Telematics Controller eCall Mode Transition and Recovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing telematics control units (TCUs) face challenges in simultaneously providing telematics, infotainment, and emergency services while allowing customers to disable non-emergency services due to privacy concerns, while ensuring emergency services remain active to meet legal requirements, such as in Europe.

Innovation Solution

A telematics controller programmed to switch between eCall Plus and eCall Only modes by periodically identifying SIM values and reattaching to the network based on service mode transitions, with acknowledgement from the service delivery network, to enable or disable telematics and infotainment services as needed, ensuring only emergency communications are maintained in eCall Only mode.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the TCU provides telematics, infotainment, and emergency services simultaneously (eCall Plus mode), then service functionality is improved, but customer privacy concerns increase due to continuous data collection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice functionalityVSAvoidprivacy concerns

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between eCall Plus mode (full service functionality) and eCall Only mode (emergency services only) based on customer preference. This dynamic adaptation allows the TCU to adjust its service profile in real-time, enabling customers to disable non-emergency services when privacy is a concern while maintaining emergency capabilities at all times

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the TCU disables non-emergency services to address privacy concerns (eCall Only mode), then privacy protection is improved, but service versatility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprivacy protectionVSAvoidservice versatility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system allows customers to switch between service modes dynamically. When in eCall Only mode for privacy protection, the TCU maintains the capability to transition back to eCall Plus mode when customers desire full service functionality again, making the service versatility restoration possible without permanent loss of capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the TCU switches between eCall Plus and eCall Only modes, then customer privacy requirements are met, but network reattachment operations increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprivacy requirement complianceVSAvoidnetwork reattachment operations

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the TCU sends an alert to the Service Delivery Network (SDN) when transitioning from eCall Plus to eCall Only mode. The SDN acknowledges the transition, and the TCU reattaches to the network in the appropriate mode. This structured feedback loop automates the network reattachment process, reducing operational complexity despite multiple mode switches

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10531341B1eCall Plus to eCall Only transition and recovery path

Publication Date: 2020.01.07 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

Responsive to detecting transition from an eCall Plus mode to an eCall Only mode, and to acknowledgement from a service delivery network (SDN) of an alert of the transition sent to the SDN by a telematics controller, the telematics controller reattaches to a network in eCall Only mode. Responsive to transition from eCall Only mode to eCall Plus mode, the controller reattaches to the network in eCall Plus mode.