Method and system of managing service reminders and scheduling service appointments using mileage estimates

• US 20040249530A1
• Filed: 06/02/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CDK Global Incorporated
• Original Assignee: The Cobalt Group Incorporated (Automatic Data Processing Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kelly, John, Supra, John, Rush, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,542,833 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/30
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/007 Wheeled or endless-tracked vehicles G01M17/08 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system for scheduling service appointments based on service reminders sent based on the estimated mileage the vehicle. The mileage of the vehicle can be estimated based on the age of the vehicle, or it can be based on the last known mileage of the vehicle and estimating the additional mileage using average vehicle mileage statistics. The mileage of the vehicle may be estimated based on actual vehicle history, and may be adjusted based on the characteristics of the vehicle, the driver, or the geographic location of the vehicle. Service reminders sent to a recipient include a link to a scheduling server. The scheduling server provides a scheduling page allowing the recipient to view and select from available service time slots at the service shop.

Claims

1. A method of scheduling a service appointment based on a service reminder for a vehicle, comprising:

retrieving information on a particular vehicle from a database,

estimating the current mileage of the particular vehicle,

comparing the current mileage to a list of service reminders,

in the event the estimated current mileage matches a mileage window for a service reminder, generating a service reminder, and

including a scheduling information for the recipient to schedule a service appointment.

2. A method of scheduling a service appointment based on a service reminder for a vehicle, comprising:

retrieving information on a particular vehicle from a database,

estimating the current mileage of the particular vehicle,

comparing the current mileage to a list of service reminders,

in the event the estimated current mileage matches a mileage window for a service reminder, generating a service reminder, and

including a scheduling link to a scheduling page in the service reminder.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of sending the service reminder as an e-mail message to a recipient responsible for the care of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of sending a scheduling page in response to a recipient of the service reminder clicking on the scheduling link.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the scheduling page includes:

at least one service time slot, and

a selection indicator allowing the recipient to indicate the selection of a particular time slot.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the service time slot indicates the time slot available for scheduling at a time approximate to the sending of the scheduling page.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the scheduling page further includes a calendar identifier, the calendar identifier having a plurality of day identifiers, wherein the day selected is indicated by a day selector.

8. A method of generating a service reminder for a vehicle, comprising:

retrieving information on a particular vehicle from a database,

estimating the current mileage of the particular vehicle using the last known mileage of the vehicle, wherein the days elapsed since the recording of the last known mileage of the vehicle is multiplied by an average mileage per time period factor to estimate the vehicle'"'"'s current mileage,

comparing the current mileage estimate to a list of service reminders,

in the event the estimated current mileage matches a mileage window for a service reminder, generating a service reminder, and

including a scheduling link to a scheduling page in the service reminder.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of sending the service reminder as an e-mail message to a recipient responsible for the care of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of sending a scheduling page in response to a recipient of the service reminder clicking on the scheduling link.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the scheduling page includes:

at least one service time slot, and

a selection indicator allowing the recipient to indicate the selection of a particular time slot.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the service time slot indicates the time slot available for scheduling at a time approximate to the sending of the scheduling page.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the scheduling page further includes a calendar identifier, the calendar identifier having a plurality of day identifiers, wherein the day selected is indicated by a day selector.

14. A method of generating a service reminder for a vehicle, comprising:

retrieving information on a particular vehicle from a database,

determining the process of estimating the vehicle'"'"'s mileage, then;

(i) in the event the determination indicates the vehicle age should be used,

estimating the current mileage of the particular vehicle using the age of the vehicle, wherein the age of the vehicle is multiplied by an average mileage per time period factor to estimate the vehicle'"'"'s current mileage,

(ii) in the event the determination indicates the vehicle'"'"'s last known mileage should be used,

estimating the current mileage of the particular vehicle using the last known mileage of the vehicle, wherein the days elapsed since the recording of the last known mileage of the vehicle is multiplied by an average mileage per time period factor to estimate the vehicle'"'"'s current mileage,

comparing the current mileage estimate to a list of service reminders,

in the event the estimated current mileage matches a mileage window for a service reminder, generating a service reminder, and

comparing the current mileage estimate to at least one mileage based promotion,

in the event the estimated current mileage matches the mileage characteristics of the promotion, including the promotion in the service reminder, and

including a scheduling link to a scheduling page in the service reminder.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of sending the service reminder as an e-mail message to a recipient responsible for the care of the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of sending a scheduling page in response to a recipient of the service reminder clicking on the scheduling link.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the scheduling page includes:

at least one service time slot, and

a selection indicator allowing the recipient to indicate the selection of a particular time slot.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the service time slot indicates the time slot available for scheduling at a time approximate to the sending of the scheduling page.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the scheduling page further includes a calendar identifier, the calendar identifier having a plurality of day identifiers, wherein the day selected is indicated by a day selector.

20. A system for generating a service reminder for a vehicle, comprising:

a reminder server; and

a database including information relating to vehicles, vehicle owners and drivers, vehicle service reminders;

wherein the reminder server retrieves information on a particular vehicle from a database, and, based on the information retrieved, determines the process of estimating the vehicle'"'"'s mileage, then;

(i) in the event the determination indicates the vehicle age should be used,

estimating the current mileage of the particular vehicle using the age of the vehicle, wherein the age of the vehicle is multiplied by an average mileage per time period factor to estimate the vehicle'"'"'s current mileage,

(ii) in the event the determination indicates the vehicle'"'"'s last known mileage should be used,

estimating the current mileage of the particular vehicle using the last known mileage of the vehicle, wherein the days elapsed since the recording of the last known mileage of the vehicle is multiplied by an average mileage per time period factor to estimate the vehicle'"'"'s current mileage,

comparing the current mileage estimate to a list of service reminders,

in the event the estimated current mileage matches a mileage window for a service reminder, generating a service reminder, and

wherein the reminder server also compares the current mileage estimate to at least one mileage based promotion to determine whether a mileage based promotion should be included in the service reminder, and in the event the estimated current mileage matches the mileage characteristics of the promotion, including the promotion in the service reminder, and

including a scheduling link to a scheduling page in the service reminder.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the reminder server sends the service reminder as an e-mail message to a recipient responsible for the care of the vehicle.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein clicking on the scheduling link connects the recipients end user device to a scheduling server.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the scheduling server sends a scheduling page in response to a recipient of the service reminder clicking on the scheduling link.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the scheduling page includes:

at least one service time slot, and

a selection indicator allowing the recipient to indicate the selection of a particular time slot.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the service time slot indicates the time slot available for scheduling at a time approximate to the sending of the scheduling page.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the scheduling page further includes a calendar identifier, the calendar identifier having a plurality of day identifiers, wherein the day selected is indicated by a day selector.