Wireless in-band signaling with in-vehicle systems

• US 8,369,393 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2011
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karma Automotive LLC (Wanxiang Group Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Airbiquity Incorporated
• Inventors: Birmingham, Kiley
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Kiet
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Michael T
• Application Number:
  US13/103,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20110211625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 455/569.2, 455/414.1, 455/423, 455/404.1, 455424-425
• US Class Current: 375/222
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision

Abstract

This invention pertains to methods and apparatus for data communications from vehicles, to obtain emergency, concierge and other services, using a voice channel of a digital wireless telecommunications network. Signaling is described for commencing data sessions after establishing a voice channel call. The call may be initiated from the vehicle automatically, and the call taker location may be unattended. Signaling methods are selected for traversing both newer and legacy vocoders for ubiquitous operation.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing an In-Vehicle System (IVS) including an in-band signaling modem in a vehicle for mobile, wireless voice and data communication, both the voice communication and the data communication occur over a single voice call via a voice channel of a digital wireless communication network;

the IVS further including a customer application coupled to the in-band signaling modem for sending data via the in-band signaling modem during a voice call;

the vehicle further including an in-vehicle audio system for entertainment and communication uses;

the in-vehicle audio system including a speaker and microphone;

in the IVS, initiating the voice call via the digital wireless communication network to a remote call taker location;

after initiating the voice call, receiving at the IVS, via the voice call, a predetermined signaling tone originating from the call taker location preparatory to an in-band data session; and

in the IVS, responsive to receiving the predetermined signaling tone, muting the audio system speaker so that occupants of the vehicle will not hear the sounds of data transferring in the form of audio frequency tones between the customer application and the call taker location.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

measuring a duration of the predetermined signaling tone; and

muting the speaker only after the predetermined signaling tone duration exceeds a first predetermined threshold period of time.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

if and when the predetermined signaling tone duration exceeds a second predetermined threshold period of time longer than the first predetermined threshold period of time, transmitting a predetermined response signal to the call taker location to acknowledge the predetermined signaling tone.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined response signal is an audio tone having a predetermined duration.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined response signal predetermined duration is on the order of 300 msec.

6. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

responsive to receiving the predetermined signaling tone, and during the same voice call, commencing the in-band data session for sending data from the IVS to the call taker location via the voice channel of the digital wireless communication network.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the customer application sends location data in the data session via the in-band modem for the call taker location to initiate emergency services.

8. A system, comprising:

machine-readable memory for storing telematics software;

a processor for reading the machine-readable memory and executing the telematics software stored therein;

the telematics software configured for execution on the processor for sending and receiving data via a voice channel of a digital wireless communication network;

the telematics software including an in-band signaling modem for encoding and decoding voice-channel communications sent to and from an embedded phone module of an In-Vehicle System (IVS) via the voice channel of the digital wireless communication network; and

the telematics software configured to transmit over the voice channel a predetermined signal tone having approximately a predetermined audio frequency, the transmission of the predetermined signal tone having approximately the predetermined audio frequency to control a switch of the IVS and accordingly cause an in-vehicle audio system of the IVS to couple to the embedded phone module and unmute a speaker of the in-vehicle audio system or cause an in-band signaling modem of the IVS to couple to the embedded phone module for data communication and mute the speaker of the in-vehicle audio system.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined signal tone has at least a first predetermined threshold duration before the switch activates.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined audio frequency is approximately 2225 Hz.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the first predetermined threshold duration is on the order of 30 msec.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein the in-band modem sends a predetermined response signal via the embedded phone module if and when the predetermined signal tone exceeds a second threshold duration longer than the first predetermined threshold duration.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the second threshold duration is on the order of 300 msec.