Abstract:
A method and system for simplifying a vehicle interface to provide local connectivity to various vehicle systems are disclosed. The vehicle interface is simplified across many vehicle types and configurations by deploying a local wireless connection.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Serial No. 60/226,194 filed Aug. 18, 2000. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to automotive telematics systems having a central response center for providing information and remote services to telematics equipped vehicles.  
         BACKGROUND ART  
         [0003]    Existing telematics solutions use four functional elements: 1) a wireless phone or some type of wireless communication device to provide a one-way or two-way connection to the public switch telephone network (PSTN), internet or other wide area network infrastructure; 2) a global positioning service (GPS) or some type of positioning solution to provide a real-time location of the device or its user; 3) a vehicle interface to provide local connectivity to various vehicle systems; and  4 ) a human interface to allow a user to interact with the services that are enabled by these elements.  
           [0004]    A major consideration in the design and development of a vehicle interface that provides local connectivity to various vehicle systems is that the various vehicle systems differ greatly across vehicle types. Therefore, a need exits for a method and system for simplifying the vehicle interface across the many vehicle types and configurations. The new and improved method and system must allow remote systems to actuate various vehicle sub-systems and provide useful and value added services.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention a method and system is provided to simplify the vehicle interface that provides local connectivity to various vehicle systems. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle interface is simplified across many vehicle types and configurations by deploying a local wireless connection.  
           [0006]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a remote keyless entry system is utilized as the local wireless connection to actuate a variety of useful and value added services such as remote actuation of door locks, security systems, horn, vehicle lights, and other vehicle sub-systems. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle telematics system, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an in-vehicle telematics system interface that communicates with an external infrastructure to actuate various vehicle sub-systems and components, in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for remotely actuating various vehicle sub-systems and components using a in-vehicle wireless connection, in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]    Referring now to FIG. 1, a schematic diagram of a vehicle telematics system is illustrated and generally indicated by a reference numeral  8 , in accordance with the present invention. The present invention utilizes an end and service delivery system including a telematics service or response center  10 . Telematics service center  10  employs a voice and/or data connection to the vehicle to deliver value added services, such as assistance for emergencies, navigational information, and concierge type functions. Preferably, telematics service center  10  is connected to a land based infrastructure  11  (e.g. the PSTN, the internet, the virtual private network (VPN)). Further provided is a wireless network  12  which provides communication between telematics service center  10 , infrastructure  11  and an in-vehicle telematics control unit (TCU)  13 .  
         [0011]    To provide vehicle positioning data and other useful information to a vehicle operator, telematics control unit  13  communicates with a global positioning service (GPS) network  9 . GPS network  9  is a constellation of satellites operated by the U.S. Government that provides location and time information signals. These signals allow a GPS receiver to determine an operator&#39;s exact location on earth.  
         [0012]    In-vehicle TCU  13  includes a wireless phone  14  or some other type of wireless communication device, to provide a connection to service center  10  through wireless network  12 , PSTN, internet, or other wide area network infrastructure. In-vehicle telematics control unit  13  further includes a GPS receiver  15  for communicating with the GPS network  9  to provide time and location signals for determining the position of the GPS receiver or its user. Of course, other positioning solutions such as LORAN, dead reckoning, etc. may be used to provide vehicle positioning information to a vehicle operator.  
         [0013]    System  8  further provides a vehicle interface  16  to allow local communication between TCU  13  and the various vehicle sub-systems and components.  
         [0014]    A human interface  17  provides the vehicle operator with a communication pathway with the plurality of services that are enabled by the telematics system. Human interface  17  and vehicle interface  16  are provided through a variety of means. Generally, human interface  17  requires a means to provide hands-free voice communication to the vehicle operator. Further, the human interface  17  allows a vehicle operator to request services from the telematics service center  10 . Such means may include, for example, a service request button for requesting road side assistance or a request for navigational information. Further, human interface  17  must provide a feedback concerning system status or operating mode.  
         [0015]    Conventional interface  16  is provided through a plurality of wired vehicle connections to provide discrete digital control and sense I/O or through the deployment of a variety of vehicle buses (such as a multiplex bus). Vehicle electrical system configurations vary widely across vehicle manufacturers and sub-system designers. This complexity, variety, and uniqueness of vehicle systems  18  from different manufacturers and vehicle models make it difficult to deploy standard methods and procedures for providing vehicle interface  16  (and related in-vehicle services). This is particularly the case for legacy and currently manufactured vehicles.  
         [0016]    Telematics control unit  13  includes a local wireless transmitter  20  to access existing local remote access receivers. These local remote access receivers exist in many vehicles today. For example, one embodiment of the present invention utilizes the existing remote keyless entry (RKE) systems that exist in over 40% of today&#39;s vehicles. In this embodiment, a key-fob like RKE transmitter is integrated into TCU  13 . Thus, the present invention allows a number of remote services to be deployed across a variety of vehicles while achieving a low system cost. These services for example, include door lock/unlock, horn actuation, vehicle interior and exterior lighting actuation, vehicle seat setting adjustments, as well as initializing or setting a variety of other vehicle parameters. All these services are performed remotely through the end to end telematics service delivery system as described above.  
