METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR INITIATING SERVICE SESSIONS BETWEEN VEHICLES AND SERVICE PROVIDERS

• US 20100332073A1
• Filed: 06/30/2009
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: YORK, JASON D., FLOOD, JOHN J. IV, MATHIESON, KIER M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,352,115 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/32
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A method for initiating a service session with a vehicle includes the steps of receiving a first wireless signal transmitted by the vehicle, establishing an identity of the vehicle from the first wireless signal, associating a privilege with the vehicle based at least in part on the identity, transmitting a second wireless signal to the vehicle with a request for service data of the vehicle if the privilege includes an ability to request the service data from the vehicle, and receiving the service data of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for initiating a service session with a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

receiving a first wireless signal transmitted by the vehicle;

establishing an identity of the vehicle from the first wireless signal;

associating a privilege with the vehicle based at least in part on the identity;

transmitting a second wireless signal to the vehicle with a request for service data of the vehicle if the privilege includes an ability to request the service data from the vehicle; and

receiving the service data of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

transmitting a wireless identity signal of a service provider having a second transmission range of less than about one hundred meters.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of receiving the first wireless signal occurs at least in part in response to the transmitting of the wireless identity signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the service data comprises state of health data for the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

transmitting a request to display a welcome message for an occupant of the vehicle along with the second wireless signal.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

transmitting a request to override a default behavior of an actuator or device of the vehicle along with the second wireless signal.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

transmitting a third wireless signal with a service history for the vehicle.

8. A method for a vehicle to initiate a service session with a service provider, comprising the steps of:

receiving a first wireless signal transmitted by the service provider;

establishing an identity of the service provider from the first wireless signal;

associating a privilege with the service provider based at least in part on the identity;

accepting a second wireless signal with a request for service data of the vehicle if the privilege includes an ability of the service provider to access the service data gathering the service data; and

transmitting a third wireless signal to the service provider with the service data gathered by the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the step of gathering the service data comprises the step of gathering the service data on a condition that the second wireless signal is accepted; and

the step of transmitting the third wireless signal comprises the step of transmitting the third wireless signal to the service provider with the service data gathered by the vehicle on the condition that the second wireless signal is accepted.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the service data comprises state of health data for the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

displaying a welcome message for an occupant of the vehicle after establishing the identity of the service provider.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

allowing the service provider to override a default behavior of an actuator or device of the vehicle along with the second wireless signal.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

receiving a fourth wireless signal from the service provider with a service history for the vehicle.

14. An embedded apparatus of a vehicle for initiating a service session with a service provider, the embedded apparatus comprising:

a receiver embedded within the vehicle and adapted to receive a first wireless signal from the service provider;

a processor within the vehicle and adapted to;

establish an identity of the service provider from the first wireless signal;

associate a privilege with the service provider based at least in part on the identity; and

gather service data of the vehicle if the privilege includes an ability of the service provider to access the service data of the vehicle; and

a transmitter embedded within the vehicle and adapted to transmit a second wireless signal to the service provider with the service data gathered by the processor.

15. The embedded apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

a housing;

wherein the receiver, the processor, and the transmitter are each disposed within the housing.

16. The embedded apparatus of claim 15, wherein the vehicle comprises a plurality of modules, and the embedded apparatus further comprises:

a sensor array and an actuator array disposed within the housing and adapted to obtain state of health information from the plurality of modules of the vehicle and to provide the state of health information to the processor;

wherein the processor is adapted to gather the service data using the state of health information.

17. The embedded apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

a plurality of communication buses disposed within the housing and adapted to facilitate transport of the state of health information from the sensor array and the actuator array to the processor.

18. The embedded apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

a display, an audio system, or both, coupled to the processor and adapted to provide a textual welcome message and audio message for an occupant of the vehicle after the identity of the service provider is established.

19. The embedded apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor is adapted to allow the service provider to override a default behavior of an actuator or device of the vehicle upon request from the service provider after the identity of the service provider is established.

20. The embedded apparatus of claim 14, wherein the receiver is adapted to receive a third wireless signal from the service provider with a service history for the vehicle, and the embedded apparatus further comprises a memory configured to store the service history for the vehicle.