Patent Publication Number: US-2006004589-A1

Title: Method for mileage based proactive leasing in a telematics system

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates generally to a vehicle leasing program in telematics systems. In particular, the invention relates to a method, system and computer usable medium for monitoring mileage in a leased vehicle to proactively provide leasing options.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The opportunity to personalize features in a mobile vehicle is ever increasing as the automobile is being transformed into a communications and entertainment platform as well as a transportation platform. Many new cars will be installed with some type of telematics unit to provide wireless communication and location-based services. These services may be accessed through interfaces such as voice-recognition computer applications, touch-screen computer displays, computer keyboards, or a series of buttons on the dashboard or console of a vehicle.  
      Currently, telematics service call centers, in-vehicle compact disk (CD) or digital video display (DVD) media, web portals, and voice-enabled phone portals provide various types of location services, including driving directions, stolen vehicle tracking, traffic information, weather reports, restaurant guides, ski reports, road condition information, accident updates, street routing, landmark guides, and business finders.  
      For example, traffic and driving directions may be accessed through a voice portal that uses incoming number identification to generate location information responsive to the area code or prefix of the phone number, or to access location information stored in a user&#39;s profile associated with the phone number. Users may be prompted to enter more details through a voice interface. Other examples are web and wireless portals that offer location-based services such as maps and driving directions where the user enters both a start and end addresses. Some of these services may have a voice interface.  
      Vehicle leasing programs often include a limit on the total miles that a vehicle can be driven during the lifetime of the lease contract. If the lessee exceeds such a limit, additional costs or penalties may be assessed by the lessor. In some cases there is a comparatively high charge for every mile over the mileage limit. A driver of a leased vehicle can remember to watch the odometer to regulate the total miles driven, in order to avoid the additional charge. In some leasing programs the driver can access a web site to input the current odometer reading to compare the odometer reading with the maximum mileage limit. The driver is responsible to remember to watch the miles in both cases.  
      In some cases, vehicle leasing departments monitor the odometer readings collected during service visits and inform the driver when the odometer reading is close to the mileage limit of the contract. In that case, the vehicle leasing departments might offer an option to avoid the excess charges. Typically, if the driven miles begin to approach the mileage limit the driver&#39;s only option is to regulate the miles driven until the lease contract expires.  
      It is desirable, therefore, to provide a method, system and computer usable medium that overcomes the limitations described above. It is desirable to allow a driver of a leased vehicle with an installed telematics system to proactively monitor the vehicle mileage over the lifetime of the contract. It is further desirable for the driver to be presented with options to avoid or reduce the lease overage charges at the end of the lease if the total mileage approaches or exceeds the mileage limitation.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      One aspect of the present invention provides a method of operating a vehicle leasing program. The method includes receiving a mileage value from a vehicle at a call center determining whether the mileage value corresponds to a leasing event trigger and notifying a user of the vehicle of a leasing event responsive to the determination.  
      Another aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle leasing system. The system includes means for receiving a mileage value from a vehicle at a call center, means for determining whether the mileage value corresponds to a leasing event trigger, and means for notifying a user of the vehicle of a leasing event responsive to the determination.  
      A third aspect of the present invention provides a computer readable medium storing a computer program which includes computer readable code for receiving a mileage value from a vehicle at a call center, computer readable code for determining whether the mileage value corresponds to a leasing event trigger, and computer readable code for notifying a user of the vehicle of a leasing event responsive to the determination.  
