Patents by Inventor Andrew J. Macdonald
Andrew J. Macdonald 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).
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Patent number: 10333206Abstract: Vehicles, systems, and methods are provided electronic communication in a vehicle. A vehicle includes a vehicle body, a first antenna cluster, and a second antenna cluster. The vehicle body defines a boundary between an inside of the vehicle and an outside of the vehicle. The first antenna cluster is mounted on the outside of the vehicle and is configured to operate at coverage band cellular telephone frequencies using coverage band signals. A second antenna cluster is disposed in the inside of the vehicle and is configured to operate at capacity band cellular telephone frequencies using capacity band signals.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2016Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Parmeshwarjit S. Gondara, Andrew J. MacDonald
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Patent number: 10037683Abstract: A vehicle telematics device for a vehicle that includes an electronic processor, a wireless chipset for wireless communication to and from the vehicle, and a bus interface for receiving bus messages from a communications bus in the vehicle. The vehicle telematics device includes computer readable memory storing program code that, upon execution by the processor, causes the vehicle telematics device to: (a) monitor for messages received by the bus interface from the communications bus; (b) detect a communication failure of the communication bus based on the monitoring; (c) determine a vehicle movement that is indicative of a vehicle crash; and (d) initiate a communication with a remote facility in response to both the detection of the communication failure and the determination of the vehicle movement that is indicative of a crash a notification.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2017Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Eric T. Hosey, Andrew J. MacDonald, Curtis L. Hay, Steven R. Croyle
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Publication number: 20180166774Abstract: Vehicles, systems, and methods are provided electronic communication in a vehicle. A vehicle includes a vehicle body, a first antenna cluster, and a second antenna cluster. The vehicle body defines a boundary between an inside of the vehicle and an outside of the vehicle. The first antenna cluster is mounted on the outside of the vehicle and is configured to operate at coverage band cellular telephone frequencies using coverage band signals. A second antenna cluster is disposed in the inside of the vehicle and is configured to operate at capacity band cellular telephone frequencies using capacity band signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2016Publication date: June 14, 2018Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: PARMESHWARJIT S. GONDARA, ANDREW J. MACDONALD
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Publication number: 20180063882Abstract: A method of connectivity management of a telematics unit. The method includes: setting, via a controller, a telematics unit at a first connectivity mode; establishing, via an antenna, communications with a wireless carrier system at the first connectivity mode; determining, via the controller, that the vehicle has encountered a connectivity-type event; shifting, via the controller, the telematics unit from the first connectivity mode to a second connectivity mode; and establishing, via the antenna, communications with the wireless carrier system at the second connectivity mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2016Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Andrew J. MacDonald, George Knish, James J. Piwowarski, Scott T. Droste
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Patent number: 9722638Abstract: A cellular radio architecture for a vehicle that includes a triplexer coupled to an antenna structure and including three signal paths, where each signal path includes a bandpass filter that passes a different frequency band than the other bandpass filters and a circulator that provides signal isolation between the transmit signals and the receive signals. The architecture also includes a receiver module having a separate signal channel for each of the signal paths in the triplexer, where each signal channel in the receiver module includes a receiver delta-sigma modulator that converts analog receive signals to a representative digital signal. The delta-sigma modulator includes an LC filter having a plurality of LC resonator circuits, a plurality of transconductance amplifiers and a plurality of integrator circuits, where a combination of one resonator circuit, transconductance amplifier and integrator circuit represents a two-order stage of the LC filter.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Timothy J. Talty, Andrew J. MacDonald, Cynthia D. Baringer, Mohiuddin Ahmed, Albert E. Cosand, James Chingwei Li, Peter Petre, Zhiwei A. Xu, Yen-Cheng Kuan
