Vehicle navigation system and method

• US 9,177,474 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2010
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Gellatly, Andrew W., Nix, Axel
• Primary Examiner(s): PATTON, SPENCER D
• Application Number:
  US12/883,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20110224864A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,874 Days
• Field of Search: 701/454, 701/516, 701/300, 701/29.1, 701/29.2, 701/29.4, 701/29.5, 701/31.4, 701/31.5, 701/31.6, 701/31.9, 701/32.3, 701/32.4, 701/32.5, 701/33.6, 340/425.5, 340/438, 340/442, 340450-455, 340/457, 340/457.4, 340/458, 705/14.63
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0234 related to maintenance or repairing of vehicles
• 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: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/133 within the vehicle ; Indicators inside the vehicles or at stops

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle. A determination is made as to whether the vehicle requires a service. A determination is also made as to whether the vehicle is proximate a location at which the service can be performed. A notification is provided that the vehicle requires the service and is proximate the location.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving, via a receiver, geographic position information as to a geographic position of a vehicle with respect to a location of a service provider that provides a service for the vehicle;

determining, using a processor using the geographic position information obtained by the receiver, if a vehicle is parked proximate the location of the service provider that provides the service for the vehicle;

subsequent to the determination that the vehicle is parked proximate the location of the service provider, determining, using the processor, if the vehicle requires the service offered by the service provider at the location; and

providing a notification that the vehicle requires the service and is proximate the location of the service provider, if and only if both of the following conditions are satisfied, namely that (i) the vehicle requires the service and (ii) the vehicle is parked proximate the location at which the service can be performed by the service provider as determined using the geographic position information from the receiver.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the vehicle has an ignition;

the step of determining if the vehicle is parked proximate the location further comprises the step of determining, via a processor using ignition information as well as the geographic position information obtained by the receiver, if the ignition is turned off while the vehicle is proximate the location at which the service can be performed by the service provider; and

the step of providing the notification comprises providing the notification that the vehicle requires the service and is proximate the location, if and only if both of the following conditions are satisfied, namely that (i) the vehicle requires the service and (ii) the ignition is turned off while the vehicle is proximate the location at which the service can be performed by the service provider.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the step of determining if the vehicle is parked proximate the location further comprises the step of determining, via a processor using the geographic position information obtained by the receiver, if the vehicle is within a predetermined threshold distance from the location at which the service can be performed by the service provider; and

the step of providing the notification comprises providing the notification that the vehicle requires the service and is proximate the location, if and only if both of the following conditions are satisfied, namely that (i) the vehicle requires the service and (ii) the vehicle is parked within a predetermined distance from the location at which the service can be performed by the service provider.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the notification is not provided if the vehicle is not determined to be parked proximate the location at which the service can be performed by the service provider.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing the notification comprises the step of:

providing a visual notification that the vehicle requires the service and is proximate the location, provided that both of the following conditions are satisfied, namely that (i) the vehicle requires the service and (ii) the vehicle is parked proximate the location at which the service can be performed by the service provider.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing the notification comprises the step of:

providing an audio notification that the vehicle requires the service and is proximate the location, if and only if both of the following conditions are satisfied, namely that (i) the vehicle requires the service and (ii) the vehicle is parked proximate the location at which the service can be performed by the service provider.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the step of determining if the vehicle is parked proximate the location further comprises determining, via a processor using the geographic position information obtained by the receiver, if a vehicle is parked proximate a location that provides a service for sale;

the step of determining if the vehicle requires the service comprises subsequent to the determination that the vehicle is parked proximate the location, determining, using the processor, if the vehicle requires the service offered at the location for sale; and

the step of providing the notification comprises providing a notification that the vehicle requires the service and is proximate the location, if and only if both of the following conditions are satisfied, namely that (i) the vehicle requires the service for sale and (ii) the vehicle is parked proximate the location at which the service is offered for sale.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the step of determining if the vehicle is parked proximate the location further comprises determining, via a processor using the geographic position information obtained by the receiver, if a vehicle is parked proximate a location that provides a repair service for the vehicle;

the step of determining if the vehicle requires the service comprises subsequent to the determination that the vehicle is parked proximate the location, determining, using the processor, if the vehicle requires the repair service offered at the location; and

