IP Library Granted Patent US 7,277,736
Granted Patent B2
US 7,277,736 · App. 10/740,730 · Granted Oct 2, 2007

Method and system for managing a telematics unit based on vehicle power level

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,277,736
App. No.
10/740,730
Granted
Oct 2, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

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.

Claims (31)

1. A method for operating a telematics unit within a mobile vehicle communication system, the method comprising:

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;

comparing the mobile vehicle system power value to a mobile vehicle system target power level; and

determining a temporal endpoint at which the telematics unit interrupts a standard operating mode based on the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: monitoring at least one mobile vehicle sensor.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one mobile vehicle sensor is selected from the group consisting of: a system energy level sensor, a system voltage level sensor, a system current level sensor, and a temperature sensor.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the comparing step further comprises:

determining if the difference between the mobile vehicle system power value and the mobile vehicle system target power level is greater than a system power level threshold, and, if so, continuing operation of the telematics unit in the standard operating mode; and

determining if the difference between the mobile vehicle system power value and the mobile vehicle system target power level is less than a system power level threshold, and, if so, interrupting the standard operating mode.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the system power level threshold is a predetermined value.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a system power level threshold based on the at least one received vehicle sensor input.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of receiving system energy level information from the at least one mobile vehicle sensor and determining the mobile vehicle system power value based on the system energy level information.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the standard operating mode operates the telematics unit in a low-power configuration.

9. A computer readable medium for operating a telematics unit within a mobile vehicle, comprising:

computer readable code for processing at least one received mobile vehicle sensor input;

computer readable code for determining a mobile vehicle system power value based on the at least one received vehicle sensor input;

computer readable code for comparing the mobile vehicle system power value to a mobile vehicle system target power level; and

computer readable code for determining a temporal endpoint at which the telematics unit interrupts a standard operating mode based on the comparison.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising: computer readable code for monitoring at least one mobile vehicle sensor.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the at least one mobile vehicle sensor is selected from the group consisting of: a system energy level sensor, a system voltage level sensor, a system current level sensor, and a temperature sensor.

12. A method for operating a telematics unit within a mobile vehicle communication system, comprising the steps of:

operating the telematics unit in a low-power configuration;

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;

comparing the mobile vehicle system power value to a mobile vehicle system target power level; and

determining whether to interrupt or continue operation of the telematics unit in the low-power configuration based on the comparison.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of determining whether to interrupt or continue further comprises determining a terminal temporal endpoint for operating the telematics unit in the low-power configuration based on the comparison.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of determining a terminal temporal endpoint further comprises determining a time increment value during which operation of the telematics unit in the low-power configuration is continued.

15. The method of claim 12 , farther comprising the step of powering down the telematics unit if the determination is made to interrupt operation of the telematics unit.

Assignments (14)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GENERAL MOTORS LLC
Reel/Frame 034183/0436 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GENERAL MOTORS LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025327/0196 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025245/0347 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025311/0725 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 12, 2009
From: GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY
To: GENERAL MOTORS LLC
Reel/Frame 023504/0691 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023155/0849 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023155/0814 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: MOTORS LIQUIDATION COMPANY
To: GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY
Reel/Frame 023148/0248 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
To: MOTORS LIQUIDATION COMPANY (F/K/A GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION)
Reel/Frame 023119/0817 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
To: MOTORS LIQUIDATION COMPANY
Reel/Frame 023129/0236 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2009
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: MOTORS LIQUIDATION COMPANY (F/K/A GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION)
Reel/Frame 023119/0491 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 16, 2009
From: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
To: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 022552/0006 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 3, 2009
From: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022191/0254 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 19, 2003
From: OESTERLING, CHRISTOPHER L.; MCGARRY, DANIEL C.
To: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 014834/0544 →