         [0017]    Referring now to FIG. 2, in-vehicle elements of the present invention are illustrated in greater detail. TCU  13  is an embodiment in a stand alone module and in another embodiment is integrated into a vehicle&#39;s rearview mirror. TCU  13  has a cellular/voice/data module  22 , an audio processing module  24 , a host processor  26 , and a RKE transmitter  28 . CVD module  22  supports a dual mode phone, a GPS with voice microphone support and audio out. Host processor  26  preferably is an ST 9  processor or equivalent having monitor inputs, control outputs, control phone, control GPS and RKE protocol.  
         [0018]    The TCU module  13  is in communication with a user interface  30 . User interface  30  includes a radio head unit  32  and preferably includes an interactive rearview mirror  34 . A vehicle operator sends and receives audio signals and other data signals from user interface  30 . More specifically, user interface  30  communicates data through a PTA, ACP, button sensor, LED status lines.  
         [0019]    Radio head unit  32  in an embodiment worn by the vehicle operator and includes a display and hands free radio to provide interactive communication with the TCU  13 . In an embodiment, the rearview mirror  34  has four activation buttons, four status indicators, and a hands free microphone.  
         [0020]    In another embodiment of the present invention, TCU  13  is in communication with a vehicle restraint module  36 . TCU  13  preferably receives an airbag activation signal when the vehicle&#39;s airbag deploys. The airbag activation signal is communicated through a deploy sense line to TCU  13 .  
         [0021]    RKE transmitter  28  communicates with a conventional RKE module  38 . RKE module  38 , for example, controls the vehicle&#39;s door locks and panic activation and any other features which may be present. Preferably, control of RKE module  38  is initiated through transmission of infrared signals from RKE transmitter  28 .  
         [0022]    RKE transmitter  28  operates on the same frequency and with the same communication protocol as is already provided for a particular vehicle in which TCU  13  is installed. For example, RKE transmitter in one embodiment operates at 315 megahertz and uses data messages having a transmitter identification code (TIC) and an operation code. As is know in the art, the TIC is a unique number associated with the transmitter and is used to identify an authorized transmitter or key-fob for accessing various functions in a particular vehicle. Typically, an RKE receiver is pre-programmed by a vehicle manufacturer and/or the vehicle owner to include TIC&#39;s for each authorized transmitter. A plurality of operational codes are also pre-programmed to identify the desired functions (usually associated with the particular button pressed on a key-fob) such as door lock, door unlock, horn actuation, etc.  
         [0023]    In a preferred embodiment, the present invention utilizes existing reprogramming or initialization methods for gaining authorized access to the RKE system. Authorized access to the RKE controlled functions is required to utilize TCU  13  mounted RKE transmitter  28 . One method known for re-programming an existing RKE receiver is by cycling the vehicle ignition a number of times, such as eight. This causes the receiver to switch to a program mode. The new transmitter to be authorized, such as RKE transmitter  28 , is programmed by pressing one of RKE functions such as door, lock or unlock. Accordingly, the present invention utilizes this same programming mode by providing a button on the TCU  13  to allow manual initialization of a transmission from TCU  13  mounted RKE transmitter  28 .  
         [0024]    In a preferred embodiment, the telematics control unit  13  monitors the vehicle ignition and triggers a special mode based on the same ignition sequence. Further, a unique button or combination of buttons or button presses may be provided on the TCU  13  to allow the user to initiate manual transmission without interfering with the sequence of programming several different key-fobs.  
         [0025]    Referring now to FIG. 3, a flow chart illustrating a method for remote operation of in-vehicle RKE controlled functions by the telematics service center, in accordance with the present invention. Once the TCU mounted transmitter  28  is programmed in accordance with the method described above or with other similar methods, the remote telematics service may begin actuating in-vehicle sub-systems controlled by local wireless systems such as the RKE system. Such a method is initiated at block  40 , for example, by a user calling response center  10  using for example a toll free number. The vehicle operator identifies himself and requests a desired service, as represented by block  42 . At block  44 , response center  10  validates the user by verifying the user&#39;s password and or other unique/private information. The system determines an appropriate message to communicate to the vehicle operator. If the system has determined that the vehicle operator has not provided a valid user ID and password, a message to that affect is sent to the vehicle, and if the user does not response with the valid password, the session ends, as represented by blocks  46  and  48 . However, if the vehicle operator has responded with a valid user ID and password, an appropriate message is sent to the vehicle operator and to the telematics control unit  13  for decoding, as represented by block  50 . At block  52 , the RKE transmitter transmits the appropriate code to RKE receiver to command the particular vehicle sub-system or component to perform the requested service. After the requested service has been carried out and no additional requests are indicated by the vehicle operator, the current session with the response center is terminated, as represented by block  54 .  
         [0026]    Therefore, the present invention has many advantages and benefits over the prior art. For example, the present invention utilizes vehicle subsystems which are present in many vehicles today to provide value added features and services to vehicle occupants through remote wireless operation. Moreover, the present invention provides a means for a vehicle operator to access and operate vehicle subsystems from greater distances than prior art systems.