Method and apparatus for monitoring work vehicles

• US 20020156558A1
• Filed: 12/28/2001
• Published: 10/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue Leaf IP Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.), CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Hanson, Richard E., Valla, Steven E., Ball, Garry L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,954,689 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

An operator interactive apparatus for monitoring work vehicles is disclosed. The operator interactive apparatus includes an operator and machine interface for generating inputs from a work vehicle operator. The generated inputs describe conditions or problems associated with the work vehicle. The information collected by a microprocessor is communicated directly to a remote data center over a wireless data link. The information is shared and a technical service group may dispatch parts and/or maintenance information directly to a fleet operation center or alternatively directly to the operator of the work vehicle.

Claims

1. A monitoring system for a vehicle, comprising:

a diagnostic system configured to receive sensor information from at least one sensor mounted on the vehicle;

a vehicle operator interface configured to receive input from a vehicle operator and to display a plurality of prompts to the vehicle operator according to a predetermined algorithm,

a wireless communication device on board the vehicle, the wireless communication device coupled to the diagnostic system to communicate sensor information from the diagnostic system and coupled to the vehicle operator interface to communicate input from the vehicle operator interface;

a remote central data center in wireless communication with the wireless communication device and receiving sensor information and input from the vehicle operator interface; and

a communications network coupled to the remote central data center.

2. The monitoring systems of claim 1, further comprising:

a technical support group interface coupled to the communications network.

3. The monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising:

a fleet management information center interface coupled to the communications network.

4. The monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising:

an equipment maintenance center interface coupled to the communications network.

5. The monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising:

a dealer service center interface coupled to the communications network.

6. An off-highway work vehicle comprising:

a diagnostic system configured to receive sensor information from at least one vehicle sensor mounted on the off-highway work vehicle;

an operator interface configured to receive input from a vehicle operator and to display a plurality of prompts to the vehicle operator according to a predetermined algorithm; and

an onboard fleet management system coupled to the diagnostic system to receive sensor information from the diagnostic system and coupled to the operator interface to receive input from the operator interface; and

a wireless communication device coupled to the onboard fleet management system to communicate sensor information and operator input from the operator interface to a data receiver.

7. The off-highway work vehicle of claim 6 wherein the onboard fleet management system further comprises:

a microprocessor configured to receive sensor information from the diagnostic system and operator input from the operator interface.

8. The off-highway work vehicle of claim 6 wherein the wireless communication device comprises a modem and transmitter coupled to the onboard fleet management system.

9. The off-highway work vehicle of claim 8 wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit a cellular telephone signal.

10. The off-highway work vehicle of claim 8 wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit a satellite communications signal.

11. The off-highway work vehicle of claim 6 wherein the operator prompts are a succession of questions for the operator and wherein the operator interface is configured to accept responses to the operator prompts.

12. The off-highway work vehicle of claim 11 wherein the predetermined algorithm is a decision tree and wherein the responses are stored as a data character string.

13. The off-highway work vehicle of claim 6 wherein the data receiver is a remote central data center.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the data receiver is a remote data center.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the retrieving inputs from an operator uses a decision tree algorithm to determine decision tree data.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the diagnostics information is the decision tree data.

19. The fleet management system of claim 18 further comprising:

at least one vehicle sensor coupled to the vehicle and configured to supply sensor information to the diagnostics algorithm.

20. The fleet management system of claim 18 wherein the wireless communication device further comprises:

a modem coupled to the microprocessor and a transmitter coupled to the modem.

21. The fleet management system of claim 18 wherein the operator interface is configured to display a series of operator questions.

22. The fleet management system of claim 21 wherein the operator interface is configured to accept responses to the operator questions.

23. The fleet management system of claim 22 wherein the plurality of operator questions are derived from a decision tree.

24. The fleet management system of claim 23 wherein the responses are stored as a data character string.

14. A method for monitoring a work vehicle comprising:

retrieving inputs from an operator on the vehicle;

retrieving sensor information from at least one sensor connected to the vehicle;

running a diagnostics algorithm configured to provide diagnostics information based on at least some of the inputs from the operator and the sensor information; and

communicating the diagnostics information to a data receiver via a wireless communication data link.

18. A fleet management system for a work vehicle comprising:

a microprocessor on the work vehicle;

an operator interface on-board the work vehicle coupled to the microprocessor and configured to receive inputs from a vehicle operator;

a diagnostics algorithm configured to provide diagnostics information based on the inputs received from the operator; and

a wireless data link configured to communicate the diagnostics information to a remote data receiver.