Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Gm Motors LLC

Steven Swanson

Lawrence Daniel Cepuran

Mark S Frye

Charles Allen Everhart

Wahaj Ahmed

Dorel M Sala

Anthony J Sumcad

Jenne-tai Wang

Steven Christopher Tengler

David M George

Matt C Videtich

Mark O Neal

Shawn F Granda

Steven S Sauerbrey

Catherine L McCormick

A system and method are provided for re-provisioning a telematics unit of a telematics-equipped vehicle for wireless services. The re-provisioning process includes: connecting a computing device to an on-board diagnostics interface of the telematics-equipped vehicle; accessing a subscriber identification card of the telematics unit via the on-board diagnostics interface; requesting subscription information from a subscriber credentials server via a network connection; receiving the subscription information; and reprogramming the subscriber identification card of the telematics unit for wireless services based on the received subscription information.

Provisioning automotive SIM cards without removal from vehicle

A system and method for detecting a missing vehicle tire and notifying a user of the vehicle about a potential vehicle tire theft. The method carried out by the system involves detecting that a tire is missing from a vehicle using a vehicle tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system and thereafter providing a notification of the missing tire via a wireless communication sent from a telematics unit on the vehicle. The wireless communication can be sent automatically by the telematics unit in response to the detection. Identification numbers or other data reported by sensors used in the TPM system can be used to determine if a tire is missing.

Method of detecting a vehicle tire theft

A system and method for reminding a user to dock a mobile device in a docking apparatus within a vehicle are provided. A docking apparatus includes: one or more sensors for determining whether an object is present in the docking apparatus; and at least one of speakers, a vibration mechanism, and one or more display indicators for reminding a user to place the mobile device in the docking apparatus when the one or more sensors determine that an object is not present in the docking apparatus. A system includes the docking apparatus and a mobile device. The method includes receiving an indication that the vehicle ignition is turned on; determining whether the mobile device is in a docking apparatus; and reminding the user to dock the mobile device in the docking apparatus.

Smartphone dock reminder for vehicles

A method and system for recognizing and verifying the identity of a driver and front seat passenger of a vehicle. A vehicle owner uploads profile data for several individuals who may be a driver or passenger to a database in the vehicle. When a driver or passenger enters the vehicle, the system uses the profile data&#x2014;which can include height, weight, and gender information about the individual&#x2014;along with vehicle data such as seat position, to identify the driver or passenger from the database. The profile data for the known individual is then used to adjust the position of the seat and other components in the cockpit. The profile data is also used by various safety and convenience systems onboard the vehicle.

Occupant recognition and verification system

A system and method for providing a vehicle occupant with hands-free usage of text messaging services over a mobile phone via a vehicle telematics unit. The method enables a vehicle occupant to send and receive communication messages such as text messages in a hands-free manner. For sending text messages, a spoken communication message is received from the occupant at the vehicle and sent to a call center for conversion to a text message using a speech to text server. The converted text message is then sent to the mobile phone for texting to the intended recipient. Received text messages can be sent from the mobile phone to the telematics unit, converted to speech and played audibly to the occupant in the vehicle.

Vehicle telematics communication for providing hands-free wireless communication

A method of collecting vehicle operating information using a wireless device includes the steps of communicatively linking a wireless device located within a vehicle to a vehicle telematics unit; receiving vehicle data at the wireless device from the vehicle telematics unit using the link; recording the received vehicle data at the wireless device; detecting that the wireless device is no longer present in the vehicle; and wirelessly transmitting the recorded vehicle data to a central facility using the wireless capabilities of the wireless device based on the detection.

Providing vehicle operating information using a wireless device

An aftermarket device is disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the aftermarket device includes, but is not limited to, a housing that is configured to be mounted to an internal surface of a vehicle. The aftermarket device further includes, but is not limited to a processor that is mounted within the housing. The aftermarket device still further includes, but is not limited to, a mounting sensor that is associated with the housing and that is communicatively coupled with the processor. The mounting sensor is configured to detect a mounting status of the housing and to provide a signal to the processor. The signal contains information indicative of the mounting status of the housing. The processor is configured to determine that the housing is improperly mounted to the internal surface of the vehicle based on the mounting status.

