Method and apparatus for alerting owners of recommended vehicle maintenance

• US 20020080022A1
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auto Advisors, LLC
• Original Assignee: Auto Advisors, LLC
• Inventors: Edwards, Brian S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,480,105 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/457
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A method for alerting a vehicle owner of recommended maintenance on the vehicle includes the initial step of entering vehicle identification data into a computer system. The computer system includes a database with vehicle maintenance data, a processor for processing the vehicle identification data and selecting appropriate vehicle maintenance data for the owner'"'"'s vehicle, and a monitor for displaying the selected vehicle maintenance data. The computer will then alert the vehicle owner of specific service items needing attention from the selected vehicle maintenance data displayed. The step of alerting the vehicle owner includes visually alerting the owner with a flashing graphic display for particular service items needing attention.

Claims

1. A method for alerting a vehicle owner of recommended maintenance on the vehicle, comprising the steps of:

entering vehicle identification data into a computer system connected to a database with vehicle maintenance data;

said computer system including a processor programmed to process the vehicle identification information and select vehicle maintenance data from the database in response to the entered vehicle identification data;

said computer system including a monitor, and displaying the selected vehicle maintenance data; and

said computer system alerting the vehicle owner of specific service items from the vehicle maintenance data which need attention.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the alerting step includes visually alerting the vehicle owner by visually emphasizing service items which need attention relative to service items which do not need attention.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of displaying the selected vehicle maintenance data includes displaying graphics on a screen of the monitor, the graphics including:

a listing of service items for the owner'"'"'s vehicle;

a graphic display of current milage of the owner'"'"'s vehicle; and

a graphic display of the appropriate periodic mileage for maintenance of each listed service item.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of visually emphasizing service items includes flashing the graphic display for the emphasized service items.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of displaying the periodic mileage for maintenance of each service item includes displaying a bar on a graph with segments of different colors, each segment of a length proportional to each periodic mileage of the service item.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein visually emphasizing includes flashing a segment of a bar in a color different than non-flashing bars.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying a list of benefits received by appropriate maintenance of a particular service item.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying a drawing of major components involved with a particular service item.

9. Apparatus for alerting a vehicle owner of recommended maintenance on the vehicle, comprising:

a computer including a processor, database, monitor and a data input device;

said computer programmed to process vehicle identification data entered via the data input device and to select vehicle maintenance data from the database which is associated with the vehicle identification data;

said computer including means for displaying the selected vehicle maintenance data on the monitor; and

said computer including means for alerting the vehicle owner of specific service items of the vehicle maintenance data which need attention.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for alerting the vehicle owner includes means for visually alerting the vehicle owner.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the means for displaying the selected vehicle maintenance date includes a graphic screen display on the monitor including:

a listing of service items for the owner'"'"'s vehicle;

a graphic display of current milage of the owner'"'"'s vehicle; and

a graphic display of the appropriate periodic mileage for maintenance of each listed service item.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for alerting a vehicle owner includes means for flashing at least a portion of the graphic display of periodic mileage for a service item needing attention.