      The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of the invention rather than limiting, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Various embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by the accompanying figures, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a system for providing access to a telematics system in a mobile vehicle;  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a flowchart representative of one embodiment of a method of operating a vehicle leasing program in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  illustrates a flowchart representative of one embodiment of a method of operating a vehicle leasing program in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a flowchart representative of one embodiment of a method of operating a vehicle leasing program in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  illustrates a flowchart representative of one embodiment of a method of operating a vehicle leasing program in accordance with the present invention; and  
       FIG. 6  illustrates one embodiment of a block diagram of a leasing event indicator in accordance with the embodiment of  FIG. 5 .  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of system for data transmission over a wireless communication system, in accordance with the present invention at  100 . Mobile vehicle communication system (MVCS)  100  includes a mobile vehicle communication unit (MVCU)  110 , a vehicle communication network  112 , a telematics unit  120 , one or more wireless carrier systems  140 , one or more communication networks  142 , one or more land networks  144 , one or more client, personal or user computers  150 , one or more web-hosting portals  160 , and one or more call centers  170 . In one embodiment, MVCU  110  is implemented as a mobile vehicle equipped with suitable hardware and software for transmitting and receiving voice and data communications. MVCS  100  may include additional components not relevant to the present discussion. Mobile vehicle communication systems and telematics units are known in the art.  
      MVCU  110  may also be referred to as a mobile vehicle throughout the discussion below. In operation, MVCU  110  may be implemented as a motor vehicle, a marine vehicle, or as an aircraft. MVCU  110  may include additional components not relevant to the present discussion.  
      MVCU  110 , via a vehicle communication network  112 , sends signals to various units of equipment and systems (detailed below) within MVCU  110  to perform various functions such as unlocking a door, opening the trunk, setting personal comfort settings, and calling from telematics unit  120 . In facilitating interactions among the various communication and electronic modules, vehicle communication network  112  utilizes network interfaces such as controller-area network (CAN), International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Standard 9141, ISO Standard 11898 for high-speed applications, ISO Standard 11519 for lower speed applications, and Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Standard J1850 for high-speed and lower speed applications.  
      MVCU  110 , via telematics unit  120 , sends and receives radio transmissions from wireless carrier system  140 . Wireless carrier system  140  is implemented as any suitable system for transmitting a signal from MVCU  110  to communication network  142 .  
      Telematics unit  120  includes a processor  122  connected to a wireless modem  124 , a global positioning system (GPS) unit  126 , an in-vehicle memory  128 , a microphone  130 , one or more speakers  132 , and an embedded or in-vehicle mobile phone  134 . In other embodiments, telematics unit  120  may be implemented without one or more of the above listed components, such as, for example GPS unit  126  or speakers  132 . Telematics unit  120  may include additional components not relevant to the present discussion.  
      In one embodiment, processor  122  is a digital signal processor (DSP). Processor  122  is implemented as a microcontroller, microprocessor, controller, host processor, or vehicle communications processor. In an example, processor  122  is implemented as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). In another embodiment, processor  122  is implemented as a processor working in conjunction with a central processing unit (CPU) performing the function of a general purpose processor. GPS unit  126  provides longitude and latitude coordinates of the vehicle responsive to a GPS broadcast signal received from a one or more GPS satellite broadcast systems (not shown). In-vehicle mobile phone  134  is a cellular-type phone, such as, for example an analog, digital, dual-mode, dual-band, multi-mode or multi-band cellular phone.  
      Processor  122  executes various computer programs that control programming and operational modes of electronic and mechanical systems within MVCU  110 . Processor  122  controls communications (e.g. call signals) between telematics unit  120 , wireless carrier system  140 , and call center  170 . In one embodiment, a voice-recognition application is installed in processor  122  that can translate human voice input through microphone  130  to digital signals. Processor  122  generates and accepts digital signals transmitted between telematics unit  120  and a vehicle communication network  112  that is connected to various electronic modules in the vehicle. In one embodiment, these digital signals activate the programming mode and operation modes, as well as provide for data transfers. In this embodiment, signals from processor  122  are translated into voice messages and sent out through speaker  132 .  
      Communication network  142  includes services from one or more mobile telephone switching offices and wireless networks. Communication network  142  connects wireless carrier system  140  to land network  144 . Communication network  142  is implemented as any suitable system or collection of systems for connecting wireless carrier system  140  to MVCU  110  and land network  144 .  
