Traffic data transmission from a vehicle telematics unit

A method of sending traffic related data to a call center using a telematics unit of a vehicle. The method includes receiving a request at the telematics unit to transmit non-traffic data such as vehicle diagnostic information to the call center. Both the non-traffic data as well as traffic related data is obtained by the telematics unit and embedded into a short message service (SMS) message that is then sent to the call center. The traffic related data can be inserted only if it indicates a traffic problem and can be inserted into an otherwise unused portion of the SMS message. The received traffic related data can then be used by the call center or other remote facility to improve traffic reporting.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to transmitting information regarding traffic to a central location. More particularly, the invention relates to modifying a traffic report promulgated by a call center using data created or measured by a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many users of motor vehicles rely on traffic reports to determine a route in which a driver may take to get to his or her destination. There are many methods for collecting traffic data for the purpose of traffic reporting. Traditionally, methods of observing traffic patterns include the use of airplanes, helicopters, traffic cameras, driver sightings and reportings and the like. Recently, wireless vehicle traffic probes have emerged.

All of these systems incorporate the use of observing what is perceived to be occurring on the road. However, a difficulty in utilizing many of these systems is that there is not always a way to identify in real time exactly what is occurring in the vehicles and reporting those events in an accurate manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of sending traffic information to a call center using a telematics unit of a vehicle. The method begins with transmitting data from the vehicle modules to the telematics unit. A portion of the data transmitted to the telematics unit is identified as traffic related data. A message string containing the traffic related data is created. The message string is embedded into a short message service (SMS) message to be transmitted to the call center.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a telematics unit for a vehicle comprising a plurality of inputs operatively connected to vehicle system modules to receive data therefrom. The telematics unit also includes a memory for storing data. The telematics unit also includes a processing device capable of identifying the traffic related data. The telematics unit further includes a cellular chipset that is used for transmission of the traffic related data to the call center. The traffic related data is embedded into an SMS text message that is sent to the a call center along with other non-traffic data in response to a request to send the non-traffic data. In this way, traffic related data can be opportunistically sent to the call center with other data without having to incur additional airtime or message transmission charges.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The method described below facilitates the transmission of data relating to traffic events that are occurring and detected by vehicle system modules and sensors on the vehicle in a manner to further enhance the traffic reporting capabilities of a call center. This method incorporates the automatic transmission of this information making the reporting capabilities of the call center more accurate and less reliant upon human observation. The method incorporates the transmission of the data through short message service (SMS) text messages that do not increase the costs of communication between the vehicle and the call center.

With reference toFIG. 1, there is shown an exemplary operating environment that comprises a mobile vehicle communications system10and that can be used to implement the method disclosed herein. Communications system10generally includes a vehicle12, one or more wireless carrier systems14, a land communications network16, a computer18, and a call center20. It should be understood that the disclosed method can be used with any number of different systems and is not specifically limited to the operating environment shown here. Also, the architecture, construction, setup, and operation of the system10and its individual components are generally known in the art. Thus, the following paragraphs simply provide a brief overview of one such exemplary system10; however, other systems not shown here could employ the disclosed method as well.

Vehicle12is depicted in the illustrated embodiment as a passenger car, but it should be appreciated that any other vehicle including motorcycles, trucks, sports utility vehicles (SUVs), recreational vehicles (RVs), marine vessels, aircraft, etc., can also be used. Some of the vehicle electronics28is shown generally inFIG. 1and includes a telematics unit30, a microphone32, one or more pushbuttons or other control inputs34, an audio system36, a visual display38, and a GPS module40as well as a number of vehicle system modules (VSMs)42having sensors (not shown). Some of these devices can be connected directly to the telematics unit30such as, for example, the microphone32and pushbutton(s)34, whereas others are indirectly connected using one or more network connections, such as a communications bus44or an entertainment bus46. Examples of suitable network connections include a controller area network (CAN), a media oriented system transfer (MOST), a local interconnection network (LIN), a local area network (LAN), and other appropriate connections such as Ethernet or others that conform with known ISO, SAE and IEEE standards and specifications, to name but a few.

