Method and system for informing a vehicle telematics user of a connection status

• US 20080119240A1
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Oesterling, Christopher L., Ampunan, Nathan, Hering, Carl J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,856,297 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/569.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/18 with means for reducing interference or noise; with means for reducing effects due to line faults with means for protecting lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2272 Subscriber line supervision circuits, e.g. call detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing

Abstract

A method for informing an in-vehicle telematics unit user of a connection status generally includes establishing a connection between the telematics unit and a call center, and initiating communication between the user and a call center service advisor. Next, the communication may be temporarily suspended while maintaining the connection. A connection status signal informing the user of the status of the connection is transmitted from the call center to the telematics unit during the temporary suspension in communication. After the signal is transmitted, the communication between the user and the call center service advisor is ultimately restored.

Claims

1. A method for informing an in-vehicle telematics unit user of a connection status, the method comprising:

establishing a connection between a telematics unit and a call center;

initiating a communication between the user and a call center service advisor;

temporarily suspending the communication while maintaining the connection;

transmitting, from the call center, a connection status signal to the telematics unit during the temporarily suspended communication, the connection status signal informing the user of a status of the connection; and

restoring the communication between the user and the call center service advisor.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein temporarily suspending the communication includes temporarily suspending a communication line between the user and the call center service advisor.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, at the telematics unit prior to restoring the communication, an attempt to restore communication signal from the call center indicative of an attempt to restore the communication; and

reconnecting the communication line between the user and the call center service advisor in response to the attempt to restore communication signal.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the telematics unit is in selective communication with a vehicle audio entertainment system, and wherein the method further comprises:

playing an audio output via the vehicle audio entertainment system in response to the connection status signal; and

ceasing the audio output in response to an attempt to restore communication signal indicative of an attempt to restore the communication.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving, at the telematics unit, the connection status signal;

temporarily switching from a temporarily suspended communication line between the user and the call center service advisor in response to the receipt of the connection status signal; and

activating the vehicle audio entertainment system in response to the receipt of the connection status signal.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving, at the telematics unit, the attempt to restore communication signal;

deactivating the vehicle audio entertainment system in response to the receipt of the attempt to restore communication signal; and

reconnecting the previously temporarily suspended communication line between the user and the call center service advisor in response to the receipt of the attempt to restore communication signal.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the connection status signal includes at least one of audio signals, visual signals, tactile signals, or combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the connection status signal includes at least one of an emission from a light emitting diode, an audio message output at predetermined intervals, or a visual message displayed on a user interface panel.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the connection status signal includes progression information configured to be presented audibly, visually via a Driver Information Display, or combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the call center service advisor is a human advisor or an automated advisor.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the connection status signal is not context sensitive.

12. A method of indicating that a connection for communication is active, the method comprising:

initiating a communication via the connection utilizing a vehicle telematics unit;

requesting, by a user of the vehicle telematics unit, a service via the communication;

temporarily suspending the communication while maintaining the connection;

transmitting a connection status signal to the telematics unit, the connection status signal informing the user that the connection remains active;

playing, for the user, a preferred audio output in response to the connection status signal;

transmitting an attempt to restore communication signal to the telematics unit, the attempt to restore communication signal indicative of an intent to resume the communication;

ceasing the preferred audio output in response to the attempt to restore communication signal; and

resuming the communication in response to the attempt to restore communication signal.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the connection status signal includes at least one of audio signals, visual signals, tactile signals, or combinations thereof.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the connection extends between the vehicle telematics unit and a call center.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the call center includes at least one of a human advisor or an automated advisor.

16. A system for informing an in-vehicle telematics unit user of a connection status, the system comprising:

the in-vehicle telematics unit; and

a communication line forming an operative and selective connection between the telematics unit and a call center having at least one call center service advisor;

wherein the connection is adapted to be maintained during a temporary suspension in communication between the user and one of the at least one call center service advisor;

and wherein the call center is configured to transmit a connection status signal to the telematics unit in response to the temporary suspension in communication.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a vehicle audio entertainment system in operative and selective communication with the telematics unit, wherein the telematics unit is capable of switching from a communication line between the user and the call center service advisor to the audio entertainment system in response to the connection status signal.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the at least one call center service advisor includes at least one of a human advisor or an automated advisor.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the at least one call center service advisor initiates transmission of the connection status signal.

20. The system of claim 16, further comprising a notification system configured to provide at least one of audio notices, visual notices, tactile notices, or combinations thereof to the user in response to the connection status signal, the notice informing the user of the status of the connection.