Procedure for providing telematics services

Abstract

A method for operating a telematics terminal installed in a vehicle, the method comprising: Determining whether the telematics terminal is a replacement terminal when the vehicle is switched on; Sending a registration request signal to a telematics center if the telematics terminal is a replacement terminal; Processing service registration based on a registration message sent in response to the registration request signal; Sending terminal information of the telematics terminal to the telematics center when completing the service registration; and Receiving a telematics service determined based on the terminal information.

Description

REGIONThe present disclosure relates to a method of providing a telematics service, and more particularly, to a method of providing a telematics service to a telematics terminal that is replaced in a vehicle.BACKGROUNDRecently, telematics services for providing various multimedia functions such as a navigation function for guiding drivers and passengers of a vehicle to a destination, an theft alarm, an emergency rescue (SOS), remote diagnosis, consumables management, a hands-free mobile phone, live information, personal information, secretary service, and Internet access have been provided. In particular, a telematics terminal having a telematics service includes a mobile communication module installed therein, and thus the terminal itself may perform mobile communication and may also allow a user's mobile phone to be connected to the terminal so as to be used as a hands-free phone.The telematics terminal may be installed and used in a vehicle, and it may happen that it needs to be replaced with a new telematics terminal for reasons such as malfunction and age of the telematics terminal. In order to replace a used telematics terminal with a new telematics terminal, a process proceeds to follow the normal procedure. A user visits a telematics center to let a repairor (or dealer) replace the terminal, and informs the telematics center providing a telematics service of the terminal information and vehicle information, so as to let a manager of the telematics center cancel a service for the used terminal and send a service registration message to the new terminal.This process forces the user to visit the center, causing inconvenience and waste time and money, and when specifications differ between the used terminal and the new terminal (e.g., encryption logic is applied to the used terminal based on communication security and is not applied to the new terminal based on non-application of communication security), the new terminal cannot be normally used.US 2005 / 0 027 438 A1 relates to the automatic registration and activation of mobile telematics systems and to a computer-supported medium and means for automatic registration in a telematics system and for activation of system services.DE 10 2008 048 905 A1 relates to a method for automatically configuring replacement modules in vehicles. Replacement modules are associated with a telematics subscriber's account to enable a provider to properly manage a subscriber's services.SUMMARYAccordingly, the present disclosure is directed to a method of providing a telematics service that substantially eliminates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the prior art.An object of the present disclosure is to provide a telematics service providing method for automatically providing a normal telematics service to a replaced telematics terminal.Additional advantages, objects, and features of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure. The objects and other advantages of the disclosure may be realized and obtained by the structure set forth in the written description and claims herein, as well as the appended drawings.To achieve these objects and other advantages, and in accordance with the purpose of the disclosure as embodied and broadly described herein, an operating method of a telematics terminal installed in a vehicle includes determining whether the telematics terminal is a replacement terminal when the vehicle is powered on, sending a registration request signal to a telematics center when the telematics terminal is a replacement terminal, processing service registration based on a registration message sent in response to the registration request signal, sending terminal information of the telematics terminal to the telematics center upon completing the service registration, and receiving a telematics service determined based on the terminal information.The registration request signal may include a vehicle number of the vehicle and a telephone number of the telematics terminal.Whether the telematics terminal is a replacement terminal may be determined from a result that may be determined by comparing a vehicle number stored by the telematics terminal with a vehicle number of the vehicle.The service may be registered in the same registration state as a previous registration state of the vehicle.The terminal information may include at least one of model information, terminal software version information, modem software version information, navigation software version information, security communication information, and voice / multimedia via long term evolution (VoTE) information.The method may further include sending new terminal information of the telematics terminal to the telematics center when the vehicle is powered on and receiving a telematics service determined based on the new terminal information.In another aspect of the present disclosure, an operating method of a telematics center for providing a telematics service includes a telematics terminal installed in a vehicle, receiving a registration request signal from the telematics terminal when the telematics terminal is a replacement terminal, transmitting a registration message according