VEHICLE MAINTENANCE REMINDERS GENERATED FROM ANALYSIS OF PAYMENT TRANSACTION DATA

• US 20160350726A1
• Filed: 07/29/2015
• Published: 12/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lee, Edward, Unser, Kenny
• Application Number:
  US14/812,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20160350726A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance

Abstract

A method includes analyzing payment account transaction data relevant to a motor vehicle. Based on at least one result of the analysis, an estimate is made concerning a number of miles traveled by the motor vehicle in a period since there was a vehicle maintenance transaction involving the motor vehicle. Based on at least one result of the estimation process, a notification is provided to a user of the motor vehicle concerning a need to obtain maintenance for the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

analyzing payment account transaction data relevant to a motor vehicle;

based on at least one result of said analyzing, estimating a number of miles traveled by the motor vehicle since a vehicle maintenance transaction involving the motor vehicle; and

based on at least one result of said estimating, providing a notification to a user of the motor vehicle concerning a need to obtain maintenance for the motor vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the payment account transaction data represents transactions charged to a payment account that belongs to the user of the motor vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the estimating step includes estimating a fuel tank capacity of the motor vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the estimating step includes estimating an average fuel consumption characteristic of the motor vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the estimating step includes estimating a price per gallon paid to obtain fuel for the motor vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving data indicative of a make and model of the motor vehicle; and

wherein the estimating step is based in part on a reported standard average fuel consumption characteristic of said make and model.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing step includes inferring that certain transactions represented by the payment account transaction data were payments for obtaining fuel for the motor vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said analyzing step includes inferring that one of the transactions represented by the payment account transaction data was said vehicle maintenance transaction.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said inference regarding said vehicle maintenance transaction is based at least in part on a monetary amount indicated in corresponding payment account transaction data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said inference regarding said vehicle maintenance transaction is based at least in part on an identity or type of merchant indicated in corresponding payment account transaction data.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said inferences regarding said fuel payment transactions are based at least in part on monetary amounts indicated in corresponding payment account transaction data.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said inferences regarding said fuel payment transactions were based at least in part on identities or types of merchants indicated in corresponding payment account transaction data.

13. A method comprising:

inferring, from first payment account transaction data, a point in time at which maintenance was performed on a motor vehicle;

estimating a quantity of gasoline purchased to fuel the motor vehicle, during a period commencing with said point in time and based on second payment account transaction data that is subsequent to the first payment account transaction data;

estimating a fuel consumption characteristic of the motor vehicle based on third payment account transaction data that may include said second payment account transaction data;

calculating an estimated miles traveled figure for the motor vehicle based on the estimated quantity of gasoline purchased and the estimated fuel consumption characteristic;

comparing the estimated miles traveled figure with a threshold, and

based on a result of the comparing step, issuing a notification to a user of the motor vehicle that the motor vehicle is due for maintenance.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said third payment account transaction data includes data that precedes said first payment account transaction data.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the threshold is selected to fall in a range having a first endpoint of 3,000 miles and a second endpoint of 5,000 miles, said endpoints included in said range.

16. A method comprising:

receiving an indication from a user that the user wishes to enroll a motor vehicle in a maintenance reminder program;

tracking purchases of fuel for the motor vehicle via payment account transactions;

using the payment account transactions to estimate a number of miles traveled by the motor vehicle; and

issuing at least one maintenance reminder based on the estimated number of miles traveled.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the indication includes data indicative of a make and model of the motor vehicle.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

looking up a fuel consumption characteristic of the make and model.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the estimate of the number of miles traveled is based in part on the looked-up fuel consumption characteristic.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the estimate of the number of miles traveled is based in part on estimated gasoline costs reflected in the payment account transactions.