TRACKING VEHICLE MAINTENANCE USING SENSOR DETECTION

• US 20130006465A1
• Filed: 09/11/2012
• Published: 01/03/2013
• 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 8,543,283 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29.4
• 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. A method for maintaining a record of service maintenance of a motor vehicle, comprising:

providing a radio frequency reader within a proximity to a first radio frequency tag that is associated with a first serviceable component installed upon a motor vehicle, wherein the proximity is within a field of range of said radio frequency reader to capture a signal from said first radio frequency tag;

in response to the radio frequency reader detecting movement of the first radio frequency tag a distance beyond a preset threshold distance from the radio frequency reader, observing a first time of the detected movement; and

in response to the detected movement of the first radio frequency tag beyond the preset threshold distance from the radio frequency reader, updating a repair maintenance schedule data table for the motor vehicle that is stored in a storage device by creating a first table entry reporting a removal of the first serviceable component from the motor vehicle at the observed first time and comprising a component description and a first unique identification of the first serviceable component, the first table entry indicating at least one of an onset and a completion of a scheduled maintenance of the vehicle at the observed time and that is associated with the component description.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to the radio frequency reader detecting introduction of a second radio frequency tag to a proximity to the radio frequency reader within the preset threshold distance, observing a second time of the detected movement of the second radio frequency tag; and

in response to the detected movement of the second radio frequency tag within the preset threshold distance from the radio frequency reader, updating the repair maintenance schedule data table for the motor vehicle by creating a second table entry reporting an installation of the second serviceable component onto the motor vehicle at the observed second time and comprising the component description and a second unique identification of the second serviceable component, the second table entry separate from and in addition to the first table entry in the table and indicating the completion of the scheduled maintenance of the vehicle at the observed second time and associated with the component description.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

providing a radio frequency reader within a proximity to a third radio frequency tag that is associated with a third serviceable component installed upon the motor vehicle, wherein the proximity is within a preset threshold distance of a field of range of said radio frequency reader to capture a signal from said third radio frequency tag, and wherein the repair maintenance schedule requires that the third serviceable component be replaced when the first serviceable component is removed; and

wherein the method further comprises warning a vehicle user of a failure to remove or replace the third serviceable component in response to the radio frequency reader detecting that the third serviceable component remains proximate to the radio frequency reader within the preset threshold distance throughout the observed first time of the removal of the first serviceable component and the observed second time of the installation of the second serviceable component.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the creating the first and second table entries within the repair maintenance schedule data table further comprises indicating a due date for replacement of the respective components associated with their respective unique identifications;

and

wherein the creating the second table entry for the installation of the second serviceable component within the repair maintenance schedule data table further comprises, if the installation is a reuse or a relocation of the second serviceable component on the motor vehicle from a previous installation on the vehicle, using an original due date for replacement from a previous table entry for the previous installation of the second serviceable component on the motor vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the installation of the second serviceable component on the motor vehicle is a reuse or a relocation from a previous installation on the vehicle, the method further comprising:

warning a vehicle user that the installed second serviceable component must be replaced if a scheduled maintenance requirement system of the vehicle specifies that serviceable components used for the component description are non-reusable components.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the radio frequency reader detecting the movement of the first radio frequency tag the distance beyond the preset threshold from the radio frequency reader comprises the radio frequency reader detecting a speed of response from the first radio frequency tag that is dependent upon a distance of the first radio frequency tag away from the radio frequency reader that indicates that the first radio frequency tag is the distance beyond the preset threshold from the radio frequency reader.

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

providing a computer infrastructure comprising a processing unit, a computer readable memory and a computer-readable storage medium, that;

in response to a radio frequency reader within a proximity to a first radio frequency tag that is associated with a first serviceable component installed upon a motor vehicle detecting movement of the first radio frequency tag a distance beyond a preset threshold distance from the radio frequency reader, observes a first time of the detected movement, wherein the proximity is within a field of range of said radio frequency reader to capture a signal from said first radio frequency tag; and

in response to the detected movement of the first radio frequency tag beyond the preset threshold distance from the radio frequency reader, updates a repair maintenance schedule data table for the motor vehicle that is stored in a storage device by creating a first table entry reporting a removal of the first serviceable component from the motor vehicle at the observed first time and comprising a component description and a first unique identification of the first serviceable component, the first table entry indicating at least one of an onset and a completion of a scheduled maintenance of the vehicle at the observed time and that is associated with the component description.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the computer infrastructure further:

in response to the radio frequency reader detecting introduction of a second radio frequency tag to a proximity to the radio frequency reader within the preset threshold distance, observes a second time of the detected movement of the second radio frequency tag; and

