US6754485B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Technique for effectively providing maintenance and information to vehicles
Assignee: Silver State Intellectual Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1999-12-06
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Granted: 2004-06-22
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Expires: 2019-12-06
Abstract
Abstract In an automobile, communications to and from the automobile are in the form of messages. Such messages are referred to as “electronic car-mail” or “C-mail” messages as each message has a destination or origination address which includes an identifier, e.g., a vehicle identification number (VIN), identifying the automobile. The message may be delivered to the automobile from a remote server through a communications network, e.g., the Internet. One such message may contain a recall notice to the automobile. Another message may contain just-in-time map information for navigation, depending on the current location of the automobile. Yet another message may contain advertising information concerning selected entities, e.g., restaurants, gas stations, department stores, etc., also depending on the current location of the automobile. The messages transmitted from the automobile to the remote server may contain, e.g., GPS information identifying the location of the automobile, dynamic data furnished by sensors in the automobile for analysis, an odometer reading and a speedometer reading for records, etc.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael L. Obradovich
- 👤 Philip E. White
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:33
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W4/00; H04W4/02; G; G01; G01C; G01C21/00; G01C21/26; G01C21/34; G01C21/36; G01C21/3697; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G06Q30/0241; G06Q30/0251; G06Q30/0261; G07; G07C; G07C5/00; G07C5/008; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/123; G08G1/133; G08G1/137; G08G1/20; G08G1/205; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/02; H04L12/16; H04L12/18; H04L12/1895; H04L51/00; H04L51/58; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/12; H04L67/50; H04L67/52; H04L67/53; H04W4/025; H04W4/027; H04W4/029; H04W4/30; H04W4/40; H04W4/44; H04L12/1845; H04L51/21; H04L51/222; H04L51/48; H04L67/02; H04L67/025; H04W4/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for facilitating maintenance of vehicles, comprising: electronically sending, to vehicles, messages about a faulty condition of the vehicles, the messages including identifiers of the vehicles, respectively; searching a database for data concerning correction of the faulty condition of the vehicles based on the identifiers, the data being contributed by one or more vehicle service providers; determining, based on the data, identifiers of a subset of the vehicles which has not had the faulty condition corrected; and performing one or more actions based on the identifiers of the vehicles in the subset.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for facilitating maintenance of vehicles, comprising: electronically sending, to vehicles, messages about a faulty condition of the vehicles, the messages including identifiers of the vehicles, respectively; searching a database for data concerning correction of the faulty condition of the vehicles based on the identifiers, the data being contributed by one or more vehicle service providers; determining, based on the data, identifiers of a subset of the vehicles which has not had the faulty condition corrected; and performing one or more actions based on the identifiers of the vehicles in the subset.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the messages comprise addresses containing the respective identifiers of the vehicles to which the messages are electronically sent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2 wherein at least one of the respective identifiers includes at least part of a vehicle identification number (VIN).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the messages are electronically sent via the Internet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the messages comprise recall notices.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more actions include sending repeated messages to the vehicles in the subset.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for providing map information to a vehicle in a predictive manner, comprising: receiving data concerning at least one of a current location, speed and heading direction of a vehicle, wherein a frequency of receipt of the data is a function of at least the speed of the vehicle; predicting based on the data a location of the vehicle at a future time; and providing, to the vehicle, information concerning a map corresponding to the predicted location.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for providing map information to a vehicle in a predictive manner, comprising: receiving data concerning at least one of a current location, speed and heading direction of a vehicle, wherein a frequency of receipt of the data is a function of at least the speed of the vehicle; predicting based on the data a location of the vehicle at a future time; and providing, to the vehicle, information concerning a map corresponding to the predicted location.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the current location data is formatted in accordance with a GPS technique.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the data is associated with an identifier of the vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the identifier includes at least part of a VIN.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the data is received via the Internet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the information concerning the map is provided via the Internet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the information concerning the map is provided to the vehicle based on an address associated with the vehicle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the address includes an identifier of the vehicle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the identifier includes at least part of a VIN.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
103 words
A system for facilitating maintenance of vehicles, comprising: a mechanism for electronically sending, to vehicles, messages about a faulty condition of the vehicles, the messages including identifiers of the vehicles, respectively; an interface for searching a database for data concerning correction of the faulty condition of the vehicles based on the identifiers, the data being contributed by one or more vehicle service providers; and a processor for determining, based on the data, identifiers of a subset of the vehicles which has not had the faulty condition corrected, one or more actions being performed based on the identifiers of the vehicles in the subset.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
103 words
A system for facilitating maintenance of vehicles, comprising: a mechanism for electronically sending, to vehicles, messages about a faulty condition of the vehicles, the messages including identifiers of the vehicles, respectively; an interface for searching a database for data concerning correction of the faulty condition of the vehicles based on the identifiers, the data being contributed by one or more vehicle service providers; and a processor for determining, based on the data, identifiers of a subset of the vehicles which has not had the faulty condition corrected, one or more actions being performed based on the identifiers of the vehicles in the subset.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 16 wherein the messages comprise addresses containing the respective identifiers of the vehicles to which the messages are electronically sent.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 17 wherein at least one of the respective identifiers includes at least part of a VIN.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 16 wherein the messages are electronically sent via the Internet.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 16 wherein the messages comprise recall notices.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 16 wherein the one or more actions include sending repeated messages to the vehicles in the subset.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
88 words
A system for providing map information to a vehicle in a predictive manner, comprising: an interface for receiving data concerning at least one of a current location, speed and heading direction of a vehicle, wherein a frequency of receipt of the data is a function of at least the speed of the vehicle; a processor for predicting based on the data a location of the vehicle at a future time; and an output device for providing, to the vehicle, information concerning a map corresponding to the predicted location.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
88 words
A system for providing map information to a vehicle in a predictive manner, comprising: an interface for receiving data concerning at least one of a current location, speed and heading direction of a vehicle, wherein a frequency of receipt of the data is a function of at least the speed of the vehicle; a processor for predicting based on the data a location of the vehicle at a future time; and an output device for providing, to the vehicle, information concerning a map corresponding to the predicted location.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 22 wherein the current location data is formatted in accordance with a GPS technique.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 22 wherein the data is associated with an identifier of the vehicle.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 24 wherein the identifier includes at least part of a VIN.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 22 wherein the data is received via the Internet.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 22 wherein the information concerning the map is provided via the Internet.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 27 wherein the information concerning the map is provided to the vehicle based on an address associated with the vehicle.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 28 wherein the address includes an identifier of the vehicle.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 29 wherein the identifier includes at least part of a VIN.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-06-22 | 2007-12-22 | 2008-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-06-22 | 2011-12-22 | 2012-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-06-22 | 2015-12-22 | 2016-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |