GENERATING VEHICLE TRIP EXPENSES AND PROJECTED MAINTENANCE NEEDS

• US 20090112393A1
• Filed: 10/25/2007
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Maten, Michael A., Johnson, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US11/924,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20090112393A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/30
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network

Abstract

A method for generating vehicle trip expenses and projected maintenance needs is disclosed. The method includes determining a trip route via an Internet-enabled trip planning tool, and accessing vehicle performance information via the Internet-enabled trip planning tool. The vehicle performance information is selected from stored performance information, real-time performance information, and combinations thereof. The method further includes generating trip information based on the vehicle performance information and the trip route.

Claims

1. A method for generating vehicle trip expenses and projected maintenance needs, the method comprising:

determining a trip route via an Internet-enabled trip planning tool;

accessing vehicle performance information via the Internet-enabled trip planning tool, the vehicle performance information selected from stored performance information, real-time performance information, and combinations thereof; and

generating trip information based on the vehicle performance information and the trip route.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein prior to accessing, the method further comprises:

collecting the vehicle performance information from the vehicle;

analyzing the collected vehicle performance information; and

storing the analyzed vehicle performance information in an off-board database.

3. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein collecting is accomplished via a vehicle data upload function of a vehicle telematics unit.

4. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein collecting occurs at predetermined intervals.

5. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein the off-board database is located at a call center.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the vehicle performance information is selected from average vehicle fuel economy data, remaining oil life data, then-current vehicle odometer data, vehicle coolant level data, remaining brake life data, and combinations thereof.

7. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein generating includes:

determining an average fuel cost along the trip route; and

calculating a trip fuel expense for the vehicle based on the average vehicle fuel economy data and the average fuel cost.

8. The method as defined in claim 7 wherein determining the average fuel cost along the trip route includes:

querying a database for fuel costs in at least one region encompassing the trip route; and

averaging the fuel costs.

9. The method as defined in claim 7 wherein calculating the trip fuel expense includes multiplying the average vehicle fuel economy data by a distance of the trip route and the average fuel cost along the trip route.

10. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein generating includes:

determining if at least one of the remaining oil life data, the vehicle coolant level data, the remaining brake life data, or combinations thereof is sufficient for the vehicle to complete the trip route; and

generating one or more maintenance suggestions based on the determining

11. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein the one or more maintenance suggestions is selected from a pre-trip oil change, a during-trip oil change, a post-trip oil change, a pre-trip brake change, a during-trip brake change, a post-trip brake change, a pre-trip coolant fill up, a during-trip coolant fill up, a post trip coolant fill up, and combinations thereof.

12. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein accessing real-time performance information includes:

contacting the vehicle via the Internet-enabled trip planning tool; and

uploading the real-time performance information from the vehicle to the Internet-enabled trip planning tool.

13. The method as defined in claim 12 wherein contacting the vehicle includes:

contacting a call center via the Internet-enabled trip planning tool; and

contacting the vehicle via the call center.

14. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising presenting the trip information to a user via the Internet-enabled trip planning tool.

15. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein prior to determining the trip route, the method further comprises:

entering or selecting a trip destination location via the Internet-enabled trip planning tool; and

determining a trip starting point from a user'"'"'s garage address stored in an off-line database or from an entered or selected starting point.

16. A system for generating vehicle trip expenses and projected maintenance needs, the system comprising:

a vehicle configured to upload vehicle performance information, wherein the vehicle performance information is selected from stored performance information, real-time performance information, and combinations thereof;

an off-board database configured to receive and store at least some of the uploaded vehicle performance information; and

an Internet-enabled trip planning tool configured to receive the vehicle performance information in order to generate trip information.

17. The system as defined in claim 16, further comprising a call center at which the off-board database is located.

18. The system as defined in claim 16, further comprising a call center configured to retrieve the real-time performance information from the vehicle and to send the real-time performance information to the Internet-enabled program.

19. The system as defined in claim 16 wherein the vehicle performance information is selected from average vehicle fuel economy data, remaining oil life data, then-current vehicle odometer data, vehicle coolant level data, remaining brake life data, and combinations thereof.

20. The system as defined in claim 16, further comprising a telematics unit operatively connected to the vehicle, wherein the telematics unit has a vehicle data upload function that collects and transmits the vehicle performance information.

21. A method for generating vehicle trip expenses and projected maintenance needs, the method comprising:

entering or selecting a trip route destination via an Internet-enabled trip planning tool;

determining a trip starting point from a user'"'"'s garage address or from an entered or selected starting point;

determining, via the Internet-enabled trip planning tool, a trip route based on the trip route destination and the trip starting point;

accessing stored average fuel economy data and remaining oil life data for a predetermined vehicle via the Internet-enabled trip planning tool;

calculating a trip fuel expense based on the average fuel economy data and an average fuel cost along the trip route; and

generating an oil change suggestion based on the remaining oil life data and the trip route.

22. The method as defined in claim 21 wherein the predetermined vehicle is associated with a user account used to access the Internet-enabled trip planning tool.