Telematics hotlining process

• US 7,224,969 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2004
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Temic Automotive of North America, Incorporated (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Khamharn, Oddy N., Stark, Brett G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban; Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le; Nhan T.
• Application Number:
  US10/975,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20060094473A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432.1, 455/433, 455/432.3, 455/405, 455/406, 455/445, 455/422.1, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/435.3, 455/446
• US Class Current: 455/432.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6081 Service authorization mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42136 Administration or customisation of services

Abstract

A system and method of providing service for a Telematics communication device includes a first step of providing a vehicular radiotelephone communication system including a cellular radiotelephone network for connecting the communication device with a service operator. The communication device includes a controller pre-programmed with a hotlined analog telephone number and a cleared digital telephone number if so equipped. A next step includes placing a call by the communication device using the hotlined analog telephone number. A next step includes determining whether the communication device has a service contract in place with the service operator, wherein if the communication device does not have a service contract, switching the call to a voice recording, and wherein if the communication device does have a service contract, providing service for the communication device.

Claims

1. A method of providing service for a Telematics communication device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a vehicular radiotelephone communication system including a cellular radiotelephone network for connecting the communication device with a service operator, the communication device having a controller pre-programmed with at least a hotlined analog telephone number;

determining whether the communication device is operable on an analog or digital radiotelephone network, wherein if the communication device is operable on a digital radiotelephone network, directing the communication device to use a cleared digital telephone number to contact the service operator, and wherein if the communication device is operable on an analog radiotelephone network only, directing the communication device to use the hotlined analog telephone number to contact the service operator;

placing a call by the communication device using the hotlined analog telephone number; and

determining whether the communication device has a service contract in place with the service operator,

wherein if the communication device does not have a service contract, switching the call to a voice recording, and

wherein if the communication device does have a service contract, providing service for the communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step includes reading an identification of the communication device and comparing that identification with a list of device identifications that have been set up for service.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

provisioning of the communication device by the service operator to configure and authorize service for the communication device, after the determining step.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

presenting a modem tone to the communication device; and

wherein if the communication device is operable on a digital radiotelephone network, terminating the call and having the communication device redial the service operator using the cleared digital telephone number, and

wherein if the communication device is operable on an analog radiotelephone network only, connecting the communication device to the service operator using the hotlined analog telephone number.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein if the communication device is operable on a digital radiotelephone network, further comprising the substep of having the communication device place all future calls to the service operator using the cleared digital telephone number using the Telematics protocol, once provisioned.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of connecting the communication device to the service operator using the hotlined analog telephone number includes switching from a modem line to a voice line.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of provisioning of the communication device by the service operator to de-configure and de-authorize service for the communication device upon termination of a service contract, whereupon the communication device reverts to use of the hotlined analog telephone number only.

8. A method of providing service for a Telematics communication device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a vehicular radiotelephone communication system including a cellular radiotelephone network for connecting the communication device with a service operator, the communication device having a controller pre-programmed with at least a hotlined analog telephone number;

placing a call by the communication device using the hotlined analog telephone number; and

determining whether the communication device has a service contract in place with the service operator,

wherein if the communication device does not have a service contract, switching the call to a voice recording, and

wherein if the communication device does have a service contract, determining whether the communication device is operable on a digital radiotelephone network, and provisioning of the communication device by the service operator to configure and authorize service for the communication device wherein, if the communication device is operable on a digital radiotelephone network directing the communication device to use a cleared digital telephone number to contact the service operator, and if the communication device is operable on an analog radiotelephone network only, directing the communication device to use the hotlined analog telephone number to contact the service operator.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining step includes reading an identification of the communication device and comparing that identification with a list of device identifications that have been set up for service.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

presenting a modem tone to the communication device; and

acknowledging service between the communication device and service operator,

wherein if the communication device is operable on a digital radiotelephone network, terminating the call and having the communication device redial the service operator using the cleared digital telephone number, and

wherein if the communication device is operable on an analog radiotelephone network only, connecting the communication device to the service operator using the hotlined analog telephone number where the service operator provisions service for the communication device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein if the communication device is operable on a digital radiotelephone network, further comprising the substep of having the communication device place all future calls to the service operator using the cleared digital telephone number using the Telematics protocol.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of connecting the communication device to the service operator using the hotlined analog telephone number includes switching from a modem line to a voice line.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of provisioning of the communication device by the service operator to de-configure and de-authorize service for the communication device upon termination of a service contract, whereupon the communication device reverts to use of the hotlined analog telephone number only.

14. A system for providing service for a Telematics communication device, the system comprising:

a radiotelephone network that route telephone calls;

a service operator operable to provide service for the Telematics communication device depending upon a service contract;

a hotlined analog telephone number;

a network access device of the Telematics communication device, the network access device having a controller pre-programmed with the hotlined analog telephone number;

an analog information transfer destination bank controlled by the service operator; and

a voice recording,

wherein upon a call from the communication device using the hotlined analog telephone number, the service operator determines whether the communication device has a service contract in place with the service operator such that the service operator directs the network to switch the call to the voice recording if the communication device does not have a service contract and directs the network to switch the call to the analog information transfer destination bank if the communication device does have a service contract.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the service operator reads an identification of the communication device from the network and compares that identification with a list of device identifications that have been set up for service.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a digital information transfer destination bank and a cleared digital telephone number, wherein if a service contract is in place a determination is made of whether the communication device is operable on a digital radiotelephone network, wherein if the communication device is operable on a digital radiotelephone network, the cleared digital telephone number is used to connect to the digital information transfer destination bank, and wherein if the communication device is operable on an analog radiotelephone network only, the hotlined analog telephone number is used to connect to the analog information transfer destination bank.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein, if a service contract is in place, the service operator presents a modem tone to the communication device through the network and if the communication device is operable on a digital radiotelephone network, the communication device terminates the analog call and redials the service operator using the cleared digital telephone number to the digital information transfer destination bank wherein the service operator provisions service for the communication device, and if the communication device is operable on an analog radiotelephone network only, the call continues to the analog information transfer destination bank using the hotlined analog telephone number wherein the service operator provisions service for the communication device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein if the communication device is operable on a digital radiotelephone network, the communication device places all future calls to the service operator using the cleared digital telephone number using the Telematics protocol to the digital information transfer destination bank.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the service operator connects the communication device to the service operator using the hotlined analog telephone number by directing the network to switch from the modem line to a voice line to the analog information transfer destination bank.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the service provider can also perform provisioning of the communication device through the network to de-configure and de-authorize service for the communication device upon termination of a service contract, whereupon the communication device reverts to use of the hotlined analog telephone number only.