Presentation of messages by an in-vehicle head unit

A head unit configured for use in a motor vehicle, comprising:

• a processor;
• a cellular radio transceiver;
• a memory;
• and
• a notification application stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor:
• receives a recall notification message via the cellular radio transceiver, wherein the recall notification message comprises a definition of text to display on a screen communicatively coupled with the head unit, a definition of buttons to present on the screen, and a definition of action to take when a button is activated, wherein the recall notification message includes text for multiple notifications each corresponding to states of user engagement with the recall notification message,
• stores the recall notification message in the memory,
• determines that rules for safe presentation of the notification are satisfied,
• determines a state of user engagement with the recall notification message and selects the text defined in the recall notification message based on the state of user engagement,
• repeatedly presents the text defined in the recall notification message in a periodic manner until a user enters an authentication code via the head unit to acknowledge receipt and viewing of the recall notification message,
• responsive to a change in the state of user engagement with the recall notification message, transmits a message from the head unit indicating a state transition of the state of user engagement with the recall notification message,
• storing, by the notification application in a database accessible by the notification application, information indicating the state of user engagement with the recall notification;
• and
• responsive to the application determining a state transition of the state of user engagement with the recall notification message to a scheduling state, scheduling, by the head unit, a service appointment for performance of remedial action related to the recall notification message.

A method of managing maintenance scheduling, comprising:

• accessing a maintenance history of a motor vehicle by an application executing on a computer in a maintenance data store based on an identity of the vehicle;
• comparing the maintenance history of the motor vehicle to a maintenance schedule for a model of the vehicle by the application;
• based on the comparison of the maintenance history of the motor vehicle to the maintenance schedule, determining that a maintenance activity is due by the application;
• determining a preferred maintenance service location for the motor vehicle by the application;
• based on the maintenance activity that is due, determining a plurality of service appointments by the application;
• transmitting a maintenance activity due message by the application to a head unit of the motor vehicle via a wireless network, wherein the maintenance activity due message comprises a definition of text to display on a screen communicatively coupled with the head unit, a definition of buttons to present on the screen, and a definition of action to take when a button is activated, wherein the maintenance activity due message includes text and buttons for multiple notifications each corresponding to states of user engagement with the maintenance activity due message;
• determining, by an in-vehicle application executing via the head unit, a state of user engagement with the maintenance activity due message and selecting, by the in-vehicle application, the text and buttons from the multiple notifications based on the state of user engagement, wherein the text to be displayed comprises in part information about the plurality of service appointments and the identity of the preferred maintenance service location and the action to take when at least one of the buttons is activated is accepting one of the plurality of service appointments, and wherein the maintenance activity due message causes the in-vehicle application executing via the head unit to repeatedly display the text and buttons in a periodic manner until a user enters an authentication code via the head unit to acknowledge receipt and viewing of the maintenance activity due message;
• responsive to a change in the state of user engagement with the maintenance activity due message, transmitting a message from the in-vehicle application to the application indicating a state transition of the state of user engagement with the maintenance activity due message;
• storing, by the application in a database accessible by the application, information indicating the state of user engagement with the maintenance activity due message;
• and
• responsive to the application determining a state transition of the state of user engagement with the maintenance activity due message to a scheduling state, scheduling, by the head unit, a service appointment for performance of remedial action related to the maintenance activity due message.