In-Car Service Interval Adjustment Device

• US 20120150381A1
• Filed: 12/12/2011
• Published: 06/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kaarya LLC
• Original Assignee: Kaarya LLC
• Inventors: Nath, Ujjual, Sharma, Gaurav, Fletcher, William, MacGlashan, Douglas, Billett, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 8,452,479 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29.4
• 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

Abstract

Disclosed is a device and method for providing service interval notifications to a vehicle operator, and to incorporate relevant vehicle operating conditions which most directly impact the longevity of engine lubrication and other wear prone components of vehicles. Wear prone conditions which are determined include city driving, frequency of “cold” starts, frequency of “winter” “cold” starts, and high load high grade travel. The device and method utilize as a primary input a location aware sensor device and as a secondary input a source for the ambient temperature either retrieved from an Internet source or a local ambient temperature sensor. No direct vehicle sensor is utilized for the service interval adjustment performed by the device and method.

Claims

1. A device for in-vehicle use that provides service schedule information for the vehicle, comprising:

a location aware sensor device for tracking the vehicle location latitude, longitude, elevation, and time;

a data transceiver system for communicating over the internet;

an input/output control system for managing incoming and outgoing data related to the vehicle location, and the vehicle service schedule;

a system of non-volatile memory for storing instructions for processing and vehicle location data and service schedule;

a system of volatile memory for storing temporary data during the processing of instructions related to the vehicle location and service schedule;

a central processing unit for processing instructions and data related to the vehicle location, and the vehicle service schedule;

instructions stored in memory for tracking accumulated mileage from the location information for the vehicle;

instructions stored in memory for determining vehicle speed for periods of time from the location information for the vehicle;

instructions stored in memory for adjusting a predetermined vehicle service schedule based upon the determined vehicle speeds for said periods of time;

instructions stored in memory for communicating said adjusted vehicle service schedule to an identified user.

2. A device according to claim 1 also comprising:

instructions stored in memory for allocating periods of vehicle motion as either highway driving or city driving based upon vehicle speed;

instructions stored in memory for adjusting said predetermined vehicle service schedule based upon the allocated fraction of vehicle mileage for city and highway driving.

3. A device according to claim 2 also comprising:

instructions stored in memory for determining whether a vehicle is initiating a “

cold”

start based upon a vehicle location and a predetermined minimum stationary period for the vehicle at said location;

instructions stored in memory for determining the frequency of said “

cold”

starts;

instructions stored in memory for adjusting said predetermined vehicle service schedule based upon said determined frequency of “

cold”

starts.

4. A device according to claim 3 also comprising:

instructions stored in memory for retrieving the vehicle local ambient temperature;

instructions stored in memory for determining whether said local ambient temperature qualifies as a “

winter”

operating condition based upon a given threshold temperature;

instructions stored in memory for determining the frequency of said “

cold”

starts which also occur during said “

winter”

operating conditions;

instructions stored in memory for adjusting said predetermined vehicle service schedule based upon said determined frequency of said “

cold”

starts which also occur during said “

winter”

operating conditions.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein said local ambient temperature is retrieved from an internet source based upon the vehicle location.

6. A device according to claim 4 also comprising:

a sensor for measuring ambient temperature wherein said vehicle local ambient temperature is retrieved from said sensor.

7. A device according to claim 1 also comprising:

instructions stored in memory for determining vehicle elevation from the vehicle location aware sensor;

instructions stored in memory for determining the vehicle travel grade based upon vehicle location and elevation;

instructions stored in memory for determining the fraction of high load vehicle operation, based upon the vehicle travel grade and vehicle speed;

instructions stored in memory for adjusting said predetermined vehicle service schedule based upon said fraction of high load vehicle operation

8. A device according to claim 1 wherein said device is a smart phone.

9. A device according to claim 1 wherein said device has no direct sensor input from said vehicle.

10. A device according to claim 1 wherein said device has an input from the vehicle on board diagnostic system connector power pin.

11. A method for providing service schedule information for a vehicle comprising;

obtaining the vehicle location latitude, longitude, elevation, and time from a location aware sensor device;

communicating over the internet by a data transceiver system;

managing incoming and outgoing data related to the vehicle location, and the vehicle service schedule by an input/output control system;

storing instructions for processing and vehicle location data and service schedule;

storing temporary data during the processing of instructions related to the vehicle location and service schedule;

processing instructions and data related to the vehicle location, and the vehicle service schedule;

tracking accumulated mileage from the location information for the vehicle;

determining vehicle speed for periods of time from the location information for the vehicle;

adjusting a predetermined vehicle service schedule based upon the determined vehicle speeds for said periods of time;

communicating said adjusted vehicle service schedule to an identified user.

12. A method according to claim 11 also comprising:

allocating periods of vehicle motion as either highway driving or city driving based upon vehicle speed;

adjusting said predetermined vehicle service schedule based upon the allocated fraction of vehicle mileage for city and highway driving.

13. A method according to claim 12 also comprising:

determining whether a vehicle is initiating a “

cold”

start based upon a vehicle location and a predetermined minimum stationary period for the vehicle at said location;

determining the frequency of said “

cold”

starts;

adjusting said predetermined vehicle service schedule based upon said determined frequency of “

cold”

starts.

14. A method according to claim 13 also comprising:

retrieving the vehicle local ambient temperature;

determining whether said local ambient temperature qualifies as a “

winter”

operating condition based upon a given threshold temperature;

determining the frequency of said “

cold”

starts which also occur during said “

winter”

operating conditions;

adjusting said predetermined vehicle service schedule based upon said determined frequency of said “

cold”

starts which also occur during said “

winter”

operating conditions.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein said local ambient temperature is retrieved from an internet source based upon the vehicle location.

16. A method according to claim 14 also comprising:

measuring ambient temperature wherein said vehicle local ambient temperature is retrieved from a sensor.

17. A method according to claim 11 also comprising:

determining vehicle elevation from the vehicle location aware sensor;

determining the vehicle travel grade based upon vehicle location and elevation;

determining the fraction of high load vehicle operation, based upon the vehicle travel grade and vehicle speed;

adjusting said predetermined vehicle service schedule based upon said fraction of high load vehicle operation