Method and Apparatus for Roadside Assistance Facilitation

• US 20130225111A1
• Filed: 02/27/2012
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hatton, David Anthony, Esselink, Chad Evert, Ziazadeh, Ninos, Chronowski, David, Kimmerling, George Edward
• Granted Patent: US 9,055,409 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/046 involving vehicles, e.g. floating traffic data [FTD] or vehicle traffic prediction
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]

Abstract

A roadside assistance system includes a vehicle computing system (VCS), an intermediate system, operable to communicate with the VCS and at least one backend system, and a backend roadside assistance processing system, operable to receive data from the intermediate system and operable to receive calls from the VCS. The VCS is operable to establish communication with the intermediate system. The VCS is further operable to transfer data to the intermediate system, to place a call to the backend roadside assistance processing system, and to relay at least a MIN to the backend roadside assistance processing system. The intermediate system is operable to process transferred data and relay data to the backend roadside system. The backend roadside system is operable to compare the MIN relayed from the VCS with data received from the intermediate system to formulate a dispatch order and to dispatch roadside assistance in accordance with the dispatch order.

Claims

1. A roadside assistance system comprising:

a vehicle computing system (VCS), operable to wirelessly communicate with one or more remote systems through a wireless connection established with a wireless device;

an intermediate system, operable to communicate with the VCS and at least one backend system; and

a backend roadside assistance processing system, operable to receive data from the intermediate system through a data connection and operable to receive phone calls from the VCS, wherein

the VCS is operable to establish communication with the intermediate system responsive to a roadside assistance request, wherein

the VCS is further operable to transfer vehicle and customer data to the intermediate system, including customer extended service eligibility data, wherein

the VCS is further operable to place a phone call to the backend roadside assistance processing system, wherein

the VCS is further operable to relay at least a mobile identification number to the backend roadside assistance processing system, wherein

the intermediate system is operable to process transferred data and relay transferred data to the backend roadside system, including the customer extended service plan data, wherein

the backend roadside system is operable to compare the mobile identification number relayed from the VCS with data received from the intermediate system to formulate a dispatch order, and wherein

the backend roadside system is further operable to dispatch roadside assistance in accordance with the dispatch order.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the intermediate system is operable to determine customer eligibility for roadside assistance.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the backend roadside assistance system is operable to determine customer eligibility for roadside assistance.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the intermediate system is operable to relay vehicle data to an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) backend system for processing.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the intermediate system is operable to translate vehicle diagnostic data into legible English diagnostic data.

6. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a roadside assistance request at a vehicle computing system (VCS);

establishing a first communication with an intermediate system;

relaying vehicle data from the VCS to the intermediate system, including customer extended service plan data, for processing;

establishing a second communication with a roadside assistance center;

relaying customer data to the roadside assistance center for processing; and

providing an open line for communication between the customer and the roadside assistance center.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the request is received from an automated vehicle process.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the request is received from a manual user input.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the vehicle related data includes at least a vehicle identification number and a mobile identification number.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the customer data includes at least a mobile identification number.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the second communication is a phone call, established through a wireless phone in wireless communication with the VCS.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first communication is WiFi communication established through the wireless phone serving as an access point.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first communication is a data-plan communication, established through the wireless phone.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the first communication is a data over voice communication, established through the wireless phone.

15. A computer implemented method comprising:

receiving a call from a vehicle computing system (VCS) relaying a request for roadside assistance;

receiving data from an intermediate source, including customer extended service plan data, the data having been sent to the intermediate source by the VCS;

correlating the received phone call and received data;

verifying customer assistance eligibility based at least in part on the customer extended service plan data; and

contingent on customer assistance eligibility, automatically dispatching roadside assistance to assist a customer.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing data to the VCS relating to the dispatched roadside assistance for display to the customer.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the receiving a call further include receiving a mobile identification number (MIN).

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the receiving data further includes receiving a vehicle identification number (VIN) and a MIN.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the correlating further includes comparing a MIN received with the call and a MIN received with the data.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the verifying further includes retrieving at least service records based on the received VIN.