Method and Apparatus for Recall Notification Handling

• US 20130260723A1
• Filed: 04/03/2012
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Chander, Bala, Stiyer, Robin J., Shane, Michael Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 9,691,192 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means

Abstract

In a first illustrative embodiment, a computer implemented method includes receiving a recall message from a remote source. The method also includes comparing the recall to stored vehicle data to determine if a recall repair has already been completed. The method further includes delivering the recall message to at least one vehicle occupant through a vehicle system, contingent on the non-completion of the recall repair.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a recall message at a vehicle computing system (VCS) from a remote source;

comparing, via the VCS, the recall to stored vehicle data to determine if a recall repair has already been completed;

contingent on the non-completion of the recall repair, delivering the recall message to at least one vehicle occupant through a vehicle output system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is delivered through a vehicle audio system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is delivered through a vehicle display system.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting the presence of a primary phone paired with a vehicle computing system when a message is received, wherein, if a primary phone is not detected, the message is queued for replay at a time when a primary phone is detected.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

responsive to a message being queued for replay when a primary device is detected, detecting the presence of a primary phone paired with a vehicle computing system, wherein if a primary phone is detected, the message is replayed for a vehicle occupant through a vehicle system.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

following delivery of the recall message, queuing the recall message for replay at a later time; and

following the passage of a predetermined period, replaying the recall message.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the predetermined period is determined at least in part based on severity data included with the recall message.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving stored preferred dealer data;

providing an option to connect a call to a preferred dealer; and

providing an option to re-route to the preferred dealer.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining a distance between the vehicle and the preferred dealer; and

if the distance between the vehicle and the preferred dealer is greater than a predetermined distance, providing an alternative dealer in closer proximity to the vehicle as the preferred dealer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined distance varies based at least in part of severity data included with the recall message.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the method comprising:

receiving a recall message from a remote source;

comparing the recall to stored vehicle data to determine if a recall repair has already been completed;

contingent on the non-completion of the recall repair, delivering the recall message to at least one vehicle occupant through a vehicle system.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the message is delivered through a vehicle audio system.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the message is delivered through a vehicle display system.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises detecting the presence of a primary phone paired with a vehicle computing system when a message is received, wherein, if a primary phone is not detected, the message is queued for replay at a time when a primary phone is detected.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

responsive to a message being queued for replay when a primary device is detected, detecting the presence of a primary phone paired with a vehicle computing system, wherein if a primary phone is detected, the message is replayed for a vehicle occupant through a vehicle system.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

following delivery of the recall message, queuing the recall message for replay at a later time; and

following the passage of a predetermined period, replaying the recall message.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the predetermined period is determined at least in part based on severity data included with the recall message.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

retrieving stored preferred dealer data;

providing an option to connect a call to a preferred dealer; and

providing an option to re-route to the preferred dealer.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises:

determining a distance between the vehicle and the preferred dealer; and

if the distance between the vehicle and the preferred dealer is greater than a predetermined distance, providing an alternative dealer in closer proximity to the vehicle as the preferred dealer.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the predetermined distance varies based at least in part of severity data included with the recall message.

21. A computer implemented method comprising:

detecting that a primary phone is paired with a vehicle computing system (VCS);

comparing a phone number of the primary phone to a stored primary phone number;

wherein, if the phone number of the primary phone differs from the stored primary phone number the VCS asks a user for new primary contact information once a vehicle is in a parked state.