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 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: 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: 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.

Abstract: An improved guidance system and method provide a packaged tour object having tour directions and media related to points of interest of a tour for playing via a telematics unit. A user is provided, via their telematics unit, with specific directions to access points of interest of the tour in a certain sequence, while the telematics unit optionally conveys media content to the user at appropriate points. The media content may be keyed to an upcoming site, and may comprise audio and/or visual information. In addition, user convenience information such as parking and ticketing information may be contained ion the packaged tour object for presentation via the telematics unit.

Abstract: A scalable distributed server system and method to maintain the system, wherein the system comprises a top virtual layer that includes a fixed or variable number of virtual buckets, wherein a virtual bucket maps an input to a routing bucket in one or more middle routing layers; and a bottom server layer that includes a variable number of servers that each include a database that stores data and an application that recalls data from and stores data into the database, wherein the one or more middle routing layers comprise a variable number of routing buckets that route input received from a virtual bucket in the top virtual layer to a server contained within the bottom server layer.

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: In an example of an ordering method, an application receives an order for a product. The application may be an in-vehicle application resident on a memory of an in-vehicle infotainment unit of a vehicle or a mobile-device application resident on a memory of a mobile device. Without contacting a merchant of the product, the application determines a preparation time for the product. The application dynamically determines an estimated time of arrival of the vehicle or the mobile device at a location of the merchant. The application holds the order for the product until the estimated time of arrival is equal to or less than the preparation time for the product.

Abstract: A communication system and a method for purging user data stored in a vehicle. The method carried out by the system includes: (a) receiving an input associated with a future time for performing a purge of user data in a vehicle module; (b) determining a first expiration threshold associated with the input; (c) determining one or more additional expiration thresholds based on the first expiration threshold; (d) monitoring vehicle parameter values associated with the first and additional expiration thresholds; (e) based on the parameter values and the first and additional expiration thresholds, determining to initiate a user data purge event; and (f) purging the user data based on the determination of step (e).

Abstract: A communication system and methods of using the communication system to re-activate a previously used access point name (APN) in order to re-establish connectivity between an application service provider (ASP) and a telematics unit in a vehicle. The steps of the method include: receiving content data at the vehicle via the ASP using a first access point name (APN); experiencing a loss of connectivity between the vehicle and the ASP, wherein the loss of connectivity includes de-activation of the first APN with the ASP; transmitting from the vehicle via a second APN a re-activation request associated with the first APN; and in response to the re-activation request, receiving a notification at the vehicle that the first APN has been re-activated.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detecting objects within a vehicle. A sensor monitors an interior of the vehicle and generates sensor data. A detection module detects objects in the interior of the vehicle based on the sensor data. An action module takes an action based on the objects detected in the interior.

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: Methods and systems for facilitating communications between a vehicle and a service provider are provided. A first address of a vehicle communication device and a second address of a service provider communication device are obtained at a remote location that is remote to both the vehicle and the service provider. A set of keys, including a first key and a second key, is generated at the remote server. The first key is for use by the vehicle in establishing communications with the service provider, and the second key is for use by the service provider in establishing communications with the vehicle. The first key is provided to the vehicle, and the second key is provided to the service provider.

Abstract: A method for automated enrollment and activation of a mobile telematics system comprising receiving a customer data record of a customer at a communication services database, determining a command signal based on the customer data record, sending the command signal to a telematics unit of a vehicle, enrolling the customer in a telematics-unit access system based on the command signal and activating the telematics unit of the telematics-unit access system based on the command signal.

Abstract: A system and method of provisioning a wireless device that uses cellular communication protocols. The method carried out by the system includes: establishing a wireless communications session with the wireless device at a remote facility; transmitting provisioning information from the remote facility to the wireless device via the wireless communications session; and including a computer readable instruction with the provisioning information commanding the wireless device to contact the remote facility when the wireless communications session has been interrupted and the transmission of provisioning information is not complete.

Abstract: Implementations described herein contemplate measuring the carrier phase (CP) of carrier signals transmitted by constituent satellites of a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to provide highly accurate calculations of a gradient of a road segment between different points at which the vehicle received carrier signals (from which CP measurements were made). The methods described herein are able to calculate the road grade with only an approximate estimate of the absolute altitude of the receiver. Similarly, the methods described herein are able to provide a precise estimate of road grade with only an approximate estimate of the absolute value of latitude or longitude. Furthermore, implementations described herein provide highly accurate calculations of road grade information with standard GNSS vehicle hardware and are thereby able to achieve a substantial increase in accuracy without increasing cost.