VEHICLE DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20120094630A1
• Filed: 10/18/2010
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company), GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations | General Motors LLC
• Inventors: Wisnewski, Mark A., Trzcinski, David J., Massoll, Charles A., Callaghan, Nathan C., Peirce, Kenneth L., Petrucci, David R., Nguyen, Thiep T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,238,872 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/405
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/70 Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/77 involving multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/78 Redistributing amount between accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8055 Selecting cheaper transport technology for a given service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8061 Selecting least cost route depending on origin or type of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/85 characterised by the type of condition triggering a notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/852 Low balance or limit reached
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/883 linked escalation limits, i.e. establish, first or second limit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A system and method of for establishing a connection between a vehicle and an external network includes a plurality of personal electronic devices and a transceiver. The plurality of personal electronic devices are each configured for establishing a data connection to the vehicle. Each of the plurality of personal electronic have a mobile plan that includes a data limit and an amount of data used. At least one of the plurality of personal electronic devices are selected to be in communication with the external network. Selection of at least one of the plurality of personal electronic devices is based on a corresponding amount of data available in a mobile plan for each of the personal electronic devices.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a connection between a vehicle and an external network, the method comprising:

establishing a data connection between a plurality of personal electronic devices and the vehicle, wherein the plurality of personal electronic devices each have a mobile plan having a data limit and an amount of data used, and wherein the plurality of personal electronic devices are each communicatable with the external network;

monitoring the mobile plan of each of the plurality of personal electronic devices;

determining an amount of data available for the mobile plan for each of the plurality of personal electronic devices, wherein the amount of data available is the difference between the data limit and the amount of data used;

selecting at least one of the plurality of personal electronic devices based on the amount of data available; and

establishing a data connection between the external network and the selected one of the plurality of personal electronic devices to connect the vehicle with the external network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing the data connection between the external network and the selected one of the plurality of personal electronic devices further comprises establishing a first set of RF signals associated with the external network, wherein the first set of RF signals are in a form compatible with a mobile communication network.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising converting the first set of RF signals into a second set of RF signals by the selected one of the plurality of personal electronic devices, wherein the second set of RF signals are in a form compatible for short-range wireless communication.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising communicating the second set of RF signals from the selected one of the plurality of personal electronic devices to a transceiver, wherein the transceiver is connected to the vehicle and is in bi-directional communication with the personal electronic device.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising communicating the second set of RF signals from the transceiver to a control module through a communication bus, wherein the bus is connected to the vehicle and is in bi-directional communication with the transceiver, and wherein the control module is connected to the vehicle and is in bi-directional communication with the bus.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising executing a control logic by the control module to monitor and select at least one of the plurality of personal electronic devices to be in communication with the external RF device.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising communicating data between the external network a host server, wherein a cellular network supplies information between the host server and the external network, and wherein the host server monitors and selects the at least one of the plurality of personal electronic devices.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising executing a security software application, wherein the security software application provides a secure connection between the external network and each of the plurality of personal electronic devices.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising executing a rewards software application, wherein the rewards software application includes a metric for determining rewards points in the application, wherein the rewards points correspond to the amount of data that is downloaded by the personal electronic device from the external network, and wherein the rewards points correspond to a monetary credit that is used towards the purchase of goods and services.

10. A method for establishing a connection between a vehicle and an external network, the method comprising:

establishing a data connection between a plurality of personal electronic devices and the vehicle, wherein the plurality of personal electronic devices each have a mobile plan having a data limit and an amount of data used, and wherein the plurality of personal electronic devices are each communicatable with the external network;

monitoring the mobile plan of each of the plurality of personal electronic devices, wherein a first set of RF signals associated with the external network, wherein the first set of RF signals are in a form compatible with a mobile communication network;

determining an amount of data available for the mobile plan for each of the plurality of personal electronic devices, wherein the amount of data available is the difference between the data limit and the amount of data used;

selecting at least one of the plurality of personal electronic devices based on the amount of data available;

establishing a data connection between the external network and the selected one of the plurality of personal electronic devices to connect the vehicle with the external network, wherein a first set of RF signals are associated with the external network, wherein the first set of RF signals are in a form compatible with a mobile communication network; and

converting the first set of RF signals into a second set of RF signals by the selected one of the plurality of personal electronic devices, wherein the second set of RF signals are in a form compatible for short-range wireless communication.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising communicating the second set of RF signals from the selected one of the plurality of personal electronic devices to a transceiver, wherein the transceiver is connected to the vehicle and is in bi-directional communication with the personal electronic device.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising communicating the second set of RF signals from the transceiver to a control module through a communication bus, wherein the bus is connected to the vehicle and is in bi-directional communication with the transceiver, and wherein the control module is connected to the vehicle and is in bi-directional communication with the bus.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising executing a control logic by the control module to monitor and select at least one of the plurality of personal electronic devices to be in communication with the external RF device.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising communicating data between the external network a host server, wherein a cellular network supplies information between the host server and the external network, and wherein the host server monitors and selects the at least one of the plurality of personal electronic devices.

15. A communication system for establishing a connection between a vehicle to an external network, the communication system comprising:

a plurality of personal electronic devices, wherein a data connection is established between the plurality of personal electronic devices and the vehicle, wherein the plurality of personal electronic devices each have a mobile plan having a data limit and an amount of data used, and wherein the plurality of personal electronic devices are each communicatable with the external network;

a transceiver connected to the vehicle, wherein the transceiver is in bi-directional communication with the external network through the selected one of the plurality of personal electronic devices; and

a control module connected to the vehicle, wherein the control module is in bi-directional communication with the transceiver, and wherein the control module includes;

a first control logic for monitoring the mobile plan of each of the plurality of personal electronic devices;

a second control logic for determining an amount of data available for the mobile plan for each of the plurality of personal electronic devices, wherein the amount of data available is the difference between the data limit and the amount of data used;

a third control logic for selecting at least one of the plurality of personal electronic devices based on the amount of data available; and

a fourth control logic for establishing a data connection between the external network and the selected one of the plurality of personal electronic devices to connect the vehicle with the external network.

16. The communication system of claim 15 wherein a communication bus is connected to the vehicle, wherein the control module is in communication with the bus, and wherein the bus transmits data from the external network from the transceiver to the control module.

17. The communication system of claim 15 wherein the external network is in communication with a cellular network and a host server, wherein the cellular network supplies information between the host server and the external network, wherein the host server monitors and selects the at least one of the plurality of personal electronic devices to be in communication with the external network.

18. The communication system of claim 15 wherein each of the personal electronic devices include a security software application, wherein the security software application provides a secure connection between the data connection to the vehicle and each of the plurality of personal electronic devices.

19. The communication system of claim 15 wherein each of the personal electronic devices include a rewards software application, wherein the rewards software application includes a metric for determining rewards points, wherein the rewards points correspond to the amount of data that is downloaded by the personal electronic device from the external network and communicated to the transceiver, and wherein the rewards points correspond to a monetary credit that is used towards the purchase of goods and services.

20. The communication system of claim 15 wherein the plurality of personal electronic devices each include circuitry for converting a first set of RF signals into a second set of RF signals, wherein the first set of RF signals are in a form compatible with a mobile communication network and the second set of RF signals are in a form compatible for short-range wireless communication.