Method and apparatus for wireless proximity based component information provision

Abstract

A system includes a processor configured to provide an informational report to a wireless device about a vehicle component associated with a BLUETOOTH low energy (BTLE) chip, affixed to a vehicle, when the wireless device is determined to be within a predefined proximity to the BTLE chip. This can include information such as operational and wear status, but also can be purely explanatory, as to what the function of the component is.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a plurality of Bluetooth low energy (BTLE) chips, provided to a vehicle, each associated with one or more vehicle components;   a vehicle processor, in communication with the BTLE chips, configured to:   detect a signal from an infrastructure transceiver;   determine, based on the signal, that the transceiver is within a predefined proximity to at least one BTLE chip;   determine at least one vehicle system or component associated with the at least one BTLE chip;   determine a state of the vehicle system or component associated with the at least one BTLE chip; and   responsive to the determination that the transceiver is within the predefined proximity, issue a wireless report communicated to the infrastructure transceiver, indicating the determined state.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the report is defined for the at least one BTLE chip as a report to be issued when the transceiver is within the predefined proximity, 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle system includes a vehicle fuel tank and the report indicates a fuel level. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle component includes a vehicle odometer and the report indicates a current mileage. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle component includes at least one vehicle tire and the report indicates tire pressure of the at least one tire. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle component includes an oil reserve and the report indicates a vehicle oil life report. 
     
     
         7 . A method comprising:
 detect a signal from an infrastructure transceiver at one or more of a plurality of Bluetooth low energy (BTLE) chips, provided to a vehicle, each associated with one or more vehicle components;   determine, based on the signal, that the transceiver is within a predefined proximity to at least one of the one or more BTLE chips;   determine at least one vehicle system or component associated with the at least one BTLE chip;   determine a state of the vehicle system or component associated with the at least one BTLE chip; and   responsive to the determination that the transceiver is within the predefined, proximity, issue a wireless report communicated to the infrastructure transceiver, indicating the determined state.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the report is defined for the at least one BTLE chip as a report to be issued when the transceiver is within the predefined proximity. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the vehicle system includes a vehicle fuel tank and the report indicates a fuel level. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the vehicle component includes a vehicle odometer and the report indicates a current mileage. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the vehicle component includes at least one vehicle tire and the report indicates tire pressure of the at least one tire. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the vehicle component includes an oil reserve and the report indicates a vehicle oil life report 
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
 detecting a signal from an infrastructure transceiver at one or more of a plurality of Bluetooth low energy (BTLE) chips, provided to a vehicle, each associated with one or more vehicle components;   determine, based on the signal, that the transceiver is within a predefined proximity to at least one of the one or more BTLE chips;   determine at least one vehicle system or component associated with the at least one BTLE chip;   determine a state of the vehicle system or component associated with the at least one BTLE chip; and   responsive to the determination that the transceiver is within the predefined proximity, issue a wireless report communicated to the infrastructure transceiver, indicating the determined state.   
     
     
         14 . The storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the report is defined for the at least one BILE chip as a report to be issued when the transceiver is within the predefined proximity. 
     
     
         15 . The storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the vehicle system includes a vehicle fuel tank and the report indicates a fuel level. 
     
     
         16 . The storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the vehicle component includes a vehicle odometer and the report indicates a current mileage. 
     
     
         17 . The storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the vehicle component includes at least one vehicle tire and the report indicates tire pressure of the at least one tire. 
     
     
         18 . The storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the vehicle component includes an oil reserve and the report indicates a vehicle oil life report.