Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Richard L Elswick

Aditya S Kamini

Nathaniel H Williams

Chakradhar V Velvadapu

Christopher L Oesterling

Lakshmi V Thanayankizil

Hassan A Elnajjar

Steve P Schwinke

Rachelle M Long

In exemplary embodiments, methods, communication systems, and vehicle systems are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a vehicle system is provided that includes a fleet of vehicles and a remote server. The remote server is remote from the fleet of vehicles, and includes a transceiver and a processor. The transceiver is configured to receive, over a wireless communication network, a communication with a request for a command to be performed by the fleet of vehicles. The processor is configured to: (A) identify a plurality of vehicles of the fleet of vehicles subject to the command; and (B) provide instructions for each of the plurality of vehicles to perform a vehicle action corresponding to the command.

Methods and systems for interacting with and controlling multiple vehicles at once

A system and method of providing an immersive media experience to a user through utilizing one or more vehicle system modules (VSMs) included in a vehicle, wherein the method includes: establishing a connection with a media control device, wherein the media control device includes a display; determining whether the media control device is authorized to control the one or more VSMs as a part of the immersive media experience; receiving an immersive media control request from the media control device, wherein the immersive media control request includes a request from the media control device to perform one or more vehicle functions using the VSMs during playback of immersive media content, and wherein the playback of the immersive media content includes visually perceptible media content that is displayed using the display of the media control device; and controlling the one or more VSMs according to the received VSM control requests.

Controlling vehicle modules based on media content

A system and method of assisting user engagement of vehicle features, the method including: identifying a vehicle engagement feature from a plurality of vehicle engagement features; sending vehicle feature trigger information to a vehicle, the vehicle feature trigger information being information used to detect an occurrence of a vehicle feature trigger that corresponds to the identified vehicle engagement feature; transmitting a vehicle feature engagement notification to a vehicle user of the vehicle, the vehicle feature engagement notification including vehicle feature operating instructions and/or a vehicle feature availability notification; and receiving a vehicle feature usage indicator, the vehicle feature usage indicator indicating that the vehicle user has engaged the identified vehicle engagement feature, wherein the vehicle feature usage indicator is generated by a vehicle system module (VSM) of the vehicle in response to detection of the occurrence of the vehicle feature trigger at the vehicle.

Assisting user engagement of vehicle features

A method and system of determining a parked location of a vehicle, the method including: establishing a short-range wireless communication (SRWC) connection with the vehicle using a personal SRWC device, wherein the SRWC connection operates according to a first protocol; carrying out a SRWC service that is associated with the SRWC; detecting termination of the SRWC service independently of a termination of the SRWC connection; in response to the detection of the termination of the SRWC service, obtaining a location of the personal SRWC device; and storing the location of the personal SRWC device as a parked location of the vehicle.

Determining vehicle parked location

A system and method of determining vehicle characteristics of an unknown vehicle through evaluation of wireless signals transmitted by the unknown vehicle, wherein the method includes: obtaining information from a wireless receiving device, wherein the wireless receiving device is configured to listen for wireless signals from one or more wireless transmission devices, wherein the obtained information is based at least partly on one or more wireless signals transmitted by an unknown vehicle, and wherein the one or more wireless signals only include non-uniquely identifying vehicle information; determining one or more characteristics concerning the unknown vehicle based on evaluating the obtained information in connection with vehicle information data that is stored in a vehicle information database; and storing the one or more characteristics concerning the unknown vehicle in a database.

Characterizing a vehicle based on wireless transmissions

A system and method of enabling an augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) device to augment image or video data using a virtual vehicle skin, wherein the method is carried out by vehicle electronics included within a vehicle, the method including: establishing a connection to the AR/VR device using a wireless communications device included in the vehicle electronics of the vehicle; and sending a virtual vehicle skin response to the AR/VR device via the established connection, wherein the AR/VR device is configured to obtain background video and to display the virtual vehicle skin over the obtained background video so that the virtual vehicle skin overlays a portion of the vehicle, and wherein the virtual vehicle skin response includes the virtual vehicle skin or virtual vehicle skin access information that can be used by the AR/VR device to derive or obtain the virtual vehicle skin.

Virtual vehicle skin

A system and method of operating a vehicle using virtual vehicle controls, wherein the method includes: capturing image or video data from an area within an interior of the vehicle; sending a virtual vehicle control graphics request to a vehicle; receiving virtual vehicle control graphics response from the vehicle, wherein the virtual vehicle control graphics response includes virtual vehicle control graphics; and presenting the captured image or video data and the virtual vehicle control graphics on a display of the AR/VR device such that the virtual vehicle control graphics are presented over the captured image or video data, wherein the virtual vehicle control graphics includes one or more vehicle-user interface components.

Augmented reality vehicle user interface

A system and method of presenting vehicle information to a user at a handheld mobile device, the method including: receiving a request from a user for vehicle information; sending a vehicle information request to a remote server, wherein the vehicle information request includes a location associated with the user; receiving a vehicle information response at the handheld mobile device, wherein the vehicle information response includes information pertaining to one or more vehicles within a predetermined distance of the location associated with the user; displaying a camera feed on a visual display of the handheld mobile device; based on the information pertaining to the one or more vehicles, generating one or more graphics representing at least part of the information pertaining to the one or more vehicles; and displaying the one or more graphics over the camera feed on the visual display of the handheld mobile device.

Vehicle locator and guide

A system and method of enabling a user to select a location for vehicle pickup, wherein the method is carried out by a handheld mobile device, and wherein the method includes: obtaining vehicle reservation information pertaining to a vehicle reservation, wherein the vehicle reservation information includes a reservation start location; displaying a camera feed on a visual display of the mobile device, wherein the camera feed is video data that is obtained by a camera included on the mobile device; receiving a vehicle pickup selection from a user, wherein the vehicle pickup selection is generated by a user selecting an area for pickup that is within a field of view of the camera; and sending a vehicle pickup selection message to the remote server, wherein the vehicle pickup selection message includes the vehicle pickup selection.

Selecting vehicle pickup location

A communication system and a method of identifying a target vehicle using application software on a mobile device. The method includes the steps of receiving at the mobile device a wireless signal transmitted from a transmitter at the target vehicle, wherein the wireless signal is received using an imaging detector in the mobile device; identifying that the target vehicle is a source of the wireless signal based on characteristics of the wireless signal; and in response to the identification, displaying to a user on a display of the mobile device an indication of an identity of the target vehicle.

Growing community of inventors

Warren, MI, United States of America

Richard L Elswick