Methods of managing communications for an in-vehicle telematics system

• US 7,865,282 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2006
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Murlidar, Jaycee, Ampunan, Nathan D., Clark, Jason W., Weiss, John P., Wasson, Ryan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Li; Ce
• Application Number:
  US11/525,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20080077310A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 701/1, 701/36, 704/270, 705/51, 455/552.1, 455/575.9, 455/41.2, 455/569.1, 455/569.2
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages

Abstract

A method of managing communications for an in-vehicle telematics system includes substantially simultaneously receiving requests for communicating first and second audio signals via a vehicle audio system. The signals respectively correspond to interactive voice services (provided via a menu dialogue) from a first in-vehicle system and to a first audio messaging from a second in-vehicle system. An arbitration control selects one of the signals as a priority output and the other as a subordinate output. The priority output is provided over the audio system. A queue manager maintains the subordinate output in a queue for outputting over the audio system after priority output completion. If the first signal is the subordinate output, then the queue manager maintains a state of the menu dialogue, as of a time the priority output is selected, for continuation of the menu dialogue from the maintained state after priority output completion.

Claims

1. A method of managing communications for an in-vehicle telematics system, the method comprising:

receiving, at the in-vehicle telematics unit, a request for communicating, via a vehicle audio system, a first audio signal corresponding to interactive voice services from a first in-vehicle system;

providing interactive voice services to an in-vehicle user through at least one menu dialog during which a user-generated request is initiated using the in-vehicle telematics system;

while the interactive voice services are being provided, receiving, at the in-vehicle telematics unit, a request for communicating, via the vehicle audio system, a second audio signal corresponding to a first audio messaging from a second in-vehicle system;

receiving a request for communicating, via the vehicle audio system, a third audio signal corresponding to a second audio messaging from a third in-vehicle system, the request received substantially simultaneously with the request for communicating the second signal;

selecting, via an arbitration control in the in-vehicle telematics unit, one of the second or third audio signals as a priority output, either the first audio signal or an other of the second or third audio signals as a first subordinate output, and a remaining one of the first audio signal or the other of the second or third audio signals as a second subordinate output;

providing the priority output over the vehicle audio system, thereby interrupting the user-generated request; and

maintaining, via an queue manager, the first subordinate output in a queue for outputting over the vehicle audio system after completion of the priority output; and

maintaining, via the queue manager, the second subordinate output in the queue for outputting over the vehicle audio system after completion of the first subordinate output;

wherein the first or second subordinate output includes the user-generated audio request and wherein the maintaining of the first or second subordinate output includes maintaining a state of the user-generated request, as of a time the priority output is selected, for continuation of the user-generated request from the maintained state after the completion of the priority output or after completion of the first subordinate output.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first in-vehicle system is an in-vehicle phone and wherein the second in-vehicle system is selected from the in-vehicle phone, an in-vehicle navigation system, a server-based navigation system, and combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first in-vehicle system or the second in-vehicle system operatively connects a user to a call center service advisor selected from an automated advisor and a human advisor.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first in-vehicle system or the second in-vehicle system is in communication with a two-way radio frequency communication system.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the two-way radio frequency communication system includes at least one of a wireless carrier system, a communications network, a land network, or combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the first subordinate output over the vehicle audio system after completion of the priority output.

7. A system, comprising:

a first in-vehicle system providing interactive voice services through at least one menu dialogue, the interactive voice services including a first audio signal configured to be provided over a vehicle audio system;

a user-generated request initiated during use of the interactive voice services, the user-generated request being a request for dialing a phone number;

a second in-vehicle system providing first audio messaging including a second audio signal configured to be provided over the vehicle audio system;

an arbitration control coupled to the first and second in-vehicle systems, the arbitration control adapted to select, when the first and second audio signals occur substantially simultaneously, the second audio signal as a priority output and the first audio signal as a subordinate output, wherein the priority output is provided over the vehicle audio system; and

a queue manager i) adapted to maintain a state of the user-generated request, as of a time the priority output is selected, for continuation of the user-generated request from the maintained state after the completion of the priority output, wherein the maintained state is selected from an articulated phone number, a partially articulated phone number, and a partially dialed phone number and ii) adapted to ask an in-vehicle user whether the articulated phone number should be dialed, or for a remainder of the partially articulated phone number, or whether the partially dialed phone number should be completed to place a call.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the first in-vehicle system is an in-vehicle phone and wherein the second in-vehicle system is selected from the in-vehicle phone, an in-vehicle navigation system, a server-based navigation system, and combinations thereof.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein at least one of the first in-vehicle system or the second in-vehicle system operatively connects a user to a call center service advisor selected from an automated advisor and a human advisor.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein at least one of the first in-vehicle system or the second in-vehicle system includes a two-way radio frequency communication system.