to a previous registration state of the vehicle including the telematics terminal to transmit a registration request signal, receiving terminal information of the telematics terminal transmitted after the service registration is completed based on the registration message, and providing a telematics service determined based on the terminal information.It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present disclosure are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the disclosure as claimed.DRAWINGSThe accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate forms of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the disclosure. In the drawings:FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a telematics service system;FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a method of providing a telematics service of the telematics service system illustrated in FIG. 1 ;FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an operation of the processing service registration illustrated in FIG. 2 ;FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating vehicle information and technical information managed by a database illustrated in FIG. 2.DETAILED DESCRIPTIONA method of providing a telematics service will now be described in detail for preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The suffixes "module" and "unit" of elements herein are used for convenience of description, and thus may be used interchangeably and do not have distinguishable meanings or functions.FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a telematics service system 1.Referring to FIG. 1, the telematics service system 1 may include a vehicle 10, a telematics center 20, a first terminal 50, and a second terminal 100.The vehicle 10 is a vehicle in which a telematics terminal for receiving a telematics service is capable of being installed, and the telematics service refers to a service for providing a mobile service, an interactive Internet function, and a multimedia function such as a navigation function, a intruder alarm, emergency rescue (SOS), remote diagnosis, consumable management, a hands-free mobile phone, live information, personal information, a secretary service, and Internet access using the telematics terminal. The vehicle 10 may be distinguishable from another vehicle via a unique vehicle number, and a head unit of the vehicle 10 may store the vehicle number and provide the vehicle number according to an external request.Telematics center 20 may be a server for providing a telematics service, may manage service registration of a terminal installed in vehicle 10, may collect information required by a user, and may transmit the information to the terminal installed in vehicle 10, or may transmit information received from the terminal installed in vehicle 10 to a communication network provider or an institution (e.g., a insurance company or an emergency doctor station).Telematics center 20 may manage a database inside or outside center 20 to store and manage vehicle information of vehicle 10 and terminal information of terminals 50 and 100.The first terminal 50 and the second terminal 100 may both be embodied as a telematics terminal. The first terminal 50 and the second terminal 100 may both provide a telematics service, and may both particularly include a mobile communication module installed therein to provide a mobile communication service over a mobile communication network. For example, the mobile communication network may refer to a communication network that supports a mobile communication standard such as third generation (3G), long term evolution (LtE), and fifth generation (5G).The first terminal 50 and the second terminal 100 may both be a terminal previously subscribed and registered to a specific mobile communication network service and may be assigned separate telephone numbers to provide a mobile communication service to a subscriber. The first terminal 50 and the second terminal 100 may both be installed in a vehicle, and may control hardware such as a display, a touch screen, and a speaker, and execute a music, video, or navigation program according to a user request. In addition, the first terminal 50 and the second terminal 100 may both control a vehicle controller (not shown) to perform charging or conditioning operation according to an external remote control request.In the description below, it is assumed that the first terminal 50 is replaced with the second terminal 100 as a normal terminal for reasons such as malfunction and age of the first terminal 50 during use of the first terminal 50 installed in the vehicle 10.The second terminal 100 may be, but is not limited to, a new unused terminal (new terminal) or a terminal (old terminal) that has been used in another vehicle.FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a method of providing a telematics service of the telematics service system illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an operation of the processing service registration illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating vehicle information and terminal information managed by a database illustrated in FIG. 2.Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the first terminal 50 may be installed in the vehicle 10 and receive telematics service registration from the telematics center 20 to provide a telematics service (S 10).Then, the first terminal 50 may be replaced with the second terminal 100 as a normal terminal for reasons such as malfunction and age of the first terminal 50 (S 20).The second terminal 100 replacing the first terminal 50 may receive a vehicle identification number (VIN) from a head unit of the vehicle 10 whenever the vehicle 10 of the replaced second terminal 100 is powered on (S 30). The VIN may be, for example, a vehicle number.The second terminal 100 may determine whether the VIN is new or exchanged based on the VIN transmitted after the vehicle 10 is turned on (S 40) corresponding to an operation for determining whether the second terminal 100 is exchanged.The second terminal 100 may be connected to any vehicle to receive and store a VIN from the vehicle whenever it is powered on, and in this regard, if the second terminal 100 does not store the VIN and receives the VIN of the vehicle 10, the received VIN may be determined to be new. In addition, when the second terminal 100 pre-stores a VIN and compares a newly received VIN with the pre-stored VIN, if the VINs are not the same, it may be determined that the VIN is exchanged.When the newly received VIN and the prestored VIN are the same (no in S 40), a subsequent operation S 130 may be performed.When the VIN is new or exchanged (Yes in S 40), the second terminal 100 may transmit a registration request signal for requesting service registration to the telematics center 20 (S 50). The registration request signal may include a VIN (for example, a vehicle number) of the vehicle 10, and a terminal identification number (for example, a telephone number) of the second terminal 100.Telematics center 20 may be operatively associated with a database 30 that stores and manages vehicle information of vehicle 10 and terminal information of terminals 50 and 100. The database 30 may establish the vehicle information and the terminal information as a table and manage the information. The database 30 may be positioned inside or outside the telematics center 20, but the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto.FIG. 4 illustrates information objects stored and managed by the database 30, and illustrates in detail a vehicle information table T 1 for identifying a vehicle number of the vehicle 10 as a key value and a terminal information table T 2 or T 3 for identifying a telephone number of the telematics terminal 50 or 100 as a key value.The vehicle information table T 1 may include at least one of a vehicle number, a vehicle type code, a vehicle type model name, year, a fuel type, exterior color corresponding to information of a corresponding vehicle.The terminal information table T 2 or T 3 may include at least one of a terminal telephone number, terminal model information, terminal software version information, modem software version information, navigation software version information, security communication information, and voice / multimedia over LTE (VoTE) information which is the information of the corresponding terminal. Information stored in the terminal information table T2 or T3 may be required to normally provide a telematics service.The telematics center 20 may cancel a connection between the vehicle information table T 1 corresponding to a vehicle number of the vehicle 10 and the terminal information table T 2 of the first terminal 50 as an existing terminal. In addition, the telematics center 20 may create a connection between the vehicle information table T 1 and the terminal information table T 3 of the second terminal 100 as the exchange terminal (S 60).That is, in order to provide a normal telematics service to the first terminal 50 installed in the vehicle 10, the terminal information table T 2 for storing information A corresponding to the first terminal 50 for each information object may be associated with the vehicle information table T 1. However, when the vehicle number of the vehicle 10 and the terminal number of the second terminal 100 are transmitted as the exchange terminal, the link between the vehicle information table T 1 and the terminal information table T 2 may be canceled, and the vehicle information table T 1 may be linked to the terminal information table T 3 corresponding to the second terminal 100 to provide telematics service to the exchanged second terminal 100. The terminal information table T 3 may preferably store a received telephone number B of the second terminal 100 from the information objects.Telematics center 20 may store a current registration state for each vehicle. The registration state may be any one of a pre-RDR state, a registered state, a disable state, and a de-provisioned state. The telematics center 20 may generate a registration message according to a previous registration state of the vehicle 10 including the second terminal 100 transmitting the registration request signal.For example, if the previous registration state of the vehicle 10 is a pre-RDR state (i.e., the first terminal 50 is in the pre-RDR state), the telematics center 20 may generate a registration message that includes information about the pre-RDR state.The generated registration message may be sent to the second terminal 100 (S 70).The second terminal 100 receiving the registration message may process the registration of the telematics service (S 80). In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, when a registration state of the first terminal 50 is a state A (e.g., a pre-RDR state), the telematics center 20 may generate and transmit a registration message including information for the state A, and accordingly, the second terminal 100 may be registered in the state A which is the same as the state A as a previous registration state.Accordingly, even if the registration of the second terminal 100 is any one of a pre-RDR state, a registered state, a disable state, and a de-provisioned state, the second terminal 100 may be registered in a registration state determined from a registration message regardless of a current state.When the service registration is completed, the second terminal 100 may transmit terminal information to the telematics center 20 via the second terminal 100 (S 90). The terminal information may include at least one of a telephone number, model information, terminal software version information, model software version information, navigation software