Method and Apparatus for an Alert Strategy Between Modules

• US 20150264649A1
• Filed: 05/29/2015
• Published: 09/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Pandya, Ritesh, Kleve, Robert Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 9,872,254 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3212 Monitoring battery levels, e.g. power saving mode being initiated when battery voltage goes below a certain level
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A telematics control unit comprising a transceiver configured to receive a message from a vehicle module during a sleep mode, the message requesting the telematics control unit to output information via a telecommunications network. The telematics control unit also includes a processor configured to determine whether to output the information or delay the output of the information based upon the message, and output the information to the telecommunications network, or delay outputting the information until the telematics control unit enters a full-power mode or a wake-up cycle.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A telematics control unit (TCU), comprising:

a transceiver for receiving a alert from a vehicle module during a sleep mode, the alert requesting the TCU to output information using a telecommunications network;

a processor configured to;

determine whether to output or delay output of the information based upon the alert;

output the information to the network; and

activate a power mode of the TCU based upon the alert and after the outputting the information to the network.

22. The telematics control unit of claim 21, wherein the TCU is further configured to communicate with a body control module.

23. The telematics control unit of claim 21, wherein the power mode is a full power stage mode.

24. The telematics control unit of claim 21, wherein the processor is further configured to update a firmware version of the TCU.

25. The telematics control unit of claim 24, wherein the update to the firmware version of the TCU updates an alert strategy of the TCU.

26. The telematics control unit of claim 24, wherein the update to the firmware version of the TCU is performed via a wireless connection.

27. A body control module (BCM), comprising:

a transceiver for receiving an alert from a remote device during a sleep mode of a telematics control unit (TCU), the alert requesting the TCU to output information using a telecommunications network;

a processor configured to;

determine whether to output or delay output of the information based upon the alert;

output the information to the network; and

activate a power mode of the TCU based upon the alert and after the outputting the information to the network.

28. The body control module of claim 27, wherein the processor is configured to update a firmware version of the BCM.

29. The telematics control unit of claim 28, wherein the update to the firmware version of the BCM updates an alert strategy of the BCM and the TCU.

30. The telematics control unit of claim 28, wherein the update to the firmware version of the BCM is performed via a wireless connection.

31. The telematics control unit of claim 28, wherein the alert notifies a user of a plug status of a vehicle battery.

32. A control unit, comprising:

a vehicle transceiver receiving an alert from a vehicle module, the alert including content related to a vehicle function;

a wireless transceiver communicating with a telecommunications network; and

a processor configured to;

determine a charge-level of a vehicle battery;

output the alert to the telecommunications network utilizing the wireless transceiver based upon the content and the charge-level;

activate a power mode of the control unit upon outputting the alert.

33. The control unit of claim 32, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine if the alert includes a short message service (SMS) pending to be output; and

output the SMS in response to the content and the charge-level of the vehicle battery.

34. The control unit of claim 32, wherein the processor is further the power mode of the control unit is activated based upon the charge-level and the content.

35. The control unit of claim 32, wherein the vehicle module a body control module.

36. The control unit of claim 32, wherein the processor is further configured to output or delay output of the alert during a wake-up cycle of the control unit.

37. The control unit of claim 32, wherein the processor is further configured to update a firmware version of the control unit.

38. The control unit of claim 37, wherein the update to the firmware version of the control unit updates an alert strategy of the control unit.

39. The control unit of claim 37, wherein the update to the firmware version of the control unit is performed via a wireless connection.

40. The control unit of claim 32, wherein the alert is a performance alert of a charging system of the battery.