Maintenance management for vehicle-share systems

• US 10,078,924 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2017
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Oesterling, Christopher, Renick, Jessica, Pebbles, Paul, Razzacki, Zafar
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Alex C
• Application Number:
  US15/401,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20180197349A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A system to manage the routine maintenance of a vehicle incorporated in a vehicle-share system is presented herein. The maintenance management system includes a vehicle having a vehicle sensor, vehicle communication platform (VCP), and remote entity. The VCP is located within the vehicle and communicates with the vehicle sensor. The VCP is configured to generate and communicate a data transmission. The remote entity has at least one database and is configured to receive the VCP data transmission. Moreover, the VCP collaborates with the vehicle sensor to generate at least one routine maintenance notice and subsequently transmits the routine maintenance notice to the remote entity. Upon review and analysis of the routine maintenance notice, the remote entity will predict future maintenance of the vehicle and modify the vehicle registration status in the database to allow for a maintenance event.

Claims

1. A system to manage the routine maintenance of a vehicle incorporated in a vehicle-share system, the maintenance management system comprising:

a vehicle configured to be incorporated in the vehicle-share system, the vehicle comprising at least one vehicle sensor and a short-range wireless connection (SRWC) module;

wherein the vehicle-share system is configured to allow a system user to reserve the vehicle through a mobile computing device, and the vehicle-share system is additionally configured to pair the mobile computing device to the SRWC module such that one or more vehicle functions may be commanded by the mobile computing device;

a GNSS chipset/component, the GNSS chipset/component configured to provide vehicle location information;

a vehicle communication platform (VCP) located within the vehicle, the VCP configured to communicate with the vehicle sensor, the VCP configured to generate and communicate a data transmission;

a remote entity comprising at least one database incorporating vehicle reservation calendar information, the remote entity configured to receive the VCP data transmission, the remote entity configured to transmit at least one encrypted digital key to each of the mobile computing device and SRWC module to enable the mobile computing device to command the one or more vehicle functions when paired to the SRWC module;

a plurality of maintenance facilities each of which being configured to provide routine vehicle maintenance services;

wherein the vehicle reservation calendar information is configured to establish a virtual calendar having numerous designatable time durations to enable system users to reserve the vehicle for one or more of the time durations;

wherein the VCP collaborates with the vehicle sensor to generate at least one routine maintenance notice, the VCP subsequently transmits the routine maintenance notice to the remote entity;

wherein, upon review and analysis of the routine maintenance notice, the remote entity will predict future maintenance of the vehicle and modify the vehicle registration status in the database for one or more of the time durations via the vehicle reservation calendar so as to restrict system users from reserving the vehicle during those one or more time durations and allow for a maintenance event;

wherein the VCP collaborates with the GNSS chipset/component to generate at least one vehicle location notice comprising vehicle location information, the VCP subsequently transmits the vehicle location notice to the remote entity; and

wherein, upon review and analysis of the vehicle location notice and routine maintenance notice, the remote entity will select one maintenance facility from the plurality of maintenance facilities based on the vehicle location in relation to the location of each maintenance facility of the plurality of maintenance facilities, generate a maintenance notification, and transmit the maintenance notification to the selected maintenance facility to schedule the maintenance event at the selected maintenance facility.

2. The maintenance management system of claim 1, further comprising:

the mobile computing device comprising a CarShare App, wherein the mobile computing device configured to pair to the SRWC module such that vehicle functions can be commanded by the mobile computing device via the CarShare App; and

wherein the remote entity generates and transmits an out-of-service notification to the CarShare App.

3. The maintenance management system of claim 2, wherein the out-of-service notification comprises an incentive offer.

4. The maintenance management system of claim 1, wherein the remote entity generates and transmits an out-of-service notification to the VCP configured to be exhibited on a display of the VCP to notify the system user that the vehicle cannot be reserved due to maintenance issues.

5. The maintenance management system of claim 4, wherein the out-of-service notification comprises an incentive offer.

6. The maintenance management system of claim 1, wherein the routine maintenance notice comprises remaining oil time/quantity information, oil filter failure information, component failure information, self-diagnostic information, mileage information, or some combination thereof.

