Vehicle component usage monitor

• US 20060217935A1
• Filed: 03/28/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Motors Company
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Videtich, Matt C., Beiermeister, Frederick J.
• Application Number:
  US11/091,194
• Publication Number:
  US 20060217935A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0739 in a data processing system embedded in automotive or aircraft systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0748 in a remote unit communicating with a single-box computer node experiencing an error/fault remote testing G06F11/2294
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test

Abstract

A method, system, and computer readable medium for monitoring component usage at a vehicle, the method including monitoring a usage parameter at a telematics device, incrementing a usage value in a component counter of the telematics device when the usage parameter is detected, and transmitting the usage value to a remote facility.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring component usage at a vehicle, the method comprising:

monitoring a usage parameter at a telematics device;

incrementing a usage value in a component counter of the telematics device when the usage parameter is detected; and

transmitting the usage value to a remote facility.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the usage value is selected from the group consisting of time, cycles, and events.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the monitoring comprises monitoring vehicle bus messages on a vehicle communication network.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the usage value at a predetermined interval.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining when a component in the vehicle reaches a component limit based on the usage value.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the component limit is selected from the group consisting of a warranty limit and a maintenance limit.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising notifying a driver when the component limit has been reached.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

compiling group usage values for a plurality of vehicles; and

determining a component characteristic from the group usage values.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the component characteristic is selected from the group consisting of expected component lifetime, typical component maintenance, typical component usage, and typical component usage patterns.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising setting a component limit based on the component characteristic.

11. A system for monitoring component usage at a vehicle, the system comprising:

means for monitoring a usage parameter at a telematics device;

means for incrementing a usage value in a component counter of the telematics device when the usage parameter is detected; and

means for transmitting the usage value to a remote facility.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the usage value is selected from the group consisting of time, cycles, and events.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the means for monitoring comprises means for monitoring vehicle bus messages on a vehicle communication network.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the means for transmitting comprises means for transmitting the usage value at a predetermined interval.

15. The system of claim 11 further comprising means for determining when a component in the vehicle reaches a component limit based on the usage value.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising means for notifying a driver when the component limit has been reached.

17. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

means for compiling group usage values for a plurality of vehicles; and

means for determining a component characteristic from the group usage values.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising means for setting a component limit based on the component characteristic.

19. A computer readable medium for monitoring component usage at a vehicle, the computer readable medium comprising:

computer readable code for monitoring a usage parameter at a telematics device;

computer readable code for incrementing a usage value in a component counter of the telematics device when the usage parameter is detected; and

computer readable code for transmitting the usage value to a remote facility.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the usage value is selected from the group consisting of time, cycles, and events.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the computer readable code for monitoring comprises computer readable code for monitoring vehicle bus messages on a vehicle communication network.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the computer readable code for transmitting comprises computer readable code for transmitting the usage value at a predetermined interval.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 19 further comprising computer readable code for determining when a component in the vehicle reaches a component limit based on the usage value.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 23 further comprising computer readable code for notifying a driver when the component limit has been reached.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 19 further comprising:

computer readable code for compiling group usage values for a plurality of vehicles; and

computer readable code for determining a component characteristic from the group usage values.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 25 further comprising computer readable code for setting a component limit based on the component characteristic.