the step of providing the notification comprises providing a notification that the vehicle requires the service and is proximate the location, if and only if both of the following conditions are satisfied, namely that (i) the vehicle requires the repair service and (ii) the vehicle is parked proximate the location at which the repair service is performed.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the step of determining if the vehicle is parked proximate the location further comprises determining, via a processor using the geographic position information obtained by the receiver, if a vehicle is parked proximate a location that provides a maintenance service for the vehicle;

the step of determining if the vehicle requires the service comprises subsequent to the determination that the vehicle is parked proximate the location, determining, using the processor, if the vehicle requires the maintenance service offered at the location; and

the step of providing the notification comprises providing a notification that the vehicle requires the service and is proximate the location, if and only if both of the following conditions are satisfied, namely that (i) the vehicle requires the maintenance service and (ii) the vehicle is parked proximate the location at which the maintenance service is performed.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the step of determining if the vehicle is parked proximate the location further comprises determining, via the processor using the geographic position information obtained by the receiver, if the vehicle is parked proximate a location that provides an oil change service for the vehicle;

the step of determining if the vehicle requires the maintenance service comprises, subsequent to the determination that the vehicle is parked proximate the location, determining, using the processor, if the vehicle requires the oil change service; and

the step of providing the notification comprises providing a notification that the vehicle requires the oil change service and is proximate the location that provides the oil change service, if and only if both of the following conditions are satisfied, namely that (i) the vehicle requires the oil change service and (ii) the vehicle is parked proximate the location at which the oil change service is performed.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the step of determining if the vehicle is parked proximate the location further comprises determining, via the processor using the geographic position information obtained by the receiver, if the vehicle is parked proximate a location that provides a brake service for the vehicle;

the step of determining if the vehicle requires the maintenance service comprises, subsequent to the determination that the vehicle is parked proximate the location, determining, using the processor, if the vehicle requires the brake service; and

the step of providing the notification comprises providing a notification that the vehicle requires the brake service and is proximate the location that provides the brake service, if and only if both of the following conditions are satisfied, namely that (i) the vehicle requires the brake service and (ii) the vehicle is parked proximate the location at which the brake service is performed.

12. A system comprising:

a receiver configured to receive geographic position information as to a geographic position of a vehicle with respect to a location of a service provider that provides a service for the vehicle;

a processor coupled to the receiver and configured to;

receive vehicle needs information pertaining to needs of a vehicle;

determine, using the geographic position information obtained by the receiver, if the vehicle is parked proximate the location of the service provider that provides the service for the vehicle; and

subsequent to the determination that the vehicle is parked proximate the location of the service provider, determine if the vehicle requires the service offered by the service provider at the location; and

a display coupled to the processor and configured to provide a notification that the vehicle requires the service and is proximate the location, if and only if both of the following conditions are satisfied, namely that (i) the vehicle requires the service and (ii) the vehicle is parked proximate the location at which the service can be performed by the service provider as determined using the geographic position information from the receiver.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the vehicle has an ignition;

the processor is further configured to determine, using ignition information as well as the geographic position information obtained by the receiver, if the vehicle is parked proximate the location by determining if the ignition is turned off while the vehicle is proximate the location at which the service can be performed by the service provider; and

the display is configured to provide the notification if and only if both of the following conditions are satisfied, namely that (i) the vehicle requires the service and (ii) the ignition is turned off while the vehicle is proximate the location at which the service can be performed by the service provider.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to determine, using the geographic position information obtained by the receiver, if the vehicle is parked proximate the location based on:

if the vehicle is parked within a predetermined threshold distance from the location at which the service can be performed by the service provider; and

a comparison of a first distance between the vehicle and the location at which the service can be performed by the service provider and a second distance between the vehicle and a second location.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the display comprises a display screen configured to provide a visual notification that the vehicle requires the service and is proximate the location, if and only if both of the following conditions are satisfied, namely that (i) the vehicle requires the service and (ii) the vehicle is parked proximate the location at which the service can be performed by the service provider.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the display comprises a speaker configured to provide an audio notification that the vehicle requires the service and is proximate the location, if and only if both of the following conditions are satisfied, namely that (i) the vehicle requires the service and (ii) the vehicle is parked proximate the location at which the service can be performed by the service provider.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the processor is further configured to;

