Method and apparatus for vehicle warning light handling

• US 10,565,806 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2015
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc. (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Rockwell, Mark Anthony, Martin, Douglas Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Bao Long T
• Application Number:
  US14/630,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20160247333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,819 Days
• Field of Search: 701 315, 701 292, 701 314, 701 316, 701 317, 701 318, 701 327, 701 332, 701 333, 3404255, 34042618, 340438
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

A system includes a processor configured to detect a vehicle condition associated with a warning light. The processor is also configured to obtain explanatory information explaining the cause of the warning light. The processor is further configured to present the explanatory information via a vehicle display. Also, the processor is configured to present a plurality of options for further action with the explanatory information and, upon selection of one of the options, take further steps in accordance with the selection option.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

detect a vehicle condition associated with a warning light;

obtain explanatory information explaining a warning-light cause;

present the explanatory information via a vehicle display;

present a data-transfer option in conjunction with the displayed explanatory information; and

upon selection of the data-transfer option, transfer data, relating to a system causing the warning light, from a vehicle to a mobile device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to obtain the explanatory information from a remote source.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to obtain the explanatory information from a local vehicular data store.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to present a list of connected mobile devices, if more than one mobile device is in connected communication with the processor.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to receive selection of one of the connected mobile devices, and transfer the data to the selected mobile device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to request connection of a mobile device if no devices are presently connected upon selection of the data-transfer option.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the data relating to a system causing the warning light includes diagnostic information.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the data relating to a system causing the warning light includes the explanatory information.