TELEMATICS FOR A TOWED VEHICLE

• US 20140324248A1
• Filed: 04/29/2013
• Published: 10/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Huntzicker, Fred W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,193,232 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/24 characterised by arrangements for particular functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/62 involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like

Abstract

A telematics system for a vehicle to be towed is provided. The telematics system includes a vehicle communication network configured to receive vehicle data from at least one vehicle system of a plurality of vehicle systems. The telematics system also includes a telematics module configured to determine a towing mode status of the vehicle, generate telematics data based on the vehicle data, and transmit the telematics data to a remote access system based on the towing mode status of the vehicle indicating that the vehicle is configured to be towed.

Claims

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

a vehicle communication network configured to receive vehicle data from at least one vehicle system of a plurality of vehicle systems; and

a telematics module configured to determine a towing mode status of the vehicle, generate telematics data based on the vehicle data, and transmit the telematics data to a remote access system based on the towing mode status of the vehicle indicating that the vehicle is configured to be towed.

2. The telematics system of claim 1, wherein the telematics module further comprises an input processing module configured to receive commands from the remote access system.

3. The telematics system of claim 2, wherein the telematics module further comprises a vehicle command module configured to send vehicle system commands on the vehicle communication network to change a state of one or more of the vehicle systems based on one or more of the commands received from the remote access system.

4. The telematics system of claim 3, wherein the vehicle system commands comprise one or more of:

a door lock command, a fuel door command, a lights command, a power mode command, a transmission state command, and a cabin environment command.

5. The telematics system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle data comprise one or more of:

a door lock status, a fuel system status, a tire pressure status, a lights status, a video signal, a rear distance status, vehicle motion status, and a battery system status.

6. The telematics system of claim 1, wherein the telematics data are further based on a transmission status of the vehicle.

7. The telematics system of claim 1, wherein the telematics data are transmitted to the remote access system in real-time to enable use of the telematics data of the vehicle as an extension of a towing vehicle.

8. The telematics system of claim 1, wherein the telematics module is further configured to store a towed vehicle mileage of the vehicle based on the vehicle data while the towing mode status of the vehicle indicates that the vehicle is configured to be towed.

9. The telematics system of claim 1, wherein the telematics module communicates wirelessly with the remote access system.

10. A method for providing telematics for a vehicle to be towed, the method comprising:

receiving vehicle data from at least one vehicle system of a plurality of vehicle systems;

determining a towing mode status of the vehicle;

generating telematics data based on the vehicle data; and

transmitting the telematics data to a remote access system based on the towing mode status of the vehicle indicating that the vehicle is configured to be towed.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving commands at the vehicle from the remote access system.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising sending vehicle system commands on a vehicle communication network to change a state of one or more of the vehicle systems based on one or more of the commands received from the remote access system.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the vehicle system commands comprise one or more of:

a door lock command, a fuel door command, a lights command, a power mode command, a transmission state command, and a cabin environment command.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the vehicle data comprise one or more of:

a door lock status, a fuel system status, a tire pressure status, a lights status, a video signal, a rear distance status, vehicle motion status, and a battery system status.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the telematics data are further based on a transmission status of the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the telematics data are transmitted to the remote access system in real-time to enable use of the telematics data of the vehicle as an extension of a towing vehicle.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising storing a towed vehicle mileage of the vehicle based on the vehicle data while the towing mode status of the vehicle indicates that the vehicle is configured to be towed.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the telematics module communicates wirelessly with the remote access system.

19. A method for telematics data management for a vehicle to be towed, the method comprising:

receiving telematics data at a remote access system from the vehicle based on vehicle data from at least one vehicle system of a plurality of vehicle systems while the vehicle is configured to be towed;

displaying the telematics data on a user interface of the remote access system;

receiving a request at the remote access system via the user interface to change a state of one or more of the vehicle systems; and

transmitting one or more commands from the remote access system to the vehicle to change the state of one or more of the vehicle systems.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more commands comprise one or more of:

a door lock command, a fuel door command, a lights command, a power mode command, a transmission state command, and a cabin environment command; and

the vehicle data comprise one or more of;

a door lock status, a fuel system status, a tire pressure status, a lights status, a video signal, a rear distance status, vehicle motion status, and a battery system status.