System and method for communicating with a vehicle about then-current vehicle operating conditions using a telematics unit

• US 8,155,867 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2009
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Krause, Kevin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCPARTLIN, SARAH BURNHAM
• Application Number:
  US12/362,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20100191403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/35, 701/36, 701/104, 701/123, 455/39, 455/91, 455/92
• US Class Current: 701/123
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A method for communicating with a vehicle about then-current vehicle operating conditions is disclosed herein. The method includes real-time monitoring, via a telematics unit in a vehicle, of vehicle data when the vehicle is traveling on a road segment, comparing the real-time monitored vehicle data with previously stored data of one or more other vehicles that previously traveled the road segment, and based on the comparison, determining an operation of the vehicle in order to achieve optimal fuel efficiency. The method further includes submitting, to the vehicle, the operation of the vehicle for i) increasing a then-current fuel efficiency of the vehicle or ii) maintaining the then-current fuel efficiency of the vehicle. Also disclosed herein is a system for accomplishing the same.

Claims

1. A method for communicating with a vehicle about then-current vehicle operating conditions, comprising:

real-time monitoring, via a telematics unit in a vehicle, of vehicle data when the vehicle is traveling on a road segment;

comparing the real-time monitored vehicle data with previously stored data of one or more other vehicles that previously traveled on the road segment, the comparing including;

running a query for information related to vehicles that have one or more common characteristics with the vehicle, the query being run in a database which includes the previously stored data of the one or more other vehicles that previously traveled on the road segment;

receiving the information as a result of the query; and

comparing the real-time monitored vehicle data with the information from the query;

based on the comparison, determining an operation of the vehicle in order to achieve optimal fuel efficiency; and

submitting, to the vehicle, the operation of the vehicle for i) increasing a then-current fuel efficiency of the vehicle or ii) maintaining the then-current fuel efficiency of the vehicle.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the comparing is accomplished at a call center in selective operative communication with the telematics unit, and wherein prior to the comparing, the method further comprises transmitting the real-time monitored vehicle data from the telematics unit to the call center.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the real-time monitored vehicle data and the previously stored data of the one or more other vehicles are each independently selected from tire pressure, speed, vehicle weight, fuel efficiency, air temperature, elevation, pitch and yaw information of the vehicle, local traffic information, and combinations thereof.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising real-time monitoring of conditions along the road segment during real-time monitoring of the vehicle data.

5. The method as defined in claim 4 wherein comparing also includes comparing the real-time monitored conditions along the road segment with previously stored data of conditions along the road segment, such previously stored road segment conditions being associated with the one or more other vehicles that previously traveled on the road segment.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the operation of the vehicle is submitted to the vehicle as a suggestion for the vehicle operator.

7. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein the suggestion includes informing the vehicle operator to maintain the then-current vehicle operating conditions.

8. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein the operation of the vehicle is automatically submitted to a powertrain system of the vehicle.

9. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein operation of the vehicle includes a protocol for operating the vehicle in order to achieve the optimal fuel efficiency.

10. A method for communicating with a vehicle about then-current vehicle operating conditions, comprising:

real-time monitoring, via a telematics unit in a vehicle, of vehicle data when the vehicle is traveling on a road segment;

requesting, from a call center, previously stored data related to one or more other vehicles that previously traveled on the road segment;

at the call center, running a query for information related to vehicles that have one or more common characteristics with the vehicle, the query being run in a database which includes the previously stored data of the one or more other vehicles that previously traveled on the road segment;

receiving the information as a result of the query;

transmitting the previously stored data of the one or more other vehicles from the call center to the telematics unit, the call center being in selective operative communication with the telematics unit;

via the telematics unit, comparing the real-time monitored vehicle data with the information from the query;

based on the comparison, determining an operation of the vehicle in order to achieve optical fuel efficiency; and

submitting, to the vehicle, the operation of the vehicle for i) increasing a then-current fuel efficiency of the vehicle or ii) maintaining the then-current fuel efficiency of the vehicle.

