Method and system for configuring a telematics device using two-way data messaging

• US 8,306,560 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Krause, Kevin R., Yi, Ki-Hak, Chesnutt, Elizabeth
• Primary Examiner(s): DOAN, KIET M
• Application Number:
  US11/864,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20090088187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,866 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/456.1, 455/557, 455/412.1, 455/426.1, 455/403, 455/425, 455/415, 455/67.11, 455/410, 455/418, 455/414.1, 455/411, 455/456.3, 701/209, 701/32.4, 701/414, 701/33, 370/290, 370/252, 370/286, 370/389, 379/37, 379/265.01
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A method and system for configuring a telematics device is constructed so as to use two-way short message service (SMS) to provide improved configuration execution. Mobile identification number (MIN), Mobile Directory Number (MDH), Home System Identification (SID) number, SID/NID pairs, NAI/password for packet data, over the air service provisioning (OTASP) number, and Preferred Roaming List (PRL) flag can be easily updated with no manual or voice channel configuration actions. In addition, other system settings such as button behavior, language, call barring, adding units to hands-free calling, etc. may be updated as well. In an example, a series of binary SMS messages configures the telematics device, with a subset of the messages being used specifically for configuration while the remaining message initiates a packet data session to complete additional configuration.

Claims

1. A method for remotely configuring a telematics unit using two-way data messaging technology between a call center and a cellular device within the telematics unit comprising:

requesting, at the call center, via two-way data messaging one or more values corresponding to one or more device parameters from the telematics unit;

receiving at the call center from the telematics unit the one or more values corresponding to one or more device parameters via two-way data messaging; and

transmitting via two-way data messaging from the call center to the telematics unit a configuration message, whereby configuration parameters initializing the telematics unit for provision of telematics services over a cellular network are set in response to receipt of the configuration message.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the configuration parameters of the telematics unit comprise one or more of an electronic serial number, a software version, a Destination Entry Assist (DEA) capability, a vehicle identification number, a packet data availability, a mobile identification number, a mobile directory number, a home system identification number, a system identification/network identification pair, a network access identifier/password pair, an over the air service provisioning number, and a Preferred Roaming List (PRL) outdated flag.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

initiating a packet data session between the call center and the cellular device of the telematics unit; and

transmitting and receiving data packets between the cellular device of the call center and the cellular device of the telematics unit.

4. The method according to claim 3 further comprising using a voice circuit switched channel between the call center and the cellular device of the telematics unit to complete configuration of the telematics unit when a packet data session is unavailable.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising using a voice circuit switched channel between the call center and the cellular device of the telematics unit to complete a configuration of the telematics unit when a two way messaging data message fails to reach its destination.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the two-way data messaging technology comprises one of text messaging, instant messaging, and image messaging.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the two-way data messaging technology comprises short message service.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having thereon computer-executable instructions for executing a method of remotely configuring a telematics unit using two-way data messaging technology between a call center and a cellular device within the telematics unit, the computer-executable instructions comprising instructions for:

requesting via two-way data messaging one or more values corresponding to one or more device parameters at the call center from the telematics unit;

receiving at the call center from the telematics unit the one or more values corresponding to one or more device parameters via two-way data messaging; and

transmitting via two-way data messaging from the call center to the telematics unit a configuration message, whereby configuration parameters initializing the telematics unit for provision of telematics services over a cellular network are set in response to receipt of the configuration message.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 8, wherein the configuration parameters of the telematics unit comprise one or more of an electronic serial number, a software version, a Destination Entry Assist (DEA) capability, a vehicle identification number, a packet data availability, a mobile identification number, a mobile directory number, a home system identification number, a system identification/network identification pair, a network access identifier/password pair, an over the air service provisioning number, and a Preferred Roaming List (PRL) outdated flag.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 8, wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise instructions for:

initiating a packet data session between the cellular device of the call center and the cellular device of the telematics unit; and

transmitting and receiving data packets between the cellular device of the call center and the cellular device of the telematics unit.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10, wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise instructions for using a voice circuit switched channel between the call center and the cellular device of the telematics unit to complete configuration of the telematics unit when a packet data session is unavailable.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 8 wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise instructions for using a voice circuit switched channel between the call center and the cellular device of the telematics unit to complete a configuration of the telematics unit when a two way messaging data message fails to reach its destination.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 8, wherein the two-way data messaging technology comprises one of text messaging, instant messaging, and image messaging.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 8, wherein the two-way data messaging technology comprises short message service.

15. A system for configuring a telematics unit using two-way data messaging between a call center and a telematics unit comprising:

a call center apparatus that creates, formats, transmits, and receives data messages that configure parameters of the telematics unit;

a wireless data messaging network for sending data messages and data packets to configure parameters of the telematics unit; and

a cellular device associated with the telematics unit to transmit and receive data messages to configure parameters initializing the telematics unit;

wherein the cellular device contained within the telematics unit is configured to set the value of configuration parameters initializing the telematics unit for provision of telematics services over the wireless network based on data messages received over the wireless data messaging network from the call center apparatus;

wherein a call center apparatus comprises of one or more switches, servers, and databases to create and format data messages.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the configuration parameters of the telematics unit comprise one or more of an electronic serial number, a software version, a Destination Entry Assist (DEA) capability, a vehicle identification number, a packet data availability, a mobile identification number, a mobile directory number, a home system identification number, a system identification/network identification pair, a network access identifier/password pair, an over the air service provisioning number, and a Preferred Roaming List (PRL) outdated flag.

17. The system according to claim 15 wherein the cellular device located within the call center and the telematics unit transmit and receive packet data across a data messaging network.

18. The system according to claim 15 wherein the wireless data messaging network is capable of voice circuit switched channel communication between the cellular device of the call center and the cellular device of the telematics unit to complete configuration of the telematics unit when a data message fails to reach its destination.

19. The system according to claim 15 wherein the wireless data messaging network is capable of voice circuit switched channel communication between the cellular device of the call center and the cellular device of the telematics unit to complete configuration of the telematics unit when a packet data session is unavailable.

20. The system according to claim 15, wherein a data messaging technology in the wireless data messaging network is selected from the group consisting of text messaging, instant messaging, and image messaging.