U.S. patent application number 10/638905 was filed with the patent office on 2005-02-17 for vehicle tracking telematics system.
This patent application is currently assigned to General Motors Corporation. Invention is credited to Oesterling, Christopher L., Watkins, Gary A..
Application Number | 20050038598 10/638905 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34104632 |
Filed Date | 2005-02-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050038598 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Oesterling, Christopher L. ;
et al. |
February 17, 2005 |
VEHICLE TRACKING TELEMATICS SYSTEM
Abstract
A method of tracking vehicles comprising monitoring for
registration request signal data and receiving the registration
request signal data at a call center. The method further comprises
determining a vehicle transmission location based on the
registration request signal data and obtaining a registration
request signal transmission time from the registration request
signal data. Additionally, the method further comprises determining
a vehicle indentification number based on the registration request
signal data and updating a vehicle tracking database with the
vehicle transmission location and the registration request signal
transmission time.
Inventors: |
Oesterling, Christopher L.;
(Troy, MI) ; Watkins, Gary A.; (Royal Oak,
MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
General Motors Coropration
Legal Staff, Mail Code 482-C23-B21
300 Renaissance Center
P.O. Box 300
Detroit
MI
48265-3000
US
|
Assignee: |
General Motors Corporation
|
Family ID: |
34104632 |
Appl. No.: |
10/638905 |
Filed: |
August 11, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
701/521 ;
342/357.64 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 25/33 20130101;
B60R 25/2018 20130101; B60R 2325/101 20130101; B60R 2325/205
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
701/207 ;
701/213; 342/357.07 |
International
Class: |
G06F 019/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1) A method of tracking vehicles, the method comprising: monitoring
for registration request signal data; receiving the registration
request signal data at a call center; determining a vehicle
transmission location based on the registration request signal
data; obtaining a registration request signal transmission time
from the registration request signal data; determining a vehicle
indentification number based on the registration request signal
data; and updating a vehicle tracking database with the vehicle
transmission location and the registration request signal
transmission time.
2) The method of claim 1, further comprising: sending the
registration request signal data from a vehicle in response to
power up of a telematics unit.
3) The method of claim 1 wherein said monitoring for registration
request signal data further comprises: monitoring inputs to a
wireless service provider database; and sending the registration
request signal data to the call center.
4) The method of claim 3 wherein said receiving registration
request signal data at a call center further comprises: receiving
an electronic serial number at the call center; and receiving at
least one cell phone tower location at the call center.
5) The method of claim 4 wherein said determining a vehicle
transmission location based on the registration request signal data
further comprises: determining the vehicle transmission location
based on the at least one cell phone tower location.
6) The method of claim 1 wherein said monitoring for registration
request signal data further comprises: receiving the registration
request signal data at a vehicle holding lot registration monitor;
and sending the registration request signal data from the vehicle
holding lot registration monitor to the call center.
7) The method of claim 6 wherein said receiving registration
request signal data at a call center further comprises: receiving
an electronic serial number at the call center; and receiving the
vehicle holding lot registration monitor location at the call
center.
8) The method of claim 7 said determining a vehicle transmission
location based on the registration request signal data further
comprises: determining the vehicle transmission location based on
the vehicle holding lot registration monitor location.
9) The method of claim 1 wherein said determining a vehicle
indentification number based on the registration request signal
data further comprises: scanning a vehicle database within the call
center database for an electronic serial number; locating the
electronic serial number in the vehicle database; and retrieving
the vehicle identification number linked with the electronic serial
number within the vehicle data base.
10) The method of claim 1 wherein said updating a vehicle tracking
database with the vehicle transmission location and the
registration request signal transmission time further comprises:
locating a vehicle log within the vehicle tracking database for a
vehicle having the determined vehicle identification number;
linking the vehicle transmission location and the registration
request signal transmission time; and inputting the vehicle
transmission location and time of transmission into the vehicle
log.
11) A computer usable medium storing a computer program comprising:
computer readable code for monitoring for registration request
signal data; computer readable code for receiving the registration
request signal data at a call center; computer readable code for
determining a vehicle transmission location based on the
registration request signal data; computer readable code for
obtaining a registration request signal transmission time from the
registration request signal data; computer readable code for
determining a vehicle indentification number based on the
registration request signal data; and computer readable code for
updating a vehicle tracking database with the vehicle transmission
location and the registration request signal transmission time.
12) The computer usable medium of claim 11, further comprising:
computer readable code for sending the registration request signal
data from a vehicle in response to power up of a telematics
unit.
13) The computer usable medium of claim 11, further comprising:
computer readable code for monitoring inputs to a wireless service
provider database; and computer readable code for sending the
registration request signal data to the call center.
