Vehicle appliance having hands-free telephone, global positioning system, and satellite communications modules combined in a common architecture for providing complete telematics functions

摘要

A vehicle appliance includes hands-free telephone, global positioning system (GPS), and satellite communications modules combined in a common architecture for providing complete telematics functions to a vehicle operator. The telephone module enables the operator to establish a cell phone call between a cell phone in the vehicle and a phone external to the vehicle using voice commands. The GPS module communicates with GPS satellites to generate data regarding the position of the vehicle and to output a map display of the position of the vehicle for the operator to view. The satellite communications module establishes a satellite call with a service provider via a satellite. The satellite communications module communicates voice commands of the operator received by the hands-free telephone module along with vehicle position data generated by the GPS module to the service provider during the satellite call for such services as navigation, concierge, emergency, and the like.