Method and system of monitoring and retrieving device usage

• US 8,195,388 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2009
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Oesterling, Christopher L., Peterson, Michael L., Videtich, Matt C., Heald, Richard A. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US12/643,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20100100441A1
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/25, 701 29- 32, 701 34- 36, 701/400, 701/29.1, 701/29.4, 701/31.3, 701/31.2, 701/32.3, 701/32.5, 701/33.4, 701/34.4, 340/901, 340/902, 340/425.5, 340/438, 340/439, 340/459
• US Class Current: 701/400
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0254 based on statistics

Abstract

A method and system for monitoring and retrieving device usage for a device at a vehicle including storing a vehicle data record in the telematics unit, monitoring the device usage for device data, storing the device data at the vehicle, requesting the telematics unit to upload the device data, and transmitting the device data from the telematics unit to a remote location. At least one of the monitoring and the requesting is performed in accordance with the vehicle data record.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring and retrieving device usage for a device at a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining that a vehicle has been delivered to a customer;

providing a telematics unit in the vehicle with an indication that the vehicle has been delivered to the customer;

monitoring a vehicle device and acquiring device usage data for a period of time following the indication to the telematics unit;

storing the device usage data at the vehicle;

establishing a call between the telematics unit and a call center using a wireless carrier system, wherein the call is established after the period of time has elapsed;

accessing the device usage data stored at the vehicle; and

transmitting the device usage data from the telematics unit to the call center via the wireless carrier system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the device usage data is selected from the group consisting of time data and channel data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of storing device usage data at the vehicle comprises storing the device usage data at a location selected from the group consisting of device storage at the device and in-vehicle memory at the telematics unit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing step further comprising providing a call interval vehicle data record to the telematics unit, and wherein the step of monitoring a vehicle device to acquire device usage data comprises requesting the telematics unit to upload the device usage data in accordance with the call interval vehicle data record after a time interval.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing step further comprising providing a usage monitor vehicle data record and wherein the step of monitoring a vehicle device and acquiring device usage data comprises monitoring the device usage in the telematics unit in accordance with the usage monitor vehicle data record.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring the vehicle device and acquiring a second set of device usage data over a second period of time;

storing a second set of device usage data at the vehicle;

initiating a second call between the telematics unit and the call center via the wireless carrier system after the second period of time has elapsed;

receiving the second call at the call center wherein the call center accesses the second set of device usage data transmitted by the second call; and

comparing the device usage data to the second set of device usage data.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

compiling a plurality of device usage differences for a plurality of time intervals; and

making decisions based on the plurality of device usage differences, the decisions being selected from the group consisting of marketing decisions and design decisions.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

aggregating a plurality of device usage differences for a plurality of time intervals for a plurality of vehicles; and

making decisions based on the aggregated plurality of device usage differences, the decisions being selected from the group consisting of marketing decisions and design decisions.

9. A method for monitoring and retrieving satellite radio usage in a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

recording initial satellite radio usage data for a limited vehicle owner population of interest over a first period of time;

transmitting the initial satellite radio usage data from the telematics unit to a call center via a wireless carrier system after the first period of time;

recording additional satellite radio usage data for a limited vehicle owner population of interest over a second period of time;

transmitting the additional satellite radio usage data from the telematics unit to a call center via the wireless carrier system after the second period of time; and

comparing the initial satellite radio usage data with the additional satellite radio usage data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein both the initial satellite radio usage data and the additional satellite radio usage data indicate the length of time for which satellite radio channels are used.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein both the initial satellite radio usage data and the additional satellite radio usage data indicate the frequency with which satellite radio channels are used.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of making decisions based on the comparison.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of making decisions includes making advertising decisions based on the length of time for which satellite radio channels are used.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of making decisions includes making advertising decisions based on the frequency with which satellite radio channels are used.

15. A method for monitoring and retrieving satellite radio usage in a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

delivering a vehicle to a customer having a satellite radio receiver and telematics unit in the vehicle;

providing a free trial subscription to satellite radio services for a period of time via the satellite radio receiver;

recording satellite radio usage data during at least a portion of the period of time;

transmitting the satellite radio usage data from the telematics unit to a call center via a wireless carrier system before the period of time ends; and

making at least one decision concerning marketing communications with the customer based on the satellite radio usage data.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of making at least one decision further comprises deciding before the period of time ends whether to send a communication to the customer concerning the satellite radio services.