Abstract: One general aspect includes a method to initiate remote control of a vehicle, the method including: receiving, via a processor, an indication that a manual drive sequence should be initiated by a remotely located data center; and based on the indication, via the processor, initiating the manual drive sequence such that the data center can remotely control the vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a telematics service using a third-party authentication is provided. The system and method include receiving a request for navigation instructions, by a call center, from a client using a telematics system. The call center then inquires if the client requires concierge services. If the client does not require concierge services then the call center initiates download of the navigation instructions. If the client does require concierge services then the call center provides the client with a randomly generated password and transfers the client to a third-party service provider. The third-party service provider then obtains the password from the client and enters the password to a cloud-based application for authentication to retrieve a set of client information for providing the concierge service, request a PIN from the client, and enters the PIN into the cloud-based application to initiate download of the navigation instructions.

Abstract: One general aspect includes a method to initiate remote control of a vehicle, the method including: receiving, via a processor, an indication that a manual drive sequence should be initiated by a remotely located data center; and based on the indication, via the processor, initiating the manual drive sequence such that the data center can remotely control the vehicle.

Abstract: One general aspect includes a system to tint at least a portion of a vehicle window, the system including: a memory configured to include one or more executable instructions and a processor configured to execute the executable instructions, where the executable instructions enable the processor to: monitor ambient light in a surrounding vehicle environment; and based on the ambient light, dim at least a portion of an OLED window located at a vehicle.

Abstract: In various embodiments, methods, vehicle systems, and communication systems are provided, that include: obtaining location data for a vehicle while the vehicle is travelling, via a positioning system built into the vehicle; determining when the vehicle has entered a geo-fence associated with a regulated roadway, via a processor built into the vehicle; monitoring the vehicle, using the processor along with the positioning system, one or more sensors built into the vehicle, or both, generating vehicle data, while the vehicle is within the geo-fence, the vehicle data pertaining to a vehicle's usage of, compliance with, or both, of the regulated roadway; determining when the vehicle has exited the geo-fence, via the processor disposed onboard the vehicle; and transmitting the vehicle data, for use in determining a fee associated with the vehicle's travel along the regulated roadway, after the vehicle has exited the geo-fence, via a transceiver disposed onboard the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for over the air updates in a vehicle include transmitting on and off data about the vehicle to a back office, determining at the back office an optimum time for a reminder message based on the on and off data, and querying a customer at the optimum time if a module associated with the vehicle should be updated.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a telematics service using a third-party authentication is provided. The system and method include receiving a request for navigation instructions, by a call center, from a client using a telematics system. The call center then inquires if the client requires concierge services. If the client does not require concierge services then the call center initiates download of the navigation instructions. If the client does require concierge services then the call center provides the client with a randomly generated password and transfers the client to a third-party service provider. The third-party service provider then obtains the password from the client and enters the password to a cloud-based application for authentication to retrieve a set of client information for providing the concierge service, request a PIN from the client, and enters the PIN into the cloud-based application to initiate download of the navigation instructions.

Abstract: One general aspect includes a system to tint at least a portion of a vehicle window, the system including: a memory configured to include one or more executable instructions and a processor configured to execute the executable instructions, where the executable instructions enable the processor to: monitor ambient light in a surrounding vehicle environment; and based on the ambient light, dim at least a portion of an OLED window located at a vehicle.

Abstract: A system to alter a phone number assigned to a telematics unit in which a server of a data center retrieves a phone call log that includes the call transmissions of a telematics unit made over a time period. Moreover, upon retrieval, the server will extract certain criteria from the phone call log, compile the extracted criteria, and then determine whether or not to alter the phone number based on the compiled criteria. When it is determined to do so, the server may alter the phone number by changing the phone number's area code or exchanging the phone number assigned to the telematics unit with another phone number.

Abstract: A system and method of method of operating a vehicle using wireless communications, the method including: receiving a remote vehicle ignition start request via a wireless signal, wherein the remote vehicle ignition start request is a request to start an ignition of the vehicle; when the remote vehicle ignition start request is received, obtaining vehicle state information including a vehicle operating state and/or a vehicle environmental state; in response to receiving the remote vehicle ignition start request, selecting one or more remote start operating parameters based at least partly on the obtained vehicle state information; and after determining the one or more operating parameters, carrying out the remote command request according to the one or more selected remote start operating parameters.

Abstract: A vehicle backend system and a method of using the backend system to determine availability of a cellular connection between the backend system and a vehicle prior to the backend system attempting to establish the cellular connection. The method includes: determining at the backend system that a vehicle service is to be provided to the vehicle; based on the determination, transmitting from the backend system to a wireless service provider (WSP) or a WSP server a query associated with the connection status of the vehicle; in response to transmitting the query, receiving at the backend system a response to the query, wherein the response indicates that the vehicle is either in a connected state or an un-connected state; and when the vehicle is in the connected state: attempting to establish the cellular connection between the backend system and the vehicle; and when the cellular connection is established, providing the vehicle service.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating with a plurality of vehicles. The method includes receiving route information from a plurality of telematics units installed into each of the vehicles. The information may be collected as the vehicles are traveling along a vehicle route. The method further includes determining an eligibility of the vehicle route for use with a semi-autonomous driving system of the vehicles from at least the received route information. The method may also include communicating the eligibility of the vehicle route to the vehicles. The system includes a plurality of telematics units configured to collect route information as the vehicles are traveling along a vehicle route. The system further includes a database in communication with the plurality of telematics units. The database includes an eligibility of the vehicle route for use with a super cruise system of the vehicles.

