Method for operating a bonus system and bonus system

• US 10,062,086 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2014
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Brandl, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Reagan, James A
• Application Number:
  US14/561,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20160162927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,362 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0231 Awarding of a frequent usage incentive independent of the monetary value of a good or service purchased, or distance travelled
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0233 Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward

Abstract

A method for operating a bonus system includes providing a driver account associated with a driver by a database, acquiring data relating to the driver by an application installed on a mobile terminal, acquiring data on the vehicle side of at least one motor vehicle of the driver by at least one acquisition device on the motor vehicle side, transmitting the acquired data to the database, creating an electronic life career associated with the driver account based on the data transmitted to the database, and assigning respectively preset bonus points to the driver account as soon as it has been acquired based on the electronic life career that respective preset events have been achieved. Preset benefits can be redeemed depending on the bonus points assigned to the driver account.

Claims

1. A method of operating a motor vehicle system, comprising:

acquiring driver data using input from a driver on an application installed on a mobile terminal;

transmitting the driver data to a database;

using the driver data transmitted to the database to associate the driver with at least one motor vehicle from a motor vehicle manufacturing group;

only for each motor vehicle from the motor vehicle manufacturing group, acquiring motor vehicle data for the driver if the motor vehicle is associated with the driver, the motor vehicle data relating to operation of the motor vehicle only while associated with the driver, the motor vehicle data being obtained using at least one acquisition device provided on the motor vehicle;

transmitting the motor vehicle data to the database;

creating electronic life career data based on motor vehicle data for each motor vehicle associated with the driver and based on the driver data;

storing the electronic life career data in the database in association with a driver account for the driver; and

assigning a bonus point to the driver account, based on the electronic life career data when determining an event triggering the bonus point has occurred, wherein a benefit from the motor vehicle manufacturing group which is redeemable based on the bonus point is assigned to the driver account, wherein

the motor vehicle data is continuously collected for the electronic life career data when the driver drives different vehicles also belonging to the motor vehicle manufacturing group, and

the electronic life career data is maintained over time, for different vehicles associated with the driver, that are from the motor vehicle manufacturing group.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein acquiring motor vehicle data includes at least one of:

obtaining information on at least one of retrofitting, maintenance and service work performed on the motor vehicle,

obtaining an evaluation delivered by the driver with respect to the at least one of the retrofitting, maintenance and service work,

obtaining a number of new customers solicited by the driver,

obtaining at least one of a location and a route traveled by the motor vehicle,

obtaining a total distance traveled with the motor vehicle,

obtaining an average consumption of the motor vehicle, and

obtaining a duration during which the motor vehicle has traveled while a predetermined vehicle system was in operation.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein transmitting the motor vehicle data comprises:

transmitting the motor vehicle data to a communication device of the motor vehicle; and

transmitting the motor vehicle data from the communication device to the database, either directly or through the mobile terminal.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein transmitting the motor vehicle data comprises:

transmitting the motor vehicle data to a communication device of the motor vehicle; and

transmitting the motor vehicle data from the communication device to the database, either directly or through the mobile terminal.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the application is synchronized with the database, and

the application displays on the mobile terminal at least one of the electronic life career data, a number of bonus points assigned to the driver account, an indication of an achieved event having a benefit redeemable based on the bonus points assigned to the driver account, an indication of a number of bonus points required for a benefit, and an indication of bonus points assigned to the driver account for predetermined corresponding events.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transferring at least a part of the bonus point assigned to the driver account to another driver account.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the benefit redeemable based on the bonus point includes at least one of:

a discount in purchasing a new motor vehicle,

a discount in purchasing one of an accessory and a repair part,

a fuel coupon,

an absorption of a driver license cost, and

free travel with various vehicle models.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein acquiring motor vehicle data includes

obtaining a duration during which the motor vehicle has traveled in a convertible-top-open condition.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the driver data and the motor vehicle data are transmitted to the database along respective transmission paths, which are at least partially separate.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the application is synchronized with the database, and the application displays on the mobile terminal at least one of the electronic life career data, a number of bonus points assigned to the driver account, an indication of an achieved event having a benefit redeemable based on the bonus points assigned to the driver account, an indication of a number of bonus points required for a benefit, and an indication of bonus points assigned to the driver account for predetermined corresponding events.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

transferring at least a part of the bonus point assigned to the driver account to another driver account.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the benefit redeemable based on the bonus point includes at least one of:

a discount in purchasing a new motor vehicle,

a discount in purchasing one of an accessory and a repair part,

a fuel coupon,

an absorption of a driver license cost, and

free travel with various vehicle models.

13. A tracking apparatus comprising:

an application installed on a mobile terminal, to acquire driver data relating to a driver and to transmit the driver data;

a database to receive the driver data from the application installed on the mobile terminal, to associate the driver with at least one motor vehicle from a motor vehicle manufacturing group and to store information of a driver account relating to the driver and each motor vehicle associated with the driver and belonging to the motor vehicle manufacturing group;

an acquisition device only for each motor vehicle from the motor vehicle manufacturing group, to acquire motor vehicle data for the driver if the motor vehicle is associated with the driver, the motor vehicle data relating to operation of the motor vehicle only while associated with the driver;

a transmitter to transmit the motor vehicle data to the database; and

a data processing device configured to;

create electronic life career data associated with the driver account based on the driver data and based on the motor vehicle data for each motor vehicle associated with the driver, only while associated with the driver; and

assign respectively preset bonus points to the driver account when the electronic life career data indicates that respective preset events have been achieved, such that the bonus points can be redeemed for preset benefits from the motor vehicle manufacturing group using the application installed on the mobile terminal, wherein

the motor vehicle data is continuously collected for the electronic life career data when the driver drives different vehicles also belonging to the motor vehicle manufacturing group, and

the electronic life career data is maintained over time, for different vehicles associated with the driver, that are from the motor vehicle manufacturing group.

14. The tracking apparatus according to claim 13, comprising:

continuously collecting the motor vehicle data when the motor vehicle belongs to an automobile group and the driver continues to drive motor vehicles belonging to the motor vehicle group.

15. A method of operating a motor vehicle system, comprising:

acquiring driver data using input from a driver on an application installed on a mobile terminal;

transmitting, by the application installed on the mobile terminal, the driver data to a database;

using the driver data transmitted to the database to associate the driver with at least one motor vehicle from a motor vehicle manufacturing group;

only for each motor vehicle from the motor vehicle manufacturing group, acquiring motor vehicle data for the driver if the motor vehicle is associated with the driver, the motor vehicle data relating to operation of the motor vehicle only while associated with the driver, the motor vehicle data being obtained using at least one acquisition device provided on the motor vehicle;

transmitting, by the at least one acquisition device, the motor vehicle data to the database;

creating, by a data processing device, electronic life career data based on motor vehicle data for each motor vehicle associated with the driver and based on the driver data;

storing, by the data processing device, the electronic life career data in the database in association with a driver account for the driver; and

assigning, by the data processing device, a bonus point to the driver account, based on the electronic life career data when determining an event triggering the bonus point has occurred, wherein a benefit from the motor vehicle manufacturing group which is redeemable based on the bonus point is assigned to the driver account, wherein

the motor vehicle data is continuously collected for the electronic life career data when the driver drives different vehicles also belonging to the motor vehicle manufacturing group, and

the electronic life career data is maintained over time, for different vehicles associated with the driver, that are from the motor vehicle manufacturing group.