14) The computer usable medium of claim 13 wherein said receiving
registration request signal data at a call center further
comprises: computer readable code for receiving an electronic
serial number at the call center; and computer readable code for
receiving at least one cell phone tower location at the call
center.
15) The computer usable medium of claim 11, further comprising:
computer readable code for receiving the registration request
signal data at a vehicle holding lot registration monitor; and
computer readable code for sending the registration request signal
data from the vehicle holding lot registration monitor to the call
center.
16) The computer usable medium of claim 11, further comprising:
computer readable code for determining the vehicle transmission
location based on at least one cell phone tower location.
17) The computer usable medium of claim 11, further comprising:
computer readable code for scanning a vehicle database within the
call center database for an electronic serial number; computer
readable code for locating the electronic serial number in the
vehicle database; and computer readable code for retrieving the
vehicle identification number linked with the electronic serial
number within the vehicle database.
18) The computer usable medium of claim 11, further comprising:
computer readable code for locating a vehicle log within the
vehicle tracking database for a vehicle having the determined
vehicle identification number; computer readable code for linking
the vehicle transmission location and the registration request
signal transmission time; and computer readable code for inputting
the vehicle transmission location and time of transmission into the
vehicle log.
19) A vehicle tracking system comprising: means for monitoring for
registration request signal data; means for receiving the
registration request signal data at a call center; means for
determining a vehicle transmission location based on the
registration request signal data; means for obtaining a
registration request signal transmission time from the registration
request signal data; means for determining a vehicle
indentification number based on the registration request signal
data; and means for updating a vehicle tracking database with the
vehicle transmission location and the registration request signal
transmission time.
20) The system of claim 19, further comprising: means for sending
the registration request signal data from a vehicle in response to
power up of a telematics unit.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to tracking vehicles for
asset management. In particular, the invention relates to tracking
vehicles having installed telematics systems while transporting
vehicles from factories to vehicle dealerships.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The opportunity to personalize features in a mobile vehicle
is ever increasing as the automobile is being transformed into a
communications and entertainment platform as well as a
transportation platform. Many new American cars are installed with
some type of telematics unit to provide wireless communication and
location-based services. These services are accessible through
interfaces such as voice-recognition computer applications,
touch-screen computer displays, computer keyboards, or a series of
buttons on the dashboard or console of a vehicle.
[0003] Currently, telematics service call centers, in-vehicle
compact disk (CD) or digital video display (DVD) media, web
portals, and voice-enabled phone portals provide various types of
location services, including driving directions, stolen vehicle
tracking, traffic information, weather reports, restaurant guides,
ski reports, road condition information, accident updates, street
routing, landmark guides, and business finders.
[0004] It is desirable to use telematics services described above
to identify and track vehicles, such as cars, trucks and vans, as
they are moved between holding lots and/or dealership lots. In
particular, automatic tracking of a vehicle when a vehicle is one
of several being transported from a factory to a dealership would
improve asset monitoring for a dealership or factory.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] One aspect of the present invention provides a method of
tracking vehicles where the method comprises monitoring for
registration request signal data and receiving the registration
request signal data at a call center. The method further comprises
determining a vehicle transmission location based on the
registration request signal data and obtaining a registration
request signal transmission time from the registration request
signal data. The method then determines a vehicle indentification
number based on the registration request signal data and updates a
vehicle tracking database with the vehicle transmission location
and the registration request signal transmission time.
[0006] Another aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle
tracking system comprising means for monitoring for registration
request signal data and means for receiving the registration
request signal data at a call center. The vehicle tracking system
additionally comprises means for determining a vehicle transmission
location based on the registration request signal data, means for
obtaining a registration request signal transmission time from the
registration request signal data, means for determining a vehicle
indentification number based on the registration request signal
data and means for updating a vehicle tracking database with the
vehicle transmission location and the registration request signal
transmission time.
[0007] A third aspect of the present invention provides a computer
readable medium storing a computer program comprising computer
readable code for monitoring registration request signal data,
receiving the registration request signal data at a call center,
determining a vehicle transmission location based on the
registration request signal data, obtaining a registration request
signal transmission time from the registration request signal data,
determining a vehicle indentification number based on the
registration request signal data and updating a vehicle tracking
database with the vehicle transmission location and the
registration request signal transmission time.
