TELEMATICS SYSTEMS AND METHODS WITH MULTIPLE ANTENNAS

• US 20120258705A1
• Filed: 04/07/2011
• Published: 10/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: WISNEWSKI, Mark A., SCHWINKE, Steven P., MADHAVAN, Sethu K., YI, Ki Hak, YASAN, Eray
• Granted Patent: US 8,583,199 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition

Abstract

Vehicle telematics systems and methods for vehicle telematics systems are provided. The telematics system includes a first antenna, a second antenna, and a processing device. The first antenna is disposed at a first location on the vehicle. The second antenna is disposed at a second location on the vehicle. The second location is remote from the first location. The processing device is coupled to the first antenna and the second antenna. The processing device is configured to monitor a parameter that is indicative as to whether the first antenna is operational, communicate using the first antenna if the parameter indicates that the first antenna is operational, and communicate using the second antenna if the parameter indicates that the first antenna is not operational.

Claims

1. A telematics system for a vehicle, the telematics system comprising:

a first antenna disposed at a first location on the vehicle;

a second antenna disposed at a second location on the vehicle, the second location being remote from the first location; and

a processing device coupled to the first antenna and the second antenna and configured to;

monitor a parameter that is indicative as to whether the first antenna is operational;

communicate using the first antenna if the parameter indicates that the first antenna is operational; and

communicate using the second antenna if the parameter indicates that the first antenna is not operational.

2. The telematics system of claim 1, further comprising:

a cellular chipset, wherein the processing device is configured to;

communicate with a call center using the cellular chipset and the first antenna if the parameter indicates that the first antenna is operational; and

communicate with the call center using the cellular chipset and the second antenna if the parameter indicates that the first antenna is not operational.

3. The telematics system of claim 1, wherein:

the first location is on a first side of the vehicle; and

the second location is on a second side of the vehicle that is remote from the first side.

4. The telematics system of claim 1, wherein:

the first location is on a roof of the vehicle; and

the second location is on a bumper of the vehicle.

5. The telematics system of claim 1, wherein:

the first location is on a roof of the vehicle; and

the second location is underneath the vehicle.

6. The telematics system of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor associated with the first antenna and configured to measure a current or a voltage associated with the first antenna, wherein the processing device is coupled to the sensor and configured to monitor the parameter using the sensor, the parameter comprising the voltage or current.

7. The telematics system of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor associated with the first antenna and configured to measure a strength of a signal associated with the first antenna, wherein the processing device is coupled to the sensor and configured to monitor the parameter using the sensor, the parameter comprising the strength of the signal.

8. The telematics system of claim 1, wherein the processing device is coupled to an accident detection unit of the vehicle that is configured to provide an indication as to whether the vehicle has been in an accident, and the processing device is configured to monitor the parameter using the accident detection unit, the parameter comprising the indication as to whether the vehicle has been in the accident.

9. The telematics system of claim 1, wherein the processing device is further configured to:

monitor a second parameter that is indicative as to whether the second antenna is operational; and

communicate with a telephone of an occupant of the vehicle if the parameter indicates that the first antenna is not operational and the second parameter indicates that the second antenna is not operational.

10. A method for communicating via a telematics system of a vehicle, the telematics system having a first antenna disposed at a first location of the vehicle and a second antenna disposed at a second antenna disposed at a second location of the vehicle that is remote from the first location, the method comprising the steps of:

monitoring a parameter that is indicative as to whether the first antenna is operational;

communicating using the first antenna if the parameter indicates that the first antenna is operational; and

communicating using the second antenna if the parameter indicates that the first antenna is not operational.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

measuring a voltage associated with the first antenna, wherein the step of monitoring the parameter comprises the step of monitoring the voltage.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

measuring a current associated with the first antenna, wherein the step of monitoring the parameter comprises the step of monitoring the current.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

measuring a strength of a signal associated with the first antenna, wherein the step of monitoring the parameter comprises the step of monitoring the strength of the signal.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

receiving an indication as to whether the vehicle has been in an accident, wherein the step of monitoring the parameter comprises the step of monitoring the indication.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring a second parameter that is indicative as to whether the second antenna is operational; and

communicating with a telephone of an occupant of the vehicle if the parameter indicates that the first antenna is not operational and the second parameter indicates that the second antenna is not operational.

16. A telematics system for a vehicle, the telematics system comprising:

a first antenna disposed at a first location on the vehicle, the first location disposed on a first side of the vehicle;

a second antenna disposed at a second location on the vehicle, the second location being remote from the first location and disposed on a second side of the vehicle that is remote from the first side;

a cellular chipset configured to direct communications to a call center using the first antenna or the second antenna; and

a processing device coupled to the cellular chipset, the first antenna, and the second antenna and configured to;

monitor a parameter that is indicative as to whether the first antenna is operational;

communicate with the call center using the cellular chipset and the first antenna if the parameter indicates that the first antenna is operational; and

communicate with the call center using the cellular chipset and the second antenna if the parameter indicates that the first antenna is not operational.

17. The telematics system of claim 16, further comprising:

a sensor associated with the first antenna and configured to measure a current or a voltage associated with the first antenna, wherein the processing device is coupled to the sensor and configured to monitor the parameter using the sensor, the parameter comprising the voltage or current.

18. The telematics system of claim 16, further comprising:

a sensor associated with the first antenna and configured to measure a strength of a signal associated with the first antenna, wherein the processing device is coupled to the sensor and configured to monitor the parameter using the sensor, the parameter comprising the strength of the signal.

19. The telematics system of claim 16, wherein the processing device is coupled to an accident detection unit of the vehicle that is configured to provide an indication as to whether the vehicle has been in an accident, and the processing device is configured to monitor the parameter using the accident detection unit, the parameter comprising the indication as to whether the vehicle has been in the accident.

20. The telematics system of claim 16, wherein the processing device is further configured to:

monitor a second parameter that is indicative as to whether the second antenna is operational; and

communicate with a telephone of an occupant of the vehicle if the parameter indicates that the first antenna is not operational and the second parameter indicates that the second antenna is not operational.