      Land network  144  connects communication network  142  to client computer  150 , web-hosting portal  160 , and call center  170 . In one embodiment, land network  144  is a public-switched telephone network (PSTN). In another embodiment, land network  144  is implemented as an Internet protocol (IP) network. In other embodiments, land network  144  is implemented as a wired network, an optical network, a fiber network, other wireless networks, or any combination thereof. Land network  144  is connected to one or more landline telephones. Communication network  142  and land network  144  connect wireless carrier system  140  to web-hosting portal  160  and call center  170 .  
      Client, personal or user computer  150  includes a computer usable medium to execute Internet browser and Internet-access computer programs for sending and receiving data over land network  144  and optionally, wired or wireless communication networks  142  to web-hosting portal  160 . Personal or client computer  150  sends user preferences to web-hosting portal through a web-page interface using communication standards such as hypertext transport protocol (HTTP), and transport-control protocol and Internet protocol (TCP/IP). In one embodiment, the data includes directives to change certain programming and operational modes of electronic and mechanical systems within MVCU  110 . In operation, a client utilizes computer  150  to initiate setting or re-setting of user-preferences for MVCU  110 . User-preference data from client-side software is transmitted to server-side software of web-hosting portal  160 . User-preference data is stored at web-hosting portal  160 .  
      Web-hosting portal  160  includes one or more data modems  162 , one or more web servers  164 , one or more databases  166 , and a network system  168 . Web-hosting portal  160  is connected directly by wire to call center  170 , or connected by phone lines to land network  144 , which is connected to call center  170 . In an example, web-hosting portal  160  is connected to call center  170  utilizing an IP network. In this example, both components, web-hosting portal  160  and call center  170 , are connected to land network  144  utilizing the IP network. In another example, web-hosting portal  160  is connected to land network  144  by one or more data modems  162 . Land network  144  sends digital data to and from modem  162 , data that is then transferred to web server  164 . Modem  162  may reside inside web server  164 . Land network  144  transmits data communications between web-hosting portal  160  and call center  170 .  
      Web server  164  receives user-preference data from user computer  150  via land network  144 . In alternative embodiments, computer  150  includes a wireless modem to send data to web-hosting portal  160  through a wireless communication network  142  and a land network  144 . Data is received by land network  144  and sent to one or more web servers  164 . In one embodiment, web server  164  is implemented as any suitable hardware and software capable of providing web services to help change and transmit personal preference settings from a client at computer  150  to telematics unit  120  in MVCU  110 . Web server  164  sends to or receives from one or more databases  166  data transmissions via network system  168 . Web server  164  includes computer applications and files for managing and storing personalization settings supplied by the client, such as door lock/unlock behavior, radio station preset selections, climate controls, custom button configurations and theft alarm settings. For each client, the web server potentially stores hundreds of preferences for wireless vehicle communication, networking, maintenance and diagnostic services for a mobile vehicle.  
      In one embodiment, one or more web servers  164  are networked via network system  168  to distribute user-preference data among its network components such as database  166 . In an example, database  166  is a part of or a separate computer from web server  164 . Web server  164  sends data transmissions with user preferences to call center  170  through land network  144 .  
      Call center  170  is a location where many calls are received and serviced at the same time, or where many calls are sent at the same time. In one embodiment, the call center is a telematics call center, facilitating communications to and from telematics unit  120  in MVCU  110 . In an example, the call center is a voice call center, providing verbal communications between an advisor in the call center and a subscriber in a mobile vehicle. In another example, the call center contains each of these functions. In other embodiments, call center  170  and web-hosting portal  160  are located in the same or different facilities.  
      Call center  170  contains one or more voice and data switches  172 , one or more communication services managers  174 , one or more communication services databases  176 , one or more communication services advisors  178 , and one or more network systems  180 .  
      Switch  172  of call center  170  connects to land network  144 . Switch  172  transmits voice or data transmissions from call center  170 , and receives voice or data transmissions from telematics unit  120  in MVCU  110  through wireless carrier system  140 , communication network  142 , and land network  144 . Switch  172  receives data transmissions from and sends data transmissions to one or more web-hosting portals  160 . Switch  172  receives data transmissions from or sends data transmissions to one or more communication services managers  174  via one or more network systems  180 .  
