Method for vehicle data collection

• US 10,097,615 B1
• Filed: 06/13/2017
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
• Inventors: Preissl, Robert, Hata, Kosuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Jacobs, Lashonda T
• Application Number:
  US15/621,826
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0085 Devices for aircraft health monitoring, e.g. monitoring flutter or vibration
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/10 specially adapted for use on water
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/003 Flight plan management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/40 Support for services or applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5683 Storage of data provided by user terminals, i.e. reverse caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A vehicle data collection method is disclosed. The method comprises receiving vehicle data, determining that an internet connection is not available, storing the vehicle data, determining that an internet connection has become available, and transmitting the vehicle data based at least in part on the determination that an internet connection has become available.

Claims

1. A vehicle data collection method, comprising:

receiving vehicle data at a device on a vehicle during vehicle operation;

transmitting a first portion of the vehicle data, while the vehicle is in operation, based at least in part on a determination that an internet connection is available;

determining during vehicle operation that the internet connection from the device to the internet is no longer available;

storing a remaining portion of the vehicle data on the device based at least in part on the determination that the internet connection is no longer available;

determining that a restored internet connection has become available; and

transmitting the remaining portion of the vehicle data based at least in part on the determination that the restored internet connection has become available.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a tablet, phone, or other portable connected device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is installed on the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a vehicle data recording device installed on the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle data is received from a vehicle data recording device onboard the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising determining a subset of received vehicle data to store, wherein a subset of vehicle data received from the vehicle data recording device is stored.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein all received vehicle data is stored and received vehicle data comprises a subset of vehicle data saved on the vehicle data recording device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein stored vehicle data comprises time series data.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein stored vehicle data comprises audio data, video data, or actuator parameters.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the vehicle data is received over a Bluetooth connection, over a local area network, or in absence of an internet or cellular connection.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the vehicle data is automatically received and stored in the event the device is located within a threshold distance from a corresponding vehicle following completion of flight.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein stored vehicle data is transmitted to an online network, wherein vehicle data pertaining to multiple vehicles is uploaded to the online network.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving processed vehicle data.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying processed vehicle data.

15. The method of claim 1, comprising determining whether a connection to receive vehicle data is secured.

16. The method of claim 1, comprising determining to start or stop receiving vehicle data.

17. The method of claim 1, comprising determining to start or stop transmitting vehicle data.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a prompt in the event stored vehicle data has not been transmitted within a predetermined time from storing the vehicle data.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising preventing power on of a vehicle in the event stored vehicle data has not been transmitted within a predetermined time from storing the vehicle data.

20. A system for vehicle data collection, comprising:

a vehicle; and

a connected device configured to;

receive vehicle data at a device on a vehicle during vehicle operation;

transmit a first set of vehicle data, while the vehicle is in operation, based at least in part on a determination that an internet connection is available;

determine that the internet connection between the connected device and the internet is no longer available;

store the vehicle data on the device based at least in part on the determination that the internet connection is no longer available;

determine that a restored internet connection has become available; and

transmit the vehicle data based at least in part on the determination that the restored internet connection has become available.