BULB OUTAGE DETECTION AND PART NUMBER LOOKUP USING A TELEMATICS-EQUIPPED VEHICLE
First Claim
1. A method of detecting and responding to a bulb outage on a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- (a) receiving bulb status information at a telematics unit installed onboard a vehicle, the bulb status information indicating the failure of a bulb on the vehicle and providing bulb data for identifying the bulb;
(b) obtaining bulb replacement information using the bulb data; and
(c) providing the bulb replacement information to a recipient associated with the vehicle;
wherein steps (a)-(c) are carried out automatically using at least one processing device.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automated system and method for detecting and responding to bulb outages on a vehicle. The method carried out by the system utilizes a telematics unit installed onboard the vehicle and includes the steps of: (a) receiving bulb status information at the telematics unit indicating the failure of a bulb on the vehicle and providing the telematics unit with bulb data for identifying the bulb; (b) obtaining bulb replacement information using the bulb data; and (c) providing the bulb replacement information to a recipient associated with the vehicle. The bulb replacement information can be emailed or otherwise sent electronically to the recipient and can include a replacement part number or other ordering and installation information.
32 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of detecting and responding to a bulb outage on a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving bulb status information at a telematics unit installed onboard a vehicle, the bulb status information indicating the failure of a bulb on the vehicle and providing bulb data for identifying the bulb; (b) obtaining bulb replacement information using the bulb data; and (c) providing the bulb replacement information to a recipient associated with the vehicle; wherein steps (a)-(c) are carried out automatically using at least one processing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A telematics unit for detecting and responding to a bulb outage on a vehicle, comprising:
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a processor; computer readable memory accessible by the processor; and wireless communication circuitry connected to the processor; wherein the processor receives messages from other vehicle system modules and communicates with a remote facility via the communication circuitry using a wireless communication system; and wherein the processor operates under control of programming stored in the memory to carry out the steps of; receiving, from one of the vehicle system modules, bulb status information that is indicative of the failure of a bulb on the vehicle; presenting a prompt in the vehicle via a vehicle user interface in response to receiving the bulb status information; receiving a reply to the prompt from an occupant of the vehicle; and sending bulb information to the remote facility via the communication circuitry in response to the occupant'"'"'s reply. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of detecting and responding to a bulb outage on a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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(a) monitoring bulb operation at a plurality of exterior lamp locations on a vehicle; (b) determining an abnormal condition at one of the exterior lamp locations indicative of a bulb outage; (c) providing information indicative of the bulb outage to a telematics unit on the vehicle; (d) sending a bulb outage notification to a recipient associated with the vehicle in response to the information received by the telematics unit, the bulb outage notification prompting the recipient to specify whether bulb replacement information is desired; (e) receiving a reply to the bulb outage notification from the recipient; (f) sending bulb information from the telematics unit to a remote facility in response to the recipient'"'"'s reply; (g) performing a database lookup at the central facility using the bulb information and obtaining the bulb replacement information via the database lookup; and (h) sending the bulb replacement information electronically to the recipient. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification