Abstract: A system to indicate the presence of one or more bystanders during wireless communications is herein presented. The system includes: a memory, controller, one or more bystander sensors, and a first transceiver device. The memory is configured to include one or more executable instructions. The controller is configured to execute the executable instructions. Each bystander sensor is configured to produce bystander information. The first transceiver device is capable of communicating with the controller. Moreover, the executable instructions enable the controller to: receive bystander information from the one or more bystander sensors; generate indicator information based on the sensor information; permit a first communication link to be established with the first transceiver device; and provide the first transceiver device with the indicator information through the first communication link.

Abstract: A system includes a vehicle, a vehicle communications platform (VCP), and an in-vehicle biometric system. The VCP is programmed to recognize a sequence of events. The sequence of events includes a transmission of the vehicle shifting from drive to park, an engine of the vehicle is on, and the transmission of the vehicle shifting back from park to drive. The VCP is further programmed to, in response to the sequence of events, monitor a distance that the vehicle travels or monitor a time since an occurrence of the sequence of events, and to instruct the in-vehicle biometric system to enter an authentication mode after a set time has passed since the occurrence of the sequence of events or after the vehicle has traveled a set distance since the occurrence of the sequence of events. The in-vehicle biometric system is responsive to instructions from the VCP and initiates an authentication routine.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for facilitating remote communications with a vehicle using a wireless device. The method includes automatically receiving data from at least one vehicle control module, receiving a request from the wireless device to perform a task relating to the vehicle, determining a status of a vehicle function based on the data received from the at least one vehicle control module, determining whether the task is redundant based on the status of the vehicle function, and when the requested task is redundant, transmitting to the wireless device a response to the task request based on the data received from at least one vehicle control module; otherwise, transmitting a message to the vehicle to execute the task.

Abstract: A database system and method for managing and storing sensitive and non-sensitive vehicle data. Received vehicle data messages are processed to separate out sensitive and non-sensitive data. The data is stored in a database having: an encrypted table, a plain-text table, and an identification mapping table. The encrypted table contains the sensitive data entries in an encrypted format. The plain-text table contains the non-sensitive data entries in a plaintext form. The identification mapping table contains a plurality of mapping data entries, wherein each mapping data entry associates a unique identifier to an affiliated identifier that is used to recall data from the encrypted table and the plain-text table.

Abstract: A system and method of performing vehicle navigation services in coordination with a handheld wireless device that involves determining a vehicle location at a vehicle using a vehicle telematics unit of the vehicle; identifying a plurality of points-of-interest (POIs) within a predetermined range of the vehicle location; detecting a vehicle occupant has exited the vehicle; sending an instruction from the vehicle that directs a handheld wireless device associated with the vehicle occupant or the vehicle to begin generating location data; and receiving the location data from the handheld wireless device.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car having a turbocharger with a compressor and a turbine. The method includes determining a change quantity of a gas flow quantity of a gas flow through the internal combustion engine and regulating the compressor based on this change quantity.

Abstract: A communication system and method of using the communication system to determine whether to maintain a connection between a wireless carrier system and a telematics unit in a vehicle. The method includes the steps of: providing a connection request between the vehicle and the wireless carrier system (WCS), wherein the connection request includes a first connectivity identifier; receiving a connection response from the WCS indicating a vehicle-WCS connection, wherein the connection response includes a second connectivity identifier; based on receiving the connection response, determining at the telematics unit whether to maintain the vehicle-WCS connection using the first and second connectivity identifiers; and when the telematics unit determines to not maintain the vehicle-WCS connection, then carrying out one or more actions to terminate the vehicle-WCS connection.

Abstract: A method and system that inhibits transmission of location information by a telematics unit outside of a geographic region in which such transmission is prohibited. The method includes identifying the relative location of the vehicle and a call center to which the information is to be sent. If the vehicle is in a country or other geographic region that prohibits transmission of vehicle location data outside of the region and, if the call center is determined by the vehicle to be outside of that region, then the telematics unit inhibits the location data from being sent in any communication between the vehicle and call center.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an address for a Domain Name System (DNS) server to a consumer device, wherein the consumer device connects to the Internet through a vehicle, includes providing an address for a default DNS server to the consumer device; receiving a request from the consumer device to convert a domain name to an Internet Protocol (IP) address using the default DNS server; forwarding the request to the default DNS server; determining if the request has been resolved by the default DNS server within a time-to-respond limit; and updating the consumer device with a different address for a DNS server retrieved from a list stored in vehicle hardware if the request has not been resolved within the time-to-respond limit.

