Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Genreal Motors LLC

Daniel C McGarry

Kevin W Owens

Christopher L Oesterling

Eric T Hosey

Matt C Videtich

Joshua M Sine

Russell A Patenaude

Mohannad F Murad

Akram M Abdel-Rahman

Joseph G Machak

Charles R Baker

Samer Zakhem

Gerard R Kreiner

Jeffrey Stefan

Kevin R Krause

Nathan D Ampunan

Dwayne A Crocker

Chester A Huber

Laura R Chmielewski

Richard F Heines

Sam S Chang

Nicholas J Peariso

David D Malkan

Amy Brogan Shiemke

Dmitri Jdanov

Vinay Kapadia

Bradley J Burgess

A system and method of carrying out a teletypewriter (TTY) call at a vehicle, the method being carried out by vehicle electronics of the vehicle, wherein the method includes: receiving a TTY configuration request at the vehicle electronics of the vehicle; configuring the vehicle to operate based on the TTY configuration request, wherein the configuring includes storing TTY configuration data at the vehicle; receiving a telephone call initiation request at the vehicle, the telephone call initiation request corresponding to a telephone call with an end user; determining whether TTY functionality is enabled or disabled at the vehicle, wherein the determination of whether the TTY functionality is enabled or disabled at the vehicle includes inspecting the TTY configuration data; and when it is determined that the TTY functionality is enabled at the vehicle, carrying out a TTY call at the vehicle.

Configurable in-vehicle teletypewriter (TTY) functionality

Methods and systems are provided for transmitting video data from a vehicle. In one exemplary embodiment, a vehicle processor receives a video transmission command that has been generated in response to a user selection of a video transmission input device, and the vehicle processor transmits video data captured by one or more vehicle cameras in response to the received video transmission command, wherein transmission of video data is at least partly over a telecommunications network to a remote server.

Video activation button

Methods and systems are provided for transmitting video data associated with a vehicle. In one exemplary embodiment, a vehicle processor determines a vehicle safety event based on one or more safety sensors, activates one or more vehicle cameras that capture video data in response to the determined vehicle safety event, records the video data in a vehicle data storage device, and, if the vehicle processor determines that a suitable connection to a telecommunications network is available when the video data is being captured, then transmits the video data over the telecommunications network in substantially real time.

Camera activation response to vehicle safety event

Systems and methods are provided for detecting low vehicle battery charge and responding appropriately to prevent complete vehicle battery drainage. One method includes: monitoring the charge of the vehicle battery; determining, by a telematics unit, that the charge of the vehicle battery has reached a low battery charge threshold while the vehicle engine is off; and providing, by the telematics unit, a notification to a telematics subscriber that the vehicle battery has low charge. Another method includes: monitoring the charge of the vehicle battery; determining, by a telematics unit, that the charge of the vehicle battery has reached a low battery charge threshold while the vehicle engine is off; and in response to determining that the low battery charge threshold has been reached, disabling at least one load draining the vehicle battery.

Telematics-based system for protecting against vehicle battery drain

A motor vehicle has an engine kill device that can automatically stop the engine. The vehicle has components for determining the engine may have been errantly left running, in which case the vehicle sends a notice to the user. The vehicle is capable of receiving a response from the user with instructions to leave the engine running. If no response is received, the vehicle can activate the engine kill device and stop the engine, or the vehicle can leave the engine running if a response is received from the user indicating the engine should remain running.

Engine running notice and automatic shut-off

Methods and systems are provided for detecting a power line of a telematics unit is incorrectly wired. In one example, a system includes a first module that evaluates at least one of a validity of a global positioning system and a powered on status of the telematics unit. A second module determines that the power line of the telematics unit is incorrectly wired based on the at least one of the validity of a global positioning system and the powered on status.

Methods and systems for identifying wiring of a telematics system

A telematics unit is provided for a vehicle having a power unit, along with a method for controlling a telematics unit for a vehicle. The telematics unit includes a voltage sensor, a global positioning system unit, and a processor. The voltage sensor senses a measure of a voltage of the power unit. The global positioning system unit obtains position data as to a position of the vehicle. The processor is coupled to the voltage sensor and the global positioning system unit. The processor is configured to determine whether the voltage for the power unit has decreased using the sensed measure of the voltage, determine whether the vehicle is moving using the position data, and command the telematics unit to an off mode if the voltage has decreased and the vehicle is not moving.

Telematics unit and method for controlling telematics unit for a vehicle

An aftermarket telematics system for use with a vehicle having a vehicle bus is disclosed herein. The aftermarket telematics system includes, but is not limited to, an aftermarket telematics unit that is configured to be mounted to the vehicle, to communicate with the vehicle bus, and to detect when the vehicle has been turned off. The aftermarket telematics system also includes a vehicle communication interface device configured to connect to the vehicle bus, to be communicatively coupled with the aftermarket telematics unit, and to facilitate communication between the aftermarket telematics unit and the vehicle bus. The aftermarket telematics unit is further configured to send a sleep command to the vehicle communication interface device when the aftermarket telematics unit detects that the vehicle has been turned off. The vehicle communication interface device is configured to sleep in accordance with the sleep command.

Aftermarket telematics system

A system and method for controlling calls in a vehicle during an emergency situation that includes identifying an emergency situation and placing a voice call or a data call to the vehicle in response to the emergency situation. If the placed call cannot be connected because the vehicle has another call in progress, then an SMS message is sent to the vehicle which contains a command used by the vehicle to interrupt the in-progress call. This enables a call center or public safety personnel to obtain remote access in emergency situations, such as when the vehicle location needs to be determined or an occupant of the vehicle is contacted.

Overriding vehicle communications in emergency situations

A system employing a vehicle module, and an intelligent connector in communication with the vehicle module implements a method for controlling the vehicle module. First, the intelligent connector receives a wireless transmission of a command signal. Second, the intelligent connector determines one or more control actions responsive to the command signal. Finally, the intelligent connector communicates one or more control signals indicative of the control action(s) to the vehicle module.

Programmable wireless in-line connector

A method and system for enabling police pursuing a vehicle to slow the vehicle down via short range wireless communication with the vehicle. The process can be carried out with or without involvement of a call center that provides telematics services to the vehicle. The method involves configuring the vehicle to accept a slowdown command, confirming the target vehicle at a pursuing police vehicle, establishing the short range connection between the police vehicle and target vehicle, and slowing the target vehicle by sending it the slowdown command over the wireless connection. The call center can enable or disable the slowdown service according to the vehicle owner's wishes.

Vehicle slowdown control via short range wireless communication

A method of controlling a remote monitoring device from a vehicle includes sending a command signal from a telematics unit via a wi-fi connection to the remote monitoring device and receiving data from the remote monitoring device via a wi-fi connection at the telematics unit. The data is sent to a destination via a wireless network.

Method for controlling a remote monitoring device

The present invention provides a method for managing telematics unit within a telematics equipped mobile vehicle based on vehicle power level. The method includes receiving at least one mobile vehicle sensor input, determining a mobile vehicle system power value based on the at least one received vehicle sensor input, and operating the telematics unit based on the determined mobile vehicle system power value. The step of operating the telematics unit based on the determined mobile vehicle system power value may include comparing the determined mobile vehicle system power value to a mobile vehicle system target power level, determining if the difference between the mobile vehicle system power value and the mobile vehicle system target power level exceeds a system power level threshold, and initiating a standard operating mode interrupt when the system power level threshold is exceeded.

Growing community of inventors

Oxford, MI, United States of America

Daniel C McGarry