Abstract: A system for managing audio performance in a vehicle includes an audio unit having one or more speakers and one or more microphones respectively positioned in and/or around the vehicle. The speakers transmit an audio signal within the vehicle. A command unit is in communication with the audio unit. The command unit has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. The command unit is adapted to receive the audio signal through the one or more microphones and determine whether at least one audio quality parameter of the audio signal meets a predefined threshold. The command unit may be adapted to take at least one remedial action when the audio quality parameter is below the predefined threshold.

Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method is provided for training a trainee using an autonomous vehicle, the method including: measuring, via one or more sensors, one or more manual inputs from the trainee with respect to controlling the autonomous vehicle; determining, via a processor using an autonomous driving algorithm stored in a memory of the autonomous vehicle, one or more recommended actions for the autonomous vehicle; comparing, via the processor, the one or more manual inputs from the trainee with the one or more recommended actions for the autonomous vehicle, generating a comparison; and determining, via the processor, a score for the trainee based on the comparison between the one or more manual inputs from the trainee with the one or more recommended actions for the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method is provided for training a trainee using an autonomous vehicle, the method including: measuring, via one or more sensors, one or more manual inputs from the trainee with respect to controlling the autonomous vehicle; determining, via a processor using an autonomous driving algorithm stored in a memory of the autonomous vehicle, one or more recommended actions for the autonomous vehicle; comparing, via the processor, the one or more manual inputs from the trainee with the one or more recommended actions for the autonomous vehicle, generating a comparison; and determining, via the processor, a score for the trainee based on the comparison between the one or more manual inputs from the trainee with the one or more recommended actions for the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method of communicating user-controlled vehicle settings with a remote location includes: detecting a change to one or more vehicle preference settings made by a vehicle user at a vehicle; wirelessly transmitting the vehicle preference setting(s) from the vehicle to a remote location; altering one or more default services provided to the vehicle user based on the change to the vehicle preference setting(s) made by the vehicle user; and providing the altered default service(s) to the vehicle user.

Abstract: A system and method for providing diagnostic assistance to a driver of a vehicle when calling a call center following a diagnostic warning being displayed on the vehicle instrument panel. Upon establishing the call, indicator data representative of the warning is automatically sent to the call center where it is used to select one or more diagnostic tests targeted to particular vehicle systems associated with the warning. The test is carried out at the vehicle and the resulting diagnostic data sent back to the call center. The call is then switched to an advisor at the call center and the received diagnostic data is used to aid the advisor in providing the diagnostic assistance to the driver.

Abstract: A method of providing directions to a vehicle service facility includes generating a vehicle service alert that includes vehicle operating data, sending the vehicle service alert to a vehicle telematics service subscriber, offering the vehicle telematics service subscriber a choice of one or more vehicle service facilities for responding to the vehicle service alert, and if the vehicle owner chooses a vehicle service facility, providing turn-by-turn directions to the chosen vehicle service facility.

Abstract: A method of providing an alert that a portable electronic device has been left at a vehicle. The method comprises determining that an occupant has exited the vehicle. The method further comprises detecting that a portable electronic device is located at the vehicle. When it has been determined that the occupant has left the vehicle and that the electronic device has been left behind, the method still further comprises generating an alert to notify the occupant that the electronic device has been left at the vehicle. A system for performing or utilizing the above-described methodology is also provided.

Abstract: A telematics unit is provided. The telematics unit includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium and a processor, configured to execute a telematics task manager application according to processor-executable instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium. The telematics task manager application comprises a plurality of tasks. Each task includes one or more subtasks. Each subtask including subtask-specific triggering logic for execution of one or more actions based on the triggering logic. The triggering logic is based on modular condition blocks.

Abstract: A method of managing diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) in a vehicle includes generating at a vehicle a plurality of DTCs output from one or more diagnostic subtasks; assigning an ordinal number to each DTC independent of time based on the order in which the DTC occurred at the vehicle; and wirelessly transmitting to a central facility the plurality of DTCs along with the ordinal numbers assigned to each DTC.

Abstract: A method of providing an alert that a portable electronic device has been left at a vehicle. The method comprises determining that an occupant has exited the vehicle. The method further comprises detecting that a portable electronic device is located at the vehicle. When it has been determined that the occupant has left the vehicle and that the electronic device has been left behind, the method still further comprises generating an alert to notify the occupant that the electronic device has been left at the vehicle. A system for performing or utilizing the above-described methodology is also provided.

