Patents by Inventor William E. Mazzara

William E. Mazzara 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).

  • Patent number: 9854442
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling access to a vehicle network that includes a plurality of electronic control units (ECUs) communicating over the network. The method carried out by the system operates a network of ECUs that include at least first and second ECUs in communication with each other over the network. The first ECU may be an external access point which can establish communication with an external device. The first ECU provides the external device with limited privilege access to the network. The method further includes detecting unauthorized escalated privilege access of the first ECU, and in response to the detection, at least partially restricting use of the first ECU as the external access point, thereby preventing external devices from using the first ECU for the limited privilege access to the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: William E. Mazzara, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9571284
    Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed providing user information in a vehicle. The method includes the steps of: providing over a vehicle network a cryptographic key in response to receiving a wireless signal from a wireless transmitter at a first electronic control unit (ECU); receiving at a second ECU the cryptographic key; authenticating the cryptographic key at the second ECU; and providing user information via the second ECU based on the authentication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Karl B. Leboeuf, William E. Mazzara, Jr., Thomas M. Forest, Vadim Draluk
  • Patent number: 9374355
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems are provided for programming a vehicle module. An exemplary vehicle includes a first module, a gateway module communicatively coupled to the first module, and an update module communicatively coupled to the gateway module. The update module is configured to provide authorization information and programming data to the gateway module. The gateway module is configured to verify that programming of the first module is authorized based at least in part on the authorization information and provide the programming data to the first module after verifying that the programming of the first module is authorized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan R. Schwarz, Douglas C. Martin, William E. Mazzara, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20160142410
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling access to a vehicle network that includes a plurality of electronic control units (ECUs) communicating over the network. The method carried out by the system operates a network of ECUs that include at least first and second ECUs in communication with each other over the network. The first ECU may be an external access point which can establish communication with an external device. The first ECU provides the external device with limited privilege access to the network. The method further includes detecting unauthorized escalated privilege access of the first ECU, and in response to the detection, at least partially restricting use of the first ECU as the external access point, thereby preventing external devices from using the first ECU for the limited privilege access to the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventor: William E. Mazzara, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9253200
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems are provided for programming a vehicle module. An exemplary vehicle includes a first module, an authentication module communicatively coupled to the first module, and an update module communicatively coupled to the first module and the authentication module. The update module is configured to obtain a programming update for the first module that includes an authentication portion and a programming data portion. The update module provides the programming data portion to the first module and provides the authentication portion to the authentication module. The authentication module provides the authentication portion to the first module after the authentication portion is authenticated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan R. Schwarz, Douglas C. Martin, William E. Mazzara, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20150263860
    Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed providing user information in a vehicle. The method includes the steps of: providing over a vehicle network a cryptographic key in response to receiving a wireless signal from a wireless transmitter at a first electronic control unit (ECU); receiving at a second ECU the cryptographic key; authenticating the cryptographic key at the second ECU; and providing user information via the second ECU based on the authentication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Karl B. Leboeuf, William E. Mazzara, JR., Thomas M. Forest, Vadim Draluk
  • Publication number: 20150121457
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems are provided for programming a vehicle module. An exemplary vehicle includes a first module, an authentication module communicatively coupled to the first module, and an update module communicatively coupled to the first module and the authentication module. The update module is configured to obtain a programming update for the first module that includes an authentication portion and a programming data portion. The update module provides the programming data portion to the first module and provides the authentication portion to the authentication module. The authentication module provides the authentication portion to the first module after the authentication portion is authenticated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: JONATHAN R. SCHWARZ, DOUGLAS C. MARTIN, WILLIAM E. MAZZARA, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20150121071
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems are provided for programming a vehicle module. An exemplary vehicle includes a first module, a gateway module communicatively coupled to the first module, and an update module communicatively coupled to the gateway module. The update module is configured to provide authorization information and programming data to the gateway module. The gateway module is configured to verify that programming of the first module is authorized based at least in part on the authorization information and provide the programming data to the first module after verifying that the programming of the first module is authorized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: JONATHAN R. SCHWARZ, DOUGLAS C. MARTIN, WILLIAM E. MAZZARA, JR.
  • Patent number: 8751241
    Abstract: The current invention provides a method and system for enabling a device function of a vehicle. A speech input stream is received at a telematics unit. A speech input context is determined for the received speech input stream. The received speech input stream is processed based on the determination and the device function of the vehicle is enabled responsive to the processed speech input stream. A vehicle device in control of the enabled device function of the vehicle is directed based on the processed speech input stream. A computer usable medium with suitable computer program code is employed for enabling a device function of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Christopher L. Oesterling, William E. Mazzara, Jr., Jeffrey M. Stefan
  • Patent number: 8543170
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of operating a telematics device within a mobile vehicle communication system. The method includes receiving a request to initiate communication and identifying a request type based on the received request. The method further includes associating the identified request type with at least one service type within a service type table, wherein the service type table maps one or more request types to a corresponding service type within the service type table. The method additionally includes determining a service type number based on the corresponding service type. The method may further include providing the determined service type number and out-pulsing the provided service type number. The method may additionally include determining the identified request type does not map to the corresponding service type and out-pulsing the received request to initiate communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: William E. Mazzara, Jr., Michael J. Peterson, Dwayne A. Crocker, Michael Maten
  • Patent number: 8467719
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure describe a method and system for the delivery and notification of user requested radio content. Aspects include a radio unit that is physically integrated with and is part of a telematics unit and receives user requested content data from a radio control center over a wireless network. The radio unit processes the user requested content data using a user request application. Further, the user requested data includes the scheduled times for one or more items of user requested content. The user request application orders the scheduled times for the one or more items of user requested content chronologically and displays the one or more items of user requested content data on the user display accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventor: William E. Mazzara, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8374331
    Abstract: A device for implementing a method of remotely routing a voice call forward to a telematic device is disclosed. The device first maintains a call state of the voice call in response to an answering of call forwarding rings by the telematic device. The device then forwards the calls to the next assigned device in response to a failure of a user of the telematic device to answer fake rings from the telematic device. Such a failure can be indicated by a monitoring of a prescribed number of back ring tones or a dropping of call within a prescribed timer window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: General Motor LLC
    Inventors: Jasmin Jijina, John J. Correia, Ronald W. Fraser, William E. Mazzara, Steven P. Schwinke
  • Patent number: 8335506
    Abstract: A method of updating a roaming list in a mobile device is disclosed herein. The method involves detecting an occurrence of an event via a processor at a back-end system, generating a trigger in response to the detecting of the occurrence of the event, and recognizing, by the processor, the trigger as a roaming list update trigger. The method further includes identifying the mobile device, via the processor, as requiring a roaming list update based on the recognizing of the roaming list update trigger, and transmitting, via a wireless connection, the updated roaming list from the back-end system to the identified mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Kevin R. Krause, William E. Mazzara, Jr., Tosha S. Lilac-McIntyre
  • Patent number: 8213931
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to a system for providing an roaming carrier list to a remote wireless device such as a vehicle communications package (VCP), while largely overcoming several shortcomings of prior techniques. A more intelligent Off PRL Wireless System is proposed that will scan all wireless bands including opposite cellular bands and PCS. The VCP will place test calls to the wireless carrier found during the scan. All wireless carriers found during the scan will be used to populate the Off-PRL System Availability Table (the OPA Table) including those the VCP was detected as “Unavailable”. Each carrier in the OPA Table will be denoted as Available and Unavailable depending on whether the VCP was able to access the carrier. Once the fall scan is completed, the VCP will connect the carrier listed first as available in the OPA Table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: David George, William E. Mazzara, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8055308
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for responding to digital vehicle requests. After a telematics unit receives a voice query and converts the voice query to a compressed digital signal, the signal is transmitted to a call center node. The signal is then parsed at the call center node to determine an inquiry. The call center node may then formulate at least one response to the inquiry and transmit the at least one formulated response in a digital format over the wireless network to the telematics unit. The at least one formulated response is then translated to an analog format at the telematics unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventor: William E. Mazzara, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110189991
    Abstract: A method of updating a roaming list in a mobile device is disclosed herein. The method involves detecting an occurrence of an event via a processor at a back-end system, generating a trigger in response to the detecting of the occurrence of the event, and recognizing, by the processor, the trigger as a roaming list update trigger. The method further includes identifying the mobile device, via the processor, as requiring a roaming list update based on the recognizing of the roaming list update trigger, and transmitting, via a wireless connection, the updated roaming list from the back-end system to the identified mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL MOTORS LLC
    Inventors: Kevin R. Krause, William E. Mazzara, JR., Tosha S. Lilac-McIntyre
  • Patent number: 7957727
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for implementing interactive radio features within a telematics equipped mobile vehicle. The method includes receiving radio station information, detecting an initiation command received from a user interlace, and providing the radio station information to the telematics unit responsive to the detected initiation command. The radio station information may include a radio station message having a telephone number associated with a radio station advertiser. The method may further include receiving a communication command, and initiating a wireless communication via the telematics unit responsive to the received communication command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventor: William E. Mazzara, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110105098
    Abstract: A system for synchronizing changes of a telematics language from a current telematics language to a proposed telematics language with changes made to a vehicle language from a current vehicle language to a new vehicle language through involvement of a call center is described. The system includes, but is not limited to an antenna adapted for attachment to a vehicle and configured for communicating with the call center. The system further includes a telematics unit adapted for attachment to the vehicle and communicatively connected to the antenna. The telematics unit is configured to monitor a vehicle bus to detect when a user changes the vehicle language to the new vehicle language and further configured to automatically initiate contact with the call center when the change in the vehicle language is detected to confirm a user desire to change the telematics language to the new vehicle language.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL MOTORS LLC
    Inventors: STEVEN C. TENGLER, WILLIAM E. MAZZARA, JR.
  • Patent number: 7734291
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for storing an alert message request for a vehicle communication system into a message queue by initiating an acquisition task to determine service availability, receiving an alert message request from a wireless communication system, storing the alert message request into the vehicle communication unit message queue, and servicing the alert message request until completion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventor: William E. Mazzara, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20100056076
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure describe a method and system for the delivery and notification of user requested radio content. Aspects include a radio unit that is physically integrated with and is part of a telematics unit and receives user requested content data from a radio control center over a wireless network. The radio unit processes the user requested content data using a user request application. Further, the user requested data includes the scheduled times for one or more items of user requested content. The user request application orders the scheduled times for the one or more items of user requested content chronologically and displays the one or more items of user requested content data on the user display accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Mazzara, JR.