Patents by Inventor Dana B. Fecher

Dana B. Fecher has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20180057347
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: GENERAL MOTORS LLC
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER L. OESTERLING, PAUL H. PEBBLES, DANA B. FECHER, JEFFREY M. STEFAN
  • Publication number: 20170344355
    Abstract: A system and method for providing an update to vehicle system modules, wherein the method includes generating a parts manifest identifying soft parts associated with an update for the vehicle system modules, the parts manifest including one or more download link(s) relating to the soft parts in the parts manifest, and wherein the one or more download link(s) provide a location from which content associated with each of the soft parts is downloaded to a vehicle and thereafter assembled by the vehicle into an update package, transmitting the parts manifest to the vehicle, and receiving an indication from the vehicle confirming installation of the update package to the vehicle system modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Susanta P. SARKAR, Dana B. FECHER, Jessica L. BOZYMOWSKI, Jeffrey J. OLSEN, James D. FORSMARK
  • Patent number: 9172116
    Abstract: The described principles provide a method and system for assisting a user of an electric vehicle in maintaining a charge state of the chargeable onboard energy storage system. In an implementation, an intuitive remote interface allows the user to create, modify, save and select profiles. The user may select a profile to apply at a current time as well as optionally at a later time. A profile may have a date limitation or day of week limitation in addition to a time limitation. In an implementation, the user may opt to apply a selected profile to a plurality of vehicles. A linkage with utility data allows for the use of rate-based criteria in an implementation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL MOTORS LLC.
    Inventors: Steven J. Ross, Jing Zang, Jeffrey G. Ravas, Dana B. Fecher, Paul H. Pebbles
  • Patent number: 9137364
    Abstract: The described method and system provide for remotely controlling the charging operation of plurality of vehicles. In one implementation, a call center may receive a request from a utility regarding a particular grid and sends out an inquiry to locate vehicles in that grid. Once the vehicles have been located, the call center sends a command to those vehicles corresponding to the utility's request. In another implementation, vehicles may register information with the call center every time a charging event takes place, and the call center keeps track of the location of each vehicle based on the registration. When the call center receives a request from a utility, the call center may directly send out commands to vehicles based on the request. In other implementations, vehicle charging may be remotely controlled through the call center by consumers, the utility, or a home energy management system (HEMS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL MOTORS LLC
    Inventors: Subhash B. Gullapalli, Dana B. Fecher, Nikola J. Pudar
  • Patent number: 8787987
    Abstract: A system and method for configuring a vehicle user interface that provides hands-free use of a mobile communications device by a vehicle operator. First, the mobile communications device located at a vehicle is linked with a vehicle user interface in the vehicle so that the driver or other occupant can carry out hands-free telephone calls through the mobile device. Then, an evaluation phone call is placed using the mobile device so that volume levels, noise, etc. can be checked. Based on an analysis of that evaluation call, at least one audio parameter of the vehicle user interface is configured and is thereafter used to improve the audio communication between the user and the vehicle user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Subhash B. Gullapalli, Dana B. Fecher
  • Patent number: 8718844
    Abstract: The described principles provide a method and system for assisting a user of an electric vehicle in maintaining a charge state of the chargeable onboard energy storage system so as to be able to forgo the use of an auxiliary power unit to great extent. The method, also implemented by the system, comprises identifying charging locations for the vehicle, and prompting the user to charge the vehicle when the vehicle is at a charging location and a charge is need to avoid the use of the auxiliary power unit for a learned or planned journey. The charge reminder my be visible and/or audible within the vehicle and may optionally be remote from the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Kevin R. Krause, Thomas A. Gault, Paul H. Pebbles, Dana B. Fecher, Steven J. Ross, Armando A. Duer
  • Patent number: 8692663
    Abstract: The disclosed invention provides a system and apparatus for monitoring battery status and usage to facilitate battery protection, battery repurposing and battery maintenance. Wireless interrogation of a battery's location and key attributes provides efficiencies to manage the total lifecycle of an electric vehicle battery, whether installed in a vehicle or in an environment external to the vehicle environment. A wireless battery tether, combined with a wireless battery reader, a wireless battery gateway and a centralized battery monitoring server allows management of the high-voltage battery through its lifecycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: General Motors LLC.
