SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING FAULT CODES

• US 20130030641A1
• Filed: 07/26/2012
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Olsen, John A. III, Bradley, David L., Hendrix, Matthew S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,897,953 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/31.6
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/05 by combined monitoring of two or more different engine parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/00 Testing of vehicles testing fluid tightness G01M3/00; testing elastic properties of bodies or chassis, e.g. torsion-testing, G01M5/00; testing alignment of vehicle headlight devices G01M11/06; testing of engines G01M15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0235 based on a comparison with predetermined threshold or range, e.g. "classical methods", carried out during normal operation; threshold adaptation or choice; when or how to compare with the threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0283 Predictive maintenance, e.g. involving the monitoring of a system and, based on the monitoring results, taking decisions on the maintenance schedule of the monitored system; Estimating remaining useful life [RUL] preventive maintenance, i.e. planning maintenance according to the available resources without monitoring the system G06Q10/06
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/00 Digital computers in general details G06F1/00 – G06F13/00; Data processing equipment in general
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/10 Complex mathematical operations function generation by table look-up G06F1/03; evaluation of elementary functions by calculation G06F7/544
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/00 Methods or arrangements for processing data by operating upon the order or content of the data handled logic circuits H03K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/08 Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for managing fault codes triggered by one or more vehicles during operation. In general, various embodiments of the invention involve recording and analyzing fault codes triggered during a particular time period while a vehicle is in operation. As a result of the analysis, various embodiments of the invention may set a state for each of the identified fault codes, the state indicating a level of action to address the identified fault code. In particular embodiments, the states may be one of a caution state indicating one or more components or sub-systems of the vehicle should be monitored, a critical state indicating one or more components or sub-systems of the vehicle should be repaired, or an environmental state indicating failure or potential failure of one or more components or sub-systems of the vehicle may affect one or more environmental conditions.

Claims

1. A system for managing fault codes associated with a vehicle, the system comprising:

a memory storing a plurality of parameters and a plurality of fault codes, wherein each parameter is associated with a fault code; and

one or more computer processors configured to;

receive fault code information retrieved from the vehicle, the fault code information comprising one or more of said plurality of fault codes, the one or more fault codes generated during a particular time period the vehicle was in operation;

retrieve parameters stored in the memory associated with the one or more fault codes;

analyze the fault code information to identify each of the one or more fault codes signaling failure or potential failure of one or more components or sub-systems of the vehicle based at least in part on the parameters associated with the one or more fault codes in the fault code information; and

set a state for each identified fault code, the state indicating a level of action associated with the identified fault code.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the state comprises one of a caution state indicating the one or more components or sub-systems of the vehicle should be monitored, a critical state indicating the one or more components or sub-systems of the vehicle should be repaired, or an environmental state indicating the failure or potential failure of the one or more components or sub-systems of the vehicle affects one or more environmental conditions.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more computer processors are configured to send one or more notifications to one or more parties for each of the identified fault codes, the one or more notifications comprising the state for each of the identified fault codes.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more computer processors are configured to initiate a work order for repair of at least one of the one or more components or sub-systems of the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an interface configured to provide access to one or more procedures for diagnosing the one or more components or sub-systems associated with each of the identified fault codes.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the one or more procedures for diagnosing the one or more components or sub-systems are dependent on manufacturers of the one or more components or sub-systems of the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the interface is further configured to display comments provided by one or more individuals on performing the one or more procedures for diagnosing the one or more components or sub-systems.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the interface is further configured to provide a map displaying the GPS coordinates of the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the interface is further configured to display results of performing the one or more procedures for diagnosing the one or more components or sub-systems.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising an interface configured to provide access to one or more maintenance procedures associated with each of the identified fault codes.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more maintenance procedures are dependent on manufacturers of the one or more components or sub-systems of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the interface is further configured to display comments provided by one or more individuals on results of performing the one or more maintenance procedures.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the interface is further configured to display results of performing the one or more maintenance procedures.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein a particular fault code is associated with at least one set of parameters comprising an upper limit and a lower limit providing a range of a number of times the fault code is generated during the particular time period the vehicle was in operation, and the one or more computer processors are configured to set the state for the particular fault code in response to the fault code information showing the particular fault code was generated within the range during the particular time period the vehicle was in operation.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein a particular fault code is associated with at least one set of parameters comprising a threshold value providing a number of times the particular fault code is generated during the particular time period the vehicle was in operation and a consecutive value providing a number of consecutive time periods, and the one or more computer processors are configured to set the state for the particular fault code in response to the number of times the particular fault code is generated during the particular time period is at least the threshold value for a number of consecutive time periods equal to the consecutive value.

16. A method for managing fault codes associated with a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving fault code information retrieved from the vehicle, the fault code information comprising one or more fault codes generated during a particular time period the vehicle was in operation;

analyzing the fault code information by one or more computer processors, to identify each fault code from the one or more fault codes signaling failure or potential failure of one or more components or sub-systems of the vehicle based at least in part on a comparison of the fault code information and one or more parameters associated with the one or more fault codes; and

setting a state for each identified fault code by the one or more computer processors, the state indicating a level of action to address the identified fault code.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the state comprises one of a caution state indicating the one or more components or sub-systems of the vehicle should be monitored, a critical state indicating the one or more components or sub-systems of the vehicle should be repaired, or an environmental state indicating the failure or potential failure of the one or more components or sub-systems of the vehicle affects one or more environmental conditions.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of sending one or more notifications to one or more parties for each of the identified fault codes, the one or more notifications comprising the state for each of the identified fault codes.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of initiating a work order for repair of at least one of the one or more components or sub-systems of the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of providing access via an interface to one or more procedures for diagnosing the one or more components or sub-systems associated with each of the identified fault codes.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of displaying comments provided by one or more individuals on performing the one or more procedures for diagnosing the one or more components or sub-systems.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of displaying results of performing the one or more procedures for diagnosing the one or more components or sub-systems.

23. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of providing access via an interface to one or more maintenance procedures associated with each of the identified fault codes.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of displaying comments provided by one or more individuals on results of performing the one or more maintenance procedures.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of displaying results of performing the one or more maintenance procedures.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein a particular fault code is associated with at least one set of parameters comprising an upper limit and a lower limit providing a range of a number of times the fault code is generated during the particular time period the vehicle was in operation, and the step of setting the state for the particular fault code is performed in response to the fault code information showing the particular fault code was generated within the range during the particular time period the vehicle was in operation.

27. The method of claim 16, wherein a particular fault code is associated with at least one set of parameters comprising a threshold value providing a number of times the particular fault code is generated during the particular time period the vehicle was in operation and a consecutive value providing a number of consecutive time periods, and the step for setting the state for the particular fault code is performed in response to the number of times the particular fault code is generated during the particular time period is at least the threshold value for a number of consecutive time periods equal to the consecutive value.

28. A computer program product comprising executable instructions for managing fault codes associated with a vehicle that when executed by at least one computer processor are configured to cause the at least one computer processor to:

receive fault code information retrieved from the vehicle, the fault code information comprising one or more fault codes generated during a particular time period the vehicle was in operation;

analyze the fault code information based on one or more parameters, the one or more parameters being associated with the one or more fault codes from the fault code information, in order to identify each fault code from the one or more fault codes signaling failure or potential failure of one or more components or sub-systems of the vehicle; and

set a state for each identified fault code, the state indicating a level of action to address the identified fault code.