Abstract: A method and system of operating a multimodal vehicle includes determining a vehicle route between a starting point and an ending point, establishing one or more waypoints along the determined vehicle route based on one or more factors such as topography or road classification, and changing the propulsion mode of the vehicle at each of the established waypoints. This can be used, for example, to help optimize the use of different propulsion modes such as gasoline and battery power to thereby increase energy utilization efficiency.

Abstract: There is provided a communication system that includes a vehicle and a mobile device, and a method uses that system to provide vehicle owner's manual information. The method includes the steps of: receiving a digital image of a portion of a vehicle; identifying an object of the vehicle in the digital image; associating the object with at least one reference object image stored in an object library comprising a plurality of reference object images; displaying owner's manual information based on the association; and storing at least a portion of the digital image in the object library as a new reference object image for future identifications.

Abstract: A method and system for providing call center emergency services to one or more occupants of a vehicle having a plurality of listening zones within a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The method involves detecting a potential emergency condition, sending an emergency notification to a call center, receiving a listening zone control signal identifying at least one of a plurality of listening zones in the vehicle, and supplying audio received from the identified listening zones(s) to the call center via a voice call between the vehicle and call center.

Abstract: A system and method for carrying out communications with a remote communication device (RCD) utilizes a data channel communication path to provide a call request from the RCD to a telematics services provider (TSP). In response to the call request, the TSP obtains a temporary phone number and sends it back to the RCD which then places a voice call to the TSP using the phone number. The received call is connected to an advisor to handle voice communication with the caller using the RCD. Based on the prior association of the assigned temporary phone number with the calling RCD, the TSP is able to recognize the caller or calling device based on the number called and then automatically provide the advisor with relevant information about the caller or calling RCD, such as the caller's name or subscription account information.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling a VoLTE-capable vehicle telematics unit includes: detecting the location of the vehicle telematics unit; determining that one or more cell towers within a range of the location have begun supporting a modern cellular protocol in addition to one or more other cell towers supporting an earlier cellular protocol; and wirelessly transmitting an over-the-air (OTA) message to the vehicle telematics unit commanding the vehicle telematics unit to detach from an attached cell tower and re-attach to a cell tower using an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) protocol.

Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure contemplate utilizing the communicative connections between a telematics service provider (TSP) and a telematics unit in a vehicle to schedule a remote reflash event, issue instructions to the vehicle to prepare for the remote reflash event, and to administer the remote reflash event. A TSP may determine that the vehicle is presently running software for which an update is desirable. Thereafter, the TSP may transmit instructions to the vehicle to make preparations for the remote reflash event. In some implementations, the instructions may cause the vehicle to obtain a higher level of battery charge during its next drive cycle or charging event in anticipation of the remote reflash event.

Abstract: The described method and system provides for dynamic adjustment of the lower charge threshold of an electrically-powered vehicle to allow a vehicle low on battery charge to continue to be operated. The vehicle's telematics unit monitors the charge level via the vehicle bus or other vehicle resources to determine if the vehicle is running low on electric charge. If the telematics unit determines that the charge level is approaching, meets or falls below the lower threshold, the telematics unit communicates the vehicle position to a call center along with vehicle identification data. The call center determines the amount of charge required to reach one or more local charging stations or other points of interests and proposes destination recommendations to the driver. The driver may then select one of the recommendations, and the call center transmits a new lower charge threshold to the vehicle.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining a vehicle lifetime fuel economy using a remote server. The method includes retrieving from at least one vehicle control module vehicle data including an amount of total fuel used by the vehicle, determining whether the total fuel used by the vehicle is greater than or equal to a stored fuel used value, calculating an adjusted total fuel used if the total fuel used is not greater than or equal to the stored fuel used value, and calculating the lifetime fuel economy based on the adjusted total fuel used.

Abstract: A system and method for reminding a user to dock a mobile device in a docking apparatus within a vehicle are provided. A docking apparatus includes: one or more sensors for determining whether an object is present in the docking apparatus; and at least one of speakers, a vibration mechanism, and one or more display indicators for reminding a user to place the mobile device in the docking apparatus when the one or more sensors determine that an object is not present in the docking apparatus. A system includes the docking apparatus and a mobile device. The method includes receiving an indication that the vehicle ignition is turned on; determining whether the mobile device is in a docking apparatus; and reminding the user to dock the mobile device in the docking apparatus.

