Method and Apparatus for Vehicle Warning Light Handling

• US 20160247333A1
• Filed: 02/25/2015
• Published: 08/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Rockwell, Mark Anthony, Martin, Douglas Raymond
• Granted Patent: US 10,565,806 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

A system includes a processor configured to detect a vehicle condition associated with a warning light. The processor is also configured to obtain explanatory information explaining the cause of the warning light. The processor is further configured to present the explanatory information via a vehicle display. Also, the processor is configured to present a plurality of options for further action with the explanatory information and, upon selection of one of the options, take further steps in accordance with the selection option.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

detect a vehicle condition associated with a warning light;

obtain explanatory information explaining a warning-light cause;

present the explanatory information via a vehicle display;

present a troubleshooting option in conjunction with the explanatory information; and

upon selection of the troubleshooting option, present a process for troubleshooting a system causing the warning light.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to obtain the explanatory information from a remote source.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to obtain the explanatory information from a local vehicular data store.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to present an option to transfer the process to a mobile device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to transfer the process to a mobile device upon selection of the option to transfer the process to the mobile device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to present a list of connected mobile devices, if more than one mobile device is in connected communication with the processor.

7. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

detect a vehicle condition associated with a warning light;

obtain explanatory information explaining a warning light cause;

present the explanatory information via a vehicle display;

present a schedule-repair option in conjunction with the explanatory information;

determine at least one repair location for repairing a system causing the warning light; and

upon selection of the schedule-repair option, provide scheduling assistance with the at least one repair location.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to obtain the explanatory information from a remote source.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to obtain the explanatory information from a local vehicular data store.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one repair location is saved locally on a vehicle as a preferred repair location.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to request identification of the at least one repair location from a remote source.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one repair location includes a plurality of locations, received from the remote source in response to the request.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to send data relating to a system causing the warning light to the remote source with the request for repair location identification.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to interact with a vehicle occupant and a remote repair location scheduling system to schedule an appointment for service to provide scheduling assistance.

15. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

detect a vehicle condition associated with a warning light;

obtain explanatory information explaining a warning-light cause;

present the explanatory information via a vehicle display;

present a data-transfer option in conjunction with the explanatory information; and

upon selection of the data-transfer option, transfer data relating to a system causing the warning light to a mobile device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to obtain the explanatory information from a remote source.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to obtain the explanatory information from a local vehicular data store.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to present a list of connected mobile devices, if more than one mobile device is in connected communication with the processor.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is configured to receive selection of one of the connected mobile devices, and transfer the data to the selected mobile device.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to request connection of a mobile device if no devices are presently connected upon selection of the data-transfer option.