    Inventor: Dana B. Fecher
  • Patent number: 8600741
    Abstract: A system and method for tuning a speech recognition engine to an individual microphone using a database containing acoustical models for a plurality of microphones. Microphone performance characteristics are obtained from a microphone at a speech recognition engine, the database is searched for an acoustical model that matches the characteristics, and the speech recognition engine is then modified based on the matching acoustical model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Gaurav Talwar, Rathinavelu Chengalvarayan, Jesse T. Gratke, Subhash B. Gullapalli, Dana B. Fecher
  • Patent number: 8538621
    Abstract: The described method and system provide a reminder to an electric vehicle user to charge a battery of the electric vehicle to optimize electric-only driving opportunities. The electric vehicle includes a telematics unit, and the vehicle user is associated with a mobile communications device remote from the vehicle. The described technique includes determining a location of the vehicle, comparing the location to a home location of the vehicle user, and retrieving vehicle battery charge state and expected electric only range. If certain conditions are met, the user is prompted via the remote device to plug in the vehicle for charging and/or to alter the vehicle charge profile to achieve full charge in the time remaining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: General Motors LLC.
    Inventors: Steven J. Ross, Jeffrey G. Ravas, Dana B. Fecher
  • Patent number: 8502498
    Abstract: The described method and system provide for managing the charging of individual electric vehicles with respect to local substations or grids to lower the load on a given substation or grid. When the load on a substation or grid reaches a warning threshold, a call center may facilitate the implementation of a charging plan to reduce the load. The call center may locate and identify vehicles that are being charged in the relevant area and may further manage the charging of the located vehicles to reduce the load through a charging plan. The plan may be based on the current state of charge of each vehicle, the historical use and projected use of each vehicle, vehicle charging patterns, and the severity of the load on the substation or grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventor: Dana B. Fecher
  • Publication number: 20120286725
    Abstract: The described method and system provide for remotely controlling the charging operation of plurality of vehicles. In one implementation, a call center may receive a request from a utility regarding a particular grid and sends out an inquiry to locate vehicles in that grid. Once the vehicles have been located, the call center sends a command to those vehicles corresponding to the utility's request. In another implementation, vehicles may register information with the call center every time a charging event takes place, and the call center keeps track of the location of each vehicle based on the registration. When the call center receives a request from a utility, the call center may directly send out commands to vehicles based on the request. In other implementations, vehicle charging may be remotely controlled through the call center by consumers, the utility, or a home energy management system (HEMS).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Subhash B. Gullapalli, Dana B. Fecher, Nikola J. Pudar
  • Publication number: 20120181982
    Abstract: The described method and system provide for managing the charging of individual electric vehicles with respect to local substations or grids to lower the load on a given substation or grid. When the load on a substation or grid reaches a warning threshold, a call center may facilitate the implementation of a charging plan to reduce the load. The call center may locate and identify vehicles that are being charged in the relevant area and may further manage the charging of the located vehicles to reduce the load through a charging plan. The plan may be based on the current State of charge of each vehicle, the historical use and projected use of each vehicle, vehicle charging patterns, and the severity of the load on the substation or grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: General Motors LLC
    Inventor: Dana B. Fecher
  • Publication number: 20120094657
    Abstract: A system and method for configuring a vehicle user interface that provides hands-free use of a mobile communications device by a vehicle operator. First, the mobile communications device located at a vehicle is linked with a vehicle user interface in the vehicle so that the driver or other occupant can carry out hands-free telephone calls through the mobile device. Then, an evaluation phone call is placed using the mobile device so that volume levels, noise, etc. can be checked. Based on an analysis of that evaluation call, at least one audio parameter of the vehicle user interface is configured and is thereafter used to improve the audio communication between the user and the vehicle user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL MOTORS LLC
    Inventors: Subhash B. Gullapalli, Dana B. Fecher
  • Publication number: 20120065831
