Application for a communications and processing device

A vehicle onboarding system, comprising:

• a communications and processing device selected from a tablet computer or a smartphone;
• a processor of the communications and processing device;
• and
• an application resident on and accessible via the communications and processing device, the application including:
• computer readable code for establishing a two-way data transmission connection between the communications and processing device and a telematics unit of a vehicle,
• computer readable code for establishing a two-way data transmission connection between the communications and processing device and an information system of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM);
• computer readable code for establishing a two-way data transmission connection between the communications and processing device and an information system of a dealer associated with the OEM;
• and
• computer readable code for i) tailoring of at least one vehicle system with user-selected preferences, ii) tailoring of a user account associated with the vehicle, and iii) enabling access to information pertaining to the vehicle or to a program associated with the vehicle;
• each of the computer readable codes being embedded on a non-transitory, tangible medium;
• wherein the communications and processing device is configured to any of i) transmit the user-selected preferences from the communications and processing device to the telematics unit, and ii) provide the information.

An application for a handheld communications and processing device selected from a tablet computer and a smartphone, the application including a computer program embedded on a non-transitory, tangible medium, the computer program including:

• computer readable code for establishing a two-way data transmission connection between the handheld communications and processing device and a telematics unit of a vehicle;
• computer readable code for establishing a two-way data transmission connection between the communications and processing device and an information system of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM);
• computer readable code for establishing a two-way data transmission connection between the communications and processing device and an information system of a dealer of a network of dealers associated with the OEM;
• computer readable code to define application access rules for the dealer of the network of dealers associated with the OEM, the application access rules for the dealer outlining dealer functions including at least i) entering vehicle registration information, ii) authenticating the vehicle registration information, iii) viewing any of a vehicle registration status, a vehicle registration record, and a vehicle history, and iii) viewing an expected time of completion for data processing of the vehicle registration information;
• and
• computer readable code to define application access rules for a customer of the dealer, the application access rules for the customer outlining customer functions including at least i) tailoring at least one vehicle system of the vehicle with user-selected preferences, ii) tailoring a customer account associated with the vehicle, and iii) providing information pertaining to the vehicle or to a program associated with the vehicle.

An application for a handheld communications and processing device selected from a tablet computer and a smartphone, the application including a computer program encoded on a non-transitory, tangible medium, the application comprising:

• a communications module in selective wireless communication with a telematics unit of a vehicle, a dealer information system, and a manufacturer information system;
• computer readable code for establishing a two-way data transmission connection between the communications and processing device and the telematics unit;
• computer readable code for establishing a two-way data transmission connection between the communications and processing device and the manufacturer information system;
• computer readable code for establishing a two-way data transmission connection between the communications and processing device and the dealer information system;
• a rules module responsive to at least one of the telematics unit, the dealer information system, and the manufacturer information system, and to selectively provide access to application-related information to any of a dealer or a customer;
• and
• a user interface functionally coupled to the communications module and the rules module, the user interface to receive input from any of the customer or the dealer, the input including at least one of i) information to register a customer vehicle, ii) information to tailor at least one vehicle system of the vehicle, and iii) information to register a vehicle service.