AUTOMATED AUTOMOBILE MAINTENANCE USING A CENTRALIZED EXPERT SYSTEM

• US 20120089474A1
• Filed: 10/07/2010
• Published: 04/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Xiao, Hong, Moshrefi, Afshin, Khushoo, Rahul, Wang, Dongchen
• Granted Patent: US 8,600,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A system includes a database that stores an expert knowledgebase, and one or more servers configured to implement an expert system. The one or more servers receive sensor data associated with sensors from automobile maintenance systems associated with respective ones of multiple automobiles, and analyze the sensor data, using the expert system and the expert knowledgebase, to diagnose whether the multiple automobiles require maintenance and/or repair. The one or more servers send, via a network, results of the analysis of the sensor data to service stations for scheduling maintenance and/or repair of the multiple automobiles.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a data center, sensor data associated with automobile maintenance sensors from an automobile maintenance system of a first automobile via a wireless connection;

analyzing the sensor data, using a computer-implemented expert system and an expert knowledgebase, to diagnose one or more automobile defects associated with the first automobile; and

sending, via a network, the identified one or more defects to service stations near a location of the first automobile or a location of the owner of the first automobile for scheduling repair of the one or more defects.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at a data center, sensor data associated with automobile maintenance sensors from an automobile maintenance system of a second automobile via a wireless connection;

analyzing the sensor data, using the computer-implemented expert system and the expert knowledgebase, to diagnose one or more automobile defects associated with the second automobile; and

sending, via the network, the identified one or more defects to service stations near a location of the second automobile or a location of the owner of the second automobile for scheduling repair of the one or more defects.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the automobile maintenance sensors comprise an array of maintenance sensors that sense or measure various parameters associated with the operation of the automobile.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the array of maintenance sensors include sensors that detect one or more parameters associated with drive-train and vehicle control, driver safety, comfort, or emissions;

sensors that monitor temperature, gases, voltages, currents, air flow, vacuum or torques associated with the operation of the automobile;

sensors that detect or measure tire pressure, brake pad status, battery voltages, engine temperature, or spark plug voltages;

a sensor that detects engine Revolutions Per Minute (RPM);

a sensor that measures the rate at which a wheel of the automobile is turning compared to the speed of the automobile;

a sensor that detects a throttle position;

a sensor that measures a speed of the automobile;

or still image or video cameras or audio sensors that may sense images, video or audio associated with the automobile.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving service bids, via the network, from one or more of the service stations for repairing the one or more defects; and

providing an alert, via a wireless connection, to the automobile maintenance system of the one or more defects, including a defect description and a list of bids from the one or more service stations.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving, from the automobile maintenance system via the wireless connection, selection of a service station of the one or more service stations for performing repair; and

notifying the selected service station that the automobile will be arriving for service including an identification of the one or more defects, and parts required for performing repair of the one or more defects.

7. A system disposed in an automobile, comprising:

an array of sensors configured to sense maintenance parameters associated with the automobile and to generate sensor data associated with the maintenance parameters;

a sensor interface configured to receive the sensor data from the array of sensors; and

a wireless communication interface configured to transmit the sensor data to a remote data center, via a wireless connection, for analysis to determine whether the automobile needs maintenance or repair.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the array of sensors sense or measure parameters associated with the operation of the automobile.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the array of sensors include sensors that detect one or more parameters associated with drive-train and vehicle control, driver safety, comfort or emissions;

sensors that monitor temperature, gases, voltages, currents, air flow, vacuum or torques associated with the operation of the automobile;

sensors that detect or measure tire pressure, brake pad status, battery voltages, engine temperature, or spark plug voltages;

a sensor that detects engine Revolutions Per Minute (RPM);

a sensor that measures the rate at which a wheel of the automobile is turning compared to the speed of the automobile;

a sensor that detects a throttle position;

a sensor that measures a speed of the automobile; and

/or still image cameras, video cameras or audio sensors that may sense images, video or audio associated with the automobile.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the wireless communication interface comprises a cellular network radio communication interface.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the wireless communication interface is further configured to:

receive alerts that include a defect description and repair price estimate from one or more service stations.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the system further includes:

a display configured to display the received alerts.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a navigation system configured to provide directions to the one or more service stations.

14. A system, comprising:

a database configured to store an expert knowledgebase;

one or more processing units configured to implement an expert system and to;

receive sensor data associated with sensors from automobile maintenance systems associated with respective ones of multiple automobiles,

analyze the sensor data, using the expert system and the expert knowledgebase, to diagnose whether the multiple automobiles require maintenance and/or repair, and

send, via a network, results of the analysis of the sensor data to service stations for scheduling maintenance and/or repair of the multiple automobiles.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the sensors include sensors that detect one or more parameters associated with drive-train and vehicle control, driver safety, comfort or emissions;

sensors that monitor temperature, gases, voltages, currents, air flow, vacuum or torques associated with the operation of the automobile;

sensors that detect or measure tire pressure, brake pad status, battery voltages, engine temperature, or spark plug voltages;

a sensor that detects engine Revolutions Per Minute (RPM);

a sensor that measures the rate at which a wheel of the automobile is turning compared to the speed of the automobile;

a sensor that detects a throttle position;

a sensor that measures a speed of the automobile;

or still image cameras, video cameras or audio sensors that may sense images, video or audio associated with the automobile.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the automobile maintenance systems are installed at the respective ones of the multiple automobiles.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more processing units are further configured to:

store the received sensor data in a database; and

store diagnosis information associated with the diagnosis obtained from analyzing the sensor data in the database.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more processing units are further configured to:

receive service bids from one or more of the service stations for repairing the multiple automobiles; and

send messages to the multiple automobiles that include an identification of a respective automobile defect and a list comprising the received service bids from the one or more service stations.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the one or more processing units are further configured to:

receive selections of service stations for performing repair and/or maintenance from the multiple automobiles; and

send messages notifying the selected service stations that the multiple automobiles will be arriving for service.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the messages notifying the selected service stations that the multiple automobiles will be arriving for service include an identification of respective defects, and parts required for servicing a respective one of the multiple automobiles.