Systems and methods for switching between communication and navigation modes in a telematics device
Embodiments of the invention include a vehicle telematics system including telematics a telematics device, where the telematics device includes a modem that communicates using several communication modes, and the processor of the telematics device is directed to operate in the communication mode, transmit a notification to the cellular data server regarding a switch to a different communication mode, switch to the navigation mode and obtain location data for a first time, switch back to the communication mode, extrapolate a new location for a second time while in the communication mode based on an analysis of the location data received during the navigation mode.
1. A telematics device, comprising:
a processor and a memory storing a telematics application; and
a radio that includes a plurality of modes including at least one communication mode and a navigation mode, wherein the radio comprises shared RF and baseband processing for processing signals on the different communication modes;
wherein the processor of the telematics device, on reading the telematics application, is directed to:
operate in the communication mode;
transmit a notification to a remote server system on the communication mode that indicates the telematics device will switch to the navigation mode;
switch to the navigation mode subsequent to transmission of the notification and obtain location data for a first time;
switch back to the communication mode; and
extrapolate a new location for a second time while in the communication mode based on an analysis of the location data received during the navigation mode.
2. The telematics device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one communication mode communicates cellular data on a cellular network and the navigation mode receives navigation data using the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).
3. The telematics device of claim 1 , wherein the processor of the telematics device is further directed to:
operate in the navigation mode for a first threshold time period; and
switch back to the communication mode after the first threshold time period.
4. The telematics device of claim 3 , wherein the processor of the telematics device is further directed to:
operate in the communication mode for a second threshold time period; and
switch to the navigation mode after the second threshold time period.
5. The telematics device of claim 4 , wherein the first threshold time period is different from the second threshold time period.
6. The telematics device of claim 1 , wherein the processor of the telematics device is further directed to:
begin operating in the navigation mode at the start of a trip monitoring operation to obtain location data regarding an initial location of the telematics device;
switch to the communication mode upon obtaining the location data; and
transmitting, in the communication mode, the initial location of the telematics device to the remote server system.
7. The telematics device of claim 1 , wherein the processor of the telematics device is further directed to:
switch to the navigation mode at the end of a trip monitoring operation to obtain location data regarding a final location of the telematics device;
switch to the communication mode upon obtaining the location data; and
transmitting the final location of the telematics device to the remote server system.
8. The telematics device of claim 1 , wherein extrapolating a new location comprises determining a heading and speed of the telematics device based on an analysis of the location data obtained in navigation mode.
9. The telematics device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further directed to:
operating in a particular mode based on an application executing on the telematics device.
10. The telematics device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further directed to:
operating primarily in the communication mode; and
periodically switching to the GNSS mode to obtain location updates.
11. The telematics device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further directed to:
switch to the navigation mode upon receiving a request for location information while in the communication mode.
12. A method for switching modes within a telematics device, comprising:
using a radio that includes a plurality of modes including at least one communication mode and a navigation mode, wherein the radio comprises shared RF and baseband processing for processing signals on the different communication modes;
operate in the communication mode;
transmit a notification to a remote server system on the communication mode that indicates the telematics device will switch to the navigation mode;
switch to the navigation mode subsequent to transmission of the notification and obtain location data for a first time;
switch back to the communication mode; and
extrapolate a new location for a second time while in the communication mode based on an analysis of the location data received during the navigation mode.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one communication mode communicates cellular data on a cellular network and the navigation mode receives location data using the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).
14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
operating in the navigation mode for a first threshold time period; and
switching back to the communication mode after the first threshold time period;
operating in the communication mode for a second threshold time period; and
switching to the navigation mode after the second threshold time period.
15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising: beginning operation in navigation mode at the start of a trip monitoring operation to obtain location data regarding an initial location of the telematics device; switching to the communication mode upon obtaining the location data; and transmitting the location of the telematics device to the remote server system.
16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising: switching to the navigation mode at the end of a trip monitoring operation to obtain location data regarding a final location of the telematics device; switching to the communication mode upon obtaining the final location data; and transmitting the final location of the telematics device to the remote server system.
17. The method of claim 12 , wherein extrapolating a new location comprises determining a heading and speed of the telematics device based on the location data.
18. A telematics device, comprising:
a processor and a memory storing a telematics application; and
a radio that includes a plurality of modes including at least one communication mode and a navigation mode, wherein the radio comprises shared RF and baseband processing for processing signals on the different communication modes;
wherein the processor of the telematics device, on reading the telematics application, is directed to:
detect a vehicle start and switch from a low power mode to a normal mode;
switch to a navigation mode;
determine that a message is to be sent and switch to a communication mode;
send the message in the communication mode, send a notification that indicates the telematics device will switch to the navigation mode, and switch back to the navigation mode subsequent to the sending of the notification;
detect a vehicle turned off event and switch to the communication mode to transmit at least one report and switch to the low power mode.
19. The telematics device of claim 18 , wherein the processor of the telematics device is further directed to:
transmit a notification to a remote server system on the communication mode regarding a switch to a different mode.
20. The telematics device of claim 18 , wherein the at least one communication mode communicates cellular data on a cellular network and the navigation mode receives navigation data using the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).