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Patent number: 9692458Abstract: A cellular radio architecture for a vehicle that includes a programmable bandpass sampling radio frequency front-end and an optimized digital baseband. The architecture includes a triplexer having signal paths that include a bandpass filter that passes a different frequency band than the other bandpass filters and a circulator that provides signal isolation between the transmit signals and the receive signals. The architecture also includes a receiver module having a separate signal channel for each of the signal paths in the triplexer, where each signal channel in the receiver module includes a receiver delta-sigma modulator that converts analog receive signals to a representative digital signal. The architecture further includes a transmitter module having a transmitter delta-sigma modulator for converting digital data bits to analog transmit signals, where the transmitter module includes a power amplifier and a switch for directing the transmit signals to one of the signal paths in the triplexer.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2015Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Timothy J. Talty, Cynthia D. Baringer, Andrew J. MacDonald, Mohiuddin Ahmed, Albert E. Cosand, James Chingwei Li, Peter Petre, Zhiwei A. Xu, Yen-Cheng Kuan
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Patent number: 9608661Abstract: A cellular radio architecture that includes a programmable bandpass sampling radio frequency front-end and an optimized digital baseband. The architecture includes a multiplexer having signal paths that include a bandpass filter that passes a different frequency band than the other bandpass filters and a circulator that provides signal isolation between the transmit signals and the receive signals. The architecture also includes a receiver module having a separate signal channel for each of the signal paths in the multiplexer, where each signal channel in the receiver module includes a receiver delta-sigma modulator that converts analog receive signals to a representative digital signal. The architecture further includes a transmitter module having a transmitter delta-sigma modulator for converting digital data bits to analog transmit signals, where the transmitter module includes a power amplifier and a switch for directing the transmit signals to one of the signal paths in the multiplexer.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2015Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Timothy J. Talty, Cynthia D. Baringer, Andrew J. MacDonald, Mohiuddin Ahmed, Albert E. Cosand, James Chingwei Li, Peter Petre, Zhiwei A. Xu, Yen-Cheng Kuan, Hsuanyu Pan, Emilio A. Sovero
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Patent number: 9576474Abstract: A method and a system for providing vehicle services to at least one communication device located at a vehicle via a vehicle telematics unit. The method carried out by the system includes the steps of: receiving a request at the vehicle telematics unit for first vehicle services from a first communication device located at a vehicle; associating a first identifier with the first communication device; and providing the first vehicle services to the first communication device, wherein the vehicle services are provided according to at least one services parameter associated with the first identifier.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2014Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: General Motors LLCInventors: Andrew J Macdonald, Jonathan L Gerlach, Dipankar Pal, David George
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Publication number: 20160308551Abstract: A cellular radio architecture that includes a programmable bandpass sampling radio frequency front-end and an optimized digital baseband. The architecture includes a multiplexer having signal paths that include a bandpass filter that passes a different frequency band than the other bandpass filters and a circulator that provides signal isolation between the transmit signals and the receive signals. The architecture also includes a receiver module having a separate signal channel for each of the signal paths in the multiplexer, where each signal channel in the receiver module includes a receiver delta-sigma modulator that converts analog receive signals to a representative digital signal. The architecture further includes a transmitter module having a transmitter delta-sigma modulator for converting digital data bits to analog transmit signals, where the transmitter module includes a power amplifier and a switch for directing the transmit signals to one of the signal paths in the multiplexer.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2015Publication date: October 20, 2016Inventors: TIMOTHY J. TALTY, CYNTHIA D. BARINGER, ANDREW J. MACDONALD, MOHIUDDIN AHMED, ALBERT E. COSAND, JAMES CHINGWEI LI, PETER PETRE, ZHIWEI A. XU, YEN-CHENG KUAN, HSUANYU PAN, EMILIO A. SOVERO
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Patent number: 9420410Abstract: A method of controlling wireless voice and data communications includes identifying a radio access technology (RAT) in use at a vehicle telematics unit; establishing a wireless connection between the vehicle telematics unit and a central facility; wirelessly transmitting the identity of the RAT from the vehicle telematics unit to the central facility; receiving a message at the vehicle telematics unit from the central facility based on the identity of the RAT causing the vehicle telematics unit to: carry out simultaneous voice and data communications over a single wireless connection with the central facility when the identified RAT supports simultaneous voice and data communications; and establish a voice call with the central facility and receive data via short message service (SMS) messages when the identified RAT does not support simultaneous voice and data communications.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2013Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: General Motors LLCInventors: Andrew J. Macdonald, David George
