved to conserve energy.

9. A method for communicating with a vehicle having a plurality of vehicle systems, the method comprising:

initializing a recorder module;

receiving any recorder module commands from a remote source relative to the vehicle wherein the recorder module command is directed to the recorder module;

processing the recorder module commands;

generating a response to the recorder module commands;

transmitting the response to a remote location relative to the vehicle; and

powering-down the recorder module after the vehicle is turned off to conserve energy.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising receiving any pass-through commands from a remote source relative to the vehicle wherein the pass-through command is directed to a vehicle system.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising processing the pass-through command including transferring the pass-through command to the vehicle system such that the pass-through command passes through the recorder module thereby allowing remote access to any of the vehicle systems.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said processing the recorder module commands includes collecting data from one or more predefined sources in response to the recorder module commands.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein said processing the recorder module commands includes retrieving data from the recorder module in response to the recorder module commands.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein said processing the recorder module commands includes recording data onto the recorder module in response to the recorder module commands.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein said processing the recorder module commands includes reprogramming the recorder module in response to the recorder module commands.

10. The method of claim 10 further comprising supplying power to the recorder module after the vehicle is turned off and before the recorder module is powered-down such that any unrecorded data may be preserved.

17. A method for communicating with a vehicle having a plurality of vehicle systems, the method comprising:

initializing a recorder module;

receiving any pass-through commands from a remote source relative to the vehicle wherein the pass-through command is directed to a vehicle system;

processing the pass-through command including transferring the pass-through command to the vehicle system such that the pass-through command passes through the recorder module thereby allowing remote access to any of the vehicle systems;

receiving any recorder module commands from a remote source relative to the vehicle wherein the recorder module command is directed to the recorder module;

processing the recorder module commands;

generating a response to the recorder module commands; and

transmitting the response to a remote location relative to the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising supplying power to the recorder module after the vehicle is turned off such that any unrecorded data may be preserved.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising powering-down the recorder module after the unrecorded data is preserved to conserve energy.