15. The maintenance management system of claim 1, wherein the selection of the one maintenance facility from the plurality of maintenance facilities is further based on the maintenance specialties, technician availability, and facility capacity for each maintenance facility of the plurality of maintenance facilities.

18. The maintenance management system of claim 1, wherein the maintenance notification is further configured to allow a technician located at the selected maintenance facility to know when to conduct maintenance services on the vehicle as well as explain the detailed specifics of the maintenance event.

7. A method to manage the routine maintenance of a vehicle incorporated in a vehicle-share system, the maintenance management method comprising:

(a) providing a vehicle configured to be incorporated in the vehicle-share system, the vehicle comprising at least one vehicle sensor and a short-range wireless connection (SRWC) module, wherein the vehicle-share system is configured to allow a system user to reserve the vehicle through a mobile computing device, and the vehicle-share system is additionally configured to pair the mobile computing device to the SRWC module such that one or more vehicle functions may be commanded by the mobile computing device;

(b) providing a vehicle communication platform (VCP) located within the vehicle, the VCP configured to communicate with the vehicle sensor, the VCP configured to generate and communicate at least one data transmission;

(c) providing a remote entity comprising a database incorporating vehicle reservation calendar information, the remote entity configured to receive the VCP data transmission, the remote entity configured to transmit at least one encrypted digital key to each of the mobile computing device and SRWC module to enable the mobile computing device to command the one or more vehicle functions when paired to the SRWC module, wherein the vehicle reservation calendar information is configured to establish a virtual calendar having numerous designatable time durations to enable system users to reserve the vehicle for one or more of the time durations;

(d) receiving, at the VCP, at least one communication from the vehicle sensor;

(e) generating, via the VCP, at least one routine maintenance notice derived from the vehicle sensor communication;

(f) transmitting, via the VCP, the routine maintenance notice to the remote entity;

(g) receiving, at the remote entity, the routine maintenance notice;

(h) implementing a back-end function, via the remote entity, to review and analyze the routine maintenance notice;

(i) predicting, via the remote entity, future maintenance of the vehicle from the routine maintenance notice analysis; and

(j) modifying, via the remote entity, the vehicle registration status in the database for one or more of the time durations via the vehicle reservation calendar so as to restrict system users from reserving the vehicle during those one or more time durations and allow for a maintenance event

(k) providing a plurality of maintenance facilities each of which being configured to provide routine vehicle maintenance services;

(l) providing a GNSS chipset/component located in the vehicle, the GNSS chipset/component configured to provide vehicle location information;

(m) generating, via the remote entity, a maintenance notification derived from the maintenance notice analysis;

(n) selecting, via the remote entity, one maintenance facility from the plurality of maintenance facilities based on the vehicle location in relation to the location of each maintenance facility of the plurality of maintenance facilities;

(o) transmitting, via the remote entity, the maintenance notification to the selected maintenance facility; and

(p) scheduling at the selected maintenance facility, via the remote entity, the maintenance event.

8. The maintenance management method of claim 7, the method further comprising:

(q) providing the mobile computing device comprising a CarShare App, wherein the mobile computing device is configured to pair with the SRWC module such that the vehicle functions can be commanded by the mobile computing device via the CarShare App;

(r) generating, via the remote entity, an out-of-service notification;

(s) transmitting, via the remote entity, the out-of-service notification to the CarShare App; and

(t) exhibiting, via the CarShare App, the out-of-service notification.

9. The maintenance management method of claim 8, wherein the out-of-service notification comprises an incentive offer.

10. The maintenance management method of claim 7, the method further comprising:

(q) generating, via the remote entity, an out-of-service notification configured to be exhibited on a display of the VCP to notify the system user that the vehicle cannot be reserved due to maintenance issues; and

(r) transmitting, via the remote entity, the out-of-service notification to the VCP.

