Action recommendation system for a mobile vehicle

• US 7,129,825 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2004
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Weber, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US10/864,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20050024189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0232 for measuring vehicle parameters and indicating critical, abnormal or dangerous conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

Specific advertisements and other information can be communicated to the user of a mobile vehicle depending on the vehicles or occupants needs or preferences.

Claims

1. A method of providing advertisements to an occupant of a mobile vehicle comprising the steps of:

determining at least one of a vehicle status data, an occupant status data, or an environmental status data; and

communicating an advertisement to said occupant in response to said at least one vehicle status data, occupant status data, or environmental status data, the advertisement including an inducement to purchase at least one of a service or merchandise.

2. A method, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of determining a recommended course of action in response to said at least one vehicle status data, occupant status data, and environmental status data.

3. A method, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the step of communicating said advertisement to said occupant further includes the step of communicating said advertisement to said occupant in response to said recommended course of action.

4. A method, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the step of communicating said advertisement further comprises the step of identifying said advertisement in response to said recommended course of action.

5. A method, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the step of identifying said advertisement includes the steps of:

receiving a plurality of advertisements; and

selecting said advertisement from said plurality of advertisements in response to said recommended course of action.

6. A method, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the step of receiving said plurality of advertisements further includes the step of receiving said plurality of advertisements from at least one of an on-board repository, an off-board repository, or a plurality of separate off-board sources.

7. A method, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the step of identifying said advertisement includes the steps of:

requesting information associated with said recommended course of action;

receiving at least one advertisement in response to said information request; and

selecting said advertisement from said at least one received advertisements.

8. A method, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the step of receiving said plurality of advertisements further includes the step of receiving said plurality of advertisements from at least one of an on-board repository, an off-board repository, and a plurality of separate off-board sources.

9. A method, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the step of identifying said advertisement further includes the steps of:

establishing a predicted path of said vehicle; and

identifying said advertisement in response to said recommended course of action and said predicted vehicle path.

10. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said environmental status data includes weather information and further comprising the steps of:

establishing a predicted path of said vehicle;

establishing a recommended course of action in response to said predicted vehicle path and said weather information; and

identifying said advertisement in response to said recommended course of action and said predicted vehicle path.

11. A method, as set forth in claim 10, wherein said advertisement is related to at least one of a restaurant, a lodging, or a vehicle service center.

12. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said environmental status data includes road condition information and further comprising the steps of:

establishing a predicted path of said vehicle;

establishing a recommended course of action in response to said predicted vehicle path and said road condition information; and

identifying said advertisement in response to said recommended course of action and said predicted vehicle path.

13. A method, as set forth in claim 12, wherein said road condition information includes at least one of a traffic characteristic, a detour characteristic, or a vehicle service center location characteristic.

14. A method, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the step of identifying said advertisement further comprises the step of identifying said advertisement in response said recommended course of action and an occupant response to a prior advertisement.

15. A method, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of tracking a response by said occupant to said communicated advertisement.

16. A method, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of tracking a purchase by said occupant in response to at least one of a vehicle identifier and an occupant identifier.

17. A method of providing advertisements to an occupant of a mobile vehicle comprising the steps of:

determining at least one of a vehicle status data, an occupant status data, and an environmental status data; and

communicating an advertisement to said occupant in response to said at least one vehicle status data, occupant status data, and environmental status data,

wherein said advertisement is customized to one of said vehicle and said occupant in response to a prior purchase.

18. A method, as set forth in claim 17, wherein said customized advertisement includes an additional discount based on said prior purchase.

19. A method of providing an advertisement to an occupant of a mobile vehicle, comprising the steps of:

determining at least one of a vehicle profile, an occupant profile, or an environment profile;

communicating said advertisement to said occupant in response to said at least one of said vehicle profile, said occupant profile, or said environment; and

tracking a purchase by said occupant.

20. A method, as set forth in claim 19, further including:

determining a recommended course of action in response to said at least one vehicle profile, occupant profile, and environment profile;

wherein the step of communicating said advertisement further comprises the step of identifying said advertisement in response said recommended course of action and a prior purchase.

21. A method, as set forth in claim 19, further comprising the step of establishing an occupant communication trigger.

22. A method, as set forth in claim 21, further comprising the step of establishing at least one of a vehicle status data, an occupant status data, or an environment status data.

23. A method, as set forth in claim 22, wherein the step of communicating said advertisement further includes the step of communicating said advertisement to said occupant in response to at least one of said vehicle profile, said occupant profile, or said environment profile, said communication trigger, and at least one of said vehicle status data, said occupant status data, or said environment status data.

24. A method, as set forth in claim 22, wherein said communication trigger includes at least one of a location characteristic, a time characteristic, an event characteristic, a weather characteristic, a season characteristic, or a road condition characteristic.

25. A method, as set forth in claim 19, wherein said occupant profile includes at least one of a desired lodging characteristic, a desired destination, a predicted path of said vehicle, a desired restaurant characteristic, a desired food characteristic, a desired activity characteristic, a weather characteristic, or a fatigue characteristic.