Control module activation of vehicles in a key-off state to determine driving routes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10378919-B2
Application number	US-201715491896-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 19, 2017
Priority date	Apr 19, 2017
Publication date	Aug 13, 2019
Grant date	Aug 13, 2019

Abstract

Method and apparatus are disclosed for control module activation of vehicles in a key-off state to determine driving routes. An example system includes a vehicle at a location in a key-off state. The vehicle includes a communication module to receive an activation signal and a telematic control unit. The telematic control unit is to activate upon receipt of the activation signal and determine and present a route from the location. The example system also includes a remote processor to determine the location, identify an event and an end time based upon the location, and send an activation signal based upon the end time.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a vehicle at a location in a key-off state including:
a battery;
a communication module to receive an activation signal; and
a telematic control unit to:
activate upon receipt of the activation signal; and
determine and present a route from the location; and

a remote processor to:
determine the location;
identify an event and an end time based upon the location;
determine a current charge level of the battery based upon a charge level prior to the vehicle being in the key-off state and a time duration of the vehicle being in the key-off state; and
send the activation signal based upon the end time.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle includes an ignition switch having an on-position corresponding to an on-state of the vehicle and an off-position corresponding to the key-off state of the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the communication module of the vehicle sends a vehicle status signal to the remote processor prior to the vehicle being in the key-off state, the vehicle status signal including the location and the charge level of the battery.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle includes a GPS receiver to determine the location.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle includes a battery sensor to detect the charge level of the battery.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle includes a battery control module that activates the telematic control unit upon the communication module receiving the activation signal from the remote processor.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the battery control module activates a body control module after the communication module receives the activation signal.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the remote processor further determines the current charge level based upon a make, a model, a body type, and an options package of the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the remote processor activates the telematic control unit in response to determining that the current charge level is greater than a predetermined charge threshold.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein, to prevent the battery from being discharged, the remote processor determines an activation duration during which the telematic control unit is activated based upon the current charge level.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the telematic control unit returns to a sleep mode upon the activation duration ending and the vehicle remaining in the key-off state.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the remote processor sends the activation signal to the communication module at a predetermined time period after the end time.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the telematic control unit determines the route to be a quickest travel route between the location and a destination based on traffic data and weather condition data.

14. A method for activating vehicle control modules, the method comprising:
detecting, via a battery sensor, a charge level of a battery of a vehicle;
determining, via a processor, a current charge level of the battery based upon the charge level detected prior to the vehicle being in a key-off state and a time duration of the vehicle being in the key-off state;
determining, via a GPS receiver, a location of the vehicle in the key-off state;
identifying, via the processor, an event and an end time corresponding to the location;
activating a telematic control unit based upon an activation signal that corresponds to the end time; and
determining and presenting, via the telematic control unit, a route from the location.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the telematic control unit is activated upon determining, via the processor, that the current charge level is greater than a predetermined threshold.

16. The method of claim 15 , further including:
determining an activation duration during which the telematic control unit is activated based upon the current charge level and the predetermined threshold; and
returning the telematic control unit to a sleep mode upon the activation duration ending.

17. A tangible computer readable medium including instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to:
detect, via a battery sensor, a charge level of a battery of a vehicle;
determine a current charge level of the battery based upon the charge level detected prior to the vehicle being in a key-off state and a time duration of the vehicle being in the key-off state;
determine, via a GPS receiver, a location of the vehicle in the key-off state;
identify, via a processor, an event and an end time corresponding to the location;
activate a telematic control unit upon receipt of an activation signal that corresponds to the end time; and
determine and present, via the telematic control unit, a route from the location.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Decia Nunzio
• Herman David A
• Dutta Arun
• Dierker Bill
• Cartwright Justin

Classifications

• G01C21/3492

  employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical (traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968) · CPC title

• B60W2510/242

  for electrical energy · CPC title

• G01C21/3667 Primary

  Display of a road map (G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635) · CPC title

• B60R16/0231 Primary

  Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle (monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P) · CPC title

• G01C21/3691

  Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions (arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09) · CPC title