version information, security communication information, and VoTE information. The telephone number may be used to identify the terminal information.The telematics center 20 may receive the terminal information and store (or reflect) information B corresponding to the second terminal 100 in the database 30 for each information object except a telephone number of the terminal information table T 3 corresponding to telephone numbers as shown in FIG. 4 (S 100).When the terminal information of the second terminal 100 is completely registered in the terminal information table T 3, the telematics center 20 may transmit a registration completion message to the second terminal 100 (S 110).The second terminal 100 may request a telematics service after receiving the registration completion message, and the telematics center 20 may provide the telematics service based on the registered terminal information of the second terminal 100 (S 120).Even if a normal telematics service is possible when the first terminal 50 is installed in the vehicle 10, if only a telephone number of the second terminal 100 is transmitted to the telematics center 20 after the first terminal 50 is replaced with the second terminal 100, the telematics center 20 may not be able to secure additional terminal information for a normal telematics service. Accordingly, the second terminal 100 may send additional terminal information objects other than a telephone number to the telematics center 20, thus enabling a normal telematics service.For example, it is assumed that the first terminal 50 is a terminal to transmit and receive a message encrypted by applying encryption logic due to application of communication security, and that the second terminal 100 is a terminal to transmit and receive an unencrypted message to which the encryption logic is not applied due to non-application of communication security. In this case, since the security communication on whether encryption logic is applied between terminal information objects of the second terminal 100 is not sent to the telematics center 20, when the encrypted message is sent to the second terminal 100 without change, the second terminal 100 to which the encrypted logic is not applied may not be able to receive a normal telematics service.Similarly, when the first terminal 50 and the second terminal 100 are different in view of any one of terminal model information, terminal software version information, modem software version information, navigation software version information, security communication information, and VoTE information, if corresponding information is not registered in the terminal information table T 3 of the second terminal 100, a normal telematics service may be turned off.Accordingly, the telematics center 20 can register terminal information automatically transmitted by the second terminal 100 and provide the telematics service based on the registered terminal information, and thus, even if an existing terminal is replaced with another terminal having different characteristics, a normal service can be provided.In addition, even if a terminal is replaced, the exchanged terminal information may be managed to provide a telematics service according to the terminal characteristic.Even if a terminal is exchanged and the exchanged terminal information is not directly checked by a user, the exchanged terminal information can be automatically managed, thereby reducing labor cost and preventing human failure due to incorrect input of the user to improve the quality of service.The second terminal 100 may receive a VIN from a head unit of the vehicle 10 whenever the vehicle 10 is powered on, and determine whether the corresponding terminal is not replaced as the determination result (No of S 40), the second terminal 100 may transmit terminal information of the second terminal 100 to the telematics center 20 (S 130).Assuming that a software version of each terminal, a modem, and a navigation device of the second terminal 100 is changed, information on the changed software version may be included in the terminal information.The telematics center 20 may update new terminal information sent from the second terminal 100 in the terminal information table T 3 (S 140). As illustrated in FIG. 4, information C on the changed software version may be updated in the terminal information table T 3.The telematics center 20 may provide a telematics service based on the updated terminal information of the second terminal 100 (S 150).Some (e.g., software version information changed due to software update) of terminal information of the second terminal 100 may be replaced whenever the vehicle 10 is powered on, and thus terminal information may be sent to the telematics center 20 in real time each time the vehicle is powered on, so as to enable a normal telematics service without separate user manipulation.According to forms of the methods for providing a telematics service, a telematics center may provide a telematics service based on telematics information automatically transmitted by a replaced terminal, so as to provide a normal service even if the terminal is replaced with another terminal having different characteristics.The above method of providing a telematics service may also be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable recording medium. The computer readable recording medium is any data storage device capable of storing data which can be thereafter read by a computer system. Examples of the computer readable recording medium include read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic tapes (floppy disks), optical data storage devices, etc. The computer readable recording medium may also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed manner.It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present disclosure without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure cover the modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they fall within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

