Method and system for geographic boundary time triggering of communication with a mobile vehicle

• US 7,983,690 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2005
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Ampunan, Nathan D., Oesterling, Christopher L.
• Primary Examiner(s): AJIBADE AKONAI, OLUMIDE
• Application Number:
  US11/088,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20060217848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,308 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/414.3, 455/421, 455/422.1, 455/404.2, 455/41.2, 4554561-4566, 455/575.9, 455/569.2, 455/414.2, 455/412.1, 340/988, 340/426.19, 340/426.2, 340/426.21, 340/540, 340/995.1, 340/989, 340/992, 340/993, 340/994, 340/426.1, 340/426.18, 340/430, 340/932.2, 340/425.5, 340/541, 340/426.16, 340/438, 340/439, 340/440, 340/441, 340/449, 340/453, 340/455, 340/995.19, 340/933, 340/991, 340/457.4, 340/463, 705/26, 701/300, 701/201, 701/209, 701/210, 701/214, 701/200, 701/213, 701/29, 701/30, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/207 with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location

Abstract

A method for establishing communication with a mobile vehicle includes determining whether the mobile vehicle is within a predetermined geographic region and initiating a time trigger based on the determination. The method further includes initiating communication between the mobile vehicle and a central node via a wireless connection based on the time trigger.

Claims

1. A method for establishing communication with a mobile vehicle, the method comprising:

defining a predetermined geographic region using global positioning system (GPS) coordinates, wherein the predetermined geographic region is a range surrounding a particular GPS coordinate location;

detecting that the mobile vehicle is within the predetermined geographic region using GPS coordinates obtained by a telematics unit via a vehicle communication network;

determining whether the mobile vehicle remains in the geographic region for at least a predetermined amount of time based on GPS coordinates obtained by the telematics unit via the vehicle communication network;

initiating communication between the mobile vehicle and a central node via a wireless connection if the mobile vehicle remains in the geographic region for at least the predetermined amount of time; and

sending service data relating to the operation of the mobile vehicle from the vehicle to the central node via the communication.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined geographic region is an area surrounding a specified location that is selected from the group consisting of a dealership, service facility, maintenance facility, retail establishment, parking lot, rental car lot, a residential driveway, and a point of interest.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step further comprises initiating a time trigger implemented at the vehicle to determine whether the mobile vehicle stays in the geographic region for at least the predetermined amount of time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting step comprises determining that the mobile vehicle is within the predetermined geographical region using a global positioning system (GPS) module located on the mobile vehicle and apart from the telematics unit.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein initiating communication between the mobile vehicle and a central node via a wireless connection comprises determining a span of time elapsed since initiating the time trigger, and initiating communication when the time trigger indicates that the span of time equals or exceeds the predetermined amount of time.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of initiating a time trigger comprises a time of day determination.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the time of day determination determines if the current time is outside of a predetermined time range.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless connection is selected from the group consisting of an FCC Part 15 connection and a cellular connection.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising completing the communication in response to a time trigger.

10. A method of establishing communication with a mobile vehicle having a telematics unit, comprising the steps of:

determining that the mobile vehicle is within a predetermined geographic region surrounding a device that is configured for wireless communication with the telematics unit of the mobile vehicle using global positioning system (GPS) coordinates, wherein the predetermined geographic region is a range surrounding a particular GPS coordinate location;

determining whether the mobile vehicle stays within the geographic region for at least a predetermined amount of time and, if so;

initiating wireless communication between the telematics unit and device in response to determining that the vehicle has stayed within the geographic region for at least the predetermined amount of time;

wherein the communication relates to the operation of the vehicle and wherein each of the determining steps are carried out by either the mobile vehicle or the device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the device is located at a vehicle service facility capable of performing diagnostic or repair services on mobile vehicles.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of determining that the mobile vehicle is within the geographic area is carried out by the vehicle service facility.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of initiating wireless communication further comprises sending vehicle service data from the mobile vehicle to the vehicle service facility over the wireless communication, wherein vehicle service data includes any one or more of the following:

diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), service requests, and requests for vehicle service history.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the determining and initiation steps are carried out by the mobile vehicle.

15. A method for establishing communication with a mobile vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting that a mobile vehicle is within a geographic region surrounding a vehicle service facility using global positioning system (GPS) coordinates, wherein the geographic region is a range surrounding a particular GPS coordinate location;

determining whether the mobile vehicle remains in the geographic region for at least a predetermined amount of time based on a time reference extracted from a GPS signal and, if so;

transferring information relating to the operation of the mobile vehicle between the service facility and the mobile vehicle using cellular short-range wireless communication.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the information includes vehicle service data and the service facility is a vehicle service facility, and wherein the transferring step further comprises transferring the vehicle service data from the mobile vehicle to the service facility.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the vehicle service data includes diagnostic trouble codes.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the transferring step further comprises transferring the information from the service facility to the mobile vehicle.

19. A method of establishing communication with a mobile vehicle, the method comprising:

(a) establishing a predetermined geographic region defined by a communication range that surrounds a mobile vehicle dealership;

(b) generating a communication initiation request from a mobile vehicle to the mobile vehicle dealership;

(c) receiving the communication initiation request from the vehicle at the mobile vehicle dealership;

(d) determining if the time at which the communication initiation request is received is within a predetermined time range; and

, if so;

(i) initiating a time trigger;

(ii) determining if the mobile vehicle remains within the communication range that surrounds the mobile vehicle dealership after the expiration of the time trigger; and

(iii) communicating information relating to the operation of the mobile vehicle between the mobile vehicle and the mobile vehicle dealership if the mobile vehicle is within the communication range that surrounds the mobile vehicle dealership after the expiration of the time trigger.