Apparatus and method for automated vehicle roadside assistance

Abstract

A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to receive from a mobile device a request regarding a stranded vehicle. The request is processed to determine the location of the stranded vehicle. Additional information regarding the stranded vehicle may be retrieved. The location of the stranded vehicle and the additional information may be communicated as a dispatch request. The location of the stranded vehicle relative to a dispatched vehicle is delivered to the mobile device.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A non-transient computer readable storage medium comprising executable instructions to:
 receive from a mobile device a request regarding a stranded vehicle;   process the request to determine the location of the stranded vehicle; and   deliver to the mobile device the location of the stranded vehicle relative to a dispatched vehicle, wherein the executable instructions to deliver include executable instructions to automatically deliver a graphical map of location updates associated with the dispatched vehicle relative to the stranded vehicle.   
     
     
       2. The non-transient computer readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the request is received via a mobile web application in the mobile device. 
     
     
       3. The non-transient computer readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the executable instructions to process the request comprise executable instructions to retrieve additional information regarding the stranded vehicle. 
     
     
       4. The non-transient computer readable storage medium of  claim 3 , wherein the additional information comprises vehicle status information, vehicle coverage information and vehicle insurance policy information. 
     
     
       5. The non-transient computer readable storage medium of  claim 3 , wherein the executable instructions to process the request further comprise executable instructions to automatically provision the dispatched vehicle to a user based on the additional information and the location of the stranded vehicle. 
     
     
       6. The non-transient computer readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the executable instructions to deliver include executable instructions to automatically deliver at least one of information from a short message service (SMS) and an email message comprising location updates associated with the dispatched vehicle relative to the stranded vehicle. 
     
     
       7. A non-transient computer readable storage medium comprising executable instructions to:
 receive from a mobile device a request regarding a stranded vehicle;   process the request to determine the location of the stranded vehicle;   obtain vehicle insurance policy information for the user of the mobile device;   perform an evaluation of the vehicle insurance policy information to confirm a coverage level to cover the cost of dispatching a vehicle to the stranded vehicle; and   selectively dispatch a vehicle to the stranded vehicle based upon the evaluation.   
     
     
       8. The non-transient computer readable storage medium of  claim 7  further comprising executable instructions to access a map service. 
     
     
       9. The non-transient computer readable storage medium of  claim 8  further comprising executable instructions to deliver to the mobile device the location of the stranded vehicle relative to a dispatched vehicle. 
     
     
       10. The non-transient computer readable storage medium of  claim 9  further comprising executable instructions to automatically deliver a graphical map of location updates associated with the dispatched vehicle relative to the stranded vehicle. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and   memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:
 receive, from a mobile device, a request for assistance with a stranded vehicle and additional information for a policy associated with the stranded vehicle; 
 based on receiving the request and the additional information:
 determine a first location of the stranded vehicle at least by communicating the request to a mobile device location service; 
 transmit, to a remote computer, a dispatch request comprising the first location and the additional information, wherein the remote computer triggers dispatch of a rescue vehicle by delivering the dispatch request to a vehicle dispatch center, wherein the dispatch request is delivered in response to the remote computer determining that the additional information indicates the policy associated with the stranded vehicle includes dispatch of the rescue vehicle; 
 transmit, to the mobile device, a map generated by the remote computer and based on a dispatch request result received from the vehicle dispatch center, wherein the map includes the first location of the stranded vehicle relative to a second location of the rescue vehicle; and 
 present, on a graphical user interface presented on a graphical display of the mobile device, the map including the first location and the second location. 
 
   
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus receives the request through a mobile web application. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus receives the request and the additional information over a wireless communications channel. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the dispatch request further comprises the additional information for the policy associated with the stranded vehicle. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the additional information comprises vehicle status information of the stranded vehicle. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the additional information includes coverage information for the stranded vehicle. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to transmit, to the mobile device, an update to the second location of the rescue vehicle. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the apparatus transmits the update to the second location using a short message service (SMS) or using an email message. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the mobile device comprises a smart phone. 
     
     
       20. A method comprising:
 receiving, by a server and from a mobile device, a request for assistance with a stranded vehicle and additional information for a policy associated with the stranded vehicle;   based on receiving the request and the additional information:
 determining a first location of the stranded vehicle at least by communicating the request to a mobile device location service; 
 transmitting, to a remote computer, a dispatch request comprising the first location and the additional information, wherein the remote computer triggers dispatch of a rescue vehicle by delivering the dispatch request to a vehicle dispatch center, wherein the dispatch request is delivered in response to the remote computer determining that the additional information indicates the policy associated with the stranded vehicle includes dispatch of the rescue vehicle; 
 transmitting, to the mobile device, a map generated by the remote computer and based on a dispatch request result received from the vehicle dispatch center, wherein the map includes the first location of the stranded vehicle relative to a second location of the rescue vehicle; and 
 presenting, on a graphical user interface presented on a graphical display of the mobile device, the map including the first location and the second location. 
   
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the request is received through a mobile web application. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the request and the additional information are received over a wireless communications channel. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the dispatch request further comprises the additional information for the policy associated with the stranded vehicle. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23 , wherein the additional information comprises vehicle status information of the stranded vehicle. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24 , wherein the additional information includes coverage information for the stranded vehicle. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 20 , further comprising transmitting, to the mobile device, an update to the second location of the rescue vehicle. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 26 , wherein the update to the second location is transmitted using a short message service (SMS) or is transmitted using an email message. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the mobile device comprises a smart phone.