A method of operating a telematics terminal installed in a vehicle, the method comprising: determining whether the telematics terminal is a replacement terminal when the vehicle is powered on; sending a registration request signal to a telematics center when the telematics terminal is a replacement terminal; processing service registration based on a registration message sent in response to the registration request signal; sending terminal information of the telematics terminal to the telematics center upon completing the service registration; and receiving a telematics service determined based on the terminal information.The method of claim 1, wherein the registration request signal comprises a vehicle number of the vehicle and a telephone number of the telematics terminal.The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the telematics terminal is a replacement terminal comprises comparing a vehicle number stored by the telematics terminal to a vehicle number of the vehicle.The method of claim 1, wherein the service is registered in the same registration state as a previous registration state of the vehicle.The method of claim 1, wherein the terminal information comprises at least one of model information, terminal software version information, modem software version information, navigation software version information, security communication information, and voice / multimedia over long term evolution (VoTE) information.The method of claim 1, further comprising: sending new terminal information of the telematics terminal to the telematics center when the vehicle is powered on; and receiving a telematics service determined based on the new terminal information.A method of operating a telematics center for providing a telematics service to a telematics terminal installed in a vehicle, the method comprising: receiving a registration request signal from the telematics terminal when the telematics terminal is a replacement terminal; sending a registration message based on a previous registration state of the vehicle including the telematics terminal; receiving terminal information of the telematics terminal sent after the service registration is completed based on the registration message; and providing a telematics service determined based on the terminal information.The method of claim 7, wherein the registration request signal comprises a vehicle number of the vehicle and a telephone number of the telematics terminal.The method according to claim 8, further comprising: cancelling a connection between a vehicle information table corresponding to the vehicle number and a terminal information table of an existing terminal; and creating a connection between the vehicle information table and a terminal information table of the telematics terminal corresponding to the telephone number.The method of claim 9, further comprising: applying the received telematics terminal terminal information to the terminal information table.The method of claim 7, wherein the service is registered in the same registration state as the previous registration state of the vehicle.The method according to claim 7, wherein the terminal information comprises at least one of model information, terminal software version information, modem software version information, navigation software version information, security communication information, and voice / multimedia via long term evolution (VoTE) information.The method of claim 7, further comprising: receiving new terminal information of the telematics terminal; updating the received new terminal information on a terminal information table; and providing a telematics service based on the updated terminal information table.A method for providing a telematics service in a telematics terminal exchanged in a vehicle, the method comprising: determining that a pre-installed first terminal is replaced with a second terminal; requesting service registration of the second terminal; cancelling a connection between a vehicle information table of the vehicle and a terminal information table of the first terminal, and creating a connection between the vehicle information table and a terminal information table of the second terminal; sending terminal information of the second terminal after the service registration of the second terminal is completed; applying terminal information of the second terminal to the terminal information table of the second terminal; and providing a telematics service determined based on the terminal information of the second terminal.The method of claim 14, wherein requesting service registration of the second terminal comprises sending a vehicle number of the vehicle and a telephone number of the second terminal.The method according to claim 14, wherein the pre-installed first terminal is determined to be exchanged by the second terminal based on a result obtained by comparing a vehicle number stored by the second terminal with the vehicle number of the vehicle.The method of claim 14, wherein the service is registered in the same registration state as the previous registration state of the vehicle.The method of claim 14, wherein the terminal information comprises at least one of model information, terminal software version information, modem software version information, navigation software version information, security communication information, and voice / multimedia over long term evolution (VoTE) information.The method of claim 14, further comprising: sending new terminal information of the telematics terminal to a telematics center when the vehicle is powered on; and providing a telematics service determined based on the new terminal information.

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