[0008] The forgoing device and other devices as well as features
and advantages of the present invention will become further
apparent from the following detailed description of the presently
preferred embodiments, read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings. The detailed description and drawings are merely
illustrative of the present invention rather than limiting, the
scope of the present invention being defined by the appended claims
and equivalents thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The present invention is illustrated by way of example and
not limitation in the accompanying figures, in which like
references indicate similar elements, and in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for providing
access to a telematics unit in a mobile vehicle;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a
vehicle tracking telematics system in accordance with the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart representative of the method
of operation of the vehicle tracking telematics system as
illustrated in FIG. 2;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a
tracking system in accordance with the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a flowchart representative of the second
embodiment of the tracking system illustrated in FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for providing
access to a telematics unit in a mobile vehicle. Telematics-unit
access system 100 includes a mobile vehicle 110, a telematics unit
120, one or more wireless carrier systems 140, one or more
communication networks 150 and one or more land networks 160, and
one or more call centers 170. A telematics unit 120 provides the
telecommunications link in one embodiment of this present
invention. Mobile vehicle 110 includes vehicles such as cars, vans
or trucks equipped with suitable hardware and software for
transmitting and receiving voice and data communications.
[0016] In some embodiments of this invention, telematics unit 120
includes a digital signal processor (DSP) 122 connected to a
wireless modem 124, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver or
GPS unit 126, a memory 128, a microphone 130, one or more speakers
132, and an embedded or in-vehicle phone 134. DSP 122 is also
referred to as a microcontroller, controller, host processor, or
vehicle communications processor. Functions provided by GPS unit
126 include longitude and latitude coordinates of the vehicle.
Furthermore, GPS unit 126 provides date and time information,
within the accuracy of the GPS system. The in-vehicle phone 134 is
selected from the group including, but not limited to, an analog,
digital, dual-mode, dual-band, multi-mode or multi-band cellular
phone. In this document, the phrase in-vehicle phone 134 and
wireless phone 134 will be used interchangeably.
[0017] Telematics unit 120 has capability to store phone numbers
and messages in memory 128. Telematics unit 120 has capability to
set or reset calling-state indicators and to enable or disable
various cellular-phone and telematics-unit functions when directed
by an executable computer program running on DSP 122. Telematics
unit 120 has capability to send and receive over-the-air messages
using, for example, a pseudo-standard air-interface function or
other proprietary and non-proprietary communication links.
[0018] DSP 122 executes various computer programs and computer
program code that control programming and operational modes of
electronic and mechanical systems within telematics unit 120. DSP
122 has capability to control communications between telematics
unit 120, wireless carrier system 140, and call center 170. The
wireless carrier system 140 includes a wireless service provider
database (not illustrated in FIG. 1). In some embodiments of this
invention, voice-recognition application is installed in DSP 122 to
translate human voice input through microphone 130 to digital
signals. The capability to, for example, program in-vehicle phone
134 will be controlled with verbal commands that are translated by
voice-recognition software executed by DSP 122. Alternatively, in
other embodiments of this invention, pushing buttons on an
interface of telematics unit 120 or in-vehicle phone 134 will be
used to indicate a call termination or a call acceptance. The
interface to telematics unit 120 includes one or more buttons on
the telematics unit, radio console, or associated keyboard or
keypad. In other embodiments, the interface to telematics unit 120
includes other forms of preference and data entry including
touch-screens, wired or wireless keypad remotes, or other
wirelessly connected devices such as Bluetooth-enabled devices, or
devices compliant with 802.11 standards.
[0019] DSP 122 controls, generates and accepts digital signals
transmitted between telematics unit 120 and a vehicle communication
bus 112 that is connected to various electronic modules and sensors
in mobile vehicle 110. Some functional capabilities of DSP 122
include activation of various programming and operation modes, as
well as provision for data transfers. Additional functional
capabilities of DSP 122 include translation of signals into voice
messages to be sent out through speaker 132. One of the generated
voice messages might, for example, include a phone number prompt
given when a user has requested and entered a programming mode of
in-vehicle phone 134.
[0020] Mobile vehicle 110 via telematics unit 120 has the
capability to send and receive radio transmissions from wireless
carrier system 140. Wireless carrier system 140 includes any
suitable system for transmitting a signal from mobile vehicle 110
to communication network 150.
[0021] Communication network 150 includes services provided by one
or more mobile telephone switching offices and wireless networks.
Communication network 150 includes connect wireless carrier system
140 to land network 160. Communication network 150 includes any
suitable system or collection of systems for connecting wireless
carrier system 140 to mobile vehicle 110 and land network 160.
Communication network 150 has capability to send and receive short
messages according to established protocols such as IS-637
standards for short message service (SMS), IS-136 air-interface
standards for SMS, and GSM 03.40 and 09.02 standards. Similar to
paging, an SMS communication might, for example, be posted along
with an intended recipient, such as a communication device in
mobile vehicle 110.
