Method for realizing a preferred in-vehicle chime

• US 20070244615A1
• Filed: 04/12/2006
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Ampunan, Nathan, Hering, Carl
• Granted Patent: US 7,698,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/00 Arrangement or adaptation of acoustic signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/001 Alarm devices when the motor is stopped and the lights are on
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

A method of realizing a preferred in-vehicle chime includes the steps of selecting the preferred in-vehicle chime from an Internet-enabled program or a call center, transmitting the preferred in-vehicle chime from the Internet-enabled program to a telematics unit operatively disposed within the vehicle, and transmitting the preferred in-vehicle chime from the telematics unit to a vehicle chime module disposed within the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for realizing a preferred in-vehicle chime, comprising:

selecting the preferred in-vehicle chime from at least one of an Internet-enabled program or a call center;

transmitting the preferred in-vehicle chime from the at least one of the Internet-enabled program or the call center to a telematics unit operatively disposed within the vehicle; and

transmitting the preferred in-vehicle chime from the telematics unit to a vehicle chime module operatively disposed within the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the Internet-enabled program or the call center includes a catalog of chimes from which the preferred in-vehicle chime may be selected.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the preferred in-vehicle chime is accomplished by:

accessing the at least one of the Internet-enabled program or the call center; and

submitting a request for the preferred in-vehicle chime.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the request includes identifying a triggering event for the preferred in-vehicle chime.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the preferred in-vehicle chime is performed in a location remote from the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the preferred in-vehicle chime is operatively stored in the telematics unit subsequent to transmitting the preferred in-vehicle chime to the vehicle and prior to transmitting the preferred in-vehicle chime to the vehicle chime module.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting the preferred in-vehicle chime to the vehicle chime module is performed in response to recognition of a vehicle ignition cycle.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting the preferred in-vehicle chime to the vehicle chime module replaces a previously stored in-vehicle chime with the preferred in-vehicle chime.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein at least two different preferred in-vehicle chimes are selected, wherein transmitting one of the at least two different preferred in-vehicle chimes to the vehicle chime module replaces a first previously stored in-vehicle chime, and wherein transmitting an other of the at least two different preferred in-vehicle chimes to the vehicle chime module replaces a second previously stored in-vehicle chime.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the preferred in-vehicle chime is adapted to sound in response to a triggering event selected from key-in-the-ignition, exterior lamps on with ignition off, door ajar, safety restraints not fastened, low fuel, object in vehicle path, device selected, and combinations thereof.

11. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the telematics unit is in communication with the at least one of the Internet-enabled program or the call center via a wireless carrier system.

12. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein the call center is in communication with the Internet-enabled program via a land line.

13. A system for realizing a preferred in-vehicle chime, comprising:

an Internet-enabled program including a catalog of downloadable chimes, the Internet-enabled program adapted to receive a request for the preferred in-vehicle chime;

a vehicle telematics unit operatively connected to the Internet-enabled program via a wireless carrier system, the vehicle telematics unit capable of receiving the preferred in-vehicle chime from the Internet-enabled program; and

a vehicle chime module operatively connected to the vehicle telematics unit, the vehicle chime module adapted to receive and store the preferred in-vehicle chime.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a vehicle audio system in communication with the vehicle chime module, the vehicle audio system configured to audibly emit the preferred in-vehicle chime.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the Internet-enabled program is accessible via a computer.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the preferred in-vehicle chime is adapted to sound in response to a triggering event selected from key-in-the-ignition, exterior lamps on with ignition off, door ajar, safety restraints not fastened, low fuel, an object in vehicle path, a device selected, and combinations thereof.

17. A method for realizing a preferred in-vehicle chime, the method comprising:

selecting the preferred in-vehicle chime from a catalog of chimes via an Internet-enabled program;

transmitting the preferred in-vehicle chime from the Internet-enabled program to a vehicle telematics unit via a wireless carrier system;

operatively storing the preferred in-vehicle chime in the telematics unit; and

transmitting, upon recognition of a signal, the preferred in-vehicle chime to a vehicle chime module.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein transmitting the preferred in-vehicle chime to a vehicle chime module replaces a previously stored in-vehicle chime with the preferred in-vehicle chime.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the signal is emitted upon initiation of an ignition cycle.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the vehicle chime module is in communication with a vehicle audio system, and wherein at least one of the vehicle chime module, the vehicle audio system, or combinations thereof is configured to audibly emit the preferred in-vehicle chime.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising audibly emitting the preferred in-vehicle chime in response to a triggering event selected from key-in-the-ignition, exterior lamps on with ignition off, door ajar, safety restraints not fastened, low fuel, object in vehicle path, device selected, and combinations thereof.