Abstract: A method and system for enabling police pursuing a vehicle to slow the vehicle down via short range wireless communication with the vehicle. The process can be carried out with or without involvement of a call center that provides telematics services to the vehicle. The method involves configuring the vehicle to accept a slowdown command, confirming the target vehicle at a pursuing police vehicle, establishing the short range connection between the police vehicle and target vehicle, and slowing the target vehicle by sending it the slowdown command over the wireless connection. The call center can enable or disable the slowdown service according to the vehicle owner's wishes.

Abstract: A method for controlling a communicatively paired device for use with a vehicle (“ATU”) includes, but is not limited to, the steps of detecting a first power state of the vehicle using a vehicle communication interface (“VCI”) that is communicatively coupled to a communication bus on the vehicle, transmitting a wireless signal corresponding to the first power state from the VCI to the communicatively paired device, and altering a second power state of the communicatively paired device to correspond with the first power state.

Abstract: An aftermarket telematics system for use with a vehicle having a vehicle bus is disclosed herein. The aftermarket telematics system includes, but is not limited to, an aftermarket telematics unit that is configured to be mounted to the vehicle, to communicate with the vehicle bus, and to detect when the vehicle has been turned off. The aftermarket telematics system also includes a vehicle communication interface device configured to connect to the vehicle bus, to be communicatively coupled with the aftermarket telematics unit, and to facilitate communication between the aftermarket telematics unit and the vehicle bus. The aftermarket telematics unit is further configured to send a sleep command to the vehicle communication interface device when the aftermarket telematics unit detects that the vehicle has been turned off. The vehicle communication interface device is configured to sleep in accordance with the sleep command.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling calls in a vehicle during an emergency situation that includes identifying an emergency situation and placing a voice call or a data call to the vehicle in response to the emergency situation. If the placed call cannot be connected because the vehicle has another call in progress, then an SMS message is sent to the vehicle which contains a command used by the vehicle to interrupt the in-progress call. This enables a call center or public safety personnel to obtain remote access in emergency situations, such as when the vehicle location needs to be determined or an occupant of the vehicle is contacted.

Abstract: A telematics unit is provided for a vehicle having a power unit, along with a method for controlling a telematics unit for a vehicle. The telematics unit includes a voltage sensor, a global positioning system unit, and a processor. The voltage sensor senses a measure of a voltage of the power unit. The global positioning system unit obtains position data as to a position of the vehicle. The processor is coupled to the voltage sensor and the global positioning system unit. The processor is configured to determine whether the voltage for the power unit has decreased using the sensed measure of the voltage, determine whether the vehicle is moving using the position data, and command the telematics unit to an off mode if the voltage has decreased and the vehicle is not moving.

Abstract: In-vehicle tire gauge system and methods are disclosed herein. The in-vehicle tire gauge system includes a user activated system operatively positioned in a vehicle. The user activated system includes at least one of preset voice prompts or audible tones for guiding a tire pressure check routine, a monitoring system for detecting a tire filling event, and a module for converting tire pressure data into audible feedback. At least one tire pressure monitoring sensor is operatively positioned at each tire of the vehicle and is configured to collect the tire pressure data and transmit such data to the module. An audio system is in operative communication with the user activated system, and is configured to output, via in-vehicle speakers associated with the audio system, the at least one of preset voice prompts or audible tones, the audible feedback, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method and system for enabling police pursuing a vehicle to slow the vehicle down via short range wireless communication with the vehicle. The process can be carried out with or without involvement of a call center that provides telematics services to the vehicle. The method involves configuring the vehicle to accept a slowdown command, confirming the target vehicle at a pursuing police vehicle, establishing the short range connection between the police vehicle and target vehicle, and slowing the target vehicle by sending it the slowdown command over the wireless connection. The call center can enable or disable the slowdown service according to the vehicle owner's wishes.

Abstract: A method of controlling a remote monitoring device from a vehicle includes sending a command signal from a telematics unit via a wi-fi connection to the remote monitoring device and receiving data from the remote monitoring device via a wi-fi connection at the telematics unit. The data is sent to a destination via a wireless network.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for managing telematics unit within a telematics equipped mobile vehicle based on vehicle power level. The method includes receiving at least one mobile vehicle sensor input, determining a mobile vehicle system power value based on the at least one received vehicle sensor input, and operating the telematics unit based on the determined mobile vehicle system power value. The step of operating the telematics unit based on the determined mobile vehicle system power value may include comparing the determined mobile vehicle system power value to a mobile vehicle system target power level, determining if the difference between the mobile vehicle system power value and the mobile vehicle system target power level exceeds a system power level threshold, and initiating a standard operating mode interrupt when the system power level threshold is exceeded.