[0022] Land network 160 is a public-switched telephone network.
Land network 160 includes Internet protocol (IP) networks. Land
network 160 also includes wired networks, optical networks, fiber
networks, other wireless networks, or any combination thereof. Land
network 160 is connected to one or more landline telephones. In
some embodiments of the invention, land network 160 and
communication networks 150 are connected to call center 170. In
some embodiments, communication network 150 and land network 160
connect wireless carrier system 140 to a communication node or call
center 170.
[0023] In one embodiment of the invention, call center 170 includes
one or more voice and data switches 172, one or more communication
services managers 174, one or more communication services databases
176, one or more communication services advisors 178, and one or
more networks 180.
[0024] Call center 170 is a location with capability to receive
many calls to be serviced at the same time and to send many calls
at the same time. In some embodiments of this invention, the call
center is a telematics call center, prescribing communications to
and from telematics unit 120 in mobile vehicle 110. In alternate
embodiments, the call center is a voice call center, providing
verbal communications between an advisor in the call center and a
subscriber in a mobile vehicle. In some embodiments of the present
invention, the call center contains each of these functions. In
some embodiments of the present invention, call center 170 is
capable of receiving a telematics unit access requests from a
telematics user via wireless carrier system 140, communication
network 150, over land network 160, or any combination thereof.
[0025] In some embodiments of the present invention, call center
170 contains one or more voice and data switches 172, where the
switches 172 are connected to land network 160 and the switches 172
transmit voice or data transmissions from call center 170. In
alternate embodiments, switch 172 receives voice or data
transmissions from telematics unit 120 in mobile vehicle 110
through wireless carrier system 140, communication network 150, and
land network 160. In other embodiments, switch 172 receives from or
sends to one or more communication services managers 174 data
transmissions via one or more networks 180. In some embodiments,
communication services manager 174 comprises suitable hardware and
software capable of providing requested communication services to
telematics unit 120 in mobile vehicle 110. In some embodiments,
communication services manager 174 sends to or receives from one or
more communication services databases 176 data transmissions via
network 180. In some embodiments, communication services manager
174 sends to or receives from one or more communication services
advisors 178 data transmissions via network 180. In some
embodiments, communication services database 176 sends to or
receives from communication services advisor 178 data transmissions
via network 180. In some embodiments, communication services
advisor 178 receives from or sends to switch 172 voice or data
transmissions.
[0026] Communication services manager 174 provides one or more of a
variety of services, including enrollment services, navigation
assistance, vehicle personalization, vehicle data upload, vehicle
data download, replenish subscriber minutes, unlock/lock vehicle,
flash lights, honk horn, perform diagnostic functions and perform
vehicle tracking functions. Communication services manager 174 has
the capability to transmit data to telematics unit 120 in mobile
vehicle 110 through wireless carrier system 140, communication
network 150, land network 160, voice and data switch 172, and
network 180. In some embodiments, communication services manager
174 stores or retrieves data and information from communication
services database 176. In some embodiments, communication services
manager 174 provides requested information to communication
services advisor 178. In some embodiments, communication services
manager 174, along with the other components of call center 170,
sends over-the-air messages to enable or disable telematics unit
120 through land network 160, communication network 150, and
wireless carrier system 140.
[0027] In some embodiments, communication services advisor 178 is a
real advisor or a virtual advisor. A real advisor is a human being
in verbal communication with a user or subscriber in mobile vehicle
110 via telematics unit 120. In some embodiments, the virtual
advisor is a synthesized voice interface responding to requests
from telematics unit 120 in mobile vehicle 110. This virtual
advisor includes one or more recorded messages.
[0028] Communication services advisor 178 provides services to
telematics unit 120 in mobile vehicle 110. Possible services
provided by communication services advisor 178 are enrollment
services, navigation assistance, real-time traffic advisories,
directory assistance, roadside assistance, business or residential
assistance, information services assistance, emergency assistance,
and communications assistance. In some embodiments, communication
services advisor 178 communicates with telematics unit 120 in
mobile vehicle 110 through wireless carrier system 140,
communication network 150, and land network 160 using voice
transmissions, or through communication services manager 174 and
switch 172 using data transmissions.
[0029] Typically, mobile vehicle 110 initiates a service request to
call center 170 by sending a voice or digital-signal command to
telematics unit 120 which in turn, sends an instructional signal or
a voice call through wireless modem 124, in-vehicle phone 134,
wireless carrier system 140, communication network 150, and land
network 160 to call center 170. In some embodiments, call center
170 determines mobile identification numbers and telematics unit
identifiers associated with a telematics unit access request,
compare mobile identification numbers and telematics unit
identifiers with a database of identifier records, and send
calling-state messages to the telematics unit based on the request
and identification numbers.