Abstract: A method and system for recognizing and verifying the identity of a driver and front seat passenger of a vehicle. A vehicle owner uploads profile data for several individuals who may be a driver or passenger to a database in the vehicle. When a driver or passenger enters the vehicle, the system uses the profile data—which can include height, weight, and gender information about the individual—along with vehicle data such as seat position, to identify the driver or passenger from the database. The profile data for the known individual is then used to adjust the position of the seat and other components in the cockpit. The profile data is also used by various safety and convenience systems onboard the vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method for carrying out communications with a remote communication device (RCD) utilizes a data channel communication path to provide a call request from the RCD to a telematics services provider (TSP). In response to the call request, the TSP obtains a temporary phone number and sends it back to the RCD which then places a voice call to the TSP using the phone number. The received call is connected to an advisor to handle voice communication with the caller using the RCD. Based on the prior association of the assigned temporary phone number with the calling RCD, the TSP is able to recognize the caller or calling device based on the number called and then automatically provide the advisor with relevant information about the caller or calling RCD, such as the caller's name or subscription account information.

Abstract: A method of communicating with residential electrical devices using a vehicle telematics unit includes receiving information identifying a residential electrical device to control; displaying in a vehicle one or more controlled features of the identified residential electrical device; receiving from a vehicle occupant a selection of the displayed controlled features of the residential electrical device; sending an instruction from the vehicle telematics unit to the residential electrical device via a wireless carrier system in response to the received selection; and controlling the residential electrical device using the sent instruction.

Abstract: The described method and system provide a connectivity problem resolution mechanism that uses a data mode call in order to diagnose a connection problem while avoiding audible ringing and or inadvertent user pick-up during error diagnosis and correction. The system includes three primary functions and elements including cellular error message recognition, error response handling configured to update and/or maintain processes, and new error message capture. This system is usable both online and offline. Error recognition may be based on error message matching or keyword matching.

Abstract: A system for alerting a driver to a condition of a vehicle is disclosed herein. The system includes, but is not limited to, a telematics unit that is mounted to the vehicle and that is configured to receive a fault notification from a subsystem on board the vehicle when a fault in the subsystem is detected. A call center is remotely located from the vehicle and is communicatively connected to the telematics unit. The telematics unit is configured to provide the fault notification to the call center. The call center is configured to initiate communication with the driver if the fault falls within a first category of faults and to set a trigger in the telematics unit to initiate contact with the call center upon a next ignition actuation of the vehicle if the fault falls within a second category of faults.

Abstract: A method of automated speech recognition in a vehicle. The method includes receiving audio in the vehicle, pre-processing the received audio to generate acoustic feature vectors, decoding the generated acoustic feature vectors to produce at least one speech hypothesis, and post-processing the at least one speech hypothesis using pitch to improve speech recognition accuracy. The speech hypothesis can be accepted as recognized speech during post-processing if pitch is present in the received audio. Alternatively, a pitch count for the received audio can be determined, N-best speech hypotheses can be post-processed by comparing the pitch count to syllable counts associated with the speech hypotheses, and the speech hypothesis having a syllable count equal to the pitch count can be accepted as recognized speech.

Abstract: A method of controlling a vocoder selection of a wireless device that uses cellular protocols includes wirelessly receiving an instruction at the wireless device from a wireless carrier system, wherein the instruction includes a vocoder identity that is associated with a particular cellular protocol; identifying a vocoder currently in use at the wireless device; and changing the vocoder currently in use at the wireless device if the identified vocoder is different than the vocoder identity included in the instruction.

Abstract: A method of determining an attribute of a parking structure includes monitoring vehicle status data (VSD) obtained by a first on-board processor operatively associated with a vehicle telematics unit. The first processor executes computer readable code encoded on a first non-transitory computer readable medium. The method includes recording, in a vehicle memory operatively associated with the first processor, the VSD based on an output of a vehicle on-board sensor. The method further includes communicating the recorded VSD to a data aggregator of a remote parking information system (RPIS) for storage as aggregated data in a computer memory associated with the RPIS. The method determines, via the data aggregator, whether the vehicle is in the parking structure based on the communicated recorded VSD. The method further includes determining the attribute via the RPIS based on the VSD stored in the computer memory, and storing the attribute in the computer memory.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling Wi-Fi module operation based on vehicle location includes: detecting at a vehicle a geopolitical identifier broadcast by a wireless carrier system; determining whether operational settings of the Wi-Fi module conform to operational settings specified for the detected geopolitical identifier; and changing the operational settings of the Wi-Fi module when not conforming to the operational settings specified for the detected geopolitical identifier.

Abstract: A system and method of regulating automatic speech recognition (ASR) playback of audible prompts includes: generating an audible prompt via a speaker; detecting ambient sound during the audible prompt via a microphone; obtaining a speech recognition confidence value for speech recognition performed on the ambient sound; and reducing a volume level of the audible prompt based on the speech recognition confidence value while continuing to generate the audible prompt.

Abstract: A system and a method using that system that provides multi-tainment services in a vehicle. The method includes the steps of providing a vehicle telematics unit having wireless hotspot functionality; connecting the telematics unit via short range wireless communication (SRWC) to a vehicle multi-tainment unit (VMU) and at least one mobile device; identifying the VMU connection at the telematics unit; and providing the VMU with wireless hotspot data priority over the at least one mobile device.