      Communication services manager  174  is any suitable hardware and software capable of providing requested communication services to telematics unit  120  in MVCU  110 . Communication services manager  174  sends to or receives from one or more communication services databases  176  data transmissions via network system  180 . Communication services manager  174  sends to or receives from one or more communication services advisors  178  data transmissions via network system  180 . Communication services database  176  sends to or receives from communication services advisor  178  data transmissions via network system  180 . Communication services advisor  178  receives from or sends to switch  172  voice or data transmissions.  
      Communication services manager  174  provides one or more of a variety of services, including enrollment services, navigation assistance, directory assistance, roadside assistance, business or residential assistance, information services assistance, emergency assistance, and communications assistance. Communication services manager  174  receives service-preference requests for a variety of services from the client via computer  150 , web-hosting portal  160 , and land network  144 . Communication services manager  174  transmits user-preference and other data to telematics unit  120  in MVCU  110  through wireless carrier system  140 , communication network  142 , land network  144 , voice and data switch  172 , and network system  180 . Communication services manager  174  stores or retrieves data and information from communication services database  176 . Communication services manager  174  may provide requested information to communication services advisor  178 .  
      In one embodiment, communication services advisor  178  is implemented as a real advisor. In an example, a real advisor is a human being in verbal communication with a user or subscriber (e.g. a client) in MVCU  110  via telematics unit  120 . In another embodiment, communication services advisor  178  is implemented as a virtual advisor. In an example, a virtual advisor is implemented as a synthesized voice interface responding to requests from telematics unit  120  in MVCU  110 .  
      Communication services advisor  178  provides services to telematics unit  120  in MVCU  110 . Services provided by communication services advisor  178  include enrollment services, navigation assistance, real-time traffic advisories, directory assistance, roadside assistance, business or residential assistance, information services assistance, emergency assistance, and communications assistance. Communication services advisor  178  communicate with telematics unit  120  in MVCU  110  through wireless carrier system  140 , communication network  142 , and land network  144  using voice transmissions, or through communication services manager  174  and switch  172  using data transmissions. Switch  172  selects between voice transmissions and data transmissions.  
       FIG. 2 a  flowchart  200  representative of one embodiment of a method of operating a vehicle leasing program in accordance with the present invention. During stage S 202 , a mileage value (MV) is received from a leased mobile vehicle  110  at the call center  170 . The mileage value is the current odometer reading from MVCU  110 . The mileage value is retrieved by vehicle communication network  112  and transmitted from the telematics unit  120  via a wireless connection to the call center  170  in response to a vehicle data upload. In a vehicle data upload the call center  170  requests data from the MVCU  110  over the wireless communication system comprising one or more wireless carrier systems  140 , one or more communication networks  142 , one or more land networks  144 .  
      In one embodiment, the communication services manager  174  initiates a vehicle data upload responsive to a periodic trigger. In another embodiment, a user on a web-hosting portal  160  initiates the vehicle data upload to generate input on the leased vehicle. The phrases “user of the vehicle leasing program,” “user of the mobile vehicle,” and the phrase “driver of the leased mobile vehicle” are used interchangeably throughout this document. In the discussion related to  FIGS. 2-6  the term MVCU  110  refers to the leased mobile vehicle  110 .  
      During stage S 204 , the communication services manager  174  determines whether the mileage value corresponds to a leasing event trigger. The communication services manager  174  determines if the mileage value exceeds a mileage threshold that is defined during a vehicle leasing program initiation. A leasing event trigger occurs, for example, when the mileage value is greater than the predetermined mileage threshold.  
      During stage S 206 , the call center  170  notifies the user of the mobile vehicle of the leasing event responsive to the determination of stage S 204 . If the communication services manager  174  determines the mileage value is greater than the mileage threshold, the call center  170  transmits the notification to the user. In one embodiment, notifying a user of a leasing event responsive to the determination comprises transmitting a leasing event indicator to the user.  
