Vehicle performance data communication link

• US 20060261933A1
• Filed: 05/19/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Vazquez-Murillo, Jorge A., Kyllmann, Alexander L., Deniau, Jean-Christophe
• Application Number:
  US11/437,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20060261933A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/426.150
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• 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 88/182 Network node acting on behalf of an other network entity, e.g. proxy

Abstract

A method and device for communicating data indicative of vehicle performance includes a method of generating a low frequency wireless link between a module within a vehicle and a cellular communication device disposed within that vehicle. The cellular communication device such as a cell phone is part of a network thereby eliminating the need to create an additional network connection with the vehicle. Data indicative of vehicle operating conditions is transmitted through the cellular network to a remote facility for processing, scheduling and notification of an operator. The wireless link between the module disposed within the vehicle and a wireless communication device provides for early notification and scheduling of maintenance of the vehicle to maintain desired operating parameters and conditions.

Claims

1. A method of communicating data indicative of vehicle performance comprising the steps of:

a) detecting data indicative of a vehicle condition;

b) detecting a presence of a communication device in proximity to the vehicle;

c) communicating with the communication device the data indicative of a vehicle condition; and

d) sending a signal communicating the data to a remote location with the communication device

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein step a) comprises detecting a data trouble code.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, including the step of determining if the communication device is in use, and performing the step c) responsive to the communication device not being in use.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a cellular phone.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the remote location comprises a maintenance facility.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein step d) comprises sending the signal to a customer care center responsive to the vehicle being within a warranty period.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein step d) comprises sending the signal to a customer care center responsive to operator approval.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein step d) comprises sending the signal including vehicle identification information.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the communications device and the controller communicate through a short range wireless connection.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the remote location includes a system for predicting a probability of failure based on the data indicative of vehicle condition.

11. A method of reporting a data trouble code comprising the steps of:

a) detecting a data trouble code for a vehicle;

b) generating a wireless link between a controller of the vehicle and a wireless communications device proximate to the vehicle;

c) transmitting a first signal from the controller to the wireless communication device including the data trouble code; and

d) transmitting a second signal from the wireless communications device to a customer care center.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein step b) comprise checking that the wireless communications device is not in use and generating the wireless link responsive to the wireless communications device not being in use.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the first signal is a wireless link comprises a short range wireless connection.

14. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the wireless communication device comprising a cellular phone.

15. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein step d) comprises transmitting the second signal responsive to an operator approving the transmission.

16. The method as recited in claim 11, including the step of assessing a fee to an operator for transmitting the second signal to a customer care center.

17. A method of maintaining a vehicle comprising the steps of:

a) monitoring vehicle performance data indicative of current operating performance;

b) communicating the performance data to a wireless communications device proximate to the vehicle;

c) communicating the performance data from the wireless communication device to a remote location; and

d) identifying a potential failure within a desired time based on the communicated performance data.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, including scheduling preventive maintenance of the vehicle based on the identified potential failure and the desired time.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the remote location includes a diagnostic system that utilized the performance data to predict a probability of a potential failure.

20. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the vehicle includes a module for receiving data from the vehicle system and transmitting that data to the wireless communication device.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the wireless communication device comprises a cellular phone.

22. A system for communicating vehicle performance data comprising:

a module receiving data indicative of performance from at least one vehicle system;

a transmitter for communicating data from the module to a wireless communication device proximate the vehicle; and

a remote location for receiving a transmission from the wireless communication device including data indicative of performance of at least one vehicle system.

23. The system as recited in claim 22, wherein the remote location includes a system for processing data indicative of vehicle performance.

24. The system as recited in claim 23, wherein the system determines a probability of vehicle failure based on data received indicative of vehicle performance.