RECOMMENDING AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE TO A SERVICE LOCATION TO SERVICE A VEHICLE ISSUE THAT WAS DETECTED BY A CHANGE IN STATUS IN A SENSOR OF THE AUTOMOBILE'S DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM

• US 20160284138A1
• Filed: 03/26/2015
• Published: 09/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maplebear Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Adderly, Darryl M., Jackson, Jonathan W., Jariwala, Ajit, Libow, Eric B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,619,945 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3617 using user history, behaviour, conditions or preferences, e.g. predicted or inferred from previous use or current movement
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance

Abstract

A method, system and computer program product for assisting a user in handling a vehicle service issue. A profile is created by a navigation system that stores preferences of the user, such as vehicle and vehicle service preferences (e.g., tire brands). The navigation system polls the vehicle sensors in the automobile diagnostic system periodically to interpret a status. If there has been a change in the status of a sensor (e.g., change in tire pressure) and if the change represents a service issue to be addressed, then a service issue has been identified. The navigation system then determines a change in the route the vehicle is currently traveling to reach a service destination (e.g., Discount Tire® store) to address the service issue (e.g., low tire pressure) taking into consideration the user'"'"'s preferences (user'"'"'s profile specified the Discount Tire® chain to handle all service issues relating to tires).

Claims

1. A method for assisting a user in handling a vehicle service issue, the method comprising:

creating a profile storing a user'"'"'s vehicle and vehicle service preferences;

receiving a destination from a user;

determining a route to travel from a current location of said vehicle to said destination;

polling sensors in an automobile diagnostic system of said vehicle periodically to interpret a status;

detecting a change in said status of a sensor in said sensors of said automobile diagnostic system;

identifying a service issue in response to said change in said status of said sensor prior to said automobile diagnostic system notifying said user regarding said service issue;

determining, by a processor, a recommended change in said route to reach a service destination to address said service issue taking into consideration said user'"'"'s vehicle and vehicle service preferences in response to identifying said service issue; and

displaying a notification to said user regarding said service issue and said recommended change in said route to reach said service destination to address said service issue.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

notifying a business at said service destination with information about said service issue prior to said user reaching said service destination to expedite service.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said profile further stores financial information of said user, wherein said business at said service destination is provided said user'"'"'s financial information prior to said user reaching said service destination to expedite service.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said profile further stores standard vehicle specifications.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said user'"'"'s vehicle and vehicle service preferences comprise service recommendations on serviceable or consumable vehicle resources.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said change in said status of said sensor indicates a serviceable or consumable vehicle resource that requires service action.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said service destination is identified based on said route, said service issue and said user'"'"'s vehicle and vehicle service preferences.

8. A computer program product for assisting a user in handling a vehicle service issue, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code comprising the programming instructions for:

creating a profile storing a user'"'"'s vehicle and vehicle service preferences;

receiving a destination from a user;

determining a route to travel from a current location of said vehicle to said destination;

polling sensors in an automobile diagnostic system of said vehicle periodically to interpret a status;

detecting a change in said status of a sensor in said sensors of said automobile diagnostic system;

identifying a service issue in response to said change in said status of said sensor prior to said automobile diagnostic system notifying said user regarding said service issue;

determining a recommended change in said route to reach a service destination to address said service issue taking into consideration said user'"'"'s vehicle and vehicle service preferences in response to identifying said service issue; and

displaying a notification to said user regarding said service issue and said recommended change in said route to reach said service destination to address said service issue.

9. The computer program product as recited in claim 8, wherein the program code further comprises the programming instructions for:

notifying a business at said service destination with information about said service issue prior to said user reaching said service destination to expedite service.

10. The computer program product as recited in claim 9, wherein said profile further stores financial information of said user, wherein said business at said service destination is provided said user'"'"'s financial information prior to said user reaching said service destination to expedite service.

11. The computer program product as recited in claim 8, wherein said profile further stores standard vehicle specifications.

12. The computer program product as recited in claim 8, wherein said user'"'"'s vehicle and vehicle service preferences comprise service recommendations on serviceable or consumable vehicle resources.

13. The computer program product as recited in claim 8, wherein said change in said status of said sensor indicates a serviceable or consumable vehicle resource that requires service action.

14. The computer program product as recited in claim 8, wherein said service destination is identified based on said route, said service issue and said user'"'"'s vehicle and vehicle service preferences.

15. A system, comprising:

a memory unit for storing a computer program for assisting a user in handling a vehicle service issue; and

a processor coupled to the memory unit, wherein the processor is configured to execute the program instructions of the computer program comprising;

creating a profile storing a user'"'"'s vehicle and vehicle service preferences;

receiving a destination from a user;

determining a route to travel from a current location of said vehicle to said destination;

polling sensors in an automobile diagnostic system of said vehicle periodically to interpret a status;

detecting a change in said status of a sensor in said sensors of said automobile diagnostic system;

identifying a service issue in response to said change in said status of said sensor prior to said automobile diagnostic system notifying said user regarding said service issue;

determining a recommended change in said route to reach a service destination to address said service issue taking into consideration said user'"'"'s vehicle and vehicle service preferences in response to identifying said service issue; and

displaying a notification to said user regarding said service issue and said recommended change in said route to reach said service destination to address said service issue.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the program instructions of the computer program further comprises:

notifying a business at said service destination with information about said service issue prior to said user reaching said service destination to expedite service.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein said profile further stores financial information of said user, wherein said business at said service destination is provided said user'"'"'s financial information prior to said user reaching said service destination to expedite service.

18. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said user'"'"'s vehicle and vehicle service preferences comprise service recommendations on serviceable or consumable vehicle resources.

19. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said change in said status of said sensor indicates a serviceable or consumable vehicle resource that requires service action.

20. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said service destination is identified based on said route, said service issue and said user'"'"'s vehicle and vehicle service preferences.