Telematics system and method having combined cellular and satellite functionality
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- a cellular transceiver for communicating cellular communications with a source of Telematics service via a cellular network;
a satellite receiver for receiving satellite communications from the source via a satellite network; and
at least one controller communicatively coupled to the cellular transceiver and the satellite receiver and configured to control the cellular transceiver and the satellite receiver to establish communication with the source using either one or both of the cellular network and the satellite network, the at least one controller configured to determine whether to use the cellular transceiver or the satellite receiver to communicate with the source,wherein if the cellular transceiver is determined to be used, the at least one controller is configured to operate in a cellular mode and is configured to receive a message in a first cellular communication communicated from the source to the cellular transceiver,wherein if the satellite receiver is determined to be used, the at least one controller is configured to operate in a satellite mode and is configured to receive a message in a first satellite communication communicated from the source to the satellite receiver, andwherein the at least one controller is further configured to;
configure an acknowledgment that the message received in the first satellite communication has been received in the satellite mode; and
return, in a second cellular communication communicated, when the cellular transceiver is determined to be used, from the cellular transceiver to the source, the acknowledgment that the message has been received in the satellite mode;
wherein the at least one controller is operatively coupled to a battery, and wherein the at least one controller is configured to;
determine if a vehicle is turned off, andprogrammably control power from the battery to the cellular transceiver when the vehicle is turned off; and
wherein to programmably control power from the battery to the cellular transceiver, the at least one controller is configured to;
receive a discontinuous reception parameter from the cellular network with the cellular transceiver; and
control supply of power from the battery to the cellular transceiver based on the discontinuous reception parameter.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle Telematics unit includes a cellular transceiver and a satellite receiver. At least one controller controls the transceiver and the receiver and determines which one to use to communicate with a source of Telematics service. If the transceiver is to be used, the controller receives messages in cellular communications from the source with a cellular network. If the receiver is to be used, the controller receives messages in satellite communications from the source with a satellite network. The controller can programmably control power from a battery to the transceiver and receiver when the vehicle is turned off using discontinuous reception parameters, designated on/off times, a controlled duration, and programmable timers. The transceiver is used to return acknowledgments of messages received. If a message is received with the receiver, the acknowledgment is stored so it can be sent at another time when the transceiver is to be used.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a cellular transceiver for communicating cellular communications with a source of Telematics service via a cellular network; a satellite receiver for receiving satellite communications from the source via a satellite network; and at least one controller communicatively coupled to the cellular transceiver and the satellite receiver and configured to control the cellular transceiver and the satellite receiver to establish communication with the source using either one or both of the cellular network and the satellite network, the at least one controller configured to determine whether to use the cellular transceiver or the satellite receiver to communicate with the source, wherein if the cellular transceiver is determined to be used, the at least one controller is configured to operate in a cellular mode and is configured to receive a message in a first cellular communication communicated from the source to the cellular transceiver, wherein if the satellite receiver is determined to be used, the at least one controller is configured to operate in a satellite mode and is configured to receive a message in a first satellite communication communicated from the source to the satellite receiver, and wherein the at least one controller is further configured to; configure an acknowledgment that the message received in the first satellite communication has been received in the satellite mode; and return, in a second cellular communication communicated, when the cellular transceiver is determined to be used, from the cellular transceiver to the source, the acknowledgment that the message has been received in the satellite mode; wherein the at least one controller is operatively coupled to a battery, and wherein the at least one controller is configured to; determine if a vehicle is turned off, and programmably control power from the battery to the cellular transceiver when the vehicle is turned off; and wherein to programmably control power from the battery to the cellular transceiver, the at least one controller is configured to; receive a discontinuous reception parameter from the cellular network with the cellular transceiver; and control supply of power from the battery to the cellular transceiver based on the discontinuous reception parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 9)
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5. A Telematics service method, comprising:
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establishing communication of a Telematics unit with a source of Telematics service using either one or both of a cellular network and a satellite network; determining whether to use the cellular network or the satellite network to communicate between the Telematics unit and the source of Telematics service; if the cellular network is determined to be used, receiving a message in a first cellular communication communicated from the source to the Telematics unit with the cellular network; if the satellite network is determined to be used, receiving the message in a first satellite communication communicated from the source to the Telematics unit with the satellite network; and wherein the act of receiving the message in the first satellite communication communicated from the source to the Telematics unit with the satellite network further comprises; configuring an acknowledgment that the message received in the first satellite communication has been received in the satellite mode; returning, in a second cellular communication communicated, when the cellular network is determined to be used, from the Telematics unit to the source, the acknowledgment that the message has been received in the satellite mode; determining if a vehicle is turned off; programmably controlling power to the cellular transceiver when the vehicle is turned off; wherein the act of programmably controlling power to the cellular transceiver comprises; receiving a discontinuous reception parameter from the cellular network; and controlling supply of power to the cellular transceiver based on the discontinuous reception parameter. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 10)
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11. A system, comprising:
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a cellular transceiver for communicating cellular communications with a source of Telematics service via a cellular network; a satellite receiver for receiving satellite communications from the source via a satellite network; and at least one controller communicatively coupled to the cellular transceiver and the satellite receiver and configured to control the cellular transceiver and the satellite receiver to establish communication with the source using either one or both of the cellular network and the satellite network, the at least one controller configured to determine whether to use the cellular transceiver or the satellite receiver to communicate with the source, wherein if the cellular transceiver is determined to be used, the at least one controller is configured to operate in a cellular mode and is configured to receive a message in a first cellular communication communicated from the source to the cellular transceiver, wherein if the satellite receiver is determined to be used, the at least one controller is configured to operate in a satellite mode and is configured to receive a message in a first satellite communication communicated from the source to the satellite receiver, and wherein the at least one controller is further configured to; configure an acknowledgment that the message received in the first satellite communication has been received in the satellite mode; and return, in a second cellular communication communicated, when the cellular transceiver is determined to be used, from the cellular transceiver to the source, the acknowledgment that the message has been received in the satellite mode; wherein the at least one controller is operatively coupled to a battery, and wherein the at least one controller is configured to; determine if a vehicle is turned off, and programmably control power from the battery to the satellite receiver when the vehicle is turned off; and wherein to programmably control power from the battery to the satellite receiver, the at least one controller is configured to; obtain on and off times designated for operating the satellite receiver; and control supply of power to the satellite receiver based on the designated on and off times. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A Telematics service method, comprising:
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establishing communication of a Telematics unit with a source of Telematics service using either one or both of a cellular network and a satellite network; determining whether to use the cellular network or the satellite network to communicate between the Telematics unit and the source of Telematics service; if the cellular network is determined to be used, receiving a message in a first cellular communication communicated from the source to the Telematics unit with the cellular network; if the satellite network is determined to be used, receiving the message in a first satellite communication communicated from the source to the Telematics unit with the satellite network; and wherein the act of receiving the message in the first satellite communication communicated from the source to the Telematics unit with the satellite network further comprises; configuring an acknowledgment that the message received in the first satellite communication has been received in the satellite mode; returning, in a second cellular communication communicated, when the cellular network is determined to be used, from the Telematics unit to the source, the acknowledgment that the message has been received in the satellite mode; determining if a vehicle is turned off; programmably controlling power to the satellite receiver when the vehicle is turned off; wherein the act of programmably controlling power to the satellite receiver comprises; obtaining on and off times designated for operating the satellite receiver; and controlling supply of power to the satellite receiver based on the designated on and off times. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification