MANAGEMENT OF ROADSIDE SERVICE REQUESTS

• US 20120190384A1
• Filed: 01/23/2012
• Published: 07/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Original Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Inventors: Marr, Cary Duane, Sutfin, Roy B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,805,419 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

A method and apparatus to manage a service request involves the use of a smart phone'"'"'s ability to communicate GPS information over the internet. A customer in need of roadside service can submit a roadside service request through a mobile web site or mobile application, and can provide location information through the smart phone'"'"'s GPS receiver. Should the system not have a location for the customer, a unique URL can be created that identifies the service request and sent for the customer to access on the smart phone, which allows the web server to request the smart phone'"'"'s GPS location and automatically associate it with the correct service request.

Claims

1. A method for managing a service request for roadside assistance of a vehicle needing service, comprising:

authorizing a user,

receiving data through the internet representing a service request from the user,

receiving data through the internet representing a physical location of a vehicle needing service, and

associating the location data with the service request data in order to carry out the service request.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating a unique browser address with the service request,

sending data to a mobile communications device representing the unique browser address,

responding to a device accessing the unique browser address by requesting location data from the device,

receiving data through the internet representing a physical location of the vehicle needing service, and

associating the location data with the service request data.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving data representing a second physical location of a service vehicle dispatched to handle the service request;

generating a graphical map, wherein the first and second physical locations are marked on the map; and

transmitting the map through the internet to the user.

4. A method for managing a service request for roadside assistance of a vehicle needing service, comprising:

associating a web address with a service request,

sending data to a mobile communications device representing the web address, wherein the mobile communications device is disposed at the same physical location as the vehicle needing service,

responding to the mobile communications device accessing the unique browser address by requesting location data from the mobile communications device,

receiving data through the internet representing a physical location of the vehicle needing service, and

associating the location data with the service request data.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the data is sent to the mobile communications device as a text message.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

program code configured to be executed by the at least one processor to manage a service request for roadside assistance of a vehicle needing service by;

authorizing a user,

receiving data through the internet representing a service request from the user,

receiving data through the internet representing a physical location of a vehicle needing service, and

associating the location data with the service request data in order to carry out the service request.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the program code is further configured to:

associate a unique browser address with the service request,

send data to a mobile communications device representing the unique browser address,

respond to a device accessing the unique browser address by requesting location data from the device,

receive data through the internet representing a physical location of the vehicle needing service, and

associate the location data with the service request data.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the program code is further configured to:

receive data representing a second physical location of a service vehicle dispatched to handle the service request;

generate a graphical map, wherein the first and second physical locations are marked on the map; and

transmit the map through the internet to the user.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

program code configured to be executed by the at least one processor to manage a service request for roadside assistance of a vehicle needing service by;

associating a web address with a service request,

sending data to a mobile communications device representing the web address, wherein the mobile communications device is disposed at the same physical location as the vehicle needing service,

responding to the mobile communications device accessing the unique browser address by requesting location data from the mobile communications device,

receiving data through the internet representing a physical location of the vehicle needing service, and

associating the location data with the service request data.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the data is sent to the mobile communications device as a text message.