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Patent number: 9418489Abstract: A method and a system for providing vehicle data services to communication devices located at a remote vehicle. The method includes the steps of: establishing data communication between a telematics backend system and one of a plurality of communication devices located at the remote vehicle; determining at the telematics backend system an access point name (APN) for at least one of the plurality of communication devices, a type of vehicle services data for the at least one of the plurality of communication devices, or both; and based on the determined APN, the type of vehicle services data, or both, transmitting from or receiving at the telematics backend the vehicle services data according to a network traffic shaping scheme.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2015Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: General Motors LLCInventors: Andrew J. Macdonald, Jonathan L. Gerlach, Dipankar Pal, David George
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Patent number: 9395798Abstract: A method is provided for energy management for a telematics unit of a telematics-equipped vehicle. The method includes: determining, by a processor, that a mobile device is co-located with the telematics unit while vehicle ignition of the vehicle is on, wherein the mobile device is registered as being associated with the telematics unit; determining, by the processor, that the vehicle ignition has been turned off; determining, by the processor, a location of the vehicle corresponding to where the vehicle ignition was turned off and determining, by the processor, a location of the mobile device; and implementing, by the processor, situation-specific energy management based on the determined location of the vehicle and the determined location of the mobile device.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2014Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: General Motors LLCInventors: Andrew J. Macdonald, Mark S. Frye
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Patent number: 9357475Abstract: A method and a system of controlling a public land mobile network (PLMN) scan rate (PCR) in a vehicle telematics unit. The method carried out by the system includes the steps of: (a) determining a power condition that includes a powered mode, an unpowered mode, and a discontinuous reception (DRx) mode; (b) determining whether the telematics unit is scanning one or more home networks or one or more visitor networks; and (c) setting the PCR based on the determined power condition and the determined network, including: (c1) when in the powered mode and scanning a visitor network, the PCR is set to a first scan rate; (c2) when in the powered mode and scanning a home network, the PCR is set to a second scan rate that is slower than the first rate; and (c3) when in the DRx mode, the PCR is set to a third scan rate that is slower than the second rate.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2014Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: General Motors LLCInventors: Yao Hui Lei, Andrew J. Macdonald
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Patent number: 9332397Abstract: A method of establishing an alternate communication channel between a telematics unit and a central facility that includes determining that a vehicle telematics unit is unable to communicate data over a voice call using a voice channel; initiating a data call from the vehicle telematics unit to a central facility based on that determination; sending information identifying the vehicle telematics unit to the central facility over the data call; establishing a voice call from the central facility to verbally communicate with the vehicle telematics unit based on the information identifying the vehicle telematics unit; and communicating data between the central facility and vehicle telematics unit via short messaging services (SMS) messages using the voice call from the central facility.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2010Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: General Motors LLCInventors: Sethu K. Madhavan, Ki Hak Yi, David A. Adams, Russell A. Patenaude, Kevin R. Krause, Andrew J. MacDonald
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Patent number: 9301242Abstract: A method of re-attempting to wirelessly connect a vehicle telematics unit with a wireless carrier system includes detecting that a primary retry method has failed; and carrying out a secondary retry method that: determines whether the vehicle telematics unit will communicate using a first radio access technology (RAT) or a second RAT; re-attempts a cellular connection with one or more base stations using a first RAT attachment procedure when it is determined that the vehicle telematics unit will communicate using the first RAT; and re-attempts a cellular connection with one or more base stations using a second RAT attachment procedure when it is determined that the vehicle telematics unit will communicate using the second RAT.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2012Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: General Motors LLCInventors: Ki Hak Yi, Curtis L. Hay, Andrew J. Macdonald, Yao Hui Lei, James J. Piwowarski
