Apparatus, system, and method for improving engine development

• US 20070038342A1
• Filed: 08/15/2005
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Inventors: Grana, Thomas, Moffett, Barty, Stallard, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 7,409,274 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1406 with use of a optimisation method, e.g. iteration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for improving engine development. Engine development is improved by equipping a vehicle with a data logger to collect engine performance data, automatically retrieving the data via a secure local wireless network, uploading the data to an enterprise communication server via a secure wide area network, and analyzing the data. The vehicles and vehicle depot may be equipped with WAPs. The wide area network may comprise a VPN over the internet. In certain embodiments, the secure local wireless network is only accessible to wireless devices with registered MAC addresses.

Claims

1. A method for improving engine development, the method comprising:

equipping a vehicle associated with a vehicle depot with a data logger, the data logger configured to collect data from at least one sensor related to engine performance;

driving the vehicle to collect engine performance data;

automatically retrieving the engine performance data from the vehicle via a secure local wireless network proximate to the vehicle depot;

uploading the engine performance data to an enterprise communication server via a secure wide area network; and

analyzing the engine performance data to improve engine development.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising equipping the vehicle or vehicle depot with a WAP to extend the coverage of the secure local wireless network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle server and data logger operate as FTP servers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the secure wide area network operates as a VPN over the internet.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising formatting the engine performance data into a report.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring engine performance data in real-time.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the data logger is updated via the secure local wireless network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle server is updated via the secure wide area network.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising requiring a registered MAC address to access the secure local wireless network.

10. A system for improving engine development, the system comprising:

a vehicle associated with a vehicle depot and equipped with a data logger, the data logger configured to collect data from at least one sensor related to engine performance;

a vehicle server proximate the vehicle depot, the vehicle server configured to automatically retrieve engine performance data from the vehicle via a secure local wireless network; and

the vehicle server further configured to upload the engine performance data to an enterprise communication server for analysis via a secure wide area network.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the vehicle or vehicle depot is equipped with a WAP to extend the coverage of the secure local wireless network.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the vehicle server and data logger are configured to operate as a FTP servers.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the secure wide area network operates as a VPN over the internet.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the performance data is formatted into a report.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the data logger is further configured to provide real-time engine performance data.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the data logger is updated via the secure wireless network.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein the vehicle server is updated via the secure wide area network.

18. The system of claim 10 wherein the vehicle communicates directly with another vehicle via the secure local wireless network.

19. The system of claim 10 wherein the data logger or vehicle computer is configured to provide a registered MAC address before accessing the secure local wireless network.

20. An apparatus for improving engine development, the apparatus comprising:

a local wireless network configured to communicate with wireless communication devices proximate to a vehicle depot;

a security module configured to verify a wireless MAC address of a vehicle equipped with a wireless communication;

an automatic retrieval module configured to automatically retrieve engine performance data from the vehicle; and

an upload module configured to upload the engine performance data to an enterprise communication server via a secure wide area network.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the local wireless network comprises at least one WAP.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising an update module configure to update the data logger or apply updates from the wide area network.

23. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the security module is further configured to encrypt or decrypt a data stream.

24. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the secure wide area network operates as a VPN over the internet.

25. A machine readable medium comprising operations for improving engine development, the operations comprising:

automatically retrieving the engine performance data from a vehicle associated with and proximate to a vehicle depot via a secure local wireless network;

uploading the engine performance data to an enterprise communication server via a secure wide area network; and

analyzing the engine performance data to improve engine development.