11. The maintenance management method of claim 10, wherein the out-of-service notification comprises an incentive offer.

12. The maintenance management method of claim 7, wherein the routine maintenance notice comprises remaining oil time/quantity information, oil filter failure information, component failure information, self-diagnostic information, mileage information, or some combination thereof.

16. The maintenance management method of claim 7, wherein the step of selecting the one of the maintenance facilities from the plurality of maintenance facilities is further based on the maintenance specialties, technician availability, and facility capacity for each maintenance facility of the plurality of maintenance facilities.

19. The maintenance management method of claim 7, wherein the maintenance notification is further configured to allow a technician located at the selected maintenance facility to know when to conduct maintenance services on the vehicle as well as explain the detailed specifics of the maintenance event.

13. A method to manage the routine maintenance of a vehicle incorporated in a vehicle-share system, the maintenance management method comprising:

(a) providing a vehicle configured to be incorporated in the vehicle-share system, the vehicle comprising an oil monitoring module (OMM) and a short-range wireless connection (SRWC) module, wherein the vehicle-share system is configured to allow a system user to reserve the vehicle through a mobile computing device, and the vehicle-share system is additionally configured to pair the mobile computing device to the SRWC module such that one or more vehicle functions may be commanded by the mobile computing device;

(b) providing a vehicle communication platform (VCP) located within the vehicle, the VCP configured to communicate with the OMM, the VCP configured to generate and communicate at least one data transmission;

(c) providing a remote entity comprising a database incorporating vehicle reservation calendar information, the remote entity configured to receive the VCP data transmission, wherein the vehicle reservation calendar information is configured to establish a virtual calendar having numerous designatable time durations to enable system users to reserve the vehicle for one or more of the time durations;

(d) providing a GNSS chipset/component located in the vehicle, the GNSS chipset/component configured to provide vehicle location information to the VCP;

(e) providing a plurality of maintenance facilities each of which being configured to provide routine vehicle maintenance services;

(f) receiving, at the VCP, a vehicle oil information communication from the OMM;

(g) generating, via the VCP, at least one routine maintenance notice derived from the vehicle oil information;

(h) transmitting, via the VCP, the routine maintenance notice to the remote entity;

(i) receiving, at the VCP, vehicle location information from the GNSS chipset/component;

(j) transmitting, via the VCP, the vehicle location information to the remote entity;

(k) receiving, at the remote entity, the routine maintenance notice and the vehicle location information;

(l) implementing a back-end function, via the remote entity, to review and analyze the routine maintenance notice;

(m) predicting, via the remote entity, future maintenance of the vehicle from the routine maintenance notice analysis;

(n) modifying, via the remote entity, the vehicle registration status in the database for one or more of the time durations via the vehicle reservation calendar so as to restrict system users from reserving the vehicle during those one or more time durations and allow for a maintenance event;

(o) generating, via the remote entity, a maintenance notification derived from the maintenance notice analysis;

(p) selecting, via the remote entity, one maintenance facility from the plurality of maintenance facilities based on the vehicle location in relation to the location of each maintenance facility of the plurality of maintenance facilities;

(q) transmitting, via the remote entity, the maintenance notification to the selected maintenance facility; and

(r) scheduling at the selected maintenance facility, via the remote entity, the maintenance event.

14. The maintenance management method of claim 13, the method further comprising:

(s) providing the mobile computing device comprising a CarShare App, wherein the mobile computing device is configured to pair with the SRWC module such that the vehicle functions can be commanded by the mobile computing device via the CarShare App;

(t) generating, via the remote entity, an out-of-service notification;

(u) transmitting, via the remote entity, the out-of-service notification to the CarShare App; and

(v) exhibiting, via the CarShare App, the out-of-service notification.

17. The maintenance management method of claim 13, wherein the step of selecting the one of the maintenance facilities from the plurality of maintenance facilities is further based on the maintenance specialties, technician availability, and facility capacity for each maintenance facility of the plurality of maintenance facilities.

20. The maintenance management method of claim 13, wherein the maintenance notification is further configured to allow a technician located at the selected maintenance facility to know when to conduct maintenance services on the vehicle as well as explain the detailed specifics of the maintenance event.