    Abstract: The described method and system provide a reminder to an electric vehicle user to charge a battery of the electric vehicle to optimize electric-only driving opportunities. The electric vehicle includes a telematics unit, and the vehicle user is associated with a mobile communications device remote from the vehicle. The described technique includes determining a location of the vehicle, comparing the location to a home location of the vehicle user, and retrieving vehicle battery charge state and expected electric only range. If certain conditions are met, the user is prompted via the remote device to plug in the vehicle for charging and/or to alter the vehicle charge profile to achieve full charge in the time remaining.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Steven J. Ross, Jeffrey G. Ravas, Dana B. Fecher
  • Patent number: 8136138
    Abstract: A system for displaying video data in a vehicle. The system intelligently replicates one or more portable device displays on one or more vehicle displays. Each vehicle display may be shared or dedicated to a specific portable device. The image from each portable device is intelligently replicated and provided to the vehicle integrated video system via a wireless communication link for display. The wireless communication link can provide the image to the vehicle integrated video system in real time to support both static images and dynamic images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph C. Jira, Dana B. Fecher, Michael J. Andrews, Theodore C. Wingrove
  • Publication number: 20120053943
    Abstract: A voice dialing method includes the steps of receiving an utterance from a user, decoding the utterance to identify a recognition result for the utterance, and communicating to the user the recognition result. If an indication is received from the user that the communicated recognition result is incorrect, then it is added to a rejection reference. Then, when the user repeats the misunderstood utterance, the rejection reference can be used to eliminate the incorrect recognition result as a potential subsequent recognition result. The method can be used for single or multiple digits or digit strings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL MOTORS LLC
    Inventors: Jason W. Clark, Rathinavelu Chengalvarayan, Timothy J. Grost, Dana B. Fecher, Jeremy M. Spaulding
  • Publication number: 20120049793
    Abstract: The described principles provide a method and system for assisting a user of an electric vehicle in maintaining a charge state of the chargeable onboard energy storage system. In an implementation, an intuitive remote interface allows the user to create, modify, save and select profiles. The user may select a profile to apply at a current time as well as optionally at a later time. A profile may have a date limitation or day of week limitation in addition to a time limitation. In an implementation, the user may opt to apply a selected profile to a plurality of vehicles. A linkage with utility data allows for the use of rate-based criteria in an implementation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Steven J. Ross, Jing Zang, Jeffrey G. Ravas, Dana B. Fecher, Paul H. Pebbles
  • Publication number: 20120038473
    Abstract: The disclosed invention provides a system and apparatus for monitoring battery status and usage to facilitate battery protection, battery repurposing and battery maintenance. Wireless interrogation of a battery's location and key attributes provides efficiencies to manage the total lifecycle of an electric vehicle battery, whether installed in a vehicle or in an environment external to the vehicle environment. A wireless battery tether, combined with a wireless battery reader, a wireless battery gateway and a centralized battery monitoring server allows management of the high-voltage battery through its lifecycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL MOTORS LLC
    Inventor: Dana B. Fecher
  • Publication number: 20120016551
    Abstract: The described principles provide a method and system for assisting a user of an electric vehicle in maintaining a charge state of the chargeable onboard energy storage system so as to be able to forgo the use of an auxiliary power unit to great extent. The method, also implemented by the system, comprises identifying charging locations for the vehicle, and prompting the user to charge the vehicle when the vehicle is at a charging location and a charge is need to avoid the use of the auxiliary power unit for a learned or planned journey. The charge reminder my be visible and/or audible within the vehicle and may optionally be remote from the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Kevin R. Krause, Thomas A. Gault, Paul H. Pebbles, Dana B. Fecher, Steven J. Ross, Armando A. Duer
  • Patent number: 8055502
    Abstract: A voice dialing method includes the steps of receiving an utterance from a user, decoding the utterance to identify a recognition result for the utterance, and communicating to the user the recognition result. If an indication is received from the user that the communicated recognition result is incorrect, then it is added to a rejection reference. Then, when the user repeats the misunderstood utterance, the rejection reference can be used to eliminate the incorrect recognition result as a potential subsequent recognition result. The method can be used for single or multiple digits or digit strings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Jason W. Clark, Rathinavelu Chengalvarayan, Timothy J. Grost, Dana B. Fecher, Jeremy M. Spaulding