Telematics System and Method Having Combined Cellular and Satellite Functionality

• US 20080278345A1
• Filed: 05/08/2007
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Van Bosch, James A., D'Avello, Robert F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,160,656 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.07
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18517 Transmission equipment in earth stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18563 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00

Abstract

A vehicle Telematics unit includes a cellular transceiver and a satellite receiver. At least one controller controls the transceiver and the receiver and determines which one to use to communicate with a source of Telematics service. If the transceiver is to be used, the controller receives messages in cellular communications from the source with a cellular network. If the receiver is to be used, the controller receives messages in satellite communications from the source with a satellite network. The controller can programmably control power from a battery to the transceiver and receiver when the vehicle is turned off using discontinuous reception parameters, designated on/off times, a controlled duration, and programmable timers. The transceiver is used to return acknowledgments of messages received. If a message is received with the receiver, the acknowledgment is stored so it can be sent at another time when the transceiver is to be used.

Claims

1. A vehicle Telematics unit, comprising:

a cellular transceiver for communicating cellular communications with a source of Telematics service via a cellular network;

a satellite receiver for receiving satellite communications from the source via a satellite network; and

at least one controller communicatively coupled to the cellular transceiver and the satellite receiver and controlling the cellular transceiver and the satellite receiver to establish communication with the source using either one or both of the cellular network and the satellite network, the at least one controller determining whether to use the cellular transceiver or the satellite receiver to communicate with the source,

wherein if the cellular transceiver is determined to be used, the at least one controller operates in a cellular mode and is configured to receive a message in a first cellular communication communicated from the source to the cellular transceiver, and

wherein if the satellite receiver is determined to be used, the at least one controller operates in a satellite mode and is configured to receive a message in a first satellite communication communicated from the source to the satellite receiver.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein to determine whether to use the cellular transceiver or the satellite receiver to communicate with the source, the at least one controller is configured to determine one or more of whether the cellular transceiver is capable of communicating with the cellular network, whether the cellular transceiver is out of communication range of the cellular network, whether the cellular network is congested, whether an expense for using the cellular network exceeds a predetermined amount, and whether using the cellular network is not preferred.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the message comprises one or more instructions, and wherein the at least one controller is configured to instruct one or more vehicle components to implement the one or more instructions in the message.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is operatively coupled to a battery, and wherein the at least one controller is configured to:

determine if the vehicle is turned off; and

programmably control power from the battery to the cellular transceiver and the satellite receiver when the vehicle is turned off.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein to programmably control power from the battery to the cellular transceiver, the at least one controller is configured to:

receive a discontinuous reception parameter from the cellular network with the cellular transceiver; and

control supply of power from the battery to the cellular transceiver based on the discontinuous reception parameter.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein to programmably control power from the battery to the satellite receiver, the at least one controller is configured to:

obtain on and off times designated for operating the satellite receiver; and

control supply of power from the battery to the satellite transceiver based on the designated on and off times.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein to control supply of power from the battery to the satellite transceiver based on the designated on and off times, the at least one controller is configured to:

program a plurality of timers to track on and off states in which the satellite receiver is operated, and

compare the timers to the on and off times designated for operating the satellite receiver.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein to programmably control power from the battery to the satellite receiver, the at least one controller is configured to:

obtain a total allowable duration designated for powering the satellite receiver; and

control supply of power from the battery to the satellite transceiver based on the total allowable duration.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller in the cellular mode is further configured to return an acknowledgment of the message in a second cellular communication communicated from the cellular transceiver to the source.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is further configured to:

store an acknowledgment of the message received in the satellite mode; and

return the acknowledgment in a second cellular communication communicated from the cellular transceiver to the source when the cellular transceiver is determined to be used.

11. A Telematics service method, comprising:

establishing communication of a Telematics unit with a source of Telematics service using either one or both of a cellular network and a satellite network;

determining whether to use the cellular network or the satellite network to communicate between the Telematics unit and the source of Telematics service;

if the cellular network is determined to be used, receiving a message in a first cellular communication communicated from the source to the Telematics unit with the cellular network; and

if the satellite network is determined to be used, receiving the message in a first satellite communication communicated from the source to the Telematics unit with the satellite network.

12. The method of claim 11, the act of determining whether to use the cellular network or the satellite network to communicate between the Telematics unit and the source of Telematics service comprises determining one or more of:

whether the cellular transceiver is capable of communicating with the cellular network,

whether the cellular transceiver is out of communication range of the cellular network,

whether the cellular network is congested,

whether an expense for using the cellular network exceeds a predetermined amount, and

whether using the cellular network is not preferred.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the message comprises one or more instructions, and wherein the method further comprises instructing one or more vehicle components to implement the one or more instructions in the message.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining if the vehicle is turned off; and

programmably controlling power to the cellular transceiver and the satellite receiver when the vehicle is turned off.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the act of programmably controlling power to the cellular transceiver comprises:

receiving a discontinuous reception parameter from the cellular network; and

controlling supply of power to the cellular transceiver based on the discontinuous reception parameter r.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the act of programmably controlling power to the satellite receiver comprises:

obtaining on and off times designated for operating the satellite receiver; and

controlling supply of power to the satellite transceiver based on the designated on and off times.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the act of controlling supply of power to the satellite transceiver based on the designated on and off times comprises:

programming a plurality of timers to track on and off states in which the satellite receiver is operated, and

comparing the timers to the on and off times designated for operating the satellite receiver.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the act of programmably controlling power to the satellite receiver comprises;

obtaining a total allowable duration designated for powering the satellite receiver; and

controlling supply of power to the satellite transceiver based on the total allowable duration.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the act of receiving the message to the first cellular communication communicated from the source to the Telematics unit with the cellular network further_comprises returning an acknowledgment of the message in a second cellular communication communicated from the Telematics unit to the source with the cellular network.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the act of receiving the message in the first satellite communication communicated from the source to the Telematics unit with the satellite network further comprises storing an acknowledgment of the message and returning the acknowledgment in a second cellular communication communicated from the Telematics unit to the source with the cellular network when the cellular network is determined to beused.