System and method for provisioning a vehicle interface module
View Patent ↗The present invention provides systems and methods for provisioning a vehicle interface module comprising receiving a VIM from a VIM manufacturer and entering appropriate VIM data into a dealer inventory, activating a SIM card for the VIM and installing the VIM in a predetermined vehicle, selecting a wireless activated VIM from the dealer inventory and connecting the VIM to an OBD-II port of the vehicle, connecting a configuration PC to the VIM and downloading a modem configuration, selecting and downloading a vehicle-specific configuration file, accessing a telematics services provider's web portal, entering appropriate vehicle data, and associating the vehicle with the VIM, installing the VIM in the predetermined vehicle, and conducting an installation verification test.
1. A method for provisioning a VIM, comprising:
manufacturing the VIM;
activating a wireless communication of the VIM;
configuring the VIM;
performing a functional test to verify VIM performance;
changing a default on-board application from test to operational;
deactivating the wireless communication; and
shipping the VIM to a predetermined dealership.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein activating the wireless communication comprises installing a test SIM card.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein installing the test SIM card comprises inserting the test SIM card in an associated SIM card holder in the VIM.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein deactivating the wireless communication comprises replacing a test SIM card with an inactive VIM specific SIM card.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein replacing the test SIM card with the inactive VIM specific SIM card comprises replacing a SIM configuration data in a VIM off-board test application and reloading a modem configuration.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the VIM is configured for a default vehicle such that the VIM requires customization for a specific vehicle make and model.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein configuring the VIM comprises connecting the VIM to provide access to multiple software applications.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the software applications comprise a VIM off-board application, a VIM on-board application, a VIM default configuration file, and a VIM on-board operational application.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein configuring the VIM further comprises opening the VIM off-board application and downloading the VIM on-board application.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein configuring the VIM further comprises activating the VIM on-board application using the VIM off-board application, entering a SIM configuration data in the VIM off-board application, downloading a wireless modem configuration and downloading the VIM default vehicle configuration file.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein changing the default on-board application from test to operational comprises up-loading and activating a VIM on-board operational application using a VIM off-board application.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending a VIM file to a vehicle telematics services provider upon shipping the VIM to a predetermined dealership, wherein the VIM file includes all VIM-relevant data.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein activating the wireless communication comprises installing a pre-activated SIM card.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein deactivating the wireless communication comprises de-activating the SIM card.
15. A method for provisioning a VIM, comprising
receiving a VIM and entering appropriate VIM data into a dealer inventory;
activating a SIM card for the VIM and installing the VIM in a predetermined vehicle;
selecting a wireless activated VIM from the dealer inventory and connecting the VIM to a vehicle electrical system; and
connecting the vehicle electrical system to the VIM and downloading a configuration file.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
accessing a telematics services provider's web portal, entering appropriate vehicle data, and associating the vehicle with the VIM;
installing the VIM in the predetermined vehicle; and
conducting an installation verification test.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising logging into the telematics service provider's web portal and entering a VIM-vehicle association into the telematics service provider's database.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein conducting an installation verification test comprises turning an ignition of the vehicle on and off and observing a registration record on the telematics services provider's web portal.
19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising releasing the vehicle for sale upon successfully conducting the installation verification test.
20. A method for provisioning a VIM, comprising:
receiving VIM information from a VIM manufacturer, the VIM information including all VIM-relevant data;
entering the VIM-relevant data in a telematics database using the VIM information; and
associating the VIM with a dealer receiving the VIM.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the method is performed by a telematics service provider.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein entering the VIM-relevant data in a telematics database comprises setting up a future association of the VIM with a vehicle and a customer of the telematics service provider.