[0030] In some embodiments, software including a program to provide
access to the telematics unit resides, at least in part, at the
call center. Such a program includes computer program code to
receive a telematics unit access request, to determine a mobile
identification number, and to determine a telematics unit
identifier. The program compares the mobile identification number
and the telematics unit identifier with a database of identifier
records, and sends a calling-state message based on the telematics
unit access request. In some embodiments, the software is provided
on any suitable computer usable medium such as a compact disc,
digital video disc, magnetic media, semiconductor memory,
nonvolatile or permanent memory. Computer program code, which
resides on any suitable computer usable medium such as magnetic,
optical, or semiconductor media, has capability to store the
updated mobile identification number and calling-state indicator in
the telematics unit, and enable the cellular phone. Computer
program code to set the calling-state indicator to a predefined
billing state and to disable the embedded cellular phone, in some
embodiments, resides, in part, within the telematics unit and is
executed by a processing unit within the telematics unit.
[0031] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a
vehicle tracking telematics system 200 in accordance with the
present invention. A vehicle 110 in a holding lot 210 is powered up
or the telematics unit 120 is powered up with a wake-up cycle. A
telematics unit 120 having a wireless phone 134 is installed in the
vehicle 110. The telematics unit 120 is automatically powered up
when the vehicle 110 is powered up, or with a wake-up cycle. When
the telematics unit 120 is powered up, a registration request
signal is emitted from the wireless phone 134 to cell towers 141
within receiving range of the emitted registration request signal.
The registration request signal comprises data including the
electronic serial number (ESN) of the wireless phone 134 and the
time of the transmission of the registration request signal, as
well as the Mobile Identification Number (MIN). The holding lot 210
is equipped with a vehicle holding lot registration monitor 220,
which also receives the registration request signal emitted from
the wireless phone 134 to the cell tower 141. Cell tower 141 is
part of the wireless carrier system 140 (FIG. 1). The holding lot
registration monitor 220 includes a receiver to receive the
registration request signal emitted from the wireless phone 134 and
a network connection, which is in communication with a telematics
access system 101. The telematics access system 101 includes one or
more wireless carrier systems 140 (FIG. 1), one or more
communication networks (FIG. 1) and one or more land networks (FIG.
1).
[0032] The registration request signal data emitted from the
wireless phone 134 is monitored by the holding lot registration
monitor 220 and sent via the telematics access system 101 to a call
center 170. The call center 170 comprises at least one call center
database 230, at least one vehicle tracking database 250 and at
least one communications services manager 174. In an alternate
embodiment (not illustrated), the call center 170 comprises at
least one communications services manager 174 and the call center
170 is in communication with at least one external call center
database 230 and with at least one external vehicle tracking
database 250.
[0033] The call center database 230 comprises a vehicle database
240, which comprises a table of electronic serial numbers for
wireless phones 134 and correlated vehicle identification numbers.
The vehicle tracking database 250 comprises at least one vehicle
log 260. The vehicle log 260 for a vehicle 110 having a vehicle
identification number comprises a table of vehicle transmission
locations and registration request signal transmission times. The
call center database 230, the vehicle tracking database 250 and the
communication services manager 174 are in communication with each
other.
[0034] FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart 300 representative of the
method of operation of an exemplary vehicle tracking telematics
system 200, as illustrated in FIG. 2. During stage S302, a
telematics unit (TU) 120 is turned on when a vehicle 110 within
holding lot 210 is powered up, or during a wake-up cycle. During
stage S304 the wireless phone 134 of the telematics unit 120
transmits a registration request signal to cell towers 141 within
receiving range. During stage S306 the wireless phone 134
registration request signal is monitored by the registration
monitor 220 located in or near the holding lot 210 in which the
vehicle 110 is located. The registration request signal comprises,
at least, an electronic serial number that identifies the wireless
phone 134, which transmitted the registration request signal. The
receiver 220 is located, in an exemplary embodiment, at the exit
gate of the holding lot 210.
[0035] During stage S308, the registration monitor 220 combines the
registration monitor location with the registration request signal,
as well as registration request date and registration request time,
to form registration request signal data. In one embodiment, it is
sufficient to set the vehicle transmission location to be the same
as the registration monitor 220 location since the vehicle 110 is
within or leaving the holding lot 210 in which the registration
monitor 220 is located. In some embodiments, the location of the
registration monitor 220 will comprise longitude and latitude
coordinates of the registration monitor 220 as used in global
positioning systems (GPS) such as those described in FIG. 1 or an
address or a region identifier. In other embodiments the vehicle
transmission location will comprise an address of the holding lot
210. In other embodiments the vehicle transmission location will
comprise an address of the holding lot 210, as well as longitude
and latitude coordinates of the vehicle 110 and/or the registration
monitor 220.
