Controlling a short-range wireless connection between a vehicle telematics unit and an in-vehicle audio system

• US 9,113,288 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2014
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Sauerbrey, Steven S., Mathieson, Kier M., Gerlach, Jonathan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US14/156,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20150201297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 340/436, 340/438, 455/41.2, 455/404.1, 455/569.2, 701/1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6083 by interfacing with the vehicle audio system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/34 Selective release of ongoing connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

A system and method of communicating using a vehicle telematics unit and an in-vehicle audio system includes detecting a vehicle event at the vehicle telematics unit; terminating any existing short-range wireless connections between the vehicle telematics unit and wireless devices carried by a vehicle occupant; establishing a short-range wireless connection between the vehicle telematics unit and the in-vehicle audio system; and providing communications between the vehicle occupant and a central facility using the short-range wireless connection established between the vehicle telematics unit and the in-vehicle audio system.

Claims

1. A method of communicating using a vehicle telematics unit and an in-vehicle audio system, comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting a vehicle event at the vehicle telematics unit;

(b) terminating any existing short-range wireless connections between the vehicle telematics unit and one or more wireless devices carried by a vehicle occupant;

(c) establishing a short-range wireless connection between the vehicle telematics unit and the in-vehicle audio system; and

(d) providing communications between the vehicle occupant and a central facility using the short-range wireless connection established during step (c).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle event further comprises a vehicle accident detected by the vehicle telematics unit using one or more vehicle sensors.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle event further comprises a button pushed inside a vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises placing the existing short-range wireless connections in a passive state.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises establishing short-range wireless connections using a Bluetooth protocol.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing communications between the vehicle occupant and a live advisor or an automated voice response system.

7. A method of communicating using a vehicle telematics unit and an in-vehicle audio system, comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing a first link between the vehicle telematics unit and the in-vehicle audio system via a short-range wireless connection, wherein the first link is designated as a passive link;

(b) establishing a second link between the vehicle telematics unit and a wireless device carried by a vehicle occupant, wherein the second link is designated as an active link;

(c) detecting a vehicle event using the vehicle telematics unit;

(d) terminating the second link and designating the first link to be active in response to step (c); and

(e) providing communications between the vehicle occupant and a central facility using the first link.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the vehicle event further comprises a vehicle accident detected by the vehicle telematics unit.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the vehicle event further comprises a button pushed inside a vehicle.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising establishing the first link and the second link using a Bluetooth protocol.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of providing communications between the vehicle occupant and a live advisor or an automated voice response system via the first link.

12. A system of communication, comprising:

an in-vehicle audio system that includes a display, a microphone, one or more audio speakers, and a first antenna capable of communicating using one or more short-range wireless protocols; and

a vehicle telematics unit having an electronic processing device, a memory device, and a second antenna capable of communicating using one or more short-range wireless protocols, wherein the vehicle telematics unit establishes a first link with the in-vehicle audio system via a short-range wireless protocol, establishes a second link with a wireless device carried by a vehicle occupant via a short-range wireless protocol, detects a vehicle event and terminates the second link, and provides communications between the vehicle occupant and a central facility using the first link.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first link and the second link are established using a Bluetooth protocol.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising a sensor communicatively linked to the vehicle telematics unit, wherein the sensor provides data to the vehicle telematics unit for detecting a vehicle accident.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising a button located in a vehicle and communicatively linked to the vehicle telematics unit, wherein the vehicle telematics unit detects the vehicle event when the button is pushed.