US 8,798,623 B2 · Network selection and base station acquisition with OTA programming for a vehicle telematics unit

Abstract

A system and method for making vehicle originated calls to a telematics service provider or other call center. The method includes identifying a call type associated with a desired wireless communication of speech or data to the call center, and then carrying out one of a number of different call connection processes depending on the call type. For voice channel cellular connections, an in-band modem cellular connection is preferably established in most instances using a connection retry strategy that includes primary, secondary, and possibly tertiary connection attempts. Cell selection can be carried out using an acquisition task, background scan and inter-country PLMN reselection process that are used to select among available PLMNs and base stations. The system and method can be carried out in connection with various cellular system technologies, but is especially suited for use with GSM systems.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A network and base station acquisition method for use by a vehicle telematics unit in selecting a wireless cellular system and activating the telematics unit on the selected wireless cellular system, comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a cellular network from among a plurality of available cellular networks;
(b) attaching to a base station in the selected cellular network;
(c) determining that the telematics unit is connected to a home cellular network;
(d) determining whether the telematics unit has been activated on the home cellular network;
(e) if the telematics unit has not been activated and if the cellular network of the attached base station is determined to be different than the cellular network used prior to carrying out steps (a)-(d), then carrying out over-the-air programming of the telematics unit from the home cellular network;
and
(f) obtaining a user controlled selector list and an operator controlled selector list during the over-the-air programming.

4 more elements

(a) receiving an acquisition task request associated with a change in a telematics unit operational mode from a standby state to an active state;
(b) carrying out a PLMN reselection process and attaching to a base station within the selected PLMN in response to the acquisition task request;
(c) determining if the selected PLMN is listed on a preferred network list stored at the telematics unit and, if not, carrying out one or more PLMN reselection processes and attaching to a base station on one of the PLMNs listed on the preferred network list;
(d) determining if the telematics unit requires over-the-air programming to activate the telematics unit with the home cellular network based on whether the telematics unit is currently activated with the home cellular network and, if so:
(d1) determining that the reselected PLMN is different than the most recently used PLMN;
(d2) determining if the telematics unit is in the standby state and, if so, then carrying out the over-the-air programming based on the acquisition task request;
and
(d3) determining if the telematics unit is in the active state and, if so, then carrying out the over-the-air programming.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Network selection and base station acquisition with OTA programming for a vehicle telematics unit

Life of this patent

Network selection and base station acquisition with OTA programming for a vehicle telematics unit

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18