[0036] In one embodiment, the sensitivity of registration monitor
220 may be attenuated and used in conjunction with a plurality of
registration monitors to limit the geographic area covered by each
individual registration monitor. Such narrowing of the geographic
area provides for more specific geographic information regarding
the vehicle.
[0037] During stage S310 the receiver 220 transmits the
registration request signal data to the call center 170. The
communication services manager 174 in call center 170 will
communicate the electronic serial number of wireless phone 134,
which is included in the registration request signal data, to the
call center database 230. The call center database 230 has a
vehicle database 240, which includes a table comprised of
electronic serial numbers and correlated vehicle identification
numbers (VIN) for at least one vehicle 110.
[0038] Input to the vehicle database 240 comes from several
sources. One data source is the vehicle factories (not shown),
which install the telematics unit 120 in the vehicles 110 during
manufacture of the vehicles 110. Upon installation of a telematics
unit 120, the vehicle identification number and the electronic
serial number of the wireless phone 134 of a telematics unit 120 is
transmitted by the factory to the call center 170 as correlated
data for the vehicle database 240. Another data source is the
subscriber to the telematics-unit access system 100.
[0039] During stage S312 the vehicle identification number is
determined by searching the vehicle database 240 for the electronic
serial number in the registration request signal data and
retrieving the correlated vehicle identification number.
[0040] During stage S314 the retrieved vehicle identification
number, the registration request signal transmission time and the
vehicle transmission location are issued to the vehicle tracking
database 250. The data is issued either directly from the call
center database 230 or through the communication services manager
174. Alternately, part of the data is issued from the call center
database 230 to the vehicle tracking database 250 and part of the
data is issued from the communication services manager 174 to the
vehicle tracking database 250.
[0041] The vehicle tracking database 250 comprises a vehicle log
260. The vehicle log 260 for vehicle 100 having a vehicle
identification number comprises a table including, at least, a time
and a vehicle location. The times will be registration request
signal transmission times except, in some embodiments, for the
first time listed in the vehicle log 260, as will be described
below. The time includes both date and hour of the day, as well as
minutes and seconds. The vehicle location will be vehicle
transmission location except, in some embodiments, for the first
location listed in the vehicle log 260, as will be described
below.
[0042] In an one embodiment, the vehicle log 260 for vehicle 110 is
set up when the vehicle factory (not shown), which installed the
telematics unit 120 in the vehicle 110 during manufacture of the
vehicle 110, issues the vehicle identification number, the time of
manufacture and the electronic serial number of the wireless phone
134 of the telematics unit 120 to the call center 170. In that
case, the first time in the vehicle log 260 is the time of
manufacture and the first vehicle location in the vehicle log 260
is the factory location.
[0043] In yet another embodiment, the vehicle log 260 for vehicle
110 is set up the first time a transmission is received at the call
center 110 in response to a matching electronic serial number found
during stage S510. In that case, the first time in the vehicle log
260 is the registration request signal transmission time and the
first vehicle location in the vehicle log 260 is the vehicle
transmission location.
[0044] During stage S316 the vehicle log 260 for the vehicle 110 is
located in the vehicle tracking database 250 having the vehicle
identification number correlated with the electronic signal number
of the received registration request signal data.
[0045] During stage S318 registration request signal transmission
time, the vehicle identification number and the vehicle
transmission location, which are correlated to the electronic
serial number, are linked. Alternately the registration request
signal transmission time, the vehicle identification number and the
vehicle transmission location data linking will occur at the call
center data base 230 or at the communication services manager 174
during the period of time between stages S312 and S314 of flowchart
300. Alternately registration request signal transmission time, the
vehicle identification number and the vehicle transmission location
data linking will occur in part at the call center data base 230
and in part at the communication services manager 174 during the
period of time between stages S312 and S314 of flowchart 300.
[0046] The linked registration request signal transmission time,
vehicle identification number and vehicle transmission location are
located within the vehicle tracking database 250 by the end of
stage S318.
[0047] During stage S320 the linked data including the registration
request signal transmission time and the vehicle transmission
location is input into the vehicle log 260 for the vehicle 110
which emitted a registration request to a wireless tower 141 during
stage S302. The data input into vehicle log 260 is used to track
vehicles during transport, for example, while shipping vehicle 110
from a factory to a car dealership. In an alternate example, the
data input into vehicle log 260 is used to track vehicle 110 during
transport from one car dealership to another car dealership. In one
embodiment, updating to the vehicle log 260 for vehicle 110 is
terminated upon sale of the vehicle 110. During stage S322 the
flowchart 300 is terminated.