      The notification is displayed as a message on a visual display in MVCU  110 . In one embodiment, the notification is a verbal message transmitted over speakers  132  in MVCU  110 . In another embodiment, the notification is displayed as a message on a visual display in MVCU  110  and/or also transmitted as a verbal message over speakers  132  in MVCU  110 . In another embodiment, the notification is transmitted from the call center  170  to a user-accessible web-hosting portal  160 .  
       FIG. 3  illustrates a flowchart  300  representative of a method of operating a vehicle leasing program in accordance with a first embodiment the present invention. During stage S 302 , the vehicle leasing company initiates the vehicle leasing program for the driver of a leased mobile vehicle  110  with an installed telematics unit  120 . In an alternative embodiment, the driver of a leased mobile vehicle  110  initiates the vehicle leasing program. The initiation is done, for example, using a web-hosting portal  160 . In one embodiment, the initiation begins with a user action in MVCU  110  to activate the telematics unit  120 , such as a button push. The user action establishes a communication with an advisor  178  at the call center  170 .  
      During the initiation process, details about the lease contract are input to the communication services databases  176 . The required lease data includes, for example, the start date of the contract, the duration of the lease, the odometer reading at the start of the lease, the lease mileage limit, the additional cost per mile for exceeding the lease mileage limit, the mileage threshold, date of the first mileage value transmission to the call center and a predetermined period for checking the mileage value on the vehicle odometer. The optional lease data includes the lease contract number and the payment schedule for the leased vehicle. The driver selects the mileage threshold, the date of first mileage value transmission and the predetermined period.  
      In this first embodiment, the mileage threshold is equal to the lease mileage limit. A driver who plans to drive the MVCU  110  a distance much less than the lease mileage limit might select this type embodiment. The driver in this embodiment may choose to start transmitting the mileage value to the call center  170  after three-quarters of the contract lifetime has elapsed. The predetermined period for checking the mileage threshold can be one day to many months. In one embodiment, the predetermined period changes with time with the period decreasing as the contract approaches expiration. The driver-selected parameters may be changed later if driving patterns of the driver change.  
      During stage S 304 , the call center  170  receives a mileage value (MV) from the leased mobile vehicle  110  in response to a vehicle data upload from the call center  170 . In another embodiment, the MV is captured in response to a bus process or with a speech recognition automaton. The mileage value is the current reading on the odometer of the MVCU  110 . The call center  170  is triggered to send the first vehicle data upload on the selected date of first mileage value transmission. During stage S 306 , the communication services manager  174  compares the received mileage value to the lease mileage limit. During stage S 308 , the communication services manager  174  determines if the received mileage value is greater than the lease mileage limit. If the received mileage value is less than the lease mileage limit, the flow proceeds to stage S 310 . During stage S 310 , the predetermined period elapses and then the flow proceeds to stage S 304 . The flow from stage S 304  to S 306  to S 308  through stage S 310  and back to stage S 304  continues periodically until the received mileage value is greater than the lease mileage limit during stage S 308 . The period at which the flow repeats may be predetermined as a fixed time interval, or the period may be dynamically controlled at either the call center  170  or MVCU  110 . Thus, for example, the flow may repeat on a monthly basis. Alternatively, if, for example, a driver drives over a predetermined distance on a weekly basis, the flow may be dynamically configured to operate every week.  
      In another embodiment, MV data is calculated in response to GPS position captured in a buffer: In one embodiment, a first GPS position is received. After a predetermined interval, such as 60 seconds, and a second GPS position is received. The first and second GPS positions are compared, and their difference is added to a distance traveled database record to approximate distance traveled by the vehicle. In another embodiment, the interval is dynamically determined such that the GPS position is recorded into the buffer for comparison when subsequent GPS positions are identical.  
      A leasing event trigger occurs when the received mileage value is greater than the mileage threshold. In this embodiment, the received mileage value being greater than the lease mileage limit triggers the leasing event. The flow proceeds to stage S 312 .  
      During stage S 312 , the call center  170  notifies the user of the mobile vehicle of the occurrence of a leasing event by transmitting a leasing event indicator responsive to the determination during stage S 308 . When the odometer reading exceeds the lease mileage limit the communications services manager  174  retrieves the additional cost per mile for each mile exceeding the lease mileage limit from the communication services databases  176  and calculates the additional charge that the leasing department will assess for driving the MVCU  10  up to the current mileage value. The driver is informed in the leasing event indicator of the additional charge.  
      During stage S 314 , the leasing event indicator provides the user with at least one option to reduce the additional charge related to exceeding the lease mileage limit. For example, the provided options include additional mileage purchase option, a lease-pull-ahead option, an amortization option, a lump-sum-up-front option, a current trade-off option, a lease modification option and a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the cost advantage of each provided option is also provided to the user in the leasing event indicator.  
      The leasing event indicator is displayed on a visual display in MVCU  110 . In one embodiment, the leasing event indicator is a verbal message transmitted over speakers  132  in MVCU  110 . In another embodiment, the leasing event indicator is displayed as a message on a visual display in MVCU  110  and is also transmitted as a verbal message over speakers  132  in MVCU  110 . In another embodiment, the leasing event indicator is transmitted from the call center  170  to a user-accessible web-hosting portal  160 .  
      In this described embodiment, the call center  170  monitors the mileage values using vehicle data uploads and notifies the user about the occurrence of a leasing event when the current mileage value exceeds the lease mileage limit. In one embodiment, the telematics unit  120  monitors the mileage values until the lease mileage limit is exceeded and then triggers the call center  170  to notify the user about the occurrence of a leasing event. In another embodiment, the telematics unit  120  monitors the mileage values until the lease mileage limit is exceeded and then notifies the user of the leasing event.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a flowchart  400  representative of a method of operating a vehicle leasing program in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. During stage S 402 , the vehicle leasing company initiates the vehicle leasing program for the driver of a leased mobile vehicle  110  with an installed telematics unit  120 . The initiation process is as described in flowchart  300  for stage S 302  of  FIG. 3  including the various embodiments.  
      In this second embodiment, the mileage threshold is equal to a percentage of the lease mileage limit. The driver selects the mileage threshold, the date of first mileage value transmission and the predetermined period responsive to an anticipated amount of driving.  
      In an exemplary initiation of the vehicle leasing program the driver chooses a mileage threshold of 75% of the lease mileage limit. The driver also chooses to have the MVCS  100  check the current mileage value with a predetermined period of one month. The driver chooses the date when the contract lifetime is half over as the date to transmit the first mileage value to the call center  170 . These driver-selected parameters may be changed later if driving patterns of the driver change.  
      During stage S 404 , the telematics unit  120  receives a mileage value (MV) from the leased mobile vehicle  110 . The telematics unit  120  is first triggered to read the mileage value on the date of first mileage value transmission selected during the initiation of the vehicle leasing program. The received mileage value is the current reading on the odometer of the MVCU  110 . During stage S 406 , the telematics unit  120  compares the received mileage value to the mileage threshold. During stage S 408 , the telematics unit  120  determines if the received mileage value is greater than the mileage threshold. If the received mileage value is less than the mileage threshold, the flow proceeds to stage S 410 . During stage S 410 , the predetermined period elapses and then the flow proceeds back to stage S 404 . The flow from stage S 404  to S 406  to S 408  through stage S 410  and back to stage S 404  continues until the received mileage value is determined to be greater than the mileage threshold during stage S 408 . The period at which the flow repeats may be predetermined as a fixed time interval, or the period may be dynamically controlled at either the call center  170  or MVCU  110 . Thus, for example, the flow may repeat on a monthly basis. Alternatively, if, for example, a driver drives over a predetermined distance on a weekly basis, the flow may be dynamically configured to operate every week.  