11. A method for communicating with a vehicle about then-current vehicle operating conditions, comprising:

real-time monitoring, via a telematics unit in a vehicle, of vehicle data when the vehicle is traveling on a road segment;

comparing the real-time monitored vehicle data with previously stored data of one or more other vehicles that previously traveled on the road segment;

based on the comparison, determining an operation of the vehicle in order to achieve optimal fuel efficiency; and

submitting, to the vehicle, the operation of the vehicle for i) increasing a then-current fuel efficiency of the vehicle or ii) maintaining the then-current fuel efficiency of the vehicle;

wherein the comparing and the determining includes;

analyzing the previously stored data of the one or more other vehicles that previously traveled on the road segment;

determining a fuel efficient mode of operating based on the previously stored data of the one or more other vehicles that previously traveled on the road segment; and

determining whether the fuel efficient mode of operating is suitable for the vehicle traveling on the road segment.

12. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein the fuel efficient mode of operating is not suitable for the vehicle traveling on the road segment, and wherein the method further comprises reformulating the fuel efficient mode of operating for the vehicle.

13. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein the fuel efficient mode of operating is suitable for the vehicle traveling on the road segment, and wherein the suggestion includes the fuel efficient mode of operating.

14. The method as defined in claim 13, further comprising:

implementing the suggested fuel efficient mode of operating in the vehicle traveling on the road segment;

recognizing, via the telematics unit, that the implemented fuel efficient mode of operating is in fact fuel efficient; and

transmitting, from the telematics unit to database in selective operative communication therewith, the implemented fuel efficient mode of operating as new data to be associated with the road segment.

15. A system for communicating with a vehicle about then-current vehicle operating conditions, comprising:

a telematics unit operatively disposed in a vehicle, the telematics unit configured to real-time monitor vehicle data when the vehicle is traveling on a road segment;

a call center in selective operative communication with the telematics unit, the call center being configured to compare the real-time monitored vehicle data with previously stored data of one or more other vehicles that previously traveled on the road segment by;

running a query for information related to vehicles that have one or more common characteristics with the vehicle, the query beinq run in a database which includes the previously stored data of the one or more other vehicles that previously traveled on the road segment;

receiving information as a result of the query; and

comparing the real-time monitored vehicle data with the information from the query;

the call center further being configured to determine, based on the comparison, an operation of the vehicle in order to achieve optimal fuel efficiency; and

means for submitting, to the vehicle, the operation of the vehicle for i) increasing a then-current fuel efficiency of the vehicle or ii) maintaining a then-current fuel efficiency of the vehicle.

16. The system as defined in claim 15 wherein the operation of the vehicle is submitted to the vehicle in the form of a suggestion for a vehicle operator, and wherein the system further comprises means for providing the suggestion to the vehicle operator.

17. The system as defined in claim 16 wherein the means for providing the suggestion includes an in-vehicle audio system or display observable by a vehicle operator and in operative communication with the telematics unit.

18. The system as defined in claim 15 wherein the operation of the vehicle is submitted to the vehicle as an automatic transmission to a powertrain system of the vehicle, and wherein the method further comprises means for automatically transmitting the operation of the vehicle to the powertrain system of the vehicle.

19. A system for communicating with a vehicle about then-current vehicle operating conditions, comprising:

a telematics unit operatively disposed in a vehicle, the telematics unit configured to real-time monitor vehicle data when the vehicle is traveling on a road segment;

a call center in selective operative communication with the telematics unit, at least one of the call center or the telematics unit configured to;

analyze previously stored data of one or more vehicles that previously traveled on a road segment;

determine a fuel efficient mode of operating based on the previously stored data of the one or more other vehicles that previously traveled on the road segment; and

determine whether the fuel efficient mode of operating is suitable for the vehicle traveling on the road segment; and

means for submitting, to the vehicle, the fuel efficient mode of operating the vehicle for i) increasing a then-current fuel efficiency of the vehicle or ii) maintaining a then-current fuel efficiency of the vehicle.