Abstract: A method of providing directions to a vehicle service facility includes generating a vehicle service alert that includes vehicle operating data, sending the vehicle service alert to a vehicle telematics service subscriber, offering the vehicle telematics service subscriber a choice of one or more vehicle service facilities for responding to the vehicle service alert, and if the vehicle owner chooses a vehicle service facility, providing turn-by-turn directions to the chosen vehicle service facility.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a reminder message to a user associated with a vehicle via a vehicle telematics unit. The method carried out by the system involves sending to a user an email, web page or other communication that contains a user selectable reminder request, receiving the reminder request from the user, setting a reminder trigger in the vehicle, and then carrying out a requested action in response to occurrence of the trigger. The requested action can be presentation of a reminder message to the occupant and/or establishment of a call from the vehicle to a call center or other remote location to obtain services, such as telematics subscription renewal, or dealer service. The user-selectable reminder request can be implemented in the communication as a virtual button that mimics the look of a physical button installed in the car that is used to provide telematics services.

Abstract: A telematics unit is provided. The telematics unit includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium and a processor, configured to execute a telematics task manager application according to processor-executable instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium. The telematics task manager application comprises a plurality of tasks. Each task includes one or more subtasks. Each subtask including subtask-specific triggering logic for execution of one or more actions based on the triggering logic. The triggering logic is based on modular condition blocks.

Abstract: A system and method for providing diagnostic assistance to a driver of a vehicle when calling a call center following a diagnostic warning being displayed on the vehicle instrument panel. Upon establishing the call, indicator data representative of the warning is automatically sent to the call center where it is used to select one or more diagnostic tests targeted to particular vehicle systems associated with the warning. The test is carried out at the vehicle and the resulting diagnostic data sent back to the call center. The call is then switched to an advisor at the call center and the received diagnostic data is used to aid the advisor in providing the diagnostic assistance to the driver.

Abstract: A method for providing diagnostic assistance to a driver of a vehicle when calling a call center following a diagnostic warning being displayed on the vehicle instrument panel. Upon establishing the call, indicator data representative of the warning is automatically sent to the call center where it is used to select one or more diagnostic tests targeted to particular vehicle systems associated with the warning. The test is carried out at the vehicle and the resulting diagnostic data sent back to the call center. The call is then switched to an advisor at the call center and the received diagnostic data is used to aid the advisor in providing the diagnostic assistance to the driver.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for disabling a vehicle. An exemplary system includes, but is not limited to an antenna that is adapted to be attached to the vehicle. The antenna is configured to transmit and receive communication transmissions. A telematics unit is communicatively connected to the antenna. The telematics unit is adapted for attachment to the vehicle and is configured to communicatively connect to a necessary sub-system of the vehicle, to receive telecommunications from a user through the antenna, and to disable the necessary sub-system in response to receiving an instruction from the user to disable the vehicle.

Abstract: A pre-filling vehicle data check method and system are disclosed herein. One example of the method includes receiving, at a financial institution, an authorization request from a filling station for initiating a filling event, where the authorization request includes a financial code. Via a computing device at the financial institution, the financial code is recognized as being associated with at least one of a vehicle identification number or a station identification associated with a vehicle, thereby identifying the vehicle. At least one parameter of the vehicle is identified via a computing device at a data center in selective communication with the vehicle and the financial institution, and an authorization or denial of the at least one filling event based at least upon the at least one parameter is transmitted from the computing device at the data center.

Abstract: A method of providing directions to a vehicle service facility includes generating a vehicle service alert that includes vehicle operating data, sending the vehicle service alert to a vehicle telematics service subscriber, offering the vehicle telematics service subscriber a choice of one or more vehicle service facilities for responding to the vehicle service alert, and if the vehicle owner chooses a vehicle service facility, providing turn-by-turn directions to the chosen vehicle service facility.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the status of a vehicle battery to determine whether the battery may not have enough charge to start the vehicle. The method includes collecting data relating to the battery on the vehicle and collecting data relating to the battery at a remote back-office. Both the vehicle and the remote data center determine battery characteristics based on the collected data and the likelihood of a vehicle no-start condition, where the algorithm used at the remote back-office may be more sophisticated. The data collected at the remote back-office may include vehicle battery information transmitted wirelessly from the vehicle, and other information, such as temperature, battery reliability, miles that the vehicle has driven per day, ambient temperature, high content vehicle, etc. Both the vehicle and the remote back-office may determine the battery open circuit voltage.

Abstract: A method of providing directions to a vehicle service facility includes generating a vehicle service alert that includes vehicle operating data, sending the vehicle service alert to a vehicle telematics service subscriber, offering the vehicle telematics service subscriber a choice of one or more vehicle service facilities for responding to the vehicle service alert, and if the vehicle owner chooses a vehicle service facility, providing turn-by-turn directions to the chosen vehicle service facility.