In-vehicle automated call routing using an origin identifier

• US 7,072,645 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2003
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Krause, Kevin R., Schwinke, Steven P., Italia, William E., Piwowarski, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin, Jean
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, WESLEY LEO
• Application Number:
  US10/691,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20050090236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 455/415, 455/569.2, 455/445
• US Class Current: 455/415
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6083 by interfacing with the vehicle audio system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/82 Line monitoring circuits for call progress or status discrimination for detecting caller identity H04M1/573

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for implementing automated call routing using an origin identifier within a telematics equipped mobile vehicle that includes receiving an incoming call signal, the incoming call signal including an origin identifier, determining an answer mode based on the origin identifier of the incoming call signal, initiating the answer mode responsive to the answer mode determination, and operating the telematics unit based on the initiated answer mode. Origin identifiers may include an automatic number identifier and a digital signature. The step of determining the answer mode may include determining a first answer mode when the origin identifier is within a predetermined group of origin identifiers and determining a second answer mode when the origin identifier is not within the predetermined group of origin identifiers.

Claims

1. A method for operating a telematics unit within a mobile vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving an incoming call signal, the incoming call signal including an origin identifier;

determining an answer mode based on the origin identifier of the incoming call signal;

determining a first answer mode when the origin identifier is within a predetermined group of origin identifiers, and determining a second answer mode when the origin identifier is not within the predetermined group of origin identifiers wherein the predetermined group of origin identifiers is a call center identified group of origin identifiers, and wherein the incoming call signal is routed to a vehicle communication unit if the origin identifier is within the call center identified group of origin identifiers and wherein the incoming call signal is routed to a user interface if the origin identifier is not within the call center identified group of origin identifiers;

initiating the answer mode responsive to the answer mode determination; and

operating the telematics unit based on the initiated answer mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the origin identifier is selected from the group consisting of:

an automatic number identifier, and a digital signature.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein operating the telematics unit based on the first answer mode comprises:

directing the incoming call signal to a vehicle information controller within the telematics unit.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

connecting the incoming call signal to the vehicle information controller within the telematics unit.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein operating the telematics unit based on the second answer mode comprises:

directing the incoming call signal to a user interface within the telematics unit.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

connecting the incoming call signal to the user interface within the telematics unit responsive to a user interface activation.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining the user interface is not activated; and

activating an electronic voice-mail system.

8. A computer readable medium for operating a telematics unit within a mobile vehicle, comprising:

computer readable code for determining an answer mode based on an origin identifier included within an incoming call signal;

computer readable code for determining a first answer mode when the origin identifier is within a predetermined group of origin identifiers, and determining a second answer mode when the origin identifier is not within the predetermined group of origin identifiers wherein the group of origin identifiers is a call center identified group of origin identifiers, and wherein the incoming call signal is routed to a vehicle communication unit if the origin identifier is within the call center identified group of origin identifiers and wherein the incoming call signal is routed to a user interface if the origin identifier is not within the call center identified group of origin identifiers;

computer readable code for initiating the answer mode responsive to the answer mode determination; and

computer readable code for operating the telematics unit based on the initiated answer mode.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the origin identifier is selected from the group consisting of:

an automatic number identifier, and a digital signature.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the computer readable code for operating the telematics unit based on the first answer mode comprises:

computer readable code for directing the incoming call signal to a vehicle information controller within the telematics unit.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 10, further comprising:

computer readable code for connecting the incoming call signal to the vehicle information controller within the telematics unit.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the computer readable code for operating the telematics unit based on the second answer mode comprises:

computer readable code for directing the incoming call signal to a user interface within the telematics unit.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising:

computer readable code for connecting the incoming call signal to the user interface within the telematics unit responsive to a user interface activation.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, further comprising:

computer readable code for determining the user interface is not activated; and

computer readable code for activating an electronic voice-mail system.

15. A system for operating a telematics unit within a mobile vehicle, the system comprising:

means for receiving an incoming call signal, the incoming call signal including an origin identifier;

means for determining a first answer mode when the origin identifier is within a predetermined group of origin identifiers, and determining a second answer mode when the origin identifier is not within the predetermined group of origin identifiers wherein the predetermined group of origin identifiers is a call center identified group of origin identifiers, and wherein the incoming call signal is routed to a vehicle communication unit if the origin identifier is within the call center identified group of origin identifiers and wherein the incoming call signal is routed to a user interface if the origin identifier is not within the call center identified group of origin identifiers;

means for determining an answer mode based on the origin identifier of the incoming call signal;

means for initiating the answer mode responsive to the answer mode determination;

and means for operating the telematics unit based on the initiated answer mode.