Method and system for facilitating communication of information to a mobile platform

• US 20080208405A1
• Filed: 02/23/2007
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Turski, Karin L., Alrabady, Ansaf I., Huntzicker, Fred W., Abowd, Michael Jay
• Granted Patent: US 8,527,015 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

There is provided a method and system for facilitating communications between a remote access point and a mobile platform during a shutdown period. The mobile platform is equipped with a first receiver and a wireless communications receiver. A wake-up signal is wirelessly transmitted from a remote wireless device to the first receiver of the mobile platform. The communications receiver is activated based upon the wake-up signal. The remote access point is controlled to communicate with the communications receiver subsequent to the activation of the communications receiver.

Claims

1. Method for facilitating communications between a remote access point and a mobile platform equipped with a first receiver and a wireless communications receiver during a shutdown period, comprising:

wirelessly transmitting a wake-up signal from a remote wireless device to the first receiver of the mobile platform;

controlling the first receiver to activate the communications receiver based upon the wake-up signal; and

,

controlling the remote access point to communicate with the communications receiver subsequent to the activation of the communications receiver.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein wirelessly transmitting the wake-up signal from the remote wireless device to the first receiver of the mobile platform comprises selectively activating a radio-frequency signal generator resident in the remote wireless device operative to generate and transmit a low-power signal interpretable by the first receiver.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein selectively activating the signal generator comprises pressing a wireless enable button on the remote wireless device proximal to the mobile platform.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

authenticating the wake-up signal transmitted from the remote wireless device as a condition-precedent to activating the communications receiver.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the communications receiver based upon the wake-up signal further comprises:

activating an information management system, and, communicating information between the information management system and the remote access point through the communications receiver subsequent to the activation.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

authenticating a signal transmitted from the remote access point as a condition-precedent to communicating with the communications receiver.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

de-activating the communications receiver when there has been no authenticated signal transmitted between the communications receiver and the remote access point for a predetermined elapsed period of time.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the remote access point to communicate with the communications receiver subsequent to the activation of the communications receiver comprises transmitting formatted electronic data therebetween.

9. A mobile platform adapted to selectively communicate with a remote system via a remote access point during a period when the mobile platform is shutdown, comprising:

a first communications receiver, adapted to receive a wake-up signal transmitted from a portable remote wireless device, and, signally connected to and selectively operative to activate a wireless communications receiver in response to the wake-up signal transmitted from the remote wireless device when the mobile platform is shutdown;

the wireless communications receiver, signally connected to an on-board information management system; and

,

the wireless communications receiver operative to communicate with the remote access point subsequent to the activation to transmit formatted electronic data therebetween.

10. The mobile platform of claim 9, further comprising the wireless communications receiver being deactivated when there has been no authenticated signal transmitted between the wireless communications receiver and the remote access point for a predetermined elapsed period of time.

11. The mobile platform of claim 9, further comprising the wireless communication receiver operative to activate the information management system and communicate information between the information management system and the wireless access point subsequent to the activation.

12. The mobile platform of claim 9, wherein the first communications receiver is operative to authenticate the wake-up signal transmitted from the remote wireless device prior to activating the wireless communications receiver.

13. The mobile platform of claim 12, wherein the first communications receiver comprises a remote keyless entry system adapted for the mobile platform.

14. The mobile platform of claim 13, wherein the wake-up signal comprises a low power radio-frequency signal originating from and selectively generated by a remote transponder operative to communicate with the remote keyless entry system in response to an operator depressing a button thereon.

15. The mobile platform of claim 9, wherein the wake-up signal comprises a wireless signal originating from and selectively generated by a remote transponder operative to communicate with the remote keyless entry system in response to an operator depressing a button thereon.

16. The mobile platform of claim 9, wherein the wireless communications receiver discontinues wireless communications and deactivates subsequent to a shutdown of the mobile platform.

17. The mobile platform of claim 16, wherein the shutdown comprises a key-off event of the mobile platform.

18. The mobile platform of claim 9, wherein the wireless communications receiver comprises a device adapted to communicate using a communications protocol compliant with IEEE 802.11.

19. Method for communicating formatted electronic data between a remote access point and a mobile platform equipped with a first communications receiver and a wireless communications receiver, comprising:

wirelessly transmitting a wake-up signal comprising an encrypted radio-frequency signal from a portable remote wireless device proximal to the first communications receiver of the mobile platform during a shutdown period;

controlling the first receiver to activate the communications receiver based upon the wake-up signal; and

,

controlling the communications receiver to communicate the formatted electronic data using a communications protocol compliant with IEEE 802.11 subsequent to the activation of the communications receiver.