in response to the detected movement of the second radio frequency tag within the preset threshold distance from the radio frequency reader, updates the repair maintenance schedule data table for the motor vehicle by creating a second table entry reporting an installation of the second serviceable component onto the motor vehicle at the observed second time and comprising the component description and a second unique identification of the second serviceable component, the second table entry separate from and in addition to the first table entry in the table and indicating the completion of the scheduled maintenance of the vehicle at the observed second time and associated with the component description.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the computer infrastructure further, in response to a radio frequency reader within a proximity to a third radio frequency tag that is associated with a third serviceable component installed upon the motor vehicle, wherein the proximity is within a preset threshold distance of a field of range of said radio frequency reader, capturing a signal from said third radio frequency tag, and to a repair maintenance schedule requirement that the third serviceable component be replaced when the first serviceable component is removed:

warns a vehicle user of a failure to remove or replace the third serviceable component in response to the radio frequency reader detecting that the third serviceable component remains proximate to the radio frequency reader within the preset threshold distance throughout the observed first time of the removal of the first serviceable component and the observed second time of the installation of the second serviceable component.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first and second table entries created within the repair maintenance schedule data table by the computer infrastructure further comprise due dates for replacement of the respective components associated with their respective unique identifications;

and

wherein the computer infrastructure further uses an original due date for replacement from a previous table entry for a previous installation of the second serviceable component on the motor vehicle if the installation is a reuse or a relocation of the second serviceable component on the motor vehicle from the previous installation on the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the installation of the second serviceable component on the motor vehicle is a reuse or a relocation from a previous installation on the vehicle;

and

wherein the computer infrastructure further warns a vehicle user that the installed second serviceable component must be replaced if a scheduled maintenance requirement system of the vehicle specifies that serviceable components used for the component description are non-reusable components.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the computer infrastructure further, in response to two different table entries indicating installation of two different components each having the same component description and different observed times and different unique identifications, reflects the unique identification of a one of the two components having a most recent observed time as a currently installed component.

13. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a computer readable tangible storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer processor, cause the computer processor to;

in response to a radio frequency reader within a proximity to a first radio frequency tag that is associated with a first serviceable component installed upon a motor vehicle detecting movement of the first radio frequency tag a distance beyond a preset threshold distance from the radio frequency reader, observe a first time of the detected movement, wherein the proximity is within a field of range of said radio frequency reader to capture a signal from said first radio frequency tag; and

in response to the detected movement of the first radio frequency tag beyond the preset threshold distance from the radio frequency reader, update a repair maintenance schedule data table for the motor vehicle that is stored in a storage device by creating a first table entry reporting a removal of the first serviceable component from the motor vehicle at the observed first time and comprising a component description and a first unique identification of the first serviceable component, the first table entry indicating at least one of an onset and a completion of a scheduled maintenance of the vehicle at the observed time and that is associated with the component description.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein the computer readable program code instructions, when executed by the computer processor, further cause the computer processor to:

in response to the radio frequency reader detecting introduction of a second radio frequency tag to a proximity to the radio frequency reader within the preset threshold distance, observe a second time of the detected movement of the second radio frequency tag; and

in response to the detected movement of the second radio frequency tag within the preset threshold distance from the radio frequency reader, update the repair maintenance schedule data table for the motor vehicle by creating a second table entry reporting an installation of the second serviceable component onto the motor vehicle at the observed second time and comprising the component description and a second unique identification of the second serviceable component, the second table entry separate from and in addition to the first table entry in the table and indicating the completion of the scheduled maintenance of the vehicle at the observed second time and associated with the component description.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 14, wherein the computer readable program code instructions, when executed by the computer processor, further cause the computer processor to, in response to a radio frequency reader within a proximity to a third radio frequency tag that is associated with a third serviceable component installed upon the motor vehicle, wherein the proximity is within a preset threshold distance of a field of range of said radio frequency reader, capturing a signal from said third radio frequency tag, and to a repair maintenance schedule requirement that the third serviceable component be replaced when the first serviceable component is removed:

warn a vehicle user of a failure to remove or replace the third serviceable component in response to the radio frequency reader detecting that the third serviceable component remains proximate to the radio frequency reader within the preset threshold distance throughout the observed first time of the removal of the first serviceable component and the observed second time of the installation of the second serviceable component.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein the first and second table entries created within the repair maintenance schedule data table by the computer infrastructure further comprise due dates for replacement of the respective components associated with their respective unique identifications;

and

wherein the computer readable program code instructions, when executed by the computer processor, further cause the computer processor to use an original due date for replacement from a previous table entry for a previous installation of the second serviceable component on the motor vehicle if the installation is a reuse or a relocation of the second serviceable component on the motor vehicle from the previous installation on the vehicle.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 16, wherein the installation of the second serviceable component on the motor vehicle is a reuse or a relocation from a previous installation on the vehicle;

and

wherein the computer readable program code instructions, when executed by the computer processor, further cause the computer processor to warn a vehicle user that the installed second serviceable component must be replaced if a scheduled maintenance requirement system of the vehicle specifies that serviceable components used for the component description are non-reusable components.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 17, wherein the computer readable program code instructions, when executed by the computer processor, further cause the computer processor to, in response to two different table entries indicating installation of two different components each having the same component description and different observed times and different unique identifications, reflect the unique identification of a one of the two components having a most recent observed time as a currently installed component.

