Roadside assistance

• US 10,410,148 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2017
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Inventors: Briggs, Ryan M., Kozlowski, Tara Cavallaro, Iqbal, Imran
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelly, Rafferty D
• Application Number:
  US15/819,066
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 235375
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/22 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3223 Realising banking transactions through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3274 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being displayed on the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/016 After-sales
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0967 Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/15 Information service where the information is dependent on the location of the subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]

Abstract

A mobile computerized apparatus configured to provide membership status in a roadside assistance program after occurrence of a roadside event is disclosed. The apparatus executes instructions that cause/allow the apparatus to receive input related to an electronic membership card, retrieve from a data store membership information associated with the vehicle, and dynamically update the electronic membership card for display on the apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus supporting roadside assistance for a user at a user vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a user interface, the user interface including an input device and a display device;

a communications component receiving data messages via a wireless communication channel;

a processor for executing computer-executable instructions;

a memory storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the apparatus to perform steps comprising;

sending a roadside assistance request through the communications component, the request including user identification, location information, and a service type for the roadside assistance, the service type being one of a plurality of service types;

receiving a response through the communications component, the response including a plurality of service providers based on at least one of the location information and the service type;

displaying a displayed output on the display device, the displayed output indicative of the plurality of service providers;

receiving input data through the input device, the input data indicative of a selected service provider from the plurality of service providers;

sending a response message through the communications component, the response message indicative of the selected service provider; and

sending a subsequent message, through the communications component, the subsequent message indicative of a successful completion of the roadside assistance request and indicative of an authorized payment to the selected service provider, wherein the authorized payment to the selected service provider is funded by a company providing a roadside assistance program for the user.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by the processor further cause the apparatus to perform steps comprising:

receiving, through the communications component, provider information about each of the plurality of service providers.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the provider information includes a name, rating, and cost of said each of the plurality of service providers.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the memory storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by the processor further cause the apparatus to perform steps comprising:

displaying the provider information about the plurality of service providers on the display device of the user interface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by the processor further cause the apparatus to perform steps comprising:

receiving, through the communications component, service information about the selected service provider.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the memory storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by the processor further cause the apparatus to perform steps comprising:

displaying the service information about the selected service provider on the display device of the user interface.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the provider information includes a name, a telephone number, and estimated time of arrival (ETA) at the user vehicle.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the memory storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by the processor further cause the apparatus to perform steps comprising:

receiving, through the communications component, updates about the estimated time of arrival for the selected service provider at the user vehicle.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the memory storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by the processor further cause the apparatus to perform steps comprising:

displaying a representation of the telephone number of the selected service provider; and

displaying a selectable icon on the display device of the user interface, wherein, when selected, causes the apparatus to initiate a call to the selected service provider through the communications component.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by the processor further cause the apparatus to perform steps comprising:

obtaining, through the input device of the user interface, input data indicating the successful completion of the roadside assistance request provided by the selected service provider; and

in response to the obtaining, sending, through the communications component an indication to authorize the payment to the selected service provider.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the service type is directed to a vehicle service for the user vehicle.

12. A method for supporting roadside assistance for a user at a user vehicle, the method comprising:

sending, through a communications device of an apparatus, a roadside assistance request, the request including user identification, location information, and a service type for the roadside assistance;

receiving, though the communications device, a response, the response including a plurality of service providers based on at least one of the location information and the service type;

displaying a displayed output on a display device, the displayed output indicative of the plurality of service providers;

receiving input data though an input device, the input data indicative of a selected service provider from the plurality of service providers;

sending, though the communications device, a response message, the response message indicative of the selected service provider; and

sending a subsequent message, through a communications component, the subsequent message indicative of a successful completion of the roadside assistance request and indicative of an authorized payment to the selected service provider, wherein the authorized payment to the selected service provider is funded by a company providing a roadside assistance program for the user.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

receiving provider information about each of the plurality of service providers; and

displaying the provider information about the plurality of service providers on the display device.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

receiving service information about the selected service provider.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

extracting a name, a telephone number, and an estimated time of arrival (ETA) of a service vehicle from the service information.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

receiving updates about the estimated time of arrival by the selected service provider at the user vehicle.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

displaying a representation of the telephone number of the selected service provider; and

displaying a selectable icon, wherein, when selected, causes the apparatus to initiate a call to the selected service provider through the communications device.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

obtaining input data indicating the successful completion of the roadside assistance request provided by the selected service provider; and

in response to the obtaining, sending an indication to authorize the payment to the selected service provider.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the service type is one of a plurality of service types.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor at least to perform operations comprising:

sending a roadside assistance request for roadside assistance, the request including user identification, location information, and a service type for the roadside assistance, the service type being one of a plurality of service types;

receiving a response, the response including a plurality of service providers based on at least one of the location information and the service type;

displaying a displayed output, the displayed output indicative of the plurality of service providers;

receiving input data, the input data indicative of a selected service provider from the plurality of service providers; and

sending a response message, the response message indicative of the selected service provider.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed, cause the processor to perform:

receiving provider information about each of the plurality of service providers; and

displaying the provider information about the plurality of service providers.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed, cause the processor to perform:

sending a subsequent message, through a communications component, the subsequent message indicative of a successful completion of the roadside assistance request and indicative of an authorized payment to the selected service provider, wherein the authorized payment to the selected service provider is funded by a company providing a roadside assistance program for the user.