Method and system for customizing hold-time content in a mobile vehicle communication system

• US 7,248,860 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2004
• Issued: 07/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Kamdar, Hitan S., Reeser, Brad T., Sumcad, Anthony J., Patenaude, Russell A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Afshar; Kamran
• Application Number:
  US11/012,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20060128365A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 4555691-5692, 455/445, 455/575.9, 455/345, 455427-428, 455/12.1, 455/563, 455/414.1, 455/403, 455418-420, 379/266.01, 379/88.19, 379/212.01, 37920101-2013, 379 3201- 52, 340/422.2, 340/426.19, 340/539.1, 340/825.69, 340/425.5, 701/1
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4285 Notifying, informing or entertaining a held party while on hold, e.g. Music On Hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4872 Non-interactive information services

Abstract

A method of customizing hold-time content in a mobile vehicle communication system includes gathering preference information from the mobile vehicle, determining hold-time content from the preference information and playing the determined hold-time content while the call is on hold. Systems and programs for customizing hold-time content are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of customizing hold-time content during a telematics call from a mobile vehicle, comprising:

gathering preference information from the mobile vehicle;

determining hold-time content from the preference information;

playing the determined hold-time content while the call is on hold with a call center;

monitoring an action conducted by the call center while the call is on hold; and

transmitting via a wireless communication network, while the call is on hold, at least one of a status report or a confirmation report to the mobile vehicle in response to the monitoring;

wherein the at least one of the status report or the confirmation report is selected from an update that the call center is contacting a third-party, an update that the call center is connecting the mobile vehicle to a third-party, an update that the call center is performing a requested task, an update that the call center needs approval to proceed with a requested task, and combinations thereof.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a signal that the call is on hold.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

inputting the preference information at a user interface.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing user settings in the mobile vehicle to determine the preference information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating the customized hold-time content based on third-party information.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the status report or the confirmation report is the update that the call center is connecting the mobile vehicle to a third-party, and wherein the method further comprises:

establishing a communication between the mobile vehicle and the third-party; and

disconnecting the call between the mobile vehicle and the call center after the establishing the communication between the mobile vehicle and the third-party.

7. A system of customizing hold-time content during a telematics call from a mobile vehicle, comprising:

means for gathering preference information from the mobile vehicle;

means for determining hold-time content from the preference information;

means for playing the determined hold-time content while the call is on hold with a call center;

means for monitoring an action conducted by the call center while the call is on hold; and

means for transmitting via a wireless communication network, while the call is on hold, at least one of a status report or a confirmation report to the mobile vehicle in response to the monitoring;

wherein the at least one of the status report or the confirmation report is selected from an update that the call center is contacting a third-party, an update that the call center is connecting the mobile vehicle to a third-party, an update that the call center is performing a requested task, an update that the call center needs approval to proceed with a requested task, and combinations thereof.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

means for receiving a signal that the call is on hold.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

means for inputting the preference information at a user interface.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

means for accessing user settings in the mobile vehicle to determine the preference information.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the at least one of the status report or the confirmation report is the update that the call center is connecting the mobile vehicle to the third-party, and wherein the system further comprises:

means for establishing a communication between the mobile vehicle and the third-party; and

means for disconnecting the call between the mobile vehicle and the call center after establishing the communication between the mobile vehicle and the third-party.