Vehicle telematics communication for providing in-vehicle reminders

• US 8,886,393 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2009
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Edwards, Ryan M., Michalak, Heather C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dager, Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US12/640,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20110153148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,790 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/30
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A method and system for providing a reminder message to a user associated with a vehicle via a vehicle telematics unit. The method carried out by the system involves sending to a user an email, web page or other communication that contains a user selectable reminder request, receiving the reminder request from the user, setting a reminder trigger in the vehicle, and then carrying out a requested action in response to occurrence of the trigger. The requested action can be presentation of a reminder message to the occupant and/or establishment of a call from the vehicle to a call center or other remote location to obtain services, such as telematics subscription renewal, or dealer service. The user-selectable reminder request can be implemented in the communication as a virtual button that mimics the look of a physical button installed in the car that is used to provide telematics services.

Claims

1. A method of providing a reminder to a subscriber associated with a vehicle via a vehicle telematics unit, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a communication containing an in-vehicle reminder request option to the subscriber alone with an option to contact a call center via a processing device located remotely of the vehicle;

(b) receiving an in-vehicle reminder request, a request to contact the call center, or both from the subscriber via the remotely located processing device;

(c) setting a reminder trigger for the vehicle the activation of which causes the presentation of the in-vehicle reminder; and

(d) subsequently carrying out a requested action at the vehicle in response to occurrence of the reminder trigger.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises providing the communication containing the in-vehicle reminder request option via a web page sent to the processing device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises providing the subscriber with a diagnostic email containing the in-vehicle reminder request option.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle telematics unit includes a physical pushbutton in the vehicle that is used in conjunction with telematics services delivered via the telematics unit, wherein step (a) further comprises providing the subscriber with a communication that includes a selectable virtual button that mimics the look of the physical pushbutton, and wherein step (b) further comprises responding to selection of the virtual button via the processing device by sending the in-vehicle reminder request from the processing device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises providing the subscriber with additional selectable options in conjunction with the in-vehicle reminder request option that enable the subscriber to associate the in-vehicle reminder request with at least one maintenance, operational, or telematics service request.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises, prior to step (c), the steps of:

sending vehicle identification data that uniquely identifies the vehicle associated with the diagnostic information and verifying the vehicle identification data, and wherein step (c) further comprises setting a reminder trigger that is indicative of operation of the vehicle by an occupant.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of setting a reminder trigger comprises setting an ignition trigger.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of setting a reminder trigger comprises setting a mileage trigger.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing the subscriber with a confirmation that the in-vehicle reminder trigger has been set.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the confirmation comprises a confirmation message sent to the processing device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein, step (d) further comprises the step of presenting a reminder message in either audible or text form within the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the message includes a request for the occupant to contact the call center.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein step (d) further comprises establishing a wireless communication between the vehicle and a call center in response to occurrence of the in-vehicle reminder trigger.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises uploading vehicle data to the call center.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises running a vehicle diagnostic check initiated from the call center.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises providing a recommendation by the call center to the vehicle occupant to service the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises setting up an appointment by the call center for the vehicle occupant to service the vehicle at a service dealer.

18. A method of providing a reminder to a subscriber associated with a vehicle via a vehicle telematics unit, comprising the steps of:

(a) sending to a user a communication that contains a user selectable reminder request for an in-vehicle reminder and a virtual button that is displayed at a processing device receiving the communication, the selection of which establishes voice communications between the user and a call center;

(b) receiving the reminder request from the user;

(c) establishing a data session between the call center and the vehicle telematics unit;

(d) sending a trigger that causes the in-vehicle reminder to the vehicle from the call center via the data session;

(e) receiving a call from the vehicle following occurrence of the trigger; and

(f) providing additional services to the user concerning the reminder request.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein step (f) further comprises the step of communicating with the user via the call received from the vehicle, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of (g) uploading vehicle data to the call center during the call and (h) running a diagnostic check on the uploaded vehicle data.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the additional services are provided by a call center advisor.