TRACKING VEHICLE MAINTENANCE USING SENSOR DETECTION

• US 20100087983A1
• Filed: 10/06/2008
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Boss, Gregory J., Finn, Peter G., Hamilton, Rick A. II, O'Connell, Brian M., Seaman, James W., Walker, Keith R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,209,076 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

Radio frequency identification is used in cooperation with the computer system aboard a motor vehicle to track service and maintenance activities relating to the vehicle. Each component or part of the vehicle that may require maintenance is provided with a unique passive identification tag. The output data from the tag is read by a reader placed in proximity to the tag, and the data is transmitted to an on-board computer module where it is processed, and the service record is updated. A data stream converter may be used to process the information read by the reader into a format that is acceptable to the on-board computer. The data from the on-board computer is stored in a device external to the computer. Provisions are included for notification to the user, the auto dealer or service other agency as needed.

Claims

1. In connection with a vehicle computer module mounted on board a motor vehicle, a system for creating a record of maintenance of said motor vehicle, comprising:

a) a passive radio frequency tag associated with a serviceable or replaceable component of the vehicle, said tag programmed to be activated to transmit a signal upon occurrence of a specific service-related event;

b) a radio frequency reader to capture a signal from said tag when activated; and

c) circuitry to transmit the signal from said reader to an on board computer module.

2. The system according to claim 1 further including a converter between the reader and the on-board computer module for converting the signal from the reader into a data stream acceptable by the computer module.

3. The system according to claim 1 further including a non-volatile database storage for retaining the information contained in the data stream transmitted to the computer module.

4. The system according to claim 3 wherein the database storage is located external to the computer module.

5. The system according to claim 3 further including a module for providing notification of a service related event that has been detected by the RFID tag, read by the reader, and transmitted to the on-board computer module.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the tag includes an antenna that transmits said signal to said reader.

7. A method for creating a record of maintenance of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a) Associating a passive radio frequency tag with a serviceable or replaceable component of the vehicle; and

b) providing a radio frequency reader within range of said radio frequency tag to capture a signal from said tag; and

c) providing circuitry to convert the signal into data, and

d) transmitting the data to a computer module on board the motor vehicle.

8. The method according to claim 7 further including the step of converting the signal from the reader into a data stream that is acceptable to the computer module prior to transmitting the signal to said module.

9. The method according to claim 8 further including the use of a service logic module to process the data stream received by the on-board computer.

10. The method according to claim 9 further including the steps of a) providing non-volatile database storage for receiving, retaining and retransmitting information contained in the data stream transmitted to the computer module, and b) transferring the information from said on-board computer to said storage.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the storage comprises RAM storage external to said computer.

12. The method according to claim 10 further including the step of sending notification of the occurrence of a service related event.

13. The method according to claim 7 wherein the radio frequency tag is attached to the serviceable or replaceable component.

14. The method according to claim 7 wherein the radio frequency tag is embedded in the serviceable or replaceable component.

15. A method, comprising:

producing computer executable program code;

storing the code on a computer readable medium; and

providing the program code to be deployed and executed on an on-board computer system associated with a motor vehicle;

the program code comprising instructions which, when executed on the computer system, causes the computer system to;

Read data by an RFID reader from a passive radio frequency tag associated with a component of the motor vehicle relative to the occurrence of a repair, replacement or maintenance event in the motor vehicle;

Transfer data from said RFID reader to an on-board computer;

Update a repair maintenance schedule with respect to said event; and

Store the updated schedule in database storage.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the program code causes the data generated by the RFID reader to be converted into a data stream that can be read by the computer.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the program code causes a service logic module within the computer to update the maintenance record with respect to the data transmitted to the computer.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the program code causes a notification module to transmit a message with respect to the updated record.

19. A method for deploying an application for tracking maintenance or repair of a motor vehicle, comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure being operable to;

receive information indicative of a maintenance or repair service on the vehicle;

generate a signal indicative of the completion of the maintenance or repair service; and

store indicia indicative of the completion of said service.