Targeted messaging for mobile vehicles using satellite-radio broadcasts

• US 7,532,859 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2004
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Videtich, Matt C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro; Nick
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROOKS, SHANNON
• Application Number:
  US10/930,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20060046649A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,716 Days
• Field of Search: 370/316, 455/12.1, 455/3.02, 455/3.03, 455/3.04, 701/29, 701/30, 701/31, 701/32, 710/29, 710/30, 710/31, 710/32
• US Class Current: 455/12.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/57 for mobile receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/16 on playing information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages

Abstract

A targeted message is sent to a mobile vehicle using a satellite broadcast system. A satellite broadcast message including a vehicle identification tag and the targeted message is received at the mobile vehicle. A determination is made on whether to play the targeted message at the mobile vehicle based on the vehicle identification tag, and the targeted message is played based on the determination. A system for sending a targeted message to a mobile vehicle and related computer programming code are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of sending a targeted message to a mobile vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a satellite broadcast message at the mobile vehicle, the satellite broadcast message including a vehicle identification tag, a play-delay indicator associated with a delay time expressed as a predetermined number of ignition cycles of the mobile vehicle, and the targeted message;

determining whether the vehicle identification tag of the satellite broadcast message matches a vehicle identification tag associated with the mobile vehicle; and

if the vehicle identification tag of the satellite broadcast message matches the vehicle identification tag associated with the mobile vehicle, storing the targeted message at the mobile vehicle responsive to the play-delay indicator and playing the targeted message using one of an audio output device and a visual output device after expiration of the predetermined number of ignition cycles associated with the play-delay indicator.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle identifier of the mobile vehicle is selected from the group comprising a vehicle identification number, an electronic serial number of a telematics unit within the mobile vehicle, a cell phone number of a telematics unit within the mobile vehicle, a satellite radio receiver identification number, and a pre-assigned vehicle reference number stored within the mobile vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle identification tag comprises at least one identification number associated with one or more mobile vehicles.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the received broadcast message further comprises a message identifier field.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle targeted message further comprises a message selected from the group consisting of service information, an advertisement, a recall notification, and a vehicle alert message.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a target group of mobile vehicles at a call center;

determining the vehicle identification tag for the determined target group of mobile vehicles; and

sending the determined vehicle identification tag and the targeted message from the call center to a satellite radio broadcaster for transmitting the satellite broadcast message to the mobile vehicle.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

filtering at least one customer data record at the call center to determine the target group of mobile vehicles.

8. A system for sending a targeted message to a mobile vehicle, the system comprising:

means for receiving a satellite broadcast message at the mobile vehicle, the satellite broadcast message including a vehicle identification tag, a play-delay indicator associated with a delay time expressed as a predetermined number of ignition cycles of the mobile vehicle, and the targeted message;

means for determining whether the vehicle identification tag associated with the satellite broadcast message matches a vehicle identification tag associated with the mobile vehicle; and

means for storing the targeted message at the mobile vehicle responsive to the play-delay indicator and playing the targeted message using one of an audio output device and a visual output device after expiration of the predetermined number of ignition cycles associated with the play-delay indicator if the vehicle identification tag matches a vehicle identification tag associated with the mobile vehicle.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

means for determining a target group of mobile vehicles at a call center;

means for determining the vehicle identification tag for the determined target group of mobile vehicles; and

means for sending the determined vehicle identification tag and the targeted message from the call center to a satellite radio broadcaster for transmitting the satellite broadcast message to the mobile vehicle.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

means for filtering at least one customer data record at the call center to determine the target group of mobile vehicles.

11. A computer usable medium including a program to send a targeted message to a mobile vehicle, the program comprising:

computer program code to receive a satellite broadcast message at the mobile vehicle, the satellite broadcast message including a vehicle identification tag, a play-delay indicator associated with a delay time expressed as a predetermined number of ignition cycles of the mobile vehicle, and the targeted message;

computer program code to determine whether the vehicle identification tag associated with the satellite broadcast message matches a vehicle identification tag associated with mobile vehicle; and

computer program code to, if the vehicle identification tag matches a vehicle identification tag associated with the mobile vehicle, store the targeted message at the mobile vehicle responsive to the play-delay indicator and playing the targeted message using one of an audio output device and a visual output device after expiration of the predetermined number of ignition cycles associated with the play-delay indicator.

12. The computer usable medium of claim 11 further comprising:

computer program code to determine a target group of mobile vehicles at a call center;

computer program code to determine the vehicle identification tag for the determined target group of mobile vehicles; and

computer program code to send the determined vehicle identification tag and the targeted message from the call center to a satellite radio broadcaster for transmitting the satellite broadcast message to the mobile vehicle.

13. The computer usable medium of claim 12 further comprising:

computer program code to filter at least one customer data record at the call center to determine the target group of mobile vehicles.