Telematics based vehicle maintenance client notification

• US 7,522,980 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Watkins, Gary A., Brancheau, Jon M., Devereux, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Dalena
• Application Number:
  US10/740,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20050137763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,950 Days
• Field of Search: 701/33, 701/29, 701/30, 701/24, 701/34, 701/101, 340/425.5, 340/457, 340/438, 340/457.4, 340/450.3, 340/450, 340/450.2, 731/12, 73/530.5, 731/173
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for providing vehicle maintenance client notification within a telematics equipped mobile vehicle that includes monitoring the mobile vehicle for vehicle system maintenance information, determining an oil-life value based on the vehicle system maintenance information, determining when the oil-life value exceeds at least one oil-life threshold level, sending the vehicle system maintenance information to a call center responsive to the oil-life threshold level determination, and generating a service reminder, at the call center, based on the received vehicle system maintenance information. The step of determining when the oil-life value exceeds the oil-life threshold level may include comparing the determined oil-life value with the at least one oil-life threshold level, determining at least one oil-life threshold level that is exceeded by the oil-life value, and initiating a vehicle data upload based on the at least one exceeded oil-life threshold level.

Claims

1. A method for operating a telematics unit within a mobile vehicle, the method comprising:

monitoring the mobile vehicle for vehicle system maintenance information;

determining an oil-life value based on the vehicle system maintenance information;

determining whether the oil-life value exceeds at least one oil-life threshold level;

sending information associated with the vehicle system maintenance information to a call center via a wireless carrier system;

generating a service reminder, at the call center, based on the received information, that a vehicle service is recommended, if the oil-life value exceeds the at least one oil-life threshold level; and

generating a service reminder, at the call center, based on the received information, that a vehicle service is not recommended, if the oil-life value does not exceed the at least one oil-life threshold level and the mobile vehicle has attained a given mileage.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the service reminder at the telematics unit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle system maintenance information is selected from one or more of the group consisting of:

oil viscosity, oil opacity, vehicle type and engine type.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the mobile vehicle for vehicle system maintenance information comprises:

receiving the vehicle system maintenance information; and

storing the received vehicle maintenance information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the oil-life value is a variable oil-life performance metric.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the oil-life value exceeds the at least one oil-life threshold level comprises:

comparing the determined oil-life value with the at least one oil-life threshold level;

determining at least one oil-life threshold level that is exceeded by the oil-life value; and

initiating a vehicle data upload based on the at least one exceeded oil-life threshold level.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the vehicle data upload includes vehicle system maintenance information associated with the at least one exceeded oil-life threshold level.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one oil-life threshold level is a pre-selected level.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one oil-life threshold level is configurable.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the oil-life value based on the vehicle system maintenance information comprises measuring oil viscosity.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the oil-life value based on the vehicle system maintenance information comprises measuring oil opacity.

12. A computer readable medium for operating a telematics unit within a mobile vehicle, comprising:

computer readable code for monitoring the mobile vehicle for vehicle system maintenance information;

computer readable code for determining an oil-life value based on the vehicle system maintenance information;

computer readable code for determining whether the oil-life value exceeds at least one oil-life threshold level;

computer readable code for sending information associated with the vehicle system maintenance information to a call center via a wireless carrier system

computer readable code for generating a service reminder, at the call center, based on the received information, that a vehicle service is recommended, if the oil-life value exceeds the at least one oil-life threshold level; and

computer readable code for generating a service reminder, at the call center, based on the received information, that a vehicle service is not recommended, if the oil-life value does not exceed the at least one oil-life threshold level and the mobile vehicle has attained a given mileage.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising:

computer readable code for implementing a received service reminder at the telematics unit.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the vehicle system maintenance information is selected from one or more of the group consisting of:

oil viscosity, oil opacity, vehicle type and engine type.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the computer readable code for monitoring the mobile vehicle for vehicle system maintenance information comprises:

computer readable code for identifying received vehicle system maintenance information; and

computer readable code for storing the received vehicle system maintenance information.

16. The compute readable medium of claim 12, wherein the oil-life value is a variable oil-life performance metric.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein determining when the oil-life value exceeds the at least one oil-life threshold level comprises:

computer readable code for comparing the determined oil-life value with the at least one oil-life threshold level;

computer readable code for determining at least one oil-life threshold level that is exceeded by the oil-life value; and

computer readable code for initiating a vehicle data upload based on the at least one exceeded oil-life threshold level.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the vehicle data upload includes vehicle system maintenance information associated with the at least one exceeded oil-life threshold level.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the at least one oil-life threshold level is a pre-selected level.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the at least one oil-life threshold level is configurable.

21. A system for operating a telematics unit within a mobile vehicle, the system comprising:

means for monitoring the mobile vehicle for vehicle system maintenance information;

means for determining an oil-life value based on the vehicle system maintenance information;

means for determining whether the oil-life value exceeds at least one oil-life threshold level;

means for sending information associated with the vehicle system maintenance information to a call center via a wireless carrier system;

means for generating a service reminder, at the call center, based on the received information, that a vehicle service is recommended, if the oil-life value exceeds the at least one oil-life threshold level, and that a vehicle service is not recommended, if the oil-life value does not exceed the at least one oil-life threshold level and the mobile vehicle has attained a given mileage.