Digital assistant for vehicle related activities

• US 10,169,794 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2016
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Aziz, Zain, Nandi, Ajoy
• Primary Examiner(s): Airapetian, Mila
• Application Number:
  US15/176,090
• Publication Number:
  US 20170352082A1
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 705 261
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0266 based on the position of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0278 Product appraisal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0617 Representative agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• 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

In representative embodiments, a digital assistant provides actionable information to a user regarding one or more vehicles owned by a user. Actionable information is typically provided in a “tip” which is a mechanism for presenting information to a user and may be presented in text, audible, or other form. The tips provided by the digital assistant are directed to helping the user with tasks associated with vehicles such as knowing when to obtain service such as oil changes, tire inflation, light replacement, brake replacement, fluid level check/fill, or other service. The digital assistant can utilize user information to automatically book service appointments, recommend times for service or other vehicle actions, route changes and so forth. Tips can also include links to a marketplace where recommended services can be obtained.

Claims

1. A method implemented by a digital assistant comprising:

receiving data comprising;

user data comprising at least one of;

user communication information in the form of email, text messaging or both;

user calendar or schedule information;

user created reminders; and

user request information;

vehicle information comprising at least one of;

vehicle identifying information;

vehicle state or status information;

vehicle service information; and

vehicle diagnostic information;

receiving a set of rules, each of which describe a relationship between user data, vehicle information, and a tip containing actionable information regarding the vehicle;

when the user data does not comprise user request information, select a proactive mode of operation and in the proactive mode of operation;

monitor the user data and vehicle information to identify when one or more rules of the set of rules are met;

responsive to one or more rules being met, identifying at least one tip comprising actionable vehicle information;

when the received user data comprises user request information select a reactive mode of operation, and in the reactive mode of operation;

evaluating any inferences made in the proactive mode of operation, received vehicle information, and received user data to determine whether one or more rules in the set of rules are met;

responsive to one or more rules being met, identifying at least one other tip comprising actionable vehicle information;

responsive to one or more rules being met in either the proactive or reactive mode of operation, selecting at least one channel to present the at least one tip or the at least one other tip to a user associated with the user data and the vehicle information; and

presenting the at least one tip or the at least one other tip via the at least one channel to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data received further comprises marketplace information comprising product, service, or both product and service information.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the data received further comprises marketplace information comprising service providers, product providers, locations of service and product providers, prices, operating hours, and any deals offered by a service or product provider.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the rules further identify a relationship between a product provider or service provider such that there is a relationship between the product provider or service provider and the tip.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the actionable information provided in the at least one tip contains a link to a marketplace where fulfillment of the at least one tip can be obtained.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the actionable information provided in the at least one tip comprises a phone number for a service provider.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the actionable information comprises service for a vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the actionable information comprises a user action with regard to the vehicle.

9. A machine-readable medium having executable instructions encoded thereon, which, when executed by at least one processor of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

receive data comprising;

user data comprising at least one of;

user communication information in the form of email, text messaging or both;

user calendar or schedule information;

user created reminders; and

user request information;

vehicle information comprising at least one of;

vehicle identifying information;

vehicle state or status information;

vehicle service information; and

vehicle diagnostic information; and

marketplace information comprising at least one of;

a product provider, a service provider, a location of the product provider or the service provider, business hours of the product provider or the service provider, discounts offered by the product provider or the service provider;

receive a set of rules, each of which describe a relationship between user data, vehicle information, and a tip containing actionable information regarding the vehicle;

when the user data does not comprise user request information, select a proactive mode of operation and in the proactive mode of operation;

monitor the user data and vehicle information to identify when one or more rules of the set of rules are met;

responsive to one or more rules being met, identify at least one tip comprising actionable vehicle information;

when the received user data comprises user request information select a reactive mode of operation, and in the reactive mode of operation;

evaluate any inferences made in the proactive mode of operation, received vehicle information, and received user data to determine whether one or more rules in the set of rules are met;

responsive to one or more rules being met, identify at least one other tip comprising actionable vehicle information;

responsive to one or more rules being met in either the proactive or reactive mode of operation, select at least one channel to present the at least one tip or the at least one other tip to a user associated with the user data and the vehicle information; and

present the at least one tip or the at least one other tip via the at least one channel to the user.

