Granted Patent B2

US 7,142,810 · App. 10/115,321 · Granted Nov 28, 2006

Abstract

Claims (41)

1. A method for establishing communications with a quiescent mobile vehicle, comprising:

monitoring a satellite radio system broadcast channel for a command signal;

extracting the command signal from the broadcast channel; and

powering up a cell phone in a telematics unit based on the command signal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the command signal includes a telematics unit identifier.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the telematics unit identifier is selected from a group consisting of a vehicle identification number, a mobile phone identification number, an electronic serial number, and a satellite radio receiver identification number.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the command signal is transmitted from one of a geostationary satellite or a terrestrial radio transmitter of a satellite radio service.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

uplinking command information from a satellite radio uplink facility to a geostationary satellite.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

uplinking command information from a satellite radio uplink facility to a terrestrial radio transmitter.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending command information from a call center to a satellite radio uplink facility in response to a service request.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the cell phone is powered up for a predetermined time period before returning to a quiescent state.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

initiating a call from the cell phone to a call center in response to the command signal.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the cell phone operates in one of an analog made or a digital mode.

11. A computer usable medium including a program for establishing communications with a quiescent mobile vehicle, comprising:

computer program code to monitor a satellite radio system broadcast channel for a command signal;

computer program code to extract the command signal from the broadcast channel; and

computer program code to power up a cell phone in a telematics unit based on the command signal.

12. The computer usable medium of claim 11 further comprising:

computer program code to uplink command information from a satellite radio uplink facility to a geostationary satellite.

13. The computer usable medium of claim 11 further comprising:

computer program code to uplink command information from a satellite radio uplink facility to a terrestrial radio transmitter.

14. The computer usable medium of claim 11 further comprising:

computer program code to send command information from a call center to a satellite radio uplink facility in response to a service request.

15. The computer usable medium of claim 11 further comprising:

computer program code to initiate a call from the cell phone to a call center in response to the command signal.

16. A system for establishing communication with a quiescent mobile vehicle, comprising:

means for monitoring a satellite radio system broadcast channel for a command signal;

means for extracting the command signal from the broadcast channel; and

means for powering up a cell phone in telematics unit based on the command signal.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

means for uplinking command information from a satellite radio uplink facility to a geostationary satellite.

18. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

means for uplinking command information from a satellite radio uplink facility to a terrestrial radio transmitter.

19. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

means for sending command information from a call center to a satellite radio uplink facility in response to a service request.

20. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

means for initiating a call from the cell phone to a call center in response to the command signal.

Assignments (13)