Telematics method and system

• US 7,463,951 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2005
• Issued: 12/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Ampunan, Nathan D., Inbarajan, Krishnaraj, Zhang, Yilu, Oesterling, Christopher L., Regmont, Dennis F., Rychlinski, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US11/235,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20070073450A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/29, 701/33, 701/36, 701/211, 701/213, 705/26, 342/357.09
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083

Abstract

A telematics method comprising the steps of: using a device in a vehicle, obtaining data including at least location and at least one device parameter during a time period between vehicle assembly and delivery to a retail customer; transmitting the data to a remote station for processing; conditionally communicating an alert for the vehicle responsive to the device parameter; and conditionally communicating, response to the device parameter and additional device parameters from additional vehicles, an alert for at least one of (a) a vehicle assembly plant, (b) a vehicle dealer, (c) a vehicle distribution center and (d) a vehicle logistical support center.

Claims

1. A telematics method comprising the steps of:

using an in-vehicle telematics device on a vehicle, obtaining a vehicle data set including at least location and time and at least one device parameter during a time period between vehicle assembly and delivery to a retail customer;

first comparing the data set to first criteria;

responsive to the first comparing, issuing a service report for the vehicle with at least one recommended action for the vehicle before delivery to the retail customer;

second comparing the data set along with additional data sets from additional vehicles to a second criteria; and

responsive to the second comparing, issuing a service practices report with at least one recommended action for one of (a) a vehicle assembly plant, (b) a vehicle dealer, (c) a vehicle distribution center and (d) a vehicle logistical support center.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is tracked during shipment and delivery prior to sale of the vehicle to the retail customer.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the data set comprises at least one of vehicle module diagnostic codes, battery voltage, vehicle bus signals, vehicle security system status, an analog signal from a vehicle device and a digital signal from the vehicle device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one device parameter includes voltage of a battery in the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first criteria is a threshold value for the at least one device parameter, and wherein the second criteria is a statistical norm for the at least one device parameter.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second comparing further comprises:

correlating the at least one device parameter and device parameters received from the additional vehicles with logistical locations; and

identifying whether a specific device parameter deviation is common to a specific location selected from the vehicle assembly plant, the vehicle dealer, the vehicle distribution center, and the vehicle logistical support center.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the service report for the vehicle to one of i) a location having control of the vehicle or ii) a logistical support system that maintains records of the vehicle'"'"'s location.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the telematics device is in a logistical support program mode, and wherein the method further comprises:

preparing the vehicle for customer delivery; and

switching the logistical support program mode to a subscriber support program mode.

9. A telematics method comprising the steps of:

using a device installed in a vehicle, obtaining data including at least location and at least one device parameter during a time period between vehicle assembly and delivery to a retail customer;

transmitting the data to a remote station for processing;

conditionally communicating a first alert for the vehicle responsive to a comparison of the at least one device parameter with first criteria; and

conditionally communicating, in response to a comparison of the at least one device parameter and additional device parameters from additional vehicles with second criteria, a second alert including a service practices report to at least one of (a) a vehicle assembly plant, (b) a vehicle dealer, (c) a vehicle distribution center and (d) a vehicle logistical support center.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one device parameter includes voltage of a battery in the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first alert contains at least one recommended action for the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the comparison of the at least one device parameter and the additional device parameters from additional vehicles with the second criteria includes:

correlating the at least one device parameter and device parameters received from the additional vehicles with logistical locations; and

identifying whether a specific device parameter deviation is common to a specific location selected from the vehicle assembly plant, the vehicle dealer, the vehicle distribution center, and the vehicle logistical support center;

wherein the second alert is based upon identification of the specific device parameter being common to the specific location.

13. A telematics system comprising:

a device; and

a remote station,

wherein the device is installed in a vehicle and transmits to the remote station data including at least location and at least one device parameter during a time period between vehicle assembly and delivery to a retail customer, and

wherein, the remote station conditionally communicates a first alert for the vehicle responsive to a comparison of the device parameter with first criteria, and conditionally communicates, in response to a comparison of the device parameter and additional device parameters from additional vehicles with second criteria, a second alert including a service practices report to at least one of (a) a vehicle assembly plant, (b) a vehicle dealer, (c) a vehicle distribution center and (d) a vehicle logistical support center.