10. The machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein set of rules comprises at least one of:

if miles driven since last oil service is less than a threshold, then the at least one tip or the at least one other tip comprises an oil change recommendation;

if tire pressure is a threshold value below a required value, then the at least one tip or the at least one other tip comprises a corrective notice for tire pressure;

if engine monitor triggers indicate a problem with the engine, then the at least one tip or the at least one other tip comprises an engine correction notice or a recommended engine service provider; and

if subsystem monitors indicate a problem with one or more vehicle subsystems, then the at least one tip or the at least one other tip comprises a subsystem correction notice or a recommended subsystem service provider.

11. The machine-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the recommended engine service provider and the recommended subsystem service provider are based on at least one of:

past user service procurement, cost, service provider expertise, or discounts available.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the threshold is a fixed threshold based upon a recommendation by a manufacturer for a vehicle operated by the user.

13. The machine-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the threshold is based on an average number of miles driven per day and a recommendation by a manufacturer for a vehicle operated by the user.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein set of rules comprises at least one of:

if vehicle state/status indicates potential upcoming problems based on at least one of collected vehicle problem information, service records, age of vehicle, or miles on vehicle, then the at least one tip or the at least one other tip comprises a recommendation to sell the vehicle;

if a value of a vehicle owned by the user is above a threshold, then at least one tip or the at least one other tip comprises a recommendation to sell the vehicle;

if vehicle mileage is above a threshold, then at least one tip or the at least one other tip comprises a recommendation to sell the vehicle; and

if vehicle demand is above a threshold or if projected maintenance costs are above a threshold, then at least one tip or the at least one other tip comprises a recommendation to sell the vehicle.

15. The machine-readable medium of claim 14 wherein a potential upcoming problem is identified when service records a vehicle has not had a problem corrected and where an age or mileage of the vehicle is within a threshold distance of the age or mileage when the problem is likely to occur.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the at least one tip comprises obtaining snow tires or tire chains.

17. A computing system implementing a digital assistant comprising:

a processor and executable instructions accessible on a machine-readable medium that, when executed, cause the system to perform operations comprising;

receive data comprising;

user data comprising at least one of;

user communication information in the form of email, text messaging or both;

user calendar or schedule information;

user created reminders; and

user request information;

vehicle information comprising at least one of;

vehicle identifying information;

vehicle state or status information;

vehicle service information; and

vehicle diagnostic information;

receive a set of rules, each of which describe a relationship between user data, vehicle information, and a tip containing actionable information regarding the vehicle;

when the user data does not comprise user request information, select a proactive mode of operation and in the proactive mode of operation;

monitor the user data and vehicle information to identify when one or more rules of the set of rules are met;

responsive to one or more rules being met, identify at least one tip comprising actionable vehicle information;

when the received user data comprises user request information select a reactive mode of operation, and in the reactive mode of operation;

evaluating any inferences made in the proactive mode of operation, received vehicle information, and received user data to determine whether one or more rules in the set of rules are met;

responsive to one or more rules being met, identifying at least one other tip comprising actionable vehicle information;

responsive to one or more rules being met in either the proactive or reactive mode of operation, select at least one channel to present the at least one tip or at least one other tip to a user associated with the user data and the vehicle information; and

present the at least one tip or at least one other tip via the at least one channel to the user.

18. The computing system of claim 17, wherein the data received further comprises marketplace information comprising product, service, or both product and service information.

19. The computing system of claim 17 wherein the data received further marketplace information comprising service providers, product providers, locations of service and product providers, prices, operating hours, and any deals offered by a service or product provider.

20. The computing system of claim 19 wherein the rules further identify a relationship between a product provider or service provider.