Method and apparatus for remote vehicle diagnosis
First Claim
1. A method for identifying in a first remote server data that corresponds to an anomalous vehicle condition and diagnosing an anomalous vehicle condition in a second remote server, in a system including a vehicle at least one vehicle processor and having a plurality of components for generating operational data during operation of the vehicle over a road, a data buffer in which the operational data is temporarily stored, a data link for wirelessly conveying data from the vehicle to a first remote server computing device at a first remote location during operation of the vehicle, the method comprising:
- generating the operational data at the vehicle during operation of the vehicle that includes both geographic position data and anomalous condition data in the form of fault codes of the vehicle;
temporarily storing the operational data in the data buffer in the vehicle;
using the at least one vehicle processor to detect that an anomalous condition has occurred, and upon detection of the anomalous condition;
the least one vehicle processor responding within seconds or minutes of detecting the anomalous condition, by using the data link to wirelessly convey data having both geographic position data and anomalous condition data in the form of fault codes the anomalous condition data being and buffered operational data generated at a time proximate to detection of the anomalous condition to the first remote server computing device at the first remote location, the data providing both geographic position data and anomalous condition data in the form of fault codes being conveyed over the data link to the first remote server computing device at the first remote location while the vehicle is operating on the road;
identifying the geographic position data and the anomalous condition data in the first remote server computing device at the first remote location while the vehicle is operating on the road but not performing an analysis to diagnosis the anomalous condition data at the first remote server computing device at the first remote location;
transmitting the identified anomalous condition data corresponding to the fault codes to a second remote server at a second remote location; and
analyzing the fault codes using the second remote server at the second remote location to diagnose the anomalous condition at the second remote location, the second remote server conducting the analysis of the data defining the anomalous condition to diagnose a cause of the anomalous condition while the vehicle is operating.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Operational data generated and used in a vehicle to control various vehicular systems is temporarily stored in a data buffer in the vehicle. A processor in the vehicle is configured to detect anomalous conditions, which can be based on predefined fault codes or user defined conditions (based on a single parameter or a combination of parameters). Whenever such an anomaly is detected, a diagnostic log is conveyed from the vehicle to a remote location. Such a log will include the detected anomaly, and buffered operational data. In at least one embodiment, the diagnostic log includes buffered operational data collected both before and after the anomaly. The diagnostic log is analyzed at the remote location to diagnose the cause of the anomalous condition, so a decision can be made as to whether the vehicle requires immediate repair, or whether the repair can be scheduled at a later time.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for identifying in a first remote server data that corresponds to an anomalous vehicle condition and diagnosing an anomalous vehicle condition in a second remote server, in a system including a vehicle at least one vehicle processor and having a plurality of components for generating operational data during operation of the vehicle over a road, a data buffer in which the operational data is temporarily stored, a data link for wirelessly conveying data from the vehicle to a first remote server computing device at a first remote location during operation of the vehicle, the method comprising:
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generating the operational data at the vehicle during operation of the vehicle that includes both geographic position data and anomalous condition data in the form of fault codes of the vehicle; temporarily storing the operational data in the data buffer in the vehicle; using the at least one vehicle processor to detect that an anomalous condition has occurred, and upon detection of the anomalous condition; the least one vehicle processor responding within seconds or minutes of detecting the anomalous condition, by using the data link to wirelessly convey data having both geographic position data and anomalous condition data in the form of fault codes the anomalous condition data being and buffered operational data generated at a time proximate to detection of the anomalous condition to the first remote server computing device at the first remote location, the data providing both geographic position data and anomalous condition data in the form of fault codes being conveyed over the data link to the first remote server computing device at the first remote location while the vehicle is operating on the road; identifying the geographic position data and the anomalous condition data in the first remote server computing device at the first remote location while the vehicle is operating on the road but not performing an analysis to diagnosis the anomalous condition data at the first remote server computing device at the first remote location; transmitting the identified anomalous condition data corresponding to the fault codes to a second remote server at a second remote location; and analyzing the fault codes using the second remote server at the second remote location to diagnose the anomalous condition at the second remote location, the second remote server conducting the analysis of the data defining the anomalous condition to diagnose a cause of the anomalous condition while the vehicle is operating. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for diagnosing vehicle faults, comprising:
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(a) a vehicle comprising; (i) a plurality of components for generating operational data that includes geographic position data and anomalous condition data in the form of fault codes established by the manufacturer of the vehicle, the operation data being generated during operation of the vehicle; (ii) a data buffer in which the operational data is temporarily stored; (iii) a data link for wirelessly conveying data from the vehicle to a first remote server computing device at a first remote location during operation of the vehicle on a road; and (iv) at least one vehicle processor configured to implement determined vehicle functions, the determined vehicle functions including; (1) detecting an anomalous condition that is a fault code established by the manufacturer of the vehicle; (2) in response to detecting the anomalous condition, automatically responding within seconds or minutes of detecting the anomalous condition, by using the data link to convey the operational data that contains both the geographic position data and the anomalous condition data at a time proximate to the detection of the anomalous condition to the first remote server computing device at the first remote location, the data providing both the geographic position data and the anomalous condition being conveyed over the data link to the first remote server computing device at the first remote location while the vehicle is operating on the road; and (b) at the first remote server computing device at the first remote location, identifying the geographic position data from the anomalous condition data, the first remote server computing device configured to identify the geographic position data from the anomalous condition data and not to analyze the anomalous condition data to provide a diagnosis of the fault codes, the first remote server computing device at the first remote location being further configured to provide the identified anomalous condition data in the form of fault codes to a second remote server computing device at a second remote location; (c) at the second remote server computing device at the second remote location, performing an analysis to diagnosis the fault code data defining the anomalous condition, the second remote server computing device at the second remote location configured to use the identified anomalous condition data received from the first remote server computing device at the first remote location and to diagnose a cause of the anomalous condition while the vehicle is operating, the second remote server computing device at the second remote location being further configured to automatically schedule a repair of the anomalous condition based on the diagnosed cause of the anomalous condition. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system for diagnosing vehicle faults, comprising:
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(a) a vehicle comprising; (i) a plurality of components for generating operational data during operation of the vehicle; (ii) a data buffer in which the operational data is temporarily stored; (iii) a data link for wirelessly conveying the data from the vehicle to a first remote computing server device at a first remote location during operation of the vehicle; (iv) a vehicle location sensor for sensing a geographic location of the vehicle and storing it as geographic location data; and (v) at least one vehicle local processor configured to implement determined vehicle functions, the determined vehicle functions including; detecting an anomalous condition that is a fault code defined by a manufacturer of the vehicle; after detecting the anomalous condition that is a fault code defined by a manufacturer of the vehicle, storing the fault code data in a buffer in the vehicle; after detecting the anomalous condition and using the data link to convey data defining the anomalous condition and buffered operational data generated at a time proximate to the detection of the anomalous condition to the first computing server device at the first remote location; and (b) the first remote computing server device at the first remote location configured identify but not to analyze or diagnose the data defining the anomalous condition of a fault code as being distinct from the collected geographic location data and storing the data defining the anomalous condition as buffered operational data generated at the time proximate to the detection of the anomalous condition; (c) a second remote computing server device at a second remote location that is remote from the vehicle and from the first remote location, the second remote server computing device receiving the identify data fault codes that have not yet been analyzed to diagnose the anomalous condition that is descripted in the fault codes, the second remote server performing an analysis to diagnose the content and meaning of the fault codes to determine a cause of the anomalous condition while the vehicle is operating; (d) in response to the analysis that diagnoses the content and meaning of the fault codes, providing these to a party to perform service of the diagnosed anomalous condition.
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Specification