Systems and methods for detecting an error in the installation of an electrical component

• US 8,653,954 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2011
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Patenaude, Russell A., Peariso, Nicholas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dorsey, Renee
• Application Number:
  US13/094,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20120274456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/403 Power supply in the vehicle

Abstract

A system and method for detecting an error in the installation of an electrical component in a vehicle having a vehicle bus is disclosed herein. The system includes, but is not limited to a vehicle communication interface that is configured to be communicatively coupled with the vehicle bus and to detect a first power state of the vehicle. The system further includes an aftermarket telematics unit that is configured to be electrically connected to the vehicle and to wirelessly communicate with the vehicle communication interface. The vehicle communication interface is further configured to detect a second power state of the aftermarket telematics unit, to compare the first power state with the second power state, and to alert a third party when the first power state and the second power state do not correspond with one another.

Claims

1. A system for detecting an error in the installation of an electrical component in a vehicle having a vehicle bus, the system comprising:

a vehicle communication interface configured to be communicatively coupled with the vehicle bus and to detect a first power state of the vehicle; and

an aftermarket telematics unit configured to be electrically connected to the vehicle and to wirelessly communicate with the vehicle communication interface,

wherein the vehicle communication interface is further configured to detect a second power state of the aftermarket telematics unit, to compare the first power state with the second power state, to alert a third party when the first power state and the second power state do not correspond with one another, and to communicate a cause for a non-correspondence of the first power state with the second power state to the third party, the cause comprising one of;

a. a ground line of the aftermarket telematics unit being incorrectly connected to the vehicle,

b. a switched power line of the aftermarket telematics unit being connected to an incorrect switched power line of the vehicle,

c. a switched power line of the aftermarket telematics unit being connected to a constant power line of the vehicle, and

d. a constant power line of the aftermarket telematics unit being connected to a switched power line of the vehicle,

when the non-correspondence respectively comprises one of;

a. the first power state of the vehicle is on and the second power state of the aftermarket telematics unit is off,

b. the first power state of the vehicle is on and the second power state of the aftermarket telematics unit is standby,

c. the first power state of the vehicle is off and the second power state of the aftermarket telematics unit is on, and

d. the first power state of the vehicle is off and the aftermarket telematics unit is off.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle communication interface is configured to detect the first power state of the vehicle based on an occurrence of general message traffic being transmitted across the vehicle bus.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle communication interface is configured to detect the first power state of the vehicle based on a specific message transmitted across the vehicle bus.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the aftermarket telematics unit is configured to transmit a first message to the vehicle communication interface indicative of the second power state and wherein the vehicle communication interface is configured to detect the second power state of the aftermarket telematics unit based on the first message.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the aftermarket telematics unit is configured to transmit a first message to the vehicle communication interface indicative of the second power state and wherein the vehicle communication interface is configured to detect the second power state of the aftermarket telematics unit based on a cessation of the first message.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the aftermarket telematics unit and the vehicle communication interface are configured to be communicatively paired with one another, wherein the vehicle communication interface is configured to detect a pairing status of the vehicle communication interface and the aftermarket telematics unit, and wherein the vehicle communication interface is further configured to detect the second power state of the aftermarket telematics unit based on the pairing status.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the aftermarket telematics unit and the vehicle communication interface are configured to be communicatively paired with one another, wherein the vehicle communication interface is configured to detect a pairing status of the vehicle communication interface and the aftermarket telematics unit, and wherein the vehicle communication interface is further configured to detect the second power state of the aftermarket telematics unit based on a cessation of a pairing between the vehicle communication interface and the aftermarket telematics unit.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the third party is a call center.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle communication interface is further configured to alert the third party using a communication device of the aftermarket telematics unit.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle communication interface is configured to delay alerting the third party until after an occurrence of a predetermined number of events where the first power state does not correspond with the second power state.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle communication interface is configured to delay alerting the third party until a duration of an event where the first power state does not correspond with the second power state exceeds a predetermined period of time.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle communication interface is configured to communicate the first power state to the aftermarket telematics unit, wherein the aftermarket telematics unit is configured to determine whether the first power state corresponds with the second power state, and wherein the aftermarket telematics unit is further configured to alert the third party when the first power state does not correspond with the second power state.

13. A system for detecting an error in the installation of an electrical component in a vehicle having a vehicle bus, the system comprising:

a vehicle communication interface configured to be communicatively coupled with the vehicle bus and to detect a first power state of the vehicle; and

an aftermarket telematics unit configured to be electrically connected to the vehicle and to wirelessly communicate with the vehicle communication interface,

wherein the vehicle communication interface is further configured to detect a second power state of the aftermarket telematics unit, to compare the first power state with the second power state, to determine a cause for non-correspondence between the first power state and the second power state when the first power state and the second power state do not correspond with another, to alert a third party when the first power state and the second power state do not correspond with one another, and to communicate the cause to the third party, and

wherein the cause comprises one of

a. a ground line of the aftermarket telematics unit being incorrectly connected to the vehicle,

b. a switched power line of the aftermarket telematics unit being connected to an incorrect switched power line of the vehicle,

c. a switched power line of the aftermarket telematics unit being connected to a constant power line of the vehicle, and

d. a constant power line of the aftermarket telematics unit being connected to a switched power line of the vehicle,

when the non-correspondence respectively comprises one of;

a. the first power state of the vehicle is on and the second power state of the aftermarket telematics unit is off,

b. the first power state of the vehicle is on and the second power state of the aftermarket telematics unit is standby,

c. the first power state of the vehicle is off and the second power state of the aftermarket telematics unit is on, and

d. the first power state of the vehicle is off and the aftermarket telematics unit is off.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the third party is a call center.

15. A method for detecting an error in the installation of an electrical component in a vehicle having a vehicle bus, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a first power state of the vehicle and a second power state of an aftermarket telematics unit with a vehicle communication interface that is communicatively coupled with the vehicle bus;

comparing the first power state with the second power state using the vehicle communication interface;

determining that a wiring error exists when the first power state and the second power state do not correspond;

determining that a cause of a non-correspondence of the power state comprises one of;

a. a ground line of the aftermarket telematics unit being incorrectly connected to the vehicle,

b. a switched power line of the aftermarket telematics unit being connected to an incorrect switched power line of the vehicle,

c. a switched power line of the aftermarket telematics unit being connected to a constant power line of the vehicle, and

d. a constant power line of the aftermarket telematics unit being connected to a switched power line of the vehicle,

when the non-correspondence respectively comprises one of;

a. the first power state of the vehicle is on and the second power state of the aftermarket telematics unit is off,

b. the first power state of the vehicle is on and the second power state of the aftermarket telematics unit is standby,

c. the first power state of the vehicle is off and the second power state of the aftermarket telematics unit is on, and

d. the first power state of the vehicle is off and the aftermarket telematics unit is off; and

communicating to a third party the non-correspondence of the power state and the cause of the non-correspondence of the power state.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of alerting a third party about the wiring error.