Mounting sensor and aftermarket device equipped with mounting sensor

A collision sensor, a collision sensing system, and a method of mounting a collision sensor to a vehicle are disclosed herein. An embodiment of the collision sensor includes, but is not limited to, a processor and a three-axis accelerometer that is communicatively coupled with the processor. The three-axis accelerometer is configured to detect an acceleration experienced by a vehicle and to generate a signal indicative of the acceleration. The processor is configured to obtain the signal from the three-axis accelerometer and to determine when the vehicle has experienced a collision based, at least in part, on the signal.

Collision sensor, collision sensing system, and method

An aftermarket module arrangement for installation into a vehicle having a vehicle bus and an electric power source is disclosed herein. The arrangement includes, but is not limited to, a module configured to communicatively couple with the vehicle bus and to electrically couple with the electric power source via a first electric power line, and further configured to engage in power line communications over the first electric power line. The arrangement further includes an aftermarket module configured to electrically couple with the electric power source over a second electric power line and to engage in power line communications over the second electric power line. The aftermarket module is further configured to communicatively couple with the module via power line communications and to communicate over the vehicle bus through the module.

Aftermarket module arrangement and method for communicating over a vehicle bus

A vehicle-incident detection method is disclosed herein. Vehicle data is received at a cloud computing system from a vehicle, where the vehicle data is generated by the vehicle in response to an initial detection of a vehicle-related event. After receiving the data, the cloud computing system requests additional vehicle data from the vehicle. The additional vehicle data is generated by the vehicle at a time subsequent to the initial detection of the vehicle-related event. The additional vehicle data is received from the vehicle, and an application resident in the cloud computing system analyzes the vehicle data and the additional vehicle data to determine that the vehicle-related event occurred. The application includes computer readable code embedded on a non-transitory, tangible computer readable medium for performing the analyzing. Also disclosed herein is a vehicle-incident detection system.

Vehicle-incident detection method and system

A method for teaching an aftermarket accessory component how to actuate a vehicle function is disclosed herein. The aftermarket accessory component is configured to monitor communications across a vehicle bus. The method includes, but is not limited to, sampling message traffic transmitted across the vehicle bus while the vehicle function is not actuated. The method further includes setting filters in the aftermarket accessory component based on the sampled message traffic. The method further includes prompting a user to actuate the vehicle function in a first manner. The method further includes collecting filtered message traffic from the vehicle bus while the vehicle function is actuated in the first manner. The method further includes parsing the filtered message traffic to identify a command associated with actuation of the vehicle function. The method further includes testing the command to confirm that the command actuates the vehicle function.

Method for teaching an aftermarket accessory component, and an aftermarket accessory component configured to learn

A method for controlling a mobile communications device while located in a mobile vehicle involves pairing the mobile communications device with a telematics unit via short range wireless communication. The method further involves, receiving an incoming text message at the mobile device while the mobile device is paired with the telematics unit. Upon receiving the text message, a text messaging management strategy is implemented via the telematics unit and/or the mobile device, where the text messaging management strategy is executable via an application that is resident on the mobile device.

Method for controlling a mobile communications device while located in a mobile vehicle

An vehicle interior component for supporting a communication system is disclosed herein. The vehicle interior component includes, but is not limited to, a body that is adapted for attachment to an interior of the vehicle and that is configured to receive a smartphone. The vehicle interior component further includes a hardware module that is configured to communicatively couple with the smartphone. The vehicle interior component still further includes a user input module communicatively coupled with the hardware module. The user input module is configured to generate a first input signal in response to a first user input and to transmit the first input signal to the hardware module. The hardware module is further configured to generate a first output signal and to transmit the first output signal to the smartphone in response to receiving the first input signal.

Growing community of inventors

Commerce Township, MI, United States of America

Steven Swanson