Configurable in-vehicle teletypewriter (TTY) functionality

A method of carrying out a teletypewriter (TTY) call at a vehicle, the method being carried out by vehicle electronics of the vehicle, wherein the method comprises:

• receiving a TTY configuration request at the vehicle electronics of the vehicle;
• configuring the vehicle to operate based on the TTY configuration request, wherein the configuring includes storing TTY configuration data at the vehicle;
• receiving a vehicle user call initiation request at the vehicle, the vehicle user call initiation request indicating to start a TTY call process for carrying out a call with an end user;
• determining whether TTY functionality is enabled or disabled at the vehicle, wherein the determination of whether the TTY functionality is enabled or disabled at the vehicle includes inspecting the TTY configuration data, including determining that the vehicle is in a TTY-uninhibited state or a TTY-inhibited state, and wherein the determination that the vehicle is in a TTY-inhibited state is made based on onboard vehicle sensor readings from one or more onboard vehicle sensors;
• and
• when it is determined that the TTY functionality is enabled at the vehicle, carrying out a TTY call at the vehicle, wherein the TTY call includes:
• sending a TTY indication to the end user via a data connection;
• and
• sending communications over a voice call connection that is separate from the data connection.

A teletypewriter TTY-accessible vehicle electronic system for a vehicle, the TTY-accessible vehicle electronic system comprising:

• a telematics unit;
• a touch-screen display that is configured to display a TTY call user interface, wherein the TTY call user interface is a graphical user interface (GUI) that includes an on-screen keyboard;
• and
• a processor and memory, the memory storing computer instructions;
• wherein, when the processor executes the computer instructions, the TTY-accessible vehicle electronic system:
• stores TTY configuration data in response to receiving a TTY configuration request, wherein the TTY configuration data is stored automatically by the TTY-accessible vehicle electronics system in response to the receiving of the TTY configuration request;
• determines whether the TTY functionality is enabled or disabled in response to a telephone call initiation request, wherein the determination of whether the TTY functionality is enabled or disabled includes inspecting the TTY configuration data, including determining that the vehicle is in a TTY-uninhibited state or a TTY-inhibited state, and wherein the determination that the vehicle is in a TTY-inhibited state is made based on onboard vehicle sensor readings from one or more onboard vehicle sensors;
• and
• when it is determined that the TTY functionality is enabled, carries out a TTY call, wherein the TTY call includes:
• displaying the TTY call user interface on the touch-screen display, wherein the displaying of the TTY call user interface includes displaying the on-screen keyboard;
• receiving user textual input at the touch-screen display based on detecting a user input at one or more keys of the on-screen keyboard;
• and
• sending the user textual input to the end user over the telephone call using the telematics unit.