determine if the vehicle is parked proximate a location at which the service is offered for sale using the geographic position information obtained by the receiver; and

subsequent to the determination that the vehicle is parked proximate the location, determine if the vehicle requires the service offered at the location for sale; and

the display is configured to provide the notification that the vehicle requires the service and is proximate the location, if and only if both of the following conditions are satisfied, namely that (i) the vehicle requires the service and (ii) the vehicle is parked proximate the location at which the service is offered for sale.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the service comprises a maintenance service for the vehicle that is sold by the provider at the location.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the service comprises an oil change service for the vehicle that is sold by the provider at the location.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the service comprises a brake service for the vehicle that is sold by the provider at the location.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the service comprises a repair service for the vehicle that is sold by the provider at the location.

22. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving, via a receiver, geographic position information as to a geographic position of a vehicle with respect to a location of a provider that provides a product for the vehicle;

determining, via a processor using the geographic position information obtained by the receiver, if a vehicle is parked proximate the location of the provider that provides the product for the vehicle;

subsequent to the determination that the vehicle is parked proximate the location of the provider, determining, using the processor, if the vehicle has a condition that requires the product offered by the provider at the location; and

providing a notification that the vehicle has the condition and is proximate the location of the provider, if and only if both of the following conditions are satisfied, namely that (i) the vehicle requires the product and (ii) the vehicle is parked proximate the location at which the product is offered by the provider as determined using the geographic position information from the receiver.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein:

the step of determining if the vehicle is parked proximate the location further comprises determining, via the processor using the geographic position information obtained by the receiver, if the vehicle is parked proximate a location of a provider that provides an oil product for the vehicle;

the step of determining if the vehicle has the condition comprises, subsequent to the determination that the vehicle is parked proximate the location of the provider that provides the oil product for the vehicle, determining, using the processor, if the vehicle requires an oil change for which the oil product can be used; and

the step of providing the notification comprises providing a notification that the vehicle requires an oil change and is proximate the location of the provider that provides the oil product for the vehicle, if and only if both of the following conditions are satisfied, namely that (i) the vehicle requires the oil change and (ii) the vehicle is parked proximate the location at which the oil change product is offered by the provider.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein:

the step of determining if the vehicle is parked proximate the location further comprises determining, via the processor using the geographic position information obtained by the receiver, if the vehicle is parked proximate a location of a provider that provides a replacement part for the vehicle;

the step of determining if the vehicle has the condition comprises, subsequent to the determination that the vehicle is parked proximate the location of the provider that provides the replacement part for the vehicle, determining, using the processor, if the vehicle has a condition for which the replacement part is used; and

the step of providing the notification comprises providing a notification that the vehicle has the condition and is proximate the location, if and only if both of the following conditions are satisfied, namely that (i) the vehicle has the condition for which the replacement part is used and (ii) the vehicle is parked proximate the location at which the replacement part is offered by the provider.

25. A system comprising:

a receiver configured to receive geographic position information as to a geographic position of a vehicle with respect to a location of a provider that provides a product for the vehicle;

a processor coupled to the receiver and configured to;

receive information pertaining to needs of a vehicle;

determine, using the geographic position information obtained by the receiver, if the vehicle is parked proximate the location of the provider that provides the product for the vehicle; and

subsequent to the determination that the vehicle is parked proximate the location of the provider that provides the product for the vehicle, determine if the vehicle has a condition for which the product is used; and

a display coupled to the processor and configured to provide a notification that the vehicle has the condition and is proximate the location, if and only if both of the following conditions are satisfied, namely that (i) the vehicle has the condition for which the product is used and (ii) the vehicle is parked proximate the location at which the product is offered by the provider as determined using the geographic position information from the receiver.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the product comprises a maintenance product for the vehicle that is sold by the provider at the location.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the product comprises an oil change product for the vehicle that is sold by the provider at the location.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the product comprises a repair product for the vehicle that is sold by the provider at the location.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the product comprises a replacement part for the vehicle that is sold by the provider at the location.