      When the received mileage value is greater than the mileage threshold, a leasing event is triggered and the flow proceeds to stage S 412 . During stage S 412 , the telematics unit  120  transmits the mileage value to the call center  170 . During one embodiment, the mileage value is transmitted via a wireless connection established by the telematics unit  120  over one or more wireless carrier systems  140 , one or more communication networks  142 , one or more land networks  144 .  
      During stage S 414 , the call center  170  receives the mileage value from the telematics unit  120 . During stage S 416 , the call center  170  notifies the user of the mobile vehicle of a leasing event by transmitting a leasing event indicator to the user. The leasing event indicator informs the user that the odometer reading is the selected percentage of the lease mileage limit. The leasing event indicator is displayed or announced as described for stage S 314  of flowchart  300  in  FIG. 3  including the various embodiments.  
      In this described embodiment, telematics unit  120  monitors the mileage values until a selected percent of the lease mileage limit is exceeded and then the call center  170  notifies the user about the occurrence of a leasing event. In one embodiment, the telematics unit  120  monitors the mileage values until a selected percent of the lease mileage limit is exceeded and then the telematics unit  120  notifies the user about the occurrence of a leasing event. In another embodiment, the call center  170  monitors the mileage values using vehicle data uploads and notifies the user about the occurrence of a leasing event when the current mileage value exceeds the selected percent of the lease mileage limit.  
       FIG. 5  illustrates a flowchart  500  representative of a method of operating a vehicle leasing program in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. During stage S 502 , the vehicle leasing company initiates the vehicle leasing program for the driver of a leased mobile vehicle  110  with an installed telematics unit  120 . The initiation process is as described in flowchart  300  for stage S 302  of  FIG. 3  including the various embodiments.  
      In this third embodiment, the mileage threshold is a projected total mileage usage value. The projected total mileage usage value is responsive to an extrapolation of the mileage accumulation on the MVCU  110  throughout the duration of the leasing contract. The driver in this third embodiment chooses to start transmitting the mileage value to the call center  170  within days or weeks after the contract begins. The driver in this third embodiment chooses a predetermined period for checking the mileage threshold of a few days to a week. This relatively short period allows the call center  170  to establish driving trends from the beginning of the contract.  
      During stage S 504 , the call center  170  receives a mileage value (MV) from the leased mobile vehicle  110  in response to a vehicle data upload from the call center  170 . The mileage value is the current reading on the odometer of the MVCU  110 . The call center  170  was triggered to send the first vehicle data upload on the selected date of first mileage value transmission. During stage S 506 , the communication services manager  174  compiles a plurality of received mileage values to form a projected total mileage usage value. The plurality of the received mileage values includes all the previously received mileage values and the last received mileage value. The first received mileage value is the first value in the compilation. The communication services manager  174  extrapolates the compiled plurality of received mileage values versus time from the start of the contract to the end of the contract to calculate a projected total mileage usage value.  
      During stage S 508 , the communication services manager  174  determines if the projected total mileage usage value is greater than the lease mileage limit. If the projected total mileage usage value is less than the lease mileage limit, the flow proceeds to stage S 510 .  
      During stage S 510 , the communication services manager  174  determines if the driving trend indicates that the predetermined period needs adjustment. The driving trend is recognized responsive to the compiled plurality of received mileage values. If the driver of the MVCU  110  drives about the same number of miles per week over several contiguous weeks, the trend is recognized to be consistent and the period increases. In an exemplary vehicle leasing program, an initial period of three days increases to a new period of four weeks when the trend is consistent. The phrase “about the same numbers of miles” is defined to be within a portion of a defined standard deviation of numbers of miles.  
      Alternatively, the miles driven per week differ radically over several contiguous weeks. The phrase “differ radically” is defined to be outside a portion of a defined standard deviation of numbers of miles. In this case, the trend is recognized to be inconsistent and the period remains the same or perhaps decreases from the initial period to several weeks. In one embodiment of a vehicle leasing program, an initial period of three days is reduced to a new period of one day when the trend is inconsistent.  