Abstract: A system and method of tuning speech recognition systems includes performing text-to-speech conversion of text data; detecting the accuracy of speech converted from text data; determining that the detected accuracy is below a predetermined threshold; recording a user recitation of the text data in response to the determination; and storing the user recitation in an exception database located at a vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle communication system and method of improving location services for a user in a vehicle are described. The method includes the steps of: receiving at a backend system a first message from the vehicle based on a determination of a malicious attack associated with global navigation satellite system (GNSS) data received by the vehicle; receiving from a wireless carrier system (WCS) location data associated with a position of the vehicle; providing the location data to the vehicle from the backend system in response to the receipt of the first message; receiving a second message from the vehicle indicating that the malicious attack is no longer viable; and in response to receiving the second message, ceasing to provide the location data from the backend system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for fueling a vehicle with a fuel delivery service. A telematics unit is adapted for installation on the vehicle and configured to determine a fuel level of the vehicle. A remote server has a database of vehicle scheduling information and is configured to transmit a fueling request to the fuel delivery service. The telematics unit is further configured to transmit a vehicle fueling request to the remote server based on the fuel level of the vehicle. The remote server is further configured to transmit the fueling request based on the vehicle fueling request and the vehicle scheduling information.

Abstract: A system and method of wirelessly communicating voice conversations between a plurality of vehicles includes: initiating at a host vehicle a voice communication group that facilitates voice communications between a plurality of vehicles; identifying one or more client vehicles for inclusion with the voice communication group; transmitting a broadcast identifier or a vehicle identifier for the host vehicle and each client vehicle to a vehicle telematics service provider via a wireless carrier system; and communicating voice data between the host vehicle and each client vehicle included in the voice communication group via the wireless carrier system and the vehicle telematics service provider.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring a parking space with a sign. A sensor monitors the parking space and generate sensor data. A short-range transceiver receives a vehicle identification key and communicates over a short-range communication channel. A processor module is communicatively coupled with the sensor and the short-range transceiver. The processor module is configured to determine whether a vehicle in the parking space is an approved vehicle or an unapproved vehicle based on at least one of the sensor data and the vehicle identification key. The processor module generates a first notification when the the approved vehicle is in the parking space and a second notification when unapproved vehicle is in the parking space. The first and second notifications are transmitted by the short-range transceiver over the short-range communication channel.

Abstract: A system and method of registering a voice over LTE (VoLTE) capable vehicle telematics unit with a wireless carrier system includes: detecting at the vehicle telematics unit a wireless signal broadcast by a cell tower; determining from the wireless signal whether the cell tower provides cellular service using a VoLTE cellular protocol; and when it is determined that the cell tower does not provide cellular service using the VoLTE protocol, then preventing the VoLTE-capable vehicle telematics unit from attempting to wirelessly connect with the cell tower using an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) protocol.

Abstract: A method of recognizing continuous digits uttered by a speaker using an automatic speech recognition (ASR) system includes receiving continuous digits via a microphone as speech from a user; detecting that recognition of one or more of the continuous digits falls below a predetermined confidence threshold; prompting the user to identify the continuous digits using a body gesture; detecting the body gesture made by the user; and identifying one or more of the continuous digits based on the body gesture.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for delivering product information to a mobile device. A beacon uses a transmitter to transmit a product identification key to the mobile device over a first communication channel. A remote server has a database of detailed product information corresponding to the product identification key. An application on the mobile device to requests the detailed product information from the remote server over a second communication channel. The remote server transmits the detailed product information to the mobile device over the second communication channel and the detailed product information is displayed on the mobile device.

Abstract: A system and method of regulating access to a short-range wireless communications network using an ultrasonic audible signal includes: receiving a handheld wireless device identifier at a short-range wireless network from a handheld wireless device that is within a communication range of the short-range wireless network; determining that the handheld wireless device is authorized to access the short-range wireless network using the handheld wireless device identifier; and broadcasting an audio signal at an ultrasonic frequency through an audio system, wherein the audio signal includes information used by the handheld wireless device for authentication to the short-range wireless communications network in response.

Abstract: An example of a vehicle tire gauge system includes a tire pressure monitoring system in a vehicle. A transceiver in the vehicle is for transmitting a tire pressure sensed by the tire pressure monitoring system to a paired wearable device. A tire pressure table is stored in a model of an application having a view on the wearable device. A haptic feedback generator in the wearable device is responsive to the tire pressure reaching a first value, wherein the first value is contained in the tire pressure table.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided that include information systems including a display disposed about the interior of a vehicle. The display is positioned within the vehicle to be viewable by an occupant of the vehicle who is not looking forward through the vehicle windshield and/or or towards displays, gauges or instrumentation primarily positioned for viewing by a forward-looking occupant. The information system may be coupled to receive data from one or more vehicle control systems or controllers, from cameras disposed within the interior or on the exterior of the vehicle, from one or more sensors and/or from a telematics system. The information system configures the data for display on the display.