Principles of Operation (How Does It Work?)

System Description
The telematics control module controls the system. It is wired to the vehicle's cellular phone system, audio unit, Restraint Control Module (RCM), audio unit display, telematics control switch, and Global Positioning Sensor (GPS) antenna. The telematics system uses the cellular phone system to place calls to the Lincoln Security Response Center. It mutes the audio unit upon placing a call and returns volume to the audio unit when the call is ended. It monitors an input from the RCM to determine if an air bag has deployed and it provides the user with visual feedback during an activation by displaying status messages on the audio unit display.

The telematics control switch provides the user with two buttons (assistance and information) for activating the system. The assistance button is used to place a call for emergency assistance and the information button is used to place a call for roadside assistance.

The GPS antenna receives data from a group of GPS satellites and is used by the telematics system to determine the location of the vehicle when one of the activation buttons is pressed or an air bag is deployed.

Powering Up
The telematics system powers up when the ignition switch is turned to RUN. During power up, the telematics control module carries out a check of the system. The system check takes about 15 seconds. If a failure is detected, the telematics control module displays VCS FAULT on the audio unit display for two seconds.

If the cellular phone is not detected, the telematics control module displays VCS FAULT on the audio unit display for two seconds, followed by PHONE ABSENT and VCS OFF. Each of these messages are displayed on the audio unit display for two seconds.

Pressing Assistance, Pressing Information, and Air bag Deployment
When the telematics control switch assistance or information button is pressed, or one of the air bags is deployed, the telematics system tries to take control of the cellular phone system and inform the user that an activation is in progress by displaying CALLING SOS/INFO on the audio unit display. The telematics system also mutes the audio unit and displays PHONE on the audio unit display.

If the cellular phone is connected, but the telematics control module determines that the phone is not telematics compatible, WRONG PHONE is displayed on the audio unit display.

Upon determining that the cellular phone is connected and communication with it can be established, the telematics control module checks cellular service availability (signal is sensed by the vehicle's cellular phone).

If service is not available, the telematics control module continues to check for service for up to two minutes. During this time, NO SIGNAL followed by RETRYING are continually displayed in rotation on the audio unit display. If service is still not available after two minutes, CALL FAILED is displayed on the audio unit display and the activation is terminated.

If service is available, the telematics system places a data call to the Lincoln Security Response Center central computer.

If the call has trouble going through because the cellular system is busy, the telematics system continues trying to place the call for up to one minute. During this time, SYSTEM BUSY followed by PLEASE WAIT are continuously displayed in rotation on the audio unit display, and then the activation is terminated.

Once the data call is answered by the response center, the telematics system sends it an electronic data message. This message includes: the type of activation (assistance, information, or air bag), a Customer Identification Number (CID), the most recently recorded location (latitude and longitude), the speed and direction of travel of the vehicle, the time at which the location and speed data was taken, and the system's cellular phone number.

After the data is received by the response center, DATA RECEIVED is displayed on the audio unit display. The call is displayed on the audio unit display. The call is then forwarded to the response center's operator switchboard.

If the data call fails to go through, the telematics system carries out a voice call redial to the Lincoln Security Response Center operator switchboard. While this call is being placed, REDIAL is displayed on the audio unit display. While the system is waiting for an operator to answer, PLEASE WAIT is displayed on the audio unit display.

Upon answering the call, the operator attempts to talk with the caller to determine the level of assistance required. The operator contacts the appropriate emergency assistance provider if the call was made due to a telematics control switch assistance button press or an air bag deployment. If the call was caused by pressing the telematics control switch information button, the operator provides directions to the location asked for by the caller.

Throughout the rest of the call ID... CT..., and LN... data that was sent to the response center are continually displayed in rotation on the audio unit display.

If the call is initiated by pressing the console emergency message assistance button or by the deployment of an air bag, the caller has no control of the phone and all communication with the response center operator occurs hands-free. If the call is initiated by pressing the telematics control switch information button, communication with the response center operator defaults to hands-free but may be switched to private mode (using the phone's internal speaker and microphone) by removing the phone from its cradle.

When the telematics call is ended, the audio unit will return to the normal display and the audio unit will return to the previous operating mode.

Powering Down
When the ignition switch is turned from RUN to OFF, or from RUN to ACC, the telematics system may be powered off so no status messages will be displayed. After the call is ended, the telematics system remains on for ten minutes and fifteen seconds. After the ten minutes and fifteen seconds have expired, the telematics system will power OFF. To reuse the telematics system after this time, the ignition switch has to be turned back to the RUN position or the phone has to be turned on.