Method for mileage based proactive leasing in a telematics system

• US 20060004589A1
• Filed: 07/02/2004
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Ampunan, Nathan D., Chrumka, Edward P., Watkins, Gary A., Ravas, Jeffrey G., Ross, Steven J.
• Application Number:
  US10/883,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20060004589A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/307
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions

Abstract

A method of operating a vehicle leasing program. The method includes receiving a mileage value from a vehicle at a call center determining whether the mileage value corresponds to a leasing event trigger and notifying a user of the vehicle of a leasing event responsive to the determination.

Claims

1. A method of operating a vehicle leasing program, the method comprising:

receiving a mileage value from a vehicle at a call center;

determining whether the mileage value corresponds to a leasing event trigger; and

notifying a user of the vehicle of a leasing event responsive to the determination.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mileage value is transmitted via a wireless connection from a telematics unit of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the mileage value corresponds to a leasing event trigger comprises:

comparing the received mileage value to a lease mileage limit associated with the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the mileage value from the vehicle to the call center when a mileage threshold is exceeded.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mileage value comprises a compilation of a plurality of mileage values received in response to a respective plurality of vehicle upload data requests periodically transmitted from the call center to the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a period of the transmitted plurality of vehicle upload data requests is responsive to a trend in the compilation of the plurality of mileage values.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the mileage value corresponds to a leasing event trigger comprises;

comparing a last received mileage value to a lease mileage limit associated with the vehicle;

extrapolating a compilation of a plurality of received mileage values to form a projected total mileage usage value; and

comparing the projected total mileage usage value to the lease mileage limit.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the notifying a user of the vehicle of a leasing event responsive to the determination comprises:

transmitting a leasing event indicator to the user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the leasing event indicator comprises at least one option to reduce an additional charge related to exceeding a lease mileage limit.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the leasing event indicator comprises at least one option to reduce a expectation of an additional charge related to a projected total mileage usage value exceeding a lease mileage limit.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one option to reduce the expectation of the additional charge is selected from the group consisting of an additional mileage purchase option, a lease-pull-ahead option, an amortization option, a lump-sum-up-front option, a current trade-off option, a lease modification option and a combination thereof.

12. A vehicle leasing system, comprising:

means for receiving a mileage value from a vehicle at a call center;

means for determining whether the mileage value corresponds to a leasing event trigger; and

means for notifying a user of the vehicle of a leasing event responsive to the determination.

13. A computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising:

computer readable code for receiving a mileage value from a vehicle at a call center;

computer readable code for determining whether the mileage value corresponds to a leasing event trigger; and

computer readable code for notifying a user of the vehicle of a leasing event responsive to the determination.

14. The medium of claim 13, wherein computer readable code transmits the mileage value via a wireless connection from a telematics unit of the vehicle.

15. The medium of claim 13, wherein computer readable code for determining whether the mileage value corresponds to a leasing event trigger comprises:

computer readable code for comparing the received mileage value to a lease mileage limit associated with the vehicle.

16. The medium of claim 13, further comprising:

computer readable code for transmitting the mileage value from the vehicle to the call center when a mileage threshold is exceeded.

17. The medium of claim 13, wherein computer readable code compiles a plurality of mileage values received in response to a plurality of vehicle upload data requests periodically transmitted by computer readable code from the call center to the vehicle.

18. The medium of claim 13, wherein computer readable code for determining whether the mileage value corresponds to a leasing event trigger comprises;

computer readable code for comparing a last received mileage value to a lease mileage limit associated with the vehicle; and

computer readable code for extrapolating a compilation of a plurality of received mileage values to form a projected total mileage usage value; and

computer readable code for comparing the projected total mileage usage value to the lease mileage limit.

19. The medium of claim 13, wherein computer readable code for notifying a user of the vehicle of a leasing event responsive to the determination comprises:

computer readable code for transmitting a leasing event indicator to the user.

20. The medium of claim 19, wherein computer readable code for transmitting the leasing event indicator comprises computer readable code for at least one option to reduce an expectation of an additional charge related to a projected total mileage usage value exceeding a lease mileage limit.