SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING AN ERROR IN THE INSTALLATION OF AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT

• US 20120274456A1
• Filed: 04/26/2011
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: PATENAUDE, Russell A., PEARISO, Nicholas J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,653,954 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/403 Power supply in the vehicle

Abstract

A system and method for detecting an error in the installation of an electrical component in a vehicle having a vehicle bus is disclosed herein. The system includes, but is not limited to a vehicle communication interface that is configured to be communicatively coupled with the vehicle bus and to detect a first power state of the vehicle. The system further includes an aftermarket telematics unit that is configured to be electrically connected to the vehicle and to wirelessly communicate with the vehicle communication interface. The vehicle communication interface is further configured to detect a second power state of the aftermarket telematics unit, to compare the first power state with the second power state, and to alert a third party when the first power state and the second power state do not correspond with one another.

Claims

1. A system for detecting an error in the installation of an electrical component in a vehicle having a vehicle bus, the system comprising:

a vehicle communication interface configured to be communicatively coupled with the vehicle bus and to detect a first power state of the vehicle; and

an aftermarket telematics unit configured to be electrically connected to the vehicle and to wirelessly communicate with the vehicle communication interface,

wherein the vehicle communication interface is further configured to detect a second power state of the aftermarket telematics unit, to compare the first power state with the second power state, and to alert a third party when the first power state and the second power state do not correspond with one another.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle communication interface is configured to detect the first power state of the vehicle based on an occurrence of general message traffic being transmitted across the vehicle bus.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle communication interface is configured to detect the first power state of the vehicle based on a specific message transmitted across the vehicle bus.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the aftermarket telematics unit is configured to transmit a first message to the vehicle communication interface indicative of the second power state and wherein the vehicle communication interface is configured to detect the second power state of the aftermarket telematics unit based on the first message.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the aftermarket telematics unit is configured to transmit a first message to the vehicle communication interface indicative of the second power state and wherein the vehicle communication interface is configured to detect the second power state of the aftermarket telematics unit based on a cessation of the first message.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the aftermarket telematics unit and the vehicle communication interface are configured to be communicatively paired with one another, wherein the vehicle communication interface is configured to detect a pairing status of the vehicle communication interface and the aftermarket telematics unit, and wherein the vehicle communication interface is further configured to detect the second power state of the aftermarket telematics unit based on the pairing status.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the aftermarket telematics unit and the vehicle communication interface are configured to be communicatively paired with one another, wherein the vehicle communication interface is configured to detect a pairing status of the vehicle communication interface and the aftermarket telematics unit, and wherein the vehicle communication interface is further configured to detect the second power state of the aftermarket telematics unit based on a cessation of a pairing between the vehicle communication interface and the aftermarket telematics unit.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the third party is a call center.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle communication interface is further configured to alert the third party using a communication device of the aftermarket telematics unit.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle communication interface is configured to delay alerting the third party until after an occurrence of a predetermined number of events where the first power state does not correspond with the second power state.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle communication interface is configured to delay alerting the third party until a duration of an event where the first power state does not correspond with the second power state exceeds a predetermined period of time.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle communication interface is configured to communicate the first power state to the aftermarket telematics unit, wherein the aftermarket telematics unit is configured to determine whether the first power state corresponds with the second power state, and wherein the aftermarket telematics unit is further configured to alert the third party when the first power state does not correspond with the second power state.

13. A system for detecting an error in the installation of an electrical component in a vehicle having a vehicle bus, the system comprising:

a vehicle communication interface configured to be communicatively coupled with the vehicle bus and to detect a first power state of the vehicle; and

an aftermarket telematics unit configured to be electrically connected to the vehicle and to wirelessly communicate with the vehicle communication interface,

wherein the vehicle communication interface is further configured to detect a second power state of the aftermarket telematics unit, to compare the first power state with the second power state, to determine a cause for non-correspondence between the first power state and the second power state when the first power state and the second power state do not correspond with another, to alert a third party when the first power state and the second power state do not correspond with one another, and to communicate the cause to the third party.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the vehicle communication interface is configured to communicate to the third party that a ground line of the aftermarket telematics unit is incorrectly connected to the vehicle when the vehicle communication interface detects that the first power state of the vehicle is on and the second power state of the aftermarket telematics unit is off.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the vehicle communication interface is configured to communicate to the third party that a switched power line of the aftermarket telematics unit is connected to an incorrect switched power line of the vehicle when the vehicle communication interface detects that the first power state of the vehicle is on and when the second power state of the aftermarket telematics unit is standby.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the vehicle communication interface is configured to communicate to the third party that a switched power line of the aftermarket telematics unit is connected to a constant power line of the vehicle when the vehicle communication interface detects that the first power state of the vehicle is off and the second power state of the aftermarket telematics unit is on.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the vehicle communication interface is configured to communicate to the third party that a constant power line of the aftermarket telematics unit is connected to a switched power line of the vehicle when the vehicle communication interface detects that the first power state of the vehicle is off in the aftermarket telematics unit is off

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the third party is a call center.

19. A method for detecting an error in the installation of an electrical component in a vehicle having a vehicle bus, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a first power state of the vehicle and a second power state of an aftermarket telematics unit;

comparing the first power state with the second power state; and

determining that a wiring error exists when the first power state and the second power state do not correspond.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of alerting a third party about the wiring error.