METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING SERVICE AT SERVICE CENTERS

• US 20150142256A1
• Filed: 01/26/2015
• Published: 05/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Emanuel D. Jones
• Original Assignee: Emanuel D. Jones
• Inventors: Jones, Emanuel D.
• Application Number:
  US14/605,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20150142256A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/31.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

Methods and systems for improving the efficiency of vehicle servicing at a vehicle service center are described. A customer identifies a vehicle on a smart device. A service history for the vehicle is retrieved and transmitted to the smart device. The customer, using the smart device, identifies a concern with the vehicle. Diagnostic solutions are determined for the vehicle using the customer identified concern. A service report is generated that includes the diagnostic solutions along with prices for each diagnostic solution presented. A repair order is generated by a system having manufacturer information about the vehicle being accessed.

Claims

1. A method for improving the efficiency of vehicle servicing at a vehicle service center comprising the steps of:

receiving, from a smart device, a service from a list of services to be performed on the vehicle, the list of services being included within a services database accessible by the smart device, the services database being in communication with a dealer management system having information specific to the vehicle;

retrieving vehicle history records for the vehicle from a vehicle history database;

receiving, from the smart device, a concern related to the vehicle;

retrieving diagnostic solutions correlated with the concern from a diagnostic solutions database;

generating a service report including the diagnostic solutions correlated with the concern and prices corresponding to the diagnostic solutions; and

preparing a repair order after querying a secondary system having information specific to a manufacturer of the vehicle.

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

updating the dealer management system to reflect the service report.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

forwarding the service report to a technician.

4. The method of claim 3further comprising the step of:

receiving recommendations from the technician, the recommendations being based upon an examination of the vehicle and the service report.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of:

transmitting the recommendations to the smart device for approval by a customer.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of:

receiving, from the smart device, approval for at least a portion of the recommendations.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

determining whether additional services are performable on the vehicle based upon the vehicle history records; and

querying the secondary system to determine whether the vehicle has any outstanding recalls.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of:

transmitting, to the smart device, a supplemental report evidencing the additional services and outstanding recalls.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

transmitting the service report to a parts department, the parts department determining needed parts, pricing of parts, availability of parts, locations of parts, and discounts.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

receiving, from the smart device, a pre-payment for at least one of parts and services.

11. A method for automating routine servicing of a vehicle comprising the steps of:

receiving, from a smart device, a service from a list of services to be performed on the vehicle, the list of services being included within a services database accessible by the smart device, the services database being in communication with a dealer management system having information specific to the vehicle;

correlating the received service with information included within the services database; and

generating a repair order report.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

transmitting instructions to a technician to perform the received service on the vehicle.

13. A system for improving efficacy of vehicle servicing comprising:

a smart device receiving vehicle information from a customer;

a technician device in communication with the smart device and allowing a technician to review the vehicle information;

a vehicle database in communication with the device, the vehicle database including information related to vehicles, the vehicle database being included within a dealer management system in communication with service centers;

a services database in communication with the smart device, the technician device, and the dealer management system, the services database including service history specific to the vehicle, the history specific to the vehicle being communicable with the service centers over the dealer management system upon request and authentication; and

a service report generator generating a service report based on the vehicle information and information provided by the technician, the dealer management system being updated according to information contained within the service report.

14. A method for self-service by a customer during a visit to a vehicle service center comprising the steps of:

transmitting, by a smart device, vehicle identifying information;

transmitting, by the smart device, customer information corresponding to the vehicle identifying information;

accessing, by the smart device, a vehicle history database including vehicle history information specific to the vehicle, the vehicle history database being in communication with a dealer management system;

transmitting, by the smart device, a concern about the vehicle;

receiving, by the smart device, a recommendation for the vehicle based on the concern, overdue services for the vehicle, and comments of a technician, the overdue services being determined from the vehicle history information and a suggested services list included within the dealer management system; and

transmitting, by the smart device, the recommendation to a server database, the server database being in communication with vehicle service centers.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the recommendation is communicable from the server database to the vehicle service centers upon request and authentication.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

receiving, by the smart device, warrantee information specific to the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the concern about the vehicle is depicted on a customer alterable pictorial representation of the vehicle.