      If it is determined, during stage S 510 , that the trend indicates a period adjustment is needed, the flow proceeds to stage S 512 . During stage S 512 , the communication services manager  174  adjusts the predetermined period responsive to the statistics of the compiled plurality of received mileage values. The flow proceeds to stage S 514 .  
      If it is determined, during stage S 510 , that the trend indicates a period adjustment is not needed, the flow proceeds to stage S 514 .  
      During stage S 514 , the predetermined period elapses and then the flow proceeds to stage S 504 . The flow cycles through stages S 504 -S 508  through stages S 510 , S 514 , and possibly S 512  as needed, coming back to stage S 504 . The flow cycle continues until it is determined, during stage S 508 , that the projected total mileage usage value is greater than the lease mileage limit.  
      When the projected total mileage usage value is greater than the lease mileage limit the flow proceeds to stage S 516 . During stage S 516 , the call center  170  notifies the user of the mobile vehicle of a leasing event by transmitting a leasing event indicator responsive to the determination during stage S 508 . In this embodiment the projected total mileage usage value being greater than the lease mileage limit comprises the leasing event. The communications services manager  174  retrieves the additional cost information, such as additional cost per mile, for miles exceeding the lease mileage limit from the communication services databases  176  and calculates the expected additional charges responsive to the projected total mileage usage value. The expected additional charge is the difference between projected total mileage usage value and the lease mileage limit times the additional cost per mile in excess of the lease mileage limit. The driver is informed of the expected additional charge in the leasing event indicator. During stage S 518 , the leasing event indicator provides the user with at least one option to reduce the expectation of an additional charge related to potentially exceeding the lease mileage limit. The options include additional mileage purchase option, a lease-pull-ahead option, an amortization option, a lump-sum-up-front option, a current trade-off option, a lease modification option and a combination thereof. The cost advantage of each provided option is also provided to the user in the leasing event indicator. The leasing event indicator is displayed or announced as described for stage S 314  of flowchart  300  in  FIG. 3  including the various embodiments.  
      In this described embodiment, the call center  170  monitors the mileage values using vehicle data uploads and notifies the user of a leasing event when the projected total mileage usage value exceeds the lease mileage limit. In one embodiment, the telematics unit  120  monitors the mileage values until the projected total mileage usage value exceeds the lease mileage limit and then triggers the call center  170  to notify the user of the leasing event. In another embodiment, the telematics unit  120  monitors the mileage values until the projected total mileage usage value exceeds the lease mileage limit and then notifies the user of the leasing event.  
       FIG. 6  illustrates a block diagram of a leasing event indicator  600  in accordance with the third embodiment of  FIG. 5 . The leasing event indicator comprises the vehicle information, as well as the current mileage, projected mileage by the end of the lease, the lease mileage limit, the excess mileage, which is the difference between projected total mileage usage value and the lease mileage limit. The additional cost for the excess mileage is also listed in the leasing event indicator. The lease contract number, itemization of the contract terms and the list of options are also in the leasing event indicator.  
      The contract terms include the start date of the contract, the duration of the lease, the odometer reading at the start of the lease, the additional cost per mile for exceeding the lease mileage limit, and the payment schedule for the leased vehicle or any combination thereof.  
      The user of the mobile vehicle sees a bar indicator of the current mileage and the projected mileage. The user monitors this information at any time by doing a button push on the telematics unit  120  or by accessing the MVCS  100  on a computer via the web-hosting portal  160 .  
      In one embodiment, a user who participates in sequential vehicle leasing programs for sequentially leased vehicles has a user-lease-profile from one or more previously leased vehicles linked with the user-lease-profile being developed in a currently leased vehicle. A user&#39;s preference in choosing options is included in the linked user lease profiles to prioritize the options for the user in a subsequent leasing event indicator.  
      While the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are presently considered to be preferred, various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalents are intended to be embraced therein.