AUTOMATIC UPDATING OF A PREFERRED ROAMING LIST STORED IN A VEHICLE TELEMATICS UNIT

• US 20090247153A1
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Economos, George A., Haralson, Jessica L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,423,017 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/432.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/30 Network data restoration; Network data reliability; Network data fault tolerance

Abstract

A method of updating a preferred roaming list (PRL) onboard a vehicle that wirelessly communicates with a call center and with a communications center over a wireless network. A communication link is established between the vehicle and the call center. A onboard PRL version number is transmitted from the vehicle to the call center where it is compared to a PRL version number stored at the call center. When the call center PRL version number differs from the onboard PRL version number, a PRL update flag is set at the vehicle. Thereafter, a communication link between the vehicle and the communication center is established. An updated PRL is downloaded from the communication center to the vehicle and stored therein, and the PRL update flag is then cleared.

Claims

1. A method for updating an onboard data set on a vehicle communicable with a call center and with a communications center over a wireless network, the method comprising:

establishing a communication link between the vehicle and the call center;

transmitting a data set version identifier between the vehicle and call center;

comparing the data set version identifier with an onboard data set version identifier stored in the vehicle;

setting a data set update flag when the data set version identifier differs from the onboard data set version identifier;

establishing a communication link between the vehicle and the communications center; and

downloading an updated data set from the communications center.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of erasing the onboard data set and the onboard data set version number.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 including the step of resetting the data set update flag after the step of downloading the updated data set.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3 including the step of terminating the method after the step of comparing when the data set version identifier matches the onboard data set version number.

5. A method as set forth in claim 4 including the step of terminating the communications link between the vehicle and the call center prior to the step of establishing the communications link between the vehicle and the communications center.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5 including the step of storing the updated data set as a new onboard data set.

7. A method for updating an onboard preferred roaming list on a vehicle communicable with a call center and a wireless service provider over a wireless network, the method comprising:

calling the call center from the vehicle;

transmitting an onboard preferred roaming list version number from the vehicle to the call center;

comparing a call center preferred roaming list version number with the onboard preferred roaming list version number;

setting a preferred roaming list flag when the call center preferred roaming list version number differs from the onboard preferred roaming list version number;

establishing a communications link between the vehicle and the wireless service provider over the wireless network; and

downloading an updated preferred roaming list from the wireless provider.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the step of establishing a communications link includes the step of using over-the-air service provisioning to establish the communications link between the vehicle and the wireless service provider.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8 including the step of erasing the onboard preferred roaming list and the onboard preferred roaming list version number.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 including the step of resetting the preferred roaming list update flag after the step of downloading the updated preferred roaming list.

11. A method as set forth in claim 10 including the step of terminating the method after the step of comparing when the preferred roaming list version number matches the onboard preferred roaming list version number.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 including the step of terminating the communications link between the vehicle and the call center prior to the step of establishing the communications link between the vehicle and the communications center.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12 including the step of storing the updated preferred roaming list as a new onboard preferred roaming list.

14. A method as set forth in claim 13 including the step of delaying the step of establishing the communications link with the over-the-air service provisioning until after a predetermined time has lapsed from the step of terminating the call.

15. A method as set forth in claim 13 including the step of delaying the step of establishing the communications link with the over-the-air service provisioning until after an occurrence of a predetermined event.

16. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the transmitting step is carried out in response to receiving a request for the onboard preferred roaming list version number from the call center.

17. A telematics unit for providing communications between a motor vehicle and a call center, said telematics unit comprising:

a cellular chipset for transmitting and receiving electronic voice and data signals;

an electronic processing device electrically connected to said cellular chipset for controlling said cellular chipset, said electronic processing device uploading vehicle data to the call center through said cellular chipset; and

a memory device electrically connected to said electronic processing device, said memory device including a preferred roaming list flag settable between a current state and a outdated state such that said electronic processing device updates a preferred roaming list stored in said memory device by contacting a wireless provider and downloading the preferred roaming list therefrom using said cellular chipset.

18. A telematics unit as set forth in claim 17 wherein said electronic processing device controls said cellular chipset to establish communication with the wireless service provider in an over-the-air service provisioning mode.

19. A telematics unit as set forth in claim 18 including input ports electrically connected to vehicle system modules to receive data based on the operation of the vehicle.

20. A telematics unit as set forth in claim 19 wherein said electronic processing device controls said cellular chipset in the over-the-air service provisioning mode depending on data sent to said electronic processing device from the vehicle system modules.