Method of initiating a hands-free conference call

1. A method of operating a vehicle telematics unit, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing a conference call access code obtained from a telematics service user;

(b) initiating a conference call from a vehicle based on verbal commands received from a vehicle occupant;

(c) receiving a request for the conference call access code from an automated telephone attendant (ATA) while initiating the conference call;

(d) determining that the ATA has requested the conference call access code using a speech recognition function at the vehicle; and

(e) sending the stored conference call access code to the ATA based on the determination of the speech recognition function.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the speech recognition function is programmed to recognize one or more voices used by the ATA.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the speech recognition function is programmed to recognize one or more commands generated by the ATA.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of directing the speech recognition function to alternately listen to the vehicle occupant or the ATA depending on which is speaking.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (a) further comprises:

listening for the vehicle occupant to say the conference call access code in the vehicle;

interpreting the spoken conference call access code using the speech recognition function at the vehicle; and

storing the interpreted conference call access code at the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the conference call access code is stored as part of a conference call profile that includes a spoken nametag or at least one rule for interacting with the ATA.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the initiation of the conference call is determined based on the identity of a phone number dialed by the vehicle occupant.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the conference call access code is wirelessly sent from the vehicle to the ATA as dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) tones or DTMF commands.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the conference call access code is verbally recited to the ATA by the speech recognition function.

10. A method of operating a vehicle telematics unit, comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining a conference call access code from a telematics service user at the vehicle;

(b) storing the obtained conference call access code at the vehicle;

(c) automatically determining that an automated telephone attendant (ATA) is requesting a conference call access code using speech recognition at the vehicle;

(d) generating DTMF tones or DTMF-based commands based on the stored conference call access code; and

(e) wirelessly transmitting the DTMF tones or DTMF-based commands to the ATA to establish access to the conference call.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the speech recognition at the vehicle is programmed to recognize one or more voices used by the ATA.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the speech recognition at the vehicle is programmed to recognize one or more commands generated by the ATA.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the conference call access code is stored as part of a conference call profile that includes a spoken nametag or at least one rule for interacting with the ATA.

14. The method of claim 10 , the conference call is initiated based on the identity of a phone number dialed by the telematics service user.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of determining the ATA is requesting a conference call by directing the speech recognition at the vehicle to alternately listen to the telematics service user or the ATA depending on which is speaking.

16. A method of operating a vehicle telematics unit, comprising the steps of:

(a) optimizing a speech recognition function at the vehicle to recognize a group of voices used by one or more automated telephone attendants (ATA);

(b) obtaining a conference call access code, a passcode, or both from a telematics service user for establishing a conference call at the vehicle;

(c) storing the conference call access code, the passcode, or both at the vehicle;

(d) automatically determining that an ATA is requesting a conference call access code using the optimized speech recognition function;

(e) generating DTMF tones or DTMF commands based on the stored conference call access code, passcode, or both in response to the determination in step (d); and

(f) wirelessly transmitting the DTMF tones or DTMF commands to the ATA to establish access to the conference call.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the speech recognition function is programmed to recognize one or more commands generated by the ATA.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of directing the speech recognition function to alternately listen to a caller or the ATA depending on which is speaking.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the conference call access code is stored as part of a conference call profile that includes a spoken nametag or at least one rule for interacting with the ATA.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the initiation of the conference call is determined based on the identity of a phone number dialed by the telematics service user.