According to one embodiment, telematics unit30utilizes cellular communication according to either GSM or CDMA standards and thus includes a standard cellular chipset50for voice communications like hands-free calling, a wireless modem for data transmission, an electronic processing device52, one or more digital memory devices54, and a dual antenna56. Using these components, telematics unit30can transmit and/or receive data or commands via the various communication approaches noted above, including via SMS messages, wherein the data can be incorporated into, for example, the text message portion (payload) of the SMS message. It should be appreciated that the modem can either be implemented through software that is stored in the telematics unit30and is executed by processor52, or it can be a separate hardware component located internal or external to telematics unit30. The modem can operate using any number of different standards or protocols such as EVDO, CDMA, GPRS, and EDGE. Wireless networking between the vehicle and other networked devices can also be carried out using telematics unit30. For this purpose, telematics unit30can be configured to communicate wirelessly according to one or more wireless protocols, such as any of the IEEE 802.11 protocols, WiMAX, or Bluetooth. When used for packet-switched data communication such as TCP/IP, the telematics unit can be configured with a static IP address or can set up to automatically receive an assigned IP address from another device on the network such as a router or from a network address server.

Processor52can be any type of device capable of processing electronic instructions including microprocessors, microcontrollers, host processors, controllers, vehicle communication processors, and application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). It can be a dedicated processor used only for telematics unit30or can be shared with other vehicle systems. Processor52executes various types of digitally-stored instructions, such as software or firmware programs stored in memory54, which enable the telematics unit30to provide a wide variety of services. For instance, processor52can execute programs or process data to carry out at least a part of the method discussed herein. In one embodiment, the processor52receives data from the VSMs42and segregates the data between traffic related data and non-traffic related data. With the traffic related data, the processor52can further correlate or classify the traffic related data based on the type of traffic data it is. For example, the vehicle12may slow down for a period of time. This data is different than airbag deployment data. The former example identifies increased traffic and the second signifies a possible traffic accident. As is discussed below, this information can be transmitted to the call center20using the cellular chipset50.

Telematics unit30can be used to provide a diverse range of vehicle services that involve wireless communication to and/or from the vehicle. Such services include: turn-by-turn directions and other navigation-related services that are provided in conjunction with the GPS-based vehicle navigation module40; airbag deployment notification and other emergency or roadside assistance-related services that are provided in connection with one or more collision sensor interface modules such as a body control module (not shown); diagnostic reporting using one or more diagnostic modules; and infotainment-related services where music, webpages, movies, television programs, videogames and/or other information is downloaded by an infotainment module (not shown) and is stored for current or later playback. The above-listed services are by no means an exhaustive list of all of the capabilities of telematics unit30, but are simply an enumeration of some of the services that the telematics unit is capable of offering. As noted above, the transmission of information from the vehicle12to the call center20or other location can be carried out in various ways including via SMS messages containing the transmitted data. Building and sending of SMS messages containing vehicle data can be done in response to a request at the telematics unit30to send the vehicle data. This request can be the result of a trigger occurring that was previously set on the vehicle, or can be a present request received from the call center or other remote facility. The use of triggers to cause vehicle data reporting via SMS messages can be done as disclosed in U.S. Published Patent Application No. 20040203696A1, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

At least some of the aforementioned vehicle system modules can be implemented in the form of software instructions saved internal or external to telematics unit30, they could be hardware components located internal or external to telematics unit30, or they could be integrated and/or shared with each other or with other systems located throughout the vehicle, to cite but a few possibilities. In the event that the modules are implemented as VSMs42located external to telematics unit30, they could utilize vehicle bus44to exchange data and commands with the telematics unit.