[0048] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a
vehicle tracking telematics system 400 in accordance with the
present invention. A vehicle 110 in a holding lot 210 is powered
up. A telematics unit 120 having a wireless phone 134 is installed
in the vehicle 110. In embodiment, the telematics unit 120 is
automatically powered up when the vehicle 110 is powered up. In
another embodiment, the telematics unit 120 powers up according to
a wake-up cycle. Wake-up cycles are known in the art. When the
telematics unit 120 is powered up, a registration request signal is
emitted from the wireless phone 134 to at least one cell tower 141
within receiving range of the emitted registration request signal.
The registration request signal comprises data including the
electronic serial number of the wireless phone 134 and the time of
the transmission of the registration request signal. Cell tower 141
is part of the wireless carrier system 140 (FIG. 1). The at least
one cell tower 141 is in communication with telematics access
system 101, which includes a wireless service provider database
270. The telematics access system 101 also includes one or more
wireless carrier systems 140 (FIG. 1), one or more communication
networks 150 (FIG. 1) and one or more land networks 160 (FIG.
1).
[0049] The call center 170, which is part of the telematic unit
access system 100 (FIG. 1) is in communication with the wireless
service provider database. The call center 170 comprises at least
one call center database 230, at least one vehicle tracking
database 250 and at least one communications services manager 174.
In an alternate embodiment (not illustrated), the call center 170
comprises at least one communications services manager 174 and the
call center 170 is in communication with at least one external call
center database 230 and with at least one external vehicle tracking
database 250.
[0050] The call center database 230 comprises a vehicle database
240, which comprises a table of electronic serial numbers for
wireless phones 134 and correlated vehicle identification numbers.
The vehicle tracking database 250 comprises at least one vehicle
log 260. The vehicle log 260 for a vehicle 110 having a vehicle
identification number comprises a table of vehicle transmission
locations and registration request signal transmission times. The
call center database 230, the vehicle tracking database 250 and the
communication services manager 174 are in communication with each
other.
[0051] FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart 500 representative of the
method of operation of an exemplary vehicle tracking telematics
system 400, as illustrated in FIG. 4. During stage S502 a
telematics unit (TU) 120 is turned on when a vehicle 110 within
holding lot 210 is powered up or during a wake-up cycle. During
stage S504 the wireless phone 134 of the telematics unit 120
transmits a registration request signal to cell towers 141 within
receiving range.
[0052] During stage S506 the cell tower 141 transmits registration
request signal data to the wireless service provider database 270.
The registration request signal data comprises, at least, the time
of the registration request signal transmission from the wireless
phone 134, the location of the cell tower 141 that received the
transmission and an electronic serial number (ESN) that identifies
the wireless phone 134, which transmitted the registration request
signal. The time includes both date and hour of the day.
[0053] During stage S508 the call center (CC) 170 monitors input to
the wireless service provider database 270 for the electronic
serial number (ESN) of the vehicles 110 listed in the vehicle
database 240 within or in communication with the call centers 170,
which are part of the vehicle tracking telematics system 400. This
is a periodic monitoring with a predetermined time between
monitoring episodes, as set within the call center 170.
[0054] During stage S510 it is determined if a matching electronic
serial number (ESN) is found in the both wireless service provider
database 270 and the vehicle database 240, which is within or in
communication with the call center 170. If it is determined that a
matching electronic signal number is not found, the flow proceeds
to stage S508. If it is determined that a matching electronic
signal number is found, the flow proceeds to stage S512 and the
monitoring continues.
[0055] During stage S512 the call center 170 retrieves the matched
electronic signal number and the correlated registration request
signal data. During stage S514 the vehicle identification number
(VIN) of the vehicle 110 which transmitted the registration attempt
to cell tower 141 is determined. In one embodiment, the
communication services manager 174 in call center 170 communicates
the matching electronic serial number of wireless phone 134 to the
call center database 230. The call center database 230 has a
vehicle database 240, which includes a table comprised of
electronic serial numbers and correlated vehicle identification
numbers (VIN) for at least one vehicle 110. The vehicle
identification number is determined by searching the vehicle
database 240 within the call center database 230 for the electronic
serial number matched during stage S510. Input to the vehicle
database 240 comes from several sources as discussed in relation to
FIG. 3.
