Configuring a vehicle to receive content data

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016197776-A1
Application number	US-201514589579-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 5, 2015
Priority date	Jan 5, 2015
Publication date	Jul 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A communication system and methods of using the communication system is described. One method includes configuring a telematics unit in a vehicle with at least one access point name (APN). The steps of the method include: configuring the telematics unit with a default APN prior to a legal transfer of possession of the vehicle; and thereafter, activating the telematics unit for the provision of content data in connection with the legal transfer of possession of the vehicle, wherein the activating includes replacing the default APN of the telematics unit with a geographically-specific APN.

First claim

1 . A method of configuring a telematics unit in a vehicle with at least one access point name (APN), comprising the steps of:
configuring the telematics unit with a default APN prior to a legal transfer of possession of the vehicle; and thereafter, activating the telematics unit for the provision of content data in connection with the legal transfer of possession of the vehicle, wherein the activating includes replacing the default APN of the telematics unit with a geographically-specific APN.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the configuring step further comprises configuring the telematics unit with a backend APN.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the configuring step is performed by a vehicle manufacturer.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the replacing step is performed remotely by a vehicle backend.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the replacing step further comprises:
connecting the telematics unit to the vehicle backend using the backend APN; receiving a service activation request from the telematics unit; removing the default APN from the telematics unit; and assigning the geographically-specific APN to the telematics unit.

6 . A method of configuring a telematics unit in a vehicle with at least one access point name (APN), comprising the steps of:
configuring the telematics unit for a vehicle dealership demonstration of vehicle services, wherein the vehicle services include data content based on a physical location of the vehicle; and then following a legal transfer of possession of the vehicle to a customer, configuring the telematics unit to provide data content based on the specific geographic location of an associated transferee.

7 . A method of configuring a telematics unit in a vehicle with at least one access point name (APN), comprising the steps of:
prior to a legal transfer of possession of the vehicle, configuring the telematics unit for a demonstration period at a vehicle dealership, wherein the configuring includes assigning a default APN to the telematics unit; during the demonstration period, providing vehicle services via the telematics unit using the default APN, wherein the vehicle services include data content associated with a geographic area of the vehicle, a geographic position of the vehicle dealership, or both; following the legal transfer of possession of the vehicle to a vehicle user, replacing the default APN with a geographically-specific APN at a time of vehicle services activation, wherein the geographically-specific APN is associated with a home country of the user; and providing vehicle services via the telematics unit using the geographically-specific APN during a subscription period.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein:
the configuring step further comprises assigning a backend APN to the telematics unit, and the replacing step further comprises:
establishing a connection between the telematics unit and a vehicle backend using the backend APN; and
via the connection:
receiving at the vehicle backend a service activation request from the telematics unit;
removing the default APN from the telematics unit; and
assigning the geographically-specific APN to the telematics unit.

Assignees

• Gen Motors Llc

Inventors

• Das Swapan

Classifications

• H04W8/205

  Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier · CPC title

• H04W4/02

  Services making use of location information · CPC title

• H04W8/265

  for initial activation of new user · CPC title

• H04M3/42144

  by service provider · CPC title

• H04L41/0806 Primary

  for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play · CPC title