Apart from the audio system36and GPS module40, the vehicle12can include other vehicle system modules (VSMS)42in the form of electronic hardware components that are located throughout the vehicle and typically receive input from one or more sensors and use the sensed input to perform diagnostic, monitoring, control, reporting and/or other functions. Each of the VSMs42is preferably connected by communications bus44to the other VSMs, as well as to the telematics unit30, and can be programmed to run vehicle system and subsystem diagnostic tests. As examples, one VSM42can be an engine control module (ECM) that controls various aspects of engine operation such as fuel ignition and ignition timing, another VSM42can be a powertrain control module that regulates operation of one or more components of the vehicle powertrain, and another VSM42can be a body control module that governs various electrical components located throughout the vehicle, like the vehicle's power door locks and headlights. According to one embodiment, the engine control module is equipped with on-board diagnostic (OBD) features that provide myriad real-time data, such as that received from various sensors including vehicle emissions sensors, and provide a standardized series of diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) that allow a technician to rapidly identify and remedy malfunctions within the vehicle. As is appreciated by those skilled in the art, the above-mentioned VSMs are only examples of some of the modules that may be used in vehicle12, as numerous others are also possible.

Vehicle electronics28also includes a number of vehicle user interfaces that provide vehicle occupants with a means of providing and/or receiving information, including microphone32, pushbuttons(s)34, audio system36, and visual display38. As used herein, the term ‘vehicle user interface’ broadly includes any suitable form of electronic device, including both hardware and software components, which is located on the vehicle and enables a vehicle user to communicate with or through a component of the vehicle. Microphone32provides audio input to the telematics unit to enable the driver or other occupant to provide voice commands and carry out hands-free calling via the wireless carrier system14. For this purpose, it can be connected to an on-board automated voice processing unit utilizing human-machine interface (HMI) technology known in the art. The pushbutton(s)34allow manual user input into the telematics unit30to initiate wireless telephone calls and provide other data, response, or control input. Separate pushbuttons can be used for initiating emergency calls versus regular service assistance calls to the call center20. Audio system36provides audio output to a vehicle occupant and can be a dedicated, stand-alone system or part of the primary vehicle audio system. According to the particular embodiment shown here, audio system36is operatively coupled to both vehicle bus44and entertainment bus46and can provide AM, FM and satellite radio, CD, DVD and other multimedia functionality. This functionality can be provided in conjunction with or independent of the infotainment module described above. Visual display38is preferably a graphics display, such as a touch screen on the instrument panel or a heads-up display reflected off of the windshield, and can be used to provide a multitude of input and output functions. Various other vehicle user interfaces can also be utilized, as the interfaces ofFIG. 1are only an example of one particular implementation.

Wireless carrier system14is preferably a cellular telephone system that includes a plurality of cell towers70(only one shown), one or more mobile switching centers (MSCs)72, as well as any other networking components required to connect wireless carrier system14with land network16. Each cell tower70includes sending and receiving antennas and a base station, with the base stations from different cell towers being connected to the MSC72either directly or via intermediary equipment such as a base station controller. Cellular system14can implement any suitable communications technology, including for example, analog technologies such as AMPS, or the newer digital technologies such as CDMA (e.g., CDMA2000) or GSM/GPRS. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, various cell tower/base station/MSC arrangements are possible and could be used with wireless system14. For instance, the base station and cell tower could be co-located at the same site or they could be remotely located from one another, each base station could be responsible for a single cell tower or a single base station could service various cell towers, and various base stations could be coupled to a single MSC, to name but a few of the possible arrangements.

Computer18can be one of a number of computers accessible via a private or public network such as the Internet. Each such computer18can be used for one or more purposes, such as a web server accessible by the vehicle via telematics unit30and wireless carrier14. Other such accessible computers18can be, for example: a service center computer where diagnostic information and other vehicle data can be uploaded from the vehicle via the telematics unit30; a client computer used by the vehicle owner or other subscriber for such purposes as accessing or receiving vehicle data or to setting up or configuring subscriber preferences or controlling vehicle functions; or a third party repository to or from which vehicle data or other information is provided, whether by communicating with the vehicle12or call center20, or both. A computer18can also be used for providing Internet connectivity such as DNS services or as a network address server that uses DHCP or other suitable protocol to assign an IP address to the vehicle12.

