Method and apparatus for an alert strategy between modules

• US 9,066,298 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Pandya, Ritesh, Kleve, Robert Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Elhag, Magdi
• Application Number:
  US13/836,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20140274226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3212 Monitoring battery levels, e.g. power saving mode being initiated when battery voltage goes below a certain level
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A telematics control unit comprising a transceiver configured to receive a message from a vehicle module during a sleep mode, the message requesting the telematics control unit to output information via a telecommunications network. The telematics control unit also includes a processor configured to determine whether to output the information or delay the output of the information based upon the message, and output the information to the telecommunications network, or delay outputting the information until the telematics control unit enters a full-power mode or a wake-up cycle.

Claims

1. A telematics control unit (TCU), comprising:

a transceiver configured to receive a message from a communication module during a sleep mode of the TCU including a wake-up cycle and following a vehicle key-off, the message requesting the TCU to output vehicle information via a telecommunications network;

a processor configured to;

determine whether to output the vehicle information or delay the output of the vehicle information based upon content of the message;

determine a power-mode of the TCU to activate based upon the content;

output the vehicle information to the telecommunications network, or delay outputting the information until the TCU enters a full-power mode or a wake-up cycle based upon the determination; and

activate the power mode after outputting the vehicle information.

2. The telematics control unit of claim 1, wherein the power mode activated is an extended power mode configured to power a cellular radio with data channels open for a specific period.

3. The telematics control unit of claim 1, wherein the power mode activated is a light sleep mode or medium sleep mode.

4. The telematics control unit of claim 1 wherein the power mode activated is a deep sleep mode or vacation mode.

5. The telematics control unit of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether to output the vehicle information based upon a battery level of the vehicle.

6. The telematics control unit of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether to output the vehicle information based upon a battery level of the vehicle.

7. The telematics control unit of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a power mode of the TCU to activate based upon the message and activate the power mode of the TCU after outputting the information to the telecommunications network.

8. The telematics control unit of claim 7, wherein the power mode activated is an extended power mode.

9. The telematics control unit of claim 7, wherein the power mode activated is a light sleep mode or medium sleep mode.

10. The telematics control unit of claim 7, wherein the power mode activated is a deep sleep mode.

11. The telematics control unit of claim 1, wherein the sleep mode is a light sleep mode including a reoccurring wake-up cycle and being temporarily disconnected from the telecommunications network.

12. The telematics control unit of claim 1, wherein the sleep mode is a deep sleep mode that is configured to maintain power to a real time clock and a network wakeup circuit, and is further configured to be disconnected from the telecommunications network.

13. The telematics control unit of claim 1, wherein the communication module is a transceiver in communication with either a vehicle network transceiver in communication with a vehicle data bus, or a remote server.

14. The telematics control unit of claim 1 wherein the communication module is a cellular phone.

15. The telematics control unit of claim 1 wherein the communication module is an off-board server.

16. A method of using a telematics control unit (TCU), comprising:

receiving a message from a vehicle module during a sleep mode of the TCU including a wake-up cycle and following a vehicle key-off, the message requesting the TCU to output vehicle information via a telecommunications network;

determining whether to output the vehicle information or delay the output of the vehicle information based upon the message;

outputting the information to the telecommunications network or delaying output of the information until the TCU enters a full-power mode or a wake-up cycle based upon the determination; and

activating a power mode of the TCU upon outputting the information to the telecommunications network based upon a vehicle battery level.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the power mode activated is a light sleep mode, medium sleep mode, or deep sleep mode.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the sleep mode is a light sleep mode or deep sleep mode.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further includes the step of determining whether the message is received during a vehicle network bus wake-up or during a reoccurring wake-up cycle.

20. A telematics control unit (TCU), comprising:

a transceiver configured to receive a message to output vehicle information to a telecommunications network from a communication module during a TCU sleep mode entered upon a vehicle key-off; and

a processor configured to;

determine whether to delay outputting the information based upon content of the message;

output the information to the network utilizing the determination; and

activate a TCU power-mode utilizing the content after the information is output.