EXTENDING THE RANGE OF VEHICULAR CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS
First Claim
1. A method of carrying out communications using a vehicle telematics unit, comprising the steps of:
- (a) identifying a cellular base station in wireless communication with a vehicle telematics unit;
(b) attempting an emergency call via the identified cellular base station using the vehicle telematics unit;
(c) determining that a forward link portion of a cellular signal between the vehicle telematics unit and the identified cellular base station lacks sufficient strength to place the attempted emergency call; and
(d) transmitting emergency communications via the identified cellular base station using a reverse link portion of the cellular signal based on the determination in step (c).
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of carrying out communications using a vehicle telematics unit includes identifying a cellular base station in wireless communication with a vehicle telematics unit; attempting an emergency call via the identified cellular base station using the vehicle telematics unit; determining that a forward link portion of a cellular signal between the vehicle telematics unit and the identified cellular base station lacks sufficient strength to place the attempted emergency call; and transmitting emergency communications via the identified cellular base station using a reverse link portion of the cellular signal based on the determination.
22 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of carrying out communications using a vehicle telematics unit, comprising the steps of:
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(a) identifying a cellular base station in wireless communication with a vehicle telematics unit; (b) attempting an emergency call via the identified cellular base station using the vehicle telematics unit; (c) determining that a forward link portion of a cellular signal between the vehicle telematics unit and the identified cellular base station lacks sufficient strength to place the attempted emergency call; and (d) transmitting emergency communications via the identified cellular base station using a reverse link portion of the cellular signal based on the determination in step (c). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of carrying out communications using a vehicle telematics unit, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a forward link portion of a cellular signal at a vehicle; (b) sampling the received forward link portion of the cellular signal at the vehicle; (c) determining that an attempted emergency call placed at the vehicle has failed; and (d) establishing a reverse link portion of the cellular signal using the sampled forward link portion. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of carrying out communications using a vehicle telematics unit, comprising the steps of:
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(a) identifying a cellular base station in wireless communication with a vehicle telematics unit; (b) sampling a forward link portion of the cellular signal received from the identified cellular base station; (c) inititating an emergency call using the vehicle telematics unit; (d) determining that the signal strength of the forward link portion of the cellular signal falls below a threshold for successful communications; and (e) transmitting the sampled forward link portion of the cellular signal to the identified cellular base station to establish a reverse link portion of the cellular signal with the identified cellular base station.
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Specification