Online method and system for advising customers on service needs, facilitating the scheduling of vehicle service appointments, and checking vehicle service status

• US 20040059618A1
• Filed: 05/21/2003
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Mooney, Nadine Ann, McCaffrey, Kenneth James, Ford, David John, Retzbach, Joseph, Graham, John Garfield
• Granted Patent: US 8,521,654 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance

Abstract

One aspect of the present invention is an online method for advising a customer on service needs and facilitating the scheduling of a vehicle service appointment. The method can comprise receiving a service inquiry, receiving input information regarding potential service of the vehicle, transmitting an open appointments request to a dealer management system (DMS), receiving a plurality of open appointments from the DMS, causing display of the plurality of open appointments wherein one of the plurality of open appointments is selected as an appointment request, and transmitting the input information and the appointment request to the DMS to facilitate the scheduling of the vehicle service appointment. The last four steps outlined can be conducted in substantially real-time.

Claims