[0056] During stage S516, the vehicle location at the time of
transmission of the registration request signal is determined. The
location of the vehicle 110 at the time of transmission of the
registration request signal is determined to be within the
geographical area of the cellular system within range of the cell
tower 141. If tracking is implemented for a vehicle 100 being
transported across the United States, for example, then this
resolution is sufficient. In one embodiment of the present
invention, the call center 170 has data correlating locations of
holding lots 210 within the geographical area of the cellular
system within range of the cell tower 141. In that embodiment, it
is established that the vehicle 110 is located at one of those
holding lots 210. In other embodiments of the present invention,
additional data about signal strength and phase are used to
identify from which holding lot 210 the vehicle 110 transmitted the
registration request signal.
[0057] During stage S518 the retrieved vehicle identification
number, the registration request signal transmission time and the
vehicle transmission location are transmitted to the vehicle
tracking database 250. The data is transmitted either directly from
the call center database 230 or through the communication services
manager 174. Alternately, part of the data is transmitted from the
call center database 230 to the vehicle tracking database 250 and
part of the data is transmitted from the communication services
manager 174 to the vehicle tracking database 250.
[0058] The vehicle tracking database 250 comprises at least one
vehicle log 260. The vehicle log 260 for vehicle 100 having a
vehicle identification number comprises a table including, at
least, a time and a vehicle location. The times will be
registration request signal transmission times except, in some
embodiments, for the first time listed in the vehicle log 260, as
will be described below. The time includes both date and hour of
the day and the minutes and seconds of the time. The vehicle
location will be a vehicle transmission location except, in some
embodiments, for the first location listed in the vehicle log 260,
as will be described below.
[0059] In an one embodiment, the vehicle log 260 for vehicle 110 is
set up when the vehicle factory (not shown), which installed the
telematics unit 120 in the vehicle 110 during manufacture of the
vehicle 110, transmits the vehicle identification number, the time
of manufacture and the electronic serial number of the wireless
phone 143 of telematics unit 120 to the call center 170. In that
case, the first time in the vehicle log 260 is the time of
manufacture and the first vehicle location in the vehicle log 260
is the factory location.
[0060] In yet another embodiment, the vehicle log 260 for vehicle
110 is set up the first time a message is received at the call
center 110 in response to a matching electronic serial number found
during stage S510. In that case, the first time in the vehicle log
260 is the registration request signal transmission time and the
first vehicle location in the vehicle log 260 is the vehicle
transmission location.
[0061] During stage S520 the registration request signal
transmission time, the vehicle identification number and the
vehicle transmission location, for the vehicle 110 correlated to
the electronic serial number, are linked.
[0062] Alternately, the registration request signal transmission
time and the vehicle transmission location linking will occur at
the call center data base 230 or at the communication services
manager 174 during the period of time between stages S516 and S518
of flowchart 500. Alternately registration request signal
transmission time, the vehicle identification number and the
vehicle transmission location linking will occur, in part, at the
call center data base 230 and, in part, at the communication
services manager 174 during the period of time between stages S516
and S518 of flowchart 500.
[0063] The linked registration request signal transmission time and
the vehicle transmission location is located within the vehicle
tracking database 250 by the end of stage S520.
[0064] During stage S522 the vehicle log 260 is located for the
vehicle 110 having the vehicle identification number correlated
with the electronic signal number of the received registration
request signal data.
[0065] During stage S524 the linked data including the registration
request signal transmission time and the vehicle transmission
location is input into the vehicle log 260 for the vehicle 110
which emitted a registration request to a wireless tower 141 during
stage S504. The data input into vehicle log 260 is used to track
vehicles 110 during transport, for example, while shipping vehicle
110 from a factory to a car dealership. In an alternate example,
the data input into vehicle log 260 is used to track vehicle 110
during transport from one car dealership to another car dealership.
In one embodiment, updating to the vehicle log 260 for vehicle 110
is terminated upon sale of the vehicle 110.
[0066] After stage S524 the flowchart 500 proceeds to stage S508
and the call center 170 will continue to monitor the input at the
wireless service provider database for electronic serial numbers of
vehicles 110 in the vehicle database 240.
[0067] The vehicle tracking telematics systems 200 and 400
described here will allow tracking of vehicles 110 as they are
transported from a factory to a vehicle dealership. The vehicle
tracking telematics systems 200 and 400 automatically update a
vehicle log 260 within a vehicle tracking database 250 to
facilitate tracking at least the general location of a vehicle 110
under transport. The vehicle tracking telematics systems 200 and
400 can be used at the same time. This is desirable, for example,
when the holding lots 210 are having receivers 220 installed and
some holding lots 210 do not yet have the receivers 220.
[0068] While the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are
presently considered to be preferred, various changes and
modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is indicated in
the appended claims, and all changes that come within the meaning
and range of equivalents are intended to be embraced therein.
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