Wirelessly delivered owner's manual

Abstract

This invention is directed to a method of delivering vehicle owner's manual or other vehicle-specific information to the vehicle operator from a remote data center and associated vehicle information database by utilizing a voice recognition system at the remote data center and delivering the information to the vehicle operator in audible speech. The vehicle operator speaks his request in the vehicle and the data center recognizes the request, perhaps asks more questions, leads the vehicle operator through a spoken menu, and then provides the answer vocally to the vehicle operator over the speaker(s) located in the vehicle. The invention includes methodology for obtaining vehicle diagnostic information and controlling certain vehicle functions automatically via an embedded telematics control unit. The invention further includes remote telephone access outside the vehicle.

1 . A method of assisting a vehicle operator in obtaining information about the various systems in a vehicle comprising: 
 initiating and establishing a wireless communication link to a remote data center;    speaking a command into said wireless communication link from within the vehicle;    interpreting said spoken command with a server-based voice recognition system at the remote data center;    using the recognition output of said voice recognition system to obtain information from a database at said remote data center;    converting said database information into a computer-generated audio message; and    transmitting said audio message to the vehicle using said wireless communication link.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises: 
 generating a computer-generated question at the remote data center requesting information from the vehicle operator; and    transmitting the computer-generated question as an audio message to the vehicle operator via the wireless communications link.    
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , which further comprises: 
 generating a voice response to the question from the vehicle operator; and    transmitting the voice response to the remote data center via the wireless communications link.    
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , which further comprises carrying the question generating step by generating a menu of options for selection by the vehicle operator using a voice interface.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises transmitting vehicle diagnostic information to the remote data center for obtaining the information from the database.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises establishing a connection between the vehicle operator and a live operator through the data center and the wireless communications link in response to the voice command generated by the vehicle operator.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises: 
 generating a computer generated audio request at the data center requesting that the vehicle operator take certain actions with respect to the vehicle; and    transmitting the computer-generated audio request to the vehicle operator via the wireless communications link.    
     
     
         8 . A method of assisting a vehicle operator in obtaining information about the various systems in a vehicle comprising: 
 initiating and establishing a wireless communication link to a remote data center;    speaking a command into said wireless communication link from a location outside the vehicle;    interpreting said spoken command with a server-based voice recognition system at the remote data center;    using the recognition output of said voice recognition system to obtain information from a database at said remote data center;    converting said database information into a computer-generated audio message; and    transmitting said audio message to the vehicle using said wireless communication link.    
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , which further comprises: 
 generating a computer-generated question at the remote data center requesting information from the vehicle operator; and    transmitting the computer-generated question as an audio message to the vehicle operator via the wireless communications link.    
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , which further comprises: 
 generating a voice response to the question from the vehicle operator; and    transmitting the voice response to the remote data center via the wireless communications link.    
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , which further comprises carrying the question generating step by generating a menu of options for selection by the vehicle operator using a voice interface.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 8 , which further comprises transmitting vehicle diagnostic information to the remote data center for obtaining the information from the database.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 8 , which further comprises establishing a connection between the vehicle operator and a live operator through the data center and the wireless communications link in response to the voice command generated by the vehicle operator.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 8 , which further comprises: 
 generating a computer generated audio request at the data center requesting that the vehicle operator take certain actions with respect to the vehicle; and    transmitting the computer-generated audio request to the vehicle operator via the wireless communications link.    
     
     
         15 . A system for delivery of a wireless user manual, comprising: 
 a vehicle unit located inside a vehicle and operable to: 
 establish a wireless communication link to a data center; and  
 transmit a user generated voice command via the wireless communications link; and  
   a data center linked to the vehicle unit by the wireless communications link and operable to: 
 interpret a voice command received via the wireless communications link with a voice recognition system;  
 obtain information from a database in response to the interpreted command;  
 convert the database information into a computer-generated audio message; and  
 transmit the computer-generated audio message to the vehicle unit using said wireless communication link.  
   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the vehicle unit comprises a telematics control unit providing diagnostic information for transmission to the data center via the wireless communications link.  
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the data center is further operable to: 
 generate a computer-generated question requesting information from the user; and    transmit the computer-generated question as an audio message to the user via the wireless communications link.    
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the data center further comprises a live operator station for communicating with the user in response to a voice command.  
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the telematics unit is further operable to perform in-vehicle tasks in response to user voice commands.  
     
     
         20 . A system for delivery of a wireless user manual, comprising: 
 a vehicle unit at least partially located outside a vehicle and operable to: 
 establish a wireless communication link to a data center; and  
 transmit a user generated voice command via the wireless communications link; and  
   a data center linked to the vehicle unit by the wireless communications link and operable to: 
 interpret a voice command received via the wireless communications link with a voice recognition system;  
 obtain information from a database in response to the interpreted command;  
 convert the database information into a computer-generated audio message; and  
 transmit the computer-generated audio message to the vehicle unit using said wireless communication link.  
   
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 20 , wherein the vehicle unit comprises a telematics control unit providing diagnostic information for transmission to the data center via the wireless communications link.  
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 20 , wherein the data center is further operable to: 
 generate a computer-generated question requesting information from the user; and    transmit the computer-generated question as an audio message to the user via the wireless communications link.    
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 20 , wherein the data center further comprises a live operator station for communicating with the user in response to a voice command.  
     
     
         24 . The system according to  claim 21 , wherein the telematics unit is further operable to perform in-vehicle tasks in response to user voice commands.  
     
     
         25 . A vehicle unit for use in a system supporting a hands-free vehicle owner's manual having a data center including a voice recognition system for interpreting received spoken messages, a database including information about features of a vehicle containing the vehicle unit, and a system for converting information retrieved from the database into computer-generated audio messages, the vehicle unit comprising: 
 a telematics unit for generating diagnostic messages concerning the associated vehicle; and    a communications unit for establishing a wireless link with the database for carrying diagnostic and voice messages for interpretation by the voice recognition system of the data center, said communications unit located within the vehicle.    
     
     
         26 . The vehicle unit according to  claim 25 , further comprising a microphone and speakers for establishing an audible dialog between a vehicle operator and the data center via the wireless data link.  
     
     
         27 . The vehicle unit according to  claim 25 , wherein the telematic unit is further operable to control selected vehicle functions in response to voice commands.  
     
     
         28 . A vehicle unit for use in a system supporting a hands-free vehicle owner's manual having a data center including a voice recognition system for interpreting received spoken messages, a database including information about features of a vehicle containing the vehicle unit, and a system for converting information retrieved from the database into computer-generated audio messages, the vehicle unit comprising: 
 a telematics unit for generating diagnostic messages concerning the associated vehicle; and    a communications unit for establishing a wireless link with the database for carrying diagnostic and voice messages for interpretation by the voice recognition system of the data center, said communications unit at least partially located outside the vehicle.    
     
     
         29 . The vehicle unit according to  claim 28 , further comprising a microphone and speakers disposed outside the vehicle for establishing an audible dialog between a vehicle operator and the data center via the wireless data link.  
     
     
         30 . The vehicle unit according to  claim 28 , wherein the telematic unit is further operable to control selected vehicle functions in response to voice commands.