Method and system for managing vehicle control modules through telematics

• US 6,687,587 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Kacel, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US10/026,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20030120395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/33, 701/36, 701/2
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/00 Designing, manufacturing, e.g. assembling, facilitating disassembly, or structurally modifying motor vehicles or trailers, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09 Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions railroad crossing signals B61L; reflectors E01F, G08B; indicating arrangements for variable information by selection or combination of individual elements G09F9/00

Abstract

One aspect of the present invention provides a method of assembling a vehicle using a communication node. A telematics module, which is operatively adapted to communicate with the communication node, is connected to the vehicle. At least one control module, for controlling at least one vehicle function, is connected to the vehicle and is also in communication with the telematics module. A command is issued for the at least one vehicle function, from the communication node to the control module. Programs and systems of using the method are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of assembling a vehicle using a communication node comprising:

monitoring a communications bus for at least one control module;

requesting at least one software bulletin from a communication node in response to the at least one control module;

receiving the at least one requested software bulletin;

updating the at least one control module with the at least one software bulletin.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the control module is an added control module, and the added control module is operatively adapted to control at least one other vehicle function.

3. A method of servicing a vehicle using a communication node comprising:

monitoring a communications bus for at least one control module;

requesting at least one software bulletin from a communication node in response to the at least one control module;

receiving the at least one requested software bulletin;

updating the at least one control module with the at least one software bulletin.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the control module is an added control module, and the added control module is operatively adapted to control at least one other vehicle function.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the control module is a replacement control module operatively adapted to control the at least one existing vehicle function.

6. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

removing an existing control module, the existing control module operatively adapted to control at least one existing vehicle function.

7. A method of remotely servicing a vehicle using communication node comprising:

monitoring a communications bus for at least one control module;

requesting at least one software bulletin from a communication node in response to the at least one control module;

receiving the at least one requested software bulletin;

updating the at least one control module with the at least one software bulletin.

8. A computer usable medium including a program for assembling a vehicle comprising:

computer program code for monitoring a communications bus for at least one control module;

computer program code for requesting at least one software bulletin from a communication node in response to the at least one control module;

computer program code for receiving the at least one requested software bulletin;

computer program code for updating the at least one control module with the at least one software bulletin.

9. The medium of claim 8, wherein the control module is an added control module, and the added control module is operatively adapted to control at least one other vehicle function.

10. A computer usable medium including a program for servicing a vehicle comprising:

computer program code for monitoring a communications bus for at least one control module;

computer program code for requesting at least one software bulletin from a communication node in response to the at least one control module;

computer program code for receiving the at least one requested software bulletin;

computer program code for updating the at least one control module with the at least one software bulletin.

11. A computer usable medium including a program for remotely servicing a vehicle comprising:

computer program code for monitoring a communications bus for at least one control module;

computer program code for requesting at least one software bulletin from a communication node in response to the at least one control module;

computer program code for receiving the at least one requested software bulletin;

computer program code for updating the at least one control module with the at least one software bulletin.

12. A vehicle assembly system comprising:

means for monitoring a communications bus for at least one control module;

means for requesting at least one software bulletin from a communication node in response to the at least one control module;

means for receiving the at least one requested software bulletin;

means for updating the at least one control module with the at least one software bulletin.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one control module is an added control module, and the added control module is operatively adapted to control at least one other vehicle function.

14. A vehicle servicing system comprising:

means for monitoring a communications bus for at least one control module;

means for requesting at least one software bulletin from a communication node in response to the at least one control module;

means for receiving the at least one requested software bulletin;

means for updating the at least one control module with the at least one software bulletin.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one control module is an replacement control module operatively adapted to replace at least one existing control module controlling at least one other vehicle function.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one control module is an added control module operatively adapted to control at least one other vehicle function.

17. A remote vehicle servicing system comprising:

means for monitoring a communications bus for at least one control module;

means for requesting at least one software bulletin from a communication node in response to the ax least one control module;

means for receiving the at least one requested software bulletin;

means for updating the at least one control module with the at least one software bulletin.