METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENABLING AFTER-HOURS VEHICLE PICK UP

• US 20150120402A1
• Filed: 10/24/2013
• Published: 04/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: AHMED, WAHAJ, SAUERBREY, STEVEN S., CHIM, HUONG T.
• Granted Patent: US 10,019,771 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083

Abstract

In an example of a method for enabling after-hours vehicle pick up, a server recognizes that a service payment request is outstanding for a serviced vehicle. In response to the recognizing, the server transmits an ignition block command to the serviced vehicle. The ignition block command triggers a powertrain control module of the serviced vehicle to enter a disengaged state that electrically prohibits the powertrain control module from providing tractive power to a vehicle drive wheel. At the server, a notification of a payment acceptance is received from an infotainment unit of the serviced vehicle or a mobile communications device associated with the serviced vehicle. In response to receiving the notification, the server transmits an ignition enabling command triggering the powertrain control module to enter an engaged state that electrically enables the powertrain control module to provide tractive power to the vehicle drive wheel.

Claims

1. A method for enabling after-hours vehicle pick up, the method comprising:

recognizing, at a server, that a service payment request is outstanding for a serviced vehicle;

in response to the recognizing, transmitting, from the server, an ignition block command to the serviced vehicle, the ignition block command triggering a powertrain control module of the serviced vehicle to enter a disengaged state that electrically prohibits the powertrain control module from providing tractive power to a vehicle drive wheel;

receiving, at the server, notification of a payment acceptance from an infotainment unit of the serviced vehicle or a mobile communications device associated with the serviced vehicle; and

in response to receiving the notification, transmitting, from the server, an ignition enabling command triggering the powertrain control module to enter an engaged state that electrically enables the powertrain control module to provide tractive power to the vehicle drive wheel.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising transmitting the service payment request from a dealership server to the infotainment unit.

3. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein prior to the server receiving the notification of the payment acceptance, the method further comprises:

unlocking the serviced vehicle in response to an unlock request; and

in response to the unlocking, displaying the service payment request on an in-vehicle display;

wherein the powertrain control module remains in the disengaged state during the unlocking and the displaying.

4. The method as defined in claim 3, further comprising transmitting the payment acceptance to the server through an in-vehicle application resident on a memory of the infotainment unit.

5. The method as defined in claim 3, further comprising transmitting the payment acceptance to the server using an application resident on a memory of the mobile communications device.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the ignition block command at a vehicle bus system of the serviced vehicle; and

in response to receiving the ignition block command, entering, by the powertrain control module, the disengaged state.

7. The method as defined in claim 6, further comprising the powertrain control module remaining in the disengaged state until the ignition enabling command is received.

8. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein prior to the recognizing that the service payment request is outstanding, the method further comprises:

transmitting, from a dealership server, a service completion notice to the mobile communications device;

receiving confirmation of an after-hours vehicle pick up at the dealership server; and

transmitting an ignition block request to the server, the ignition block request indicating that the service payment request is outstanding.

9. A method for picking up a serviced vehicle after hours, the method comprising:

by a powertrain control module of the serviced vehicle, entering a disengaged state in response to an ignition block command, the disengaged state electrically prohibiting the powertrain control module from providing tractive power to a vehicle drive wheel of the serviced vehicle;

while the powertrain control module is in the disengaged state, unlocking the vehicle in response to an unlock request;

while the powertrain control module is in the disengaged state, displaying a service payment request on a display of an in-vehicle infotainment unit;

transmitting a payment acceptance notification in response to the service payment request;

receiving an ignition enabling command at the serviced vehicle; and

in response to the ignition enabling command, entering an engaged state by the powertrain control module, the engaged state electrically enabling the powertrain control module to provide tractive power to the vehicle drive wheel.

10. The method as defined in claim 9, further comprising:

in response to the service payment request, receiving a user input at an in-vehicle application resident on a memory of the in-vehicle infotainment unit; and

wherein the transmitting of the payment acceptance notification is accomplished using the in-vehicle application.

11. The method as defined in claim 9, further comprising:

in response to the service payment request, receiving a user input at an application resident on a memory of mobile communications device associated with the serviced vehicle; and

wherein the transmitting of the payment acceptance notification is accomplished using the mobile communications device application.

12. The method as defined in claim 9 wherein prior to the powertrain control module of the serviced vehicle entering the disengaged state, the method further comprises:

transmitting, from a dealership server, a service completion notice to a mobile communications device associated with the serviced vehicle;

receiving confirmation of an after-hours vehicle pick up at the dealership server;

transmitting an ignition block request to an other server, the ignition block request indicating that the service payment request is outstanding; and

transmitting the ignition block command from the other server.

13. A system for enabling after-hours vehicle pick up, comprising:

a vehicle bus system disposed in a vehicle;

a powertrain control module connected to the vehicle bus system, the powertrain control module including;

an engaged state electrically enabling the powertrain control module to provide tractive power to a vehicle drive wheel; and

a disengaged state electrically inhibiting the powertrain control module from providing tractive power to the vehicle drive wheel; and

an in-vehicle microprocessor connected to the vehicle bus system, the in-vehicle processor running computer readable instructions, embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, for;

triggering the powertrain control module to enter the disengaged state in response to a received ignition block command; and

triggering the powertrain control module to switch from the disengaged state to the engaged state in response to a received ignition enabling command that is transmitted only after a payment acceptance notification responsive to a service payment request is received at a server.

14. The system as defined in claim 13, further comprising:

a dealership server running computer readable instructions, embodied on an other non-transitory computer readable medium, for;

generating a service completion notice;

generating the service payment request; and

generating an ignition block request in response to receiving confirmation of an after-hours vehicle pick up; and

a dealership communications module operatively connected to the dealership server for respectively transmitting the service completion notice, the service payment request, and the ignition block request.

15. The system as defined in claim 13, further comprising:

a memory associated with the in-vehicle microprocessor; and

an application resident on the memory, the application including computer readable instructions for;

displaying the received service payment request on an in-vehicle display;

receiving a user input in response to the service payment request; and

transmitting a payment acceptance notification in response to the user input.

16. The system as defined in claim 13, further comprising:

a mobile communications device associated with the serviced vehicle;

a memory of the mobile communications device; and

an application resident on the memory, the application including computer readable instructions for;

receiving a user input in response to the service payment request; and

transmitting the payment acceptance notification in response to the user input.