VOLVO On Call Plus (2001): Introduction: Infrastructure

Fig 1: Identifying Volvo On Call Plus Service Center

Courtesy of VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA.

The following technology and services are included in Volvo On Call Plus:

Telecommunication.
Data communication by satellite.
Position location by satellite.
Service Center.
Dealers.

Communication

Communication between the vehicle and the Service Center takes place through:

Telecommunication via AMPS.
Satellite communication where AMPS has no coverage.
The vehicle position is determined by GPS technology.

The Service Center

The task of the Service Center is to receive calls from the vehicle and to carry out different safety and other services.

Calls are established manually by using the SOS or On Call button or by menu selection.
Calls are established automatically if any component in the SRS system is activated or if the alarm is tripped. The Service Center is established in accordance with Volvo specifications and requirements.

The Service Center is manned day and night throughout the year and:

establishes contact, if necessary, with the local emergency center/rescue service,
is connected to a Volvo On Call Plus Customer Database,
is in direct verbal contact with the vehicle via the Volvo On Call Plus service.

With all Volvo On Call services, data on vehicle status and location are sent from the vehicle to the Service Center.

The Service Center collects data about the owner and vehicle from the Volvo On Call Plus Customer Database.

The task of the Service Center is to:

compile data on the owner and the vehicle together with the current status and location of the vehicle,
provide relevant data to the local emergency center/rescue service, based on this information. Contact between the Service Center and local emergency center/rescue service takes place verbally.

Dealer

The dealer is in contact with a web server connected to the Customer Database via the Internet.

The dealer registers different customer data concerning the Volvo On Call Plus service on the web server.

For example, a password is required to access the web server.

Volvo On Call Plus Customer Database

Stores data about the owner and vehicle.

Data about the vehicle is sent from VITaL via an FTP server to the Customer Database.

Data about the owner which is registered by the dealer.

When the Volvo On Call Plus service is established, the Service Center obtains information from the Customer Database about owner data and vehicle data.