Methods for realizing an in-vehicle ringtone

• US 8,027,706 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2006
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Mannikka, Matthew R., Levitt, Blain F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar; Kamran
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lam; Dung
• Application Number:
  US11/440,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20070277193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,951 Days
• Field of Search: 455/569.2, 455/2.01, 455/3.02, 455/3.03, 455/3.06, 455/414.1, 455/452.1
• US Class Current: 455/569.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations

Abstract

A method of acquiring a preferred ringtone for a telematics unit in a vehicle includes indicating, via a user interface panel in communication with the telematics unit, that an audio emission is related to the preferred ringtone. The audio emission emanates from a vehicle audio system operatively disposed in the vehicle. The method further includes transmitting the preferred ringtone to the vehicle via the telematics unit. The preferred ringtone notifies a user of an incoming communication.

Claims

1. A system for selecting a ringtone for an in-vehicle telematics unit, the system comprising:

a signal including content of an audio broadcast and at least one datum including electronic data indicating that a downloadable ringtone corresponding to the content of the audio broadcast is available;

a receiver operatively disposed in the vehicle, the receiver configured to receive the signal;

an in-vehicle device configured to recognize the datum and the availability of the downloadable ringtone;

a service provider configured to receive an other signal i) in response to a user input requesting the downloadable ringtone and ii) received in the vehicle within a predetermined time period of the receiver receiving the signal;

the telematics unit configured to receive the downloadable ringtone from the service provider and to set the received ringtone as an audible indication of at least one incoming call; and

a two-way radio frequency communication system in communication with the telematics unit and the service provider.

2. A method of acquiring a preferred ringtone for a telematics unit in a vehicle, the method comprising:

presenting a list of vehicle audio emissions from a predetermined time period;

inputting a request that a ringtone corresponding with one of the vehicle audio emissions on the list becomes the preferred ringtone;

assessing availability of the requested ringtone and other ringtone that is related to the requested ringtone;

recognizing that the requested ringtone is not available;

then indicating, via a user interface panel in communication with the telematics unit and a user interface, that the other ringtone is available and is related to the requested ringtone;

selecting the other ringtone; and

transmitting the selected other ringtone as the preferred ringtone to the vehicle via the telematics unit, the preferred ringtone adapted to notify a user of an incoming communication.

3. A method of selecting a ringtone for an in-vehicle telematics unit, comprising:

receiving a signal containing an audio broadcast in a receiver in a vehicle, wherein the signal includes content of the audio broadcast and at least one datum including electronic data indicating that a downloadable ringtone corresponding to the content of the audio broadcast is available;

playing audio from the audio broadcast in the vehicle;

receiving, via the telematics unit, a user input in response to the audio broadcast;

responsive to the user input, recognizing, via an in-vehicle device, the datum and the availability of the downloadable ringtone;

sending a signal, from the in-vehicle device to a remote device, requesting the downloadable ringtone;

downloading the downloadable ringtone to the vehicle; and

setting the downloaded ringtone as an audible indication of at least one incoming call.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the user input is received simultaneously with the audio broadcast.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the content of the audio broadcast is selected from a song, talk radio, advertisement, news, and weather.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the user input is input via at least one of a button, a switch, a keyboard, a microphone, or combinations thereof of a user interface panel in communication with the telematics unit.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the user input includes identifying at least one of a title of the content or an artist of the content.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising transmitting to the telematics unit at least one of an audio emission title or an audio emission artist relating to the downloaded ringtone.

9. The method of claim 3 wherein the downloadable ringtone is downloaded to the vehicle from a service provider.

10. The method of claim 3 wherein the downloadable ringtone is downloaded to the vehicle from a media provider.

11. The method of claim 3 wherein the user input is received within a predetermined time period of the receiving of the signal containing the audio broadcast, and wherein the predetermined time period ranges from 2 seconds to about 30 minutes approximately.