Patent ID: 8892341
Filing Date: 2014-11-18
Classification: B60R,G01C,G07C,G09B

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for mentoring a vehicle operator in a manner that assists the vehicle operator to understand whether vehicle operation is being performed in an optimal or non-optimal manner based on one or more parameters that relate to how the vehicle is being operated, comprising: detecting at one or more sensors installed in a vehicle one or more parameters from which data may be obtained that relate to how the vehicle is being operated, including one or more parameters in each of the following categories: inputting the one or more sensed parameters to an on-board diagnostics unit installed in the vehicle; receiving at an on-board mentoring apparatus data from the on-board diagnostics unit that is obtained from the parameters input to the on-board diagnostics unit; storing baseline data in the on-board mentoring apparatus defining one or more desired profiles for operating the vehicle in a manner to improve vehicle operation, including at least baseline profile data corresponding to a desired fuel efficiency, a desired level of emissions and a desired level of wear or consumption of one or more vehicle consumables; at a processor of the on-board mentoring apparatus, processing the data received from the on-board diagnostics unit by comparing: notifying a driver of the vehicle as to whether the vehicle operation is optimal or not whenever said comparison indicates that vehicle operation does not meet any of the baseline profiles, so as to appropriately mentor the driver as to fuel efficiency, emissions and wear or consumption of one or more vehicle consumables.