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).

  • Publication number: 20090163194
    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: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: General Motor Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Mazzara, JR.
  • Patent number: 7532880
    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 interface, 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 identification, a radio station telephone number, and a radio station message. 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: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Mazzara, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7526285
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for initializing a telematic communication unit by initiating a first over-the-air service provisioning session between a wireless service provider and the telematic communication unit, receiving at least one interactive initialization data request from the wireless service provider at the telematic communication unit, determining at least one automated initialization response within the telematic communication unit as a function of the interactive initialization data, transmitting the automated initialization response from the telematic communication unit to the wireless service provider, and terminating the first over-the-air service provisioning session between the wireless service provider and the telematic communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Mazzara, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20080305789
    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: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: David George, William E. Mazzara, JR.
  • Publication number: 20080215336
    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: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher L. Oesterling, William E. Mazzara, Jeffrey M. Stefan
  • Patent number: 7398082
    Abstract: The present invention present invention provides a method and system for configuring a telematics unit in a mobile vehicle. An assigned system identifier is stored in the telematics unit, and a determination is made as to whether the assigned system identifier corresponds to a broadcast system identifier. A wireless carrier is called based on the determination, and a mobile identification number is received from the wireless carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Steven P. Schwinke, William E. Mazzara, Jr., William E. Italia
  • Patent number: 7395045
    Abstract: A method for call routing for emergency network connectivity, comprising A method for call routing for emergency network connectivity, comprising: utilizing a public communications network, establishing a trigger connection from a service management system to a mobile switching center serving a mobile unit; and using the trigger connection, triggering an emergency 911 connection from the mobile switching center to a public safety answering point serving the mobile unit based upon a unit position data of the mobile unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jasmin Jijina, William E. Italia, William E. Mazzara, Jr., Bruce A. Groskreutz
  • Patent number: 7372818
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of accessing a quiescent mobile vehicle using a wireless communication system. At least one transmit power parameter of a vehicle communication device is determined. At least one sleep duration value is calculated based on the transmit power parameter. The vehicle communication device is placed into a quiescent state based on the sleep duration value. Programs and systems of using the method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald W. Fraser, Edward J. Abeska, William E. Mazzara, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7305236
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of reporting connectivity of a mobile vehicle. A call request fails, a failure type of the failed call request is determined, a time of the failed call request is determined, a location of the vehicle when the failed call request occurred is determined, and the failure type, the time of the failed call request, and the location of the vehicle when the failed call request occurred are stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Steven P. Schwinke, William E. Mazzara, Jr., William E. Italia
  • Patent number: 7292848
    Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for activating an in-vehicle wireless communication device. A mobile identification number associated with the wireless communication device is provided. A broadcast signal containing the mobile identification number and a satellite radio subscriber identifier is received at an in-vehicle satellite radio receiver. The mobile identification number is stored in the wireless communication device based on the satellite radio subscriber identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Mazzara, Jr., Stephen C. Austin, Christopher L. Oesterling
  • Patent number: 7215950
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of operating a telematics unit in a mobile vehicle. A command signal may be received in response to a radio button activation, a cellular programming mode may be activated in response to the command signal, a mobile phone identification number may be received in response to a radio button activation, and an operations mode may be activated in response to the received mobile phone identification number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Mazzara, Jr., Michael A. Hichme
  • Patent number: 7190946
    Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for providing local time to a mobile vehicle. A time information message is received at an in-vehicle telematics unit, which monitors for a time-update trigger event. A time-update message is sent from the telematics unit to a vehicle bus in response to the time-update trigger event. A computer usable medium with suitable computer program code is employed to provide local time to a mobile vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Mazzara, Jr., Timothy D. Lenane
  • Patent number: 7116989
    Abstract: The invention presents a method for providing activation parameters for a telematic device by receiving at least one telematic device specific activation attribute from a telematic device manufacturer at a remote activation server. Additionally, the remote activation server receives at least one mobile vehicle specific attribute from a mobile vehicle manufacturer. At least one data feed attribute is created as a function of the telematic device specific activation attribute and the mobile vehicle specific attribute, and is stored within a database in communication with the remote activation server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Mazzara, John S. Ashman, Matthew G. Przybylski
  • Patent number: 7110537
    Abstract: The invention provides a device for enhancing performance of a portable cellular phone within a mobile vehicle. The device includes a housing located within the vehicle into which a portable cellular phone may be placed. The housing includes an exterior layer that reflects noise signals and an interior layer that reduces reflection of communication signals within the housing. Signals are transmitted between the cellular phone and an exterior-mount transceiver by means of a wireless RF coupling device that is contained within the housing and connected to the exterior-mount transceiver using a coaxial cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Mazzara, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7035631
    Abstract: The present invention is a system and method of providing access to a telematics unit in a mobile vehicle. A telematics unit access request corresponding to the telematics unit is received, and a mobile identification number and a telematics unit identifier associated with the telematics unit are determined. The mobile identification number and the telematics unit identifier are compared with a database of identifier records, after which a calling-state message is sent to the telematics unit based on the telematics unit access request, the mobile identification number, and the telematics unit identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Steven P. Schwinke, William E. Mazzara, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7031717
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of providing a wireless service connection for a mobile vehicle. A portion of a system access list is prioritized, based on a channel identifier in a first band. A failed connection notification may be received on a primary channel of the prioritized system access list. A secondary channel of the prioritized system access list is selected in response to the failed connection notification on the primary channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Mazzara
  • Patent number: 7006819
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for programming a telematics unit in a mobile vehicle. A command signal may be received in response to a predetermined voice-recognition command. A cellular programming mode may be activated based on the command signal. A predetermined mobile phone identification number may be received in response to at least one voice-recognition entry. An operations mode may be activated in response to the received mobile phone identification number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Mazzara, Michael A. Hichme
  • Patent number: 6973323
    Abstract: A method and system for mobile telephone restriction boundary determination are provided. The method provides boundary information to a user of a mobile telephone by determining geographic boundary information regarding mobile telephone usage restriction, and responsive to the determined geographical boundary information, providing an indication to the user of the mobile telephone of mobile telephone usage restriction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher L. Oesterling, Jeffrey M. Stefan, Steven P. Schwinke, William E. Mazzara, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6915126
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for activating an in-vehicle wireless communication system. A vehicle identification number associated with a vehicle may be received. An electronic serial number of a network access device located in the vehicle may be determined based on the vehicle identification number. Identification information of a user of the vehicle may be received. The electronic serial number and the user identification information may be sent to a selected wireless carrier to obtain a mobile phone number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Mazzara, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6904141
    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: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jasmin Jijina, John J. Correia, Ronald W. Fraser, William E. Mazzara, Jr., Steven P. Schwinke