Call center20is designed to provide the vehicle electronics28with a number of different system back-end functions and, according to the exemplary embodiment shown here, generally includes one or more switches80, servers82, databases84, live advisors86, as well as an automated voice response system (VRS)88, all of which are known in the art. These various call center components are preferably coupled to one another via a wired or wireless local area network90. Switch80, which can be a private branch exchange (PBX) switch, routes incoming signals so that voice transmissions are usually sent to either the live adviser86by regular phone or to the automated voice response system88using VoIP. The live advisor phone can also use VoIP as indicated by the broken line inFIG. 1. VoIP and other data communication through the switch80is implemented via a modem (not shown) connected between the switch80and network90. Data transmissions are passed via the modem to server82and/or database84. Database84can store account information such as subscriber authentication information, vehicle identifiers, profile records, behavioral patterns, and other pertinent subscriber information. Data transmissions may also be conducted by wireless systems, such as 802.11x, GPRS, and the like. Although the illustrated embodiment has been described as it would be used in conjunction with a manned call center20using live advisor86, it will be appreciated that the call center can instead utilize VRS88as an automated advisor or, a combination of VRS88and the live advisor86can be used.

Turning now toFIG. 2, there is a logic chart of an embodiment100for sending traffic related data to a call center. The method begins at102. The first step in the method is the receipt of the data from vehicle system modules42by the telematics unit30. The vehicle system modules42may include sensors that measure certain activities. A non-exhaustive list of activities that might be sensed and reported to the telematics unit30includes mileage, component usage, diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), the deployment of airbags, rapid decelerations, violent oversteer, and measuring extended periods of time in which the vehicle12is driving at five miles an hour or less.

Some of this data is considered traffic related data that can be indicative of a traffic problem or situation for which reporting is desired. Other of this data, however, is vehicle-related information concerning, for example, the operating condition of the vehicle or one or more of its components or systems. Therefore, the telematics unit30can identify the data it receives from the vehicle system modules42as either traffic related data or non-traffic data, and can segregate the data on this basis, as indicated at step106. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that it is not necessary in all embodiments that the traffic related data be separately identified or segregated, but only that it be identifiable as traffic related data so that the call center knows what it is and, thus, how it can then be used. The telematics unit30can process and use the non-traffic data in ways known to those skilled in the art. For the traffic related data, the telematics unit30then identifies or correlates this data to a type of event at108. If desired, different types of traffic related data may be identified and any one type of traffic related data occurring once may not require the notification of the call center20that a traffic related incident worthy of reporting has occurred. By way of example, the detection of a vehicle stopped while on a limited-access highway may be worthy of reporting as a traffic related incident or event. A single rapid deceleration may, however, not be considered worthy of a traffic related event and will only be reported if multiple rapid decelerations occur within a certain period of time. Thus, the method can include processing steps such as steps110-118to determine whether the traffic related data should be reported to the call center. These steps are used to process the traffic related data to determine if it meets at least one predefined criterion. In the example below, the method tests to determine if a particular traffic event (e.g., a rapid vehicle deceleration) occurs more than a predefined number of times within a certain time period. This could be used to determine that a traffic slowdown worth reporting has occurred where, for example, the vehicle undergoes two large slowdowns from highway speeds within a five minute period.