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Patent number: 9225844Abstract: A system and method of communicating data between a vehicle and call center via a voice channel of a wireless communication system. The method carried out by the system includes the steps of: establishing a voice channel connection between a vehicle telematics unit and call center via a wireless cellular network; generating a modem signaling carrier comprising a prefix followed by a single frequency tone; sending the modem signaling carrier over the voice channel connection using an EVRC-B vocoder; establishing a data communication session over the voice channel connection in response to the modem signaling carrier; and thereafter carrying out data communications between the vehicle telematics unit and call center during the data communication session.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2010Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: General Motors LLCInventors: Sethu K. Madhavan, Cem U. Saraydar, Andrew J. Macdonald, Ki Hak Yi, Iqbal M. Surti
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Publication number: 20150372700Abstract: A cellular radio architecture for a vehicle that includes a triplexer coupled to an antenna structure and including three signal paths, where each signal path includes a bandpass filter that passes a different frequency band than the other bandpass filters and a circulator that provides signal isolation between the transmit signals and the receive signals. The architecture also includes a receiver module having a separate signal channel for each of the signal paths in the triplexer, where each signal channel in the receiver module includes a receiver delta-sigma modulator that converts analog receive signals to a representative digital signal. The delta-sigma modulator includes an LC filter having a plurality of LC resonator circuits, a plurality of transconductance amplifiers and a plurality of integrator circuits, where a combination of one resonator circuit, transconductance amplifier and integrator circuit represents a two-order stage of the LC filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2015Publication date: December 24, 2015Inventors: TIMOTHY J. TALTY, ANDREW J. MACDONALD, CYNTHIA D. BARINGER, MOHIUDDIN AHMED, AL COSAND, JAMES CHINGWEI LI, PETER PETRE, ZHIWEI A. XU, YEN-CHENG KUAN
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Publication number: 20150372698Abstract: A cellular radio architecture for a vehicle that includes a programmable bandpass sampling radio frequency front-end and an optimized digital baseband. The architecture includes a triplexer having signal paths that include a bandpass filter that passes a different frequency band than the other bandpass filters and a circulator that provides signal isolation between the transmit signals and the receive signals. The architecture also includes a receiver module having a separate signal channel for each of the signal paths in the triplexer, where each signal channel in the receiver module includes a receiver delta-sigma modulator that converts analog receive signals to a representative digital signal. The architecture further includes a transmitter module having a transmitter delta-sigma modulator for converting digital data bits to analog transmit signals, where the transmitter module includes a power amplifier and a switch for directing the transmit signals to one of the signal paths in the triplexer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2015Publication date: December 24, 2015Inventors: TIMOTHY J. TALTY, CYNTHIA D. BARINGER, ANDREW J. MACDONALD, MOHIUDDIN AHMED, AL COSAND, JAMES CHINGWEI LI, PETER PETRE, ZHIWEI A. XU, YEN-CHENG KUAN
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Publication number: 20150355703Abstract: A method is provided for energy management for a telematics unit of a telematics-equipped vehicle. The method includes: determining, by a processor, that a mobile device is co-located with the telematics unit while vehicle ignition of the vehicle is on, wherein the mobile device is registered as being associated with the telematics unit; determining, by the processor, that the vehicle ignition has been turned off; determining, by the processor, a location of the vehicle corresponding to where the vehicle ignition was turned off and determining, by the processor, a location of the mobile device; and implementing, by the processor, situation-specific energy management based on the determined location of the vehicle and the determined location of the mobile device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2014Publication date: December 10, 2015Inventors: Andrew J. Macdonald, Mark S. Frye
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Publication number: 20150341862Abstract: A system and method of power management of a telematics unit in a vehicle is provided. The method includes the steps of: determining that the vehicle is unpowered; determining that the vehicle is in a fringe region of a cellular network; and based the determining steps, entering a power-saving mode at the telematics unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2014Publication date: November 26, 2015Applicants: General Motors LLC, GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Yao Hui Lei, Ronald R. Terry, Dipankar Pal, Esayas Naizghi, Andrew J. Macdonald