Vehicle telematics communications for providing directions to a vehicle service facility

• US 9,329,049 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2012
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Edwards, Ryan M., Kelly, James J. III, Michalak, Heather C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dager, Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US13/530,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20130046432A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3605 Destination input or retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages

Abstract

A method of providing directions to a vehicle service facility includes generating a vehicle service alert that includes vehicle operating data, sending the vehicle service alert to a vehicle telematics service subscriber, offering the vehicle telematics service subscriber a choice of one or more vehicle service facilities for responding to the vehicle service alert, and if the vehicle owner chooses a vehicle service facility, providing turn-by-turn directions to the chosen vehicle service facility.

Claims

1. A method of providing directions to a vehicle service facility, comprising the steps of:

(a) identifying, for each of a number of vehicle service facilities, one or more services provided by the vehicle service facility;

(b) associating each of the vehicle service facilities in a database with the one or more identified services provided by that vehicle service facility, wherein the database is associated with a central facility;

(c) receiving from a vehicle telematics service subscriber an indication at the central facility of a desire to set a trigger at a vehicle associated with the subscriber, wherein the trigger is associated with a vehicle service alert generated by the vehicle;

(d) based on step (c), remotely setting the trigger at the vehicle from the central facility;

(e) when a trigger occurrence occurs at the vehicle, offering the vehicle telematics service subscriber a choice of a plurality of vehicle service facilities based on the trigger occurrence and the identified service(s) provided by the vehicle service facilities; and

(f) if the vehicle telematics service subscriber chooses an offered vehicle service facility, providing turn-by-turn directions to the chosen vehicle service facility.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) further comprises the step of offering the one or more vehicle service facilities based on the type of vehicle service alert generated.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the database is maintained at the central facility, wherein the central facility includes a call center.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining if a vehicle operated by the vehicle telematics service subscriber is covered by a warranty and, if so, offering a vehicle service facility to the vehicle telematics service subscriber that honors the warranty.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of limiting the number of offered vehicle service facilities based on the complexity of two or more generated vehicle service alerts by applying a minimum capability threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein turn-by-turn directions are provided to the vehicle telematics service subscriber in an email message that includes vehicle diagnostic results.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein turn-by-turn directions are provided to the vehicle telematics service subscriber as a hyperlink in an email message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein turn-by-turn directions are provided to the vehicle telematics service subscriber as text-based commands shown on a display in a vehicle or audibly recited in the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the turn-by-turn directions are included in an email as a geographical map.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) further comprises automatically receiving at the central facility an indication of the trigger occurrence from the vehicle, wherein the indication of the trigger occurrence comprises a vehicle data upload.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) further comprises establishing communication between the central facility and the vehicle as a result of the vehicle providing a reminder to the vehicle telematics service subscriber, wherein the reminder is associated with the vehicle service alert.

10. A method of providing directions to a vehicle service facility, comprising the steps of:

(a) generating a vehicle service alert that includes vehicle operating data for a vehicle;

(b) sending the vehicle service alert to a vehicle telematics service subscriber;

(c) obtaining the location of the vehicle;

(d) determining whether the vehicle is covered by a vehicle warranty;

(e) if so, then offering the vehicle telematics service subscriber a choice of one or more vehicle dealerships for responding to the vehicle service alert;

(f) otherwise, offering the vehicle telematics service subscriber a choice of one or more aftermarket vehicle service providers in addition to one or more dealerships; and

(g) after the vehicle telematics service subscriber chooses a vehicle dealership or aftermarket vehicle service provider, providing turn-by-turn directions from the location of the vehicle to the chosen vehicle dealership or aftermarket vehicle service provider.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein one or more vehicle dealerships or aftermarket vehicle service providers are offered based on the type of vehicle service alert generated.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of identifying one or more services provided by the vehicle dealership or aftermarket vehicle service provider and associating the dealership or aftermarket vehicle service provider in a database with the one or more identified services.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the database is maintained at a call center.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein turn-by-turn directions are provided to the vehicle telematics service subscriber as a hyperlink in an email message.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein turn-by-turn directions are provided to the vehicle telematics service subscriber as text-based commands shown on a display in a vehicle or audibly recited in the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the turn-by-turn directions are included in an email as a geographical map.

17. A method of providing directions to a vehicle service facility, comprising the steps of:

(a) sending a vehicle telematics service subscriber an email message that includes service alerts for a vehicle operated by the vehicle telematics service subscriber;

(b) determining if the vehicle is covered by a warranty and, if so, offering the vehicle telematics service subscriber a choice of one or more vehicle service facilities that honor the warranty and are capable of responding to each service alert included in the email based on the type of service alert;

(c) receiving from the vehicle telematics service subscriber a chosen selection from among the offered vehicle service facilities;

(d) determining the location of the vehicle operated by the vehicle telematics service subscriber;

(e) generating turn-by-turn directions between the location of the vehicle and the chosen selection; and

(f) presenting the turn-by-turn directions to the vehicle telematics service subscriber.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of limiting the number of offered vehicle service facilities based on the complexity of two or more generated vehicle service alerts by applying a minimum capability threshold.