19. A system, comprising:

a processing unit that is in communication with a computer readable memory, a tangible computer-readable storage medium, and a radio frequency reader;

wherein the radio frequency reader is installed upon a motor vehicle within a proximity to a first radio frequency tag that is associated with a first serviceable component that is installed upon the motor vehicle, and wherein the proximity to the first frequency tag is within a preset threshold distance of a field of range of said radio frequency reader to capture a signal from said first radio frequency tag; and

wherein the processing unit, when executing program instructions stored on the tangible computer-readable storage medium via the computer readable memory;

in response to the radio frequency reader communicating a detected movement of the first radio frequency tag a distance beyond a preset threshold distance from the radio frequency reader, observes a first time of the detected movement and updates a repair maintenance schedule data table for the motor vehicle that is stored in a storage device in communication with the processing unit by creating a first table entry reporting a removal of the first serviceable component from the motor vehicle at the observed first time, wherein the first table entry comprises a component description and a first unique identification of the first serviceable component and indicates at least one of an onset and a completion of a scheduled maintenance of the vehicle at the observed time and that is associated with the component description.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the processing unit, when executing the program instructions stored on the tangible computer-readable storage medium via the computer readable memory, further, in response to the radio frequency reader communicating a detected introduction of a second radio frequency tag to a proximity to the radio frequency reader within the preset threshold distance:

observes a second time of the detected movement of the second radio frequency tag; and

updates the repair maintenance schedule data table for the motor vehicle in a storage device by creating a second table entry that reports an installation of the second serviceable component onto the motor vehicle at the observed second time and comprises a component description and a unique identification of the second serviceable component, wherein the second table entry is separate from and in addition to the first table entry in the table and also indicates the completion of the scheduled maintenance of the vehicle at the observed second time and in association with the component description of the second serviceable component.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the radio frequency reader is installed upon the motor vehicle within a proximity to a third radio frequency tag that is associated with a third serviceable component installed upon the motor vehicle, wherein the proximity to the third radio frequency tag is within a preset threshold distance of a field of range of said radio frequency reader to capture a signal from said third radio frequency tag;

and

wherein the processing unit, when executing the program instructions stored on the tangible computer-readable storage medium via the computer readable memory, further warns a vehicle user of a failure to remove or replace the third serviceable component if the radio frequency reader communicates that the third serviceable component remains proximate to the radio frequency reader within the preset threshold distance throughout the observed first time of the removal of the first serviceable component and the observed second time of the installation of the second serviceable component, wherein the repair maintenance schedule requires that the third serviceable component be replaced when the first serviceable component is removed.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the processing unit, when executing the program instructions stored on the tangible computer-readable storage medium via the computer readable memory, further:

creates the first table entry within the repair maintenance schedule data to indicate a component due date for replacement associated with the first component unique identification; and

creates the second table entry within the repair maintenance schedule data to indicate a component due date for replacement associated with the second component unique identification by using an original due date for replacement from a previous table entry for a previous installation of the second serviceable component on the motor vehicle if the installation is a reuse or a relocation of the second serviceable component on the motor vehicle from the previous installation on the vehicle.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the installation of the second serviceable component on the motor vehicle is the reuse or the relocation from the previous installation on the vehicle;

and

wherein the processing unit, when executing the program instructions stored on the tangible computer-readable storage medium via the computer readable memory, further warns a vehicle user that the installed second serviceable component must be replaced if a scheduled maintenance requirement system of the vehicle specifies that serviceable components used for the component description are non-reusable components.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the processing unit, when executing the program instructions stored on the tangible computer-readable storage medium via the computer readable memory, further, in response to two different table entries indicating installation of two different components each having the same component description and different observed times and different unique identifications, creates a table entry reflecting the unique identification of a one of the two components having a most recent observed time as a currently installed component.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the radio frequency reader detects the movement of the first radio frequency tag the distance beyond the preset threshold from the radio frequency reader in response to detecting a speed of response from the first radio frequency tag that is dependent upon a distance of the first radio frequency tag away from the radio frequency reader and that indicates that the first radio frequency tag is the distance beyond the preset threshold from the radio frequency reader.