Method of voice access for vehicle services

• US 20040203634A1
• Filed: 04/10/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Wang, Mingheng, Mutart, Doug L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,177,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72424 with manual activation of emergency-service functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals

Abstract

One aspect of the invention presents a method of providing vehicle services to a mobile vehicle. An access request is received at a call center. The access request is authenticated. An automated voice menu of vehicle services is presented to a subscriber. A subscriber selection input is received from the automated voice menu of vehicle services. A vehicle service control signal is sent from the call center to the mobile vehicle based on the subscriber selection input.

Claims

1. A method of providing vehicle services to a mobile vehicle comprising:

receiving an access request at a call center;

authenticating the access request;

presenting an automated voice menu of vehicle services to a subscriber;

receiving a subscriber selection input from the automated voice menu of vehicle services; and

sending a vehicle service control signal from the call center to the mobile vehicle based on the subscriber selection input.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the access request is received from one of a landline phone or a cellular phone.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the access request is received by an automated voice response system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein authenticating the access request comprises comparing a user account number and a personal identification number to a database of user account numbers and personal identification numbers.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the automated voice menu of vehicle services is based on the user account number.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the automated voice menu of vehicle services is based on a mobile vehicle corresponding to the user account number.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the automated voice menu of vehicle services is based on a type of service class associated with the user account number.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one vehicle service is selected from a group consisting of a lock door request, an unlock door request, a honk horn request, a flash lights request, a vehicle diagnostics check request, a vehicle parameter check request, and a vehicle parameter update request.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing an automated voice submenu based on a subscriber selection input.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a vehicle service status signal; and

presenting a vehicle service status to the subscriber based on the received vehicle service status signal.

11. A computer usable medium including a program for providing vehicle services to a mobile vehicle comprising:

computer program code to receive an access request at a call center;

computer program code to authenticate the access request;

computer program code to present an automated voice menu of vehicle services to a subscriber;

computer program code to receive a subscriber selection input from the automated voice menu of vehicle services; and

computer program code to send a vehicle service control signal from the call center to the mobile vehicle based on the subscriber selection input.

12. The computer usable medium of claim 11 wherein authenticating the access request comprises comparing a user account number and a personal identification number to a database of user account numbers and personal identification numbers.

13. The computer usable medium of claim 12 wherein the automated voice menu of vehicle services is based on the user account number.

14. The computer usable medium of claim 12 wherein the automated voice menu of vehicle services is based on a mobile vehicle corresponding to the user account number.

15. The computer usable medium of claim 12 wherein the automated voice menu of vehicle services is based on a type of service class associated with the user account number.

16. The computer usable medium of claim 11 further comprising:

computer program code to present an automated voice submenu based on a subscriber selection input.

17. The computer usable medium of claim 11 further comprising:

computer program code to receive a vehicle service status signal; and

computer program code to present a vehicle service status to the subscriber based on the received vehicle service status signal.

18. A system for providing vehicle services to a mobile vehicle, comprising:

means for receiving an access request at a call center;

means for authenticating the access request;

means for presenting an automated voice menu of vehicle services to a subscriber;

means for receiving a subscriber selection input from the automated voice menu of vehicle services; and

means for sending a vehicle service control signal from the call center to the mobile vehicle based on the subscriber selection input.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising:

means for presenting an automated voice submenu based on a subscriber selection input.

20. The system of claim 18 further comprising:

means for receiving a vehicle service status signal; and

means for presenting a vehicle service status to the subscriber based on the received vehicle service status signal.