11. A method of managing communications for an in-vehicle telematics system, the method comprising:

receiving, at the in-vehicle telematics unit, a request for communicating, via a vehicle audio system, a first audio signal corresponding to interactive voice services from a first in-vehicle system;

providing interactive voice services to an in-vehicle user through at least one menu dialog during which a user-generated request is initiated using the in-vehicle telematics system;

while the interactive voice services are being provided, receiving, at the in-vehicle telematics unit, a request for communicating, via the vehicle audio system, a second audio signal corresponding to a first audio messaging from a second in-vehicle system;

selecting, via an arbitration control in the in-vehicle telematics unit, second audio signal as a priority output and the first audio signals as a subordinate output;

providing the priority output over the vehicle audio system, thereby interrupting the user-generated request; and

maintaining, via a queue manager, the subordinate output in a queue for outputting over the vehicle audio system after completion of the priority output;

wherein the maintaining includes maintaining a state of the user-generated request, as of a time the priority output is selected, for continuation of the user-generated request from the maintained state after the completion of the priority output;

wherein the user-generated request is a request for dialing a phone number, wherein the maintained state is a partially dialed phone number, and wherein after completion of the priority output, the method further comprises asking the in-vehicle user whether the partially dialed phone number should be completed to place a call.

12. A method of managing communications for an in-vehicle telematics system, the method comprising:

receiving, at the in-vehicle telematics unit, a request for communicating, via a vehicle audio system, a first audio signal corresponding to interactive voice services from a first in-vehicle system;

providing interactive voice services to an in-vehicle user through at least one menu dialog during which a user-generated request is initiated using the in-vehicle telematics system;

while the interactive voice services are being provided, receiving, at the in-vehicle telematics unit, a request for communicating, via the vehicle audio system, a second audio signal corresponding to a first audio messaging from a second in-vehicle system;

selecting, via an arbitration control in the in-vehicle telematics unit, second audio signal as a priority output and the first audio signals as a subordinate output;

providing the priority output over the vehicle audio system, thereby interrupting the user-generated request; and

maintaining, via a queue manager, the subordinate output in a queue for outputting over the vehicle audio system after completion of the priority output;

wherein the maintaining includes maintaining a state of the user-generated request, as of a time the priority output is selected, for continuation of the user-generated request from the maintained state after the completion of the priority output;

wherein the user-generated request is a request for dialing a phone number, wherein the maintained state is a partially articulated phone number, and wherein after completion of the priority output, the method further comprises asking the in-vehicle user for a remainder of the partially articulated phone number.

13. A method of managing communications for an in-vehicle telematics system, the method comprising:

receiving, at the in-vehicle telematics unit, a request for communicating, via a vehicle audio system, a first audio signal corresponding to interactive voice services from a first in-vehicle system;

providing interactive voice services to an in-vehicle user through at least one menu dialog during which a user-generated request is initiated using the in-vehicle telematics system;

while the interactive voice services are being provided, receiving, at the in-vehicle telematics unit, a request for communicating, via the vehicle audio system, a second audio signal corresponding to a first audio messaging from a second in-vehicle system;

selecting, via an arbitration control in the in-vehicle telematics unit, second audio signal as a priority output and the first audio signals as a subordinate output;

providing the priority output over the vehicle audio system, thereby interrupting the user-generated request; and

maintaining, via a queue manager, the subordinate output in a queue for outputting over the vehicle audio system after completion of the priority output;

wherein the maintaining includes maintaining a state of the user-generated request, as of a time the priority output is selected, for continuation of the user-generated request from the maintained state after the completion of the priority output;

wherein the user-generated request is a request for dialing a phone number, wherein the maintained state is an articulated phone number, and wherein after completion of the priority output, the method further comprises asking the in-vehicle user whether dialing of the articulated phone number should be completed.