Abstract: A method and system of controlling vehicle functionality based on a geopolitical region of the vehicle, the method including the steps of: monitoring a geographical location of the vehicle; resolving the geographical location of the vehicle to a geopolitical region in which the vehicle is located; obtaining permitted vehicle function information for the geopolitical region in which the vehicle is located; and disabling or enabling one or more vehicle functions based on the obtained permitted vehicle function information.

Abstract: A system and method of method of operating a vehicle using wireless communications, the method including: receiving a remote vehicle ignition start request via a wireless signal, wherein the remote vehicle ignition start request is a request to start an ignition of the vehicle; when the remote vehicle ignition start request is received, obtaining vehicle state information including a vehicle operating state and/or a vehicle environmental state; in response to receiving the remote vehicle ignition start request, selecting one or more remote start operating parameters based at least partly on the obtained vehicle state information; and after determining the one or more operating parameters, carrying out the remote command request according to the one or more selected remote start operating parameters.

Abstract: A method and system of controlling vehicle functionality based on a geopolitical region of the vehicle, the method including the steps of: monitoring a geographical location of the vehicle; resolving the geographical location of the vehicle to a geopolitical region in which the vehicle is located; obtaining permitted vehicle function information for the geopolitical region in which the vehicle is located; and disabling or enabling one or more vehicle functions based on the obtained permitted vehicle function information.

Abstract: One general aspect includes a method to temporarily deactivate one or more electronics devices installed in a vehicle, the method including: (a) receiving, at a controller, a vehicle access request; (b) in response to the vehicle access request, generating, via the controller, a vehicle access command configured to unlock one or more vehicle doors; (c) in response to the vehicle access request, generating, via the controller, an electronics deactivation command configured to at least temporarily deactivate one or more vehicle electronic devices; and (d) sending the vehicle access command and electronics deactivation command to a remotely located vehicle. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding computer systems, apparatus, and computer programs recorded on one or more computer storage devices, each configured to perform the actions of the methods.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting vehicle events and classifying them based on contextual vehicle information. The method includes detecting a vehicle event using vehicle movement data, and then obtaining and analyzing contextual vehicle information associated with the vehicle event. The contextual vehicle information may be indicative of an external condition that led to the vehicle event, such as an object in the vehicle's path, that helps classify the vehicle event for purposes of insurance risk assessment. Another disclosed method involves comparing the vehicle movement data with the vehicle performance requirements for each of the plurality of insurance carrier plans, and notifying a vehicle operator when the vehicle data satisfies the vehicle performance requirements for any one of the insurance carrier plans. Example systems may include a telematics unit installed to a vehicle that is configured to collect vehicle movement data and contextual vehicle information.

Abstract: A system and method of providing status updates to one or more mobile devices. The method includes receiving a vehicle action request from the mobile device at a central office, determining a status update frequency based upon at least one real-time characteristic, and instructing the mobile device to request status updates on the vehicle action request to the central office at the status update frequency. In an alternative method, a plurality of mobile devices may be instructed to use different status update frequencies. The system includes a server configured to receive a vehicle action request from the mobile device at a central office, determine a status update frequency based upon at least one real-time characteristic, and instruct the mobile device to request status updates on the vehicle action request to the central office at the status update frequency.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting vehicle events and classifying them based on contextual vehicle information. The method includes detecting a vehicle event using vehicle movement data, and then obtaining and analyzing contextual vehicle information associated with the vehicle event. The contextual vehicle information may be indicative of an external condition that led to the vehicle event, such as an object in the vehicle's path, that helps classify the vehicle event for purposes of insurance risk assessment. Another disclosed method involves comparing the vehicle movement data with the vehicle performance requirements for each of the plurality of insurance carrier plans, and notifying a vehicle operator when the vehicle data satisfies the vehicle performance requirements for any one of the insurance carrier plans. Example systems may include a telematics unit installed to a vehicle that is configured to collect vehicle movement data and contextual vehicle information.

Abstract: A vehicle backend system and a method of using the backend system to determine availability of a cellular connection between the backend system and a vehicle prior to the backend system attempting to establish the cellular connection. The method includes: determining at the backend system that a vehicle service is to be provided to the vehicle; based on the determination, transmitting from the backend system to a wireless service provider (WSP) or a WSP server a query associated with the connection status of the vehicle; in response to transmitting the query, receiving at the backend system a response to the query, wherein the response indicates that the vehicle is either in a connected state or an un-connected state; and when the vehicle is in the connected state: attempting to establish the cellular connection between the backend system and the vehicle; and when the cellular connection is established, providing the vehicle service.