Vehicle telematics communication for well-being checks

• US 8,750,943 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Bradburn, Travis Lyle, Chmielewski, Laura R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu, Jinsong
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang, Jean
• Application Number:
  US12/342,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20100159869A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,995 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/556.1, 455/415, 455/420, 455/569.2, 455/418, 455/419, 455/575.9
• US Class Current: 455/569.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0415 detecting absence of activity per se
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40273 the transportation system being a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

A method and system for attempting contact with a person via a vehicle telematics unit. The method carried out by the system involves receiving a request for well-being check of a person, placing a call to that person'"'"'s vehicle, and performing a well-being check if the person answers the call. If the call is not answered, then the method further involves setting a vehicle trigger, presenting a well-being check message to the occupant upon occurrence of the trigger, receiving a return call from the vehicle, and communicating with the occupant over the return call to verify the person'"'"'s well-being and offer any needed assistance.

Claims

1. A method of attempting contact with a person via a vehicle telematics unit, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a request for a well-being check of a person at a call center using an automated voice response system;

(b) retrieving information associated with the person at the call center from a database in response to the well-being check;

(c) placing a call to a vehicle associated with the person using information retrieved from the database;

(d) generating a well-being check of the person through an audio system or a vehicle display of the vehicle if the call is answered; and

(e) if the call is not answered, then;

(e1) automatically transmitting a telematics command that sets a vehicle trigger and is responsive to vehicle operation by an occupant;

(e2) presenting a well-being check message to the occupant through the audio system or via the vehicle display of the vehicle upon occurrence of the trigger;

(e3) prompting the occupant to place a return call from the vehicle at a call center using a message played by the audio system or the vehicle display of the vehicle; and

(e4) communicating with the occupant over the return call at the call center.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises receiving a missing persons request from police.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises placing the call if previous authorization for well-being checks has been received from a subscriber associated with the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises receiving the request at a call center via a phone call from a requestor and step (b) further comprises placing the call from an adviser at the call center.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein step (b) further comprises placing a call to the vehicle while the phone call with the requestor is still active and, if the call to the vehicle is answered by the person, connecting the two calls together so that the requestor can speak with the person.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d1) further comprises setting an ignition trigger.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d1) further comprises setting a mileage trigger.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d1) further comprises downloading the well-being check message to the vehicle upon setting the trigger and storing the message at least until occurrence of the trigger.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d2) further comprises automatically placing a telephone call to the call center in response to the trigger and playing a voice message for the occupant over the telephone call.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d2) further comprises presenting the well-being check message as an audible message played within the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d2) further comprises presenting the well-being check message as a text message within the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d2) further comprises presenting a well-being check message requesting the occupant to call the call center.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d3) further comprises placing the return call in response to a call initiating input by the occupant.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d3) further comprises placing the return call automatically in response to occurrence of the trigger.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d4) further comprises playing a voice message from the requestor to the occupant over the telephone call.

16. A method of attempting contact with a person via a vehicle telematics unit, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving at a call center using an automated voice response system a request for a well-being check of a person;

(b) accessing subscriber information associated with the person at the call center from a database in response to the well-being check;

(c) identifying a vehicle based on the subscriber information accessed from the database;

(d) placing a call from the call center to the vehicle using information retrieved from the database;

(e) presenting a message via an audio system or a display in the vehicle to perform a well-being check of the person if the call is answered; and

(f) if the call is not answered, then;

(f1) automatically transmitting a telematics command that sets a trigger in the vehicle;

(f2) receiving a first, automatic return call at the call center from the vehicle following occurrence of the trigger;

(f3) supplying a pre-recorded well-being check message to the vehicle over the automatic return call prior to the return call being terminated;

(f4) receiving a second, manually-initiated return call from an occupant in the vehicle; and

(f5) communicating with the occupant over the second return call.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein step (f1) further comprises setting an ignition trigger.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein step (f3) further comprises supplying the well-being check message as a voice message played over the first return call.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein step (f3) further comprises supplying a well-being check message requesting the occupant to call the call center.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein step (a) further comprises receiving the request at the call center from a requestor and recording a voice message from the requestor, and wherein the method further comprises playing the voice message from the requestor to the occupant over one of the return calls.