Once the traffic related data received by the telematics unit30is correlated or otherwise related to an event (e.g., highway slowdowns), the number of occurrences is counted at110. This correlation can include more than just analysis of vehicle speeds and acceleration/deceleration, but could include an analysis of vehicle location to determine, for example, whether or not the vehicle is currently on a highway or other high speed roadway. As stated above, each type of event could have a different number for its occurrence count at which the traffic related data is to be reported to the call center. Thus, for example, stoppage of a vehicle while on a highway might use an occurrence count of only one so that a vehicle coming to full stop while on a highway or on the shoulder would be reported, whereas, a rapid deceleration while on the highway would not be reported unless it occurs two or more times within a short period of time. Thus, at step112, it is determined whether the occurrence of the event has exceeded a predetermined threshold. If the predetermined threshold has not been exceeded, the method100loops back to step104. If, however, the occurrence of an event has exceeded its predetermined threshold, the method then proceeds to step114and determines whether a time period for collection of the traffic data has expired (e.g., the five minute period). If the time period for collecting traffic data has expired, the occurrence counter is reset at116, the timer is reset at118, and the method100loops back to step104. As with the occurrence of events, the time period for collecting traffic data for a particular type of event, if used at all, will vary from event to event. All of these occurrences predetermine thresholds and time periods can be stored in the memory54of the telematics unit30.

If the occurrence of the events exceeds the predetermined threshold (identified at step112) and the time period for collecting traffic data has not expired (at114) based on the traffic data being collected, the traffic related data will be reported to the call center and a message string based on the data is therefore created at120. The message string can be, for example, a text string identifying the type of traffic data collected and when it was collected. It is contemplated that in some embodiments the traffic related events can be characterized with the use of only three or four bits therefore potentially only requiring a single alphanumeric character to transmit the traffic related data. In other embodiments, the traffic data can be much longer.

Once the message string is created, additional data can be attached or merged with the message string at122. The additional data can be a timestamp and/or GPS data gathered by the GPS module40. Once this additional data is attached to the message string, the message string is embedded into a short message service (SMS) message at124. It can be incorporated into the text message part (payload) of the SMS message or into another portion such as a buffer in the SMS message that is not used for anything related to the transmission of data. This buffer is used to ensure as much of the SMS message is transmitted to its desired destination in as complete and error-free form as possible. By adding the data to the SMS message buffer, the traffic information may be transmitted to the call center20in an SMS message that is generated for another purpose. In this way, an SMS message may have two functions, that being the primary message of the SMS message and the (secondary) traffic data of the SMS message. Because the traffic data is something that is desired by the call center and not necessarily desired by the operator of the vehicle12, the use of the SMS message buffer is advantageous because it results no additional message delivery charges back to the call center or operator of the vehicle12. Thus, this allows the traffic event data to be transmitted from the vehicle12to the call center20using a message created via SMS, thereby allowing the call center20to create a more accurate traffic report to be utilized by other drivers of other vehicles, all without incurring any extra airtime or message charges.

With reference toFIG. 3, there is shown one exemplary method in which the traffic related data is incorporated into a communication message being sent to the call center for other purposes. In step202, the telematics unit receives a request to send non-traffic data from the telematics unit to the call center. This can be, for example, a request resulting from the occurrence of a trigger on the vehicle to report diagnostic or other such information. Thus, at step204, the telematics unit receives the non-traffic data from one or more of the vehicle system modules. A communication message is then generated at step206. The system determines if there is any traffic related data at the vehicle that should be sent to the call center, step208. If so, the telematics unit receives that traffic related data and embeds it into the message, as indicated at steps210and212. Since there may be no request to send non-traffic data at the time that the traffic related data is generated, the system can temporarily store the traffic related data in memory, such as memory54, so that it is available the next time a transmission request occurs. Steps208and210can be carried out prior to step206so that the embedding of the traffic related data at step212can be done as a part of originally generating the communication message at step206. Once the message is created it is then transmitted to the call center, as indicated at step214. Although this traffic data reporting method is particularly useful for transmission of traffic related data via SMS messaging, it will be appreciated that any suitable communication approach can be used.

Traffic related data received by the call center can then be used in a variety of ways to improve traffic reported, whether that is done by the call center itself or by some other entity. For this purpose, the traffic related data received from the vehicle can be combined with like information from other vehicles and used to more accurately identify traffic incidents. Such information can then be reported back to drivers having service subscriptions with the call center to provide them more accurate, timely information concerning traffic conditions.