Method and system for modifying a wake up mode of a telematics unit

• US 7,474,942 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2005
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Patenaude, Russell A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu; Yonel
• Application Number:
  US11/110,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20060241817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,357 Days
• Field of Search: 701 1- 2, 701/36, 701/213, 340/425.5, 340/426
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2018 Central base unlocks or authorises unlocking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/403 Power supply in the vehicle

Abstract

A method of enabling vehicle communications includes receiving a mode change trigger at a telematics unit; receiving a signal at the telematics unit responsive to a trigger event; modifying a wake up mode of the telematics unit based on the signal; and energizing the telematics unit based on the modified wake up mode.

Claims

1. A method of enabling vehicle communications, the method comprising:

receiving a mode change trigger at a telematics unit associated with the vehicle;

receiving a signal at the telematics unit responsive to a trigger event, wherein the signal is received from a source selected from the group consisting of an ignition monitor, a key fob monitor, a GPS device, a window sensor, a cellular reception monitor, a motion sensor, and an antenna damage sensor;

modifying a wake up mode of the telematics unit based on the received signal; and

energizing the telematics unit based on the modified wake up mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a normal mode signal at the telematics unit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein energizing the telematics unit based on the modified wake up mode comprises entering a modified wake up mode and monitoring for a communication signal from a wireless network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a wake up mode comprises a predetermined pattern of availability of the telematics unit.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the modified wake up mode comprises an interval of 30 minutes between availability of the telematics unit, and wherein a normal wake up mode comprises an interval of 10 minutes between availability of the telematics unit.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the modified wake up mode is a content synchronization mode.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the modified wake up mode is a pre-delivery mode.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising entering an extended modified mode from the modified wake up mode.

9. A method of enabling vehicle communications, the method comprising:

receiving at a telematics unit associated with the vehicle a mode change trigger selected from the group consisting of a theft trigger, battery power trigger, a geographic trigger, content synchronization trigger, and a usage trigger;

receiving a signal at the telematics unit responsive to a trigger event;

modifying a wake up mode of the telematics unit based on the signal; and

energizing the telematics unit based on the modified wake up mode.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising computer readable code for receiving a normal mode signal at the telematics unit.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the mode change trigger is selected from the group consisting of a theft trigger, a geographic trigger, and a usage trigger.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the signal is received from a source selected from the group consisting of an ignition monitor, a key fob monitor, a GPS device, a window sensor, a cellular reception monitor, and antenna damage sensor.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein computer readable code for energizing the telematics unit based on the modified wake up mode comprises computer readable code for entering a modified wake up mode and computer readable code for monitoring for a communication signal from a wireless network.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein a wake up mode comprises a predetermined pattern of availability of the telematics unit.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the modified wake up mode comprises an interval of 30 minutes between availability of the telematics unit, and wherein a normal wake up mode comprises an interval of 10 minutes between availability of the telematics unit.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the wake up mode is selected from the group consisting of a content acquisition mode, a pre-delivery mode, and a repair mode.

17. The method of claim 9 further comprising computer readable code for entering an extended modified mode from the modified wake up mode.

18. A system for establishing communication with a vehicle, the system comprising:

means for receiving a mode change trigger at a telematics unit;

means for receiving a signal at the telematics unit responsive to a trigger event;

means for modifying a wake up mode of the telematics unit based on the signal; and

means for energizing the telematics unit based on the modified wake up mode.