ARCHITECTURE FOR DELIVERING DATA TO MOBILE TELEMATICS UNITS

• US 20080108335A1
• Filed: 11/06/2006
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Yi, Ki Hak, Chesnutt, Elizabeth, Fecher, Dana B., Madhavan, Sethu, Jamali, Hamadi
• Granted Patent: US 7,801,540 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/14 with services dependent on location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing

Abstract

An improved mobile connectivity system and method allow for data transfers, such as related to service delivery, to and from mobile wireless units in an economical and secure manner. The system utilizes existing IP connectivity when available and otherwise determines an appropriate data exchange mechanism based on the length and security requirements of the intended exchange. Data exchange mechanisms include SMS, IP and other suitable protocols, and wireless carriers include cellular and non-cellular wireless carriers. In an example, each subscriber unit periodically, or when triggered, sends its location to a call center to allow the delivery of location-based services.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting data from a first telecommunications unit to a second telecommunications unit, wherein at least the second telecommunications unit is a mobile unit, the method comprising:

identifying a body of data to be provided to the second unit, the body of data having associated therewith a data length value and one or more security constraints;

determining whether a PPP session is open between the first telecommunications unit and the second telecommunications unit; and

transmitting the body of data from the first telecommunications unit to the second telecommunications unit via IP over the existing PPP session if it is determined that a PPP session is open between the first telecommunications unit and the second telecommunications unit, and otherwise determining, based on at least one of the data length value and security constraints, whether to transmit the body of data via PPP or instead via an SMS message.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether to transmit the body of data via PPP or instead via an SMS message further comprises:

determining whether the one or more security constraints associated with the body of data specify a level of security that is unavailable within the SMS protocol;

causing a new PPP session to be initiated by the second telecommunications unit to the first telecommunications unit, if the security constraints associated with the body of data specify a level of security that is unavailable within the SMS protocol, and transmitting the body of data via the new PPP session; and

if the security constraints associated with the body of data do not specify a level of security that is unavailable within the SMS protocol;

determining whether the data length value exceeds a predetermined SMS size limit;

if the data length value exceeds the predetermined SMS size limit, causing a new PPP session to be initiated by the second telecommunications unit to the first telecommunications unit and transmitting the body of data via the new PPP session; and

if the data length value does not exceed the predetermined SMS size limit, transmitting the body of data via an SMS message.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of transmitting the body of data via an SMS message further comprises encrypting at least a portion of the body of data prior to transmission.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the body of data is associated with a service such that successful transmission of the body of data constitutes delivery of the service.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the service is a location-based service.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the location-based service comprises information selected from the group consisting of information related to local entertainment facilities, local vehicle service facilities, local radio station facilities, local weather, local navigation, and local emergency services.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of identifying a body of data to be provided to the second unit is initiated by receipt of a location update from the second unit indicating that the position of the second unit has changed from a first location to a second location.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the first location is selected from the group consisting of a county, a zip code, an area code, and a predefined geographic region.

9. The method according to claim 2, wherein causing a new PPP session to be initiated by the second telecommunications unit comprises causing a new PPP session to be opened over a cellular link.

10. The method according to claim 2, wherein causing a new PPP session to be initiated by the second telecommunications unit comprises causing a new PPP session to be opened over a non-cellular wireless link.

11. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of transmitting the body of data via an SMS message further comprises a subsequent step of causing a new PPP session to be initiated by the second telecommunications unit to the first telecommunications unit.

12. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of causing a new PPP session to be initiated by the second telecommunications unit to the first telecommunications unit comprises sending an SMS message from the first telecommunications unit to the second telecommunications unit requesting the second telecommunications unit to open the PPP session.

13. A method of receiving data at a mobile telecommunications unit from a substantially stationary telecommunications unit, the method comprising:

receiving a body of data at the mobile unit from the substantially stationary telecommunications unit via an SMS message;

subsequent to the step of receiving the body of data at the mobile unit, receiving at the mobile unit from the substantially stationary unit a request to initiate a PPP session from the mobile unit to the substantially stationary unit; and

at the mobile unit, in response to the received request to initiate a PPP session, initiating a PPP session from the mobile unit to the substantially stationary unit.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the SMS message containing the body of data is at least partially encrypted.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the body of data is associated with a service such that successful receipt of the body of data constitutes receipt of the service.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the service is a location-based service comprising information selected from the group consisting of information related to local entertainment facilities, local vehicle service facilities, local radio station facilities, local weather, local navigation, and local emergency services.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising sending a location update from the mobile unit to the substantially stationary unit indicating that the position of the mobile unit has changed from a first location to a second location.

18. A method of receiving data at a mobile telecommunications unit from a substantially stationary telecommunications unit, the method comprising:

receiving at the mobile unit from the substantially stationary unit a request to initiate a PPP session from the mobile unit to the substantially stationary unit;

at the mobile unit, in response to the received request to initiate a PPP session, initiating a PPP session from the mobile unit to the substantially stationary unit; and

receiving a body of data at the mobile unit from the substantially stationary telecommunications unit via the PPP session.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the body of data is associated with a location-based service, wherein the location-based service comprises information selected from the group consisting of information related to local entertainment facilities, local vehicle service facilities, local radio station facilities, local weather, local navigation, and local emergency services.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising, prior to receiving a request to initiate a PPP session, a step of sending a location update from the mobile unit to the substantially stationary unit indicating that the position of the mobile unit has changed from a first location to a second location, wherein the first location is selected from the group consisting of a county, a zip code, an area code, and a predefined geographic region.