SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EXTRACTION OF VEHICLE OPERATIONAL DATA AND SHARING DATA WITH AUTHORIZED COMPUTER NETWORKS

• US 20140040434A1
• Filed: 02/20/2012
• Published: 02/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 650340 N.B. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: 650340 N.B. Ltd.
• Inventors: Murray, Judson, Rybak, Ihor Bohdan, Pichette, Mathew
• Granted Patent: US 9,596,287 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]

Abstract

Systems, methods, and related computer programs are provided wherein vehicle operation data is extracted from an internal automotive network. A system for enabling the generation and sharing of vehicle operation data via a computer network includes a data harvesting device connected to an information system of a vehicle, the data harvesting device capturing vehicle information from the vehicle and processing the vehicle information to generate current vehicle operation data; and a computer system in communication with the data harvesting device, the computer system including one or more server computers connected to a computer network. The data harvesting device connects to the computer system on an intermittent basis via a wireless network. The computer system includes a database system for logging the current vehicle operation data. The computer system is configured to act as an information gateway for provisioning the current vehicle operation data to one or more remote server computers in communication with the computer system. The computer system is also operable to enable the sharing of vehicle operation data and related information via social networks.

Claims

1. A system for enabling the generation and sharing of vehicle operation dia via a computer network, characterized in that the system comprises:

(a) a data harvesting device connected to an information system of a vehicle, the data harvesting device capturing vehicle information from the vehicle and processing the vehicle information to generate current vehicle operation data; and

(b) a computer system in communication with the data harvesting device, the computer system including one or more server computers connected to a computer network;

the data harvesting device connecting to the computer system on an intermittent basis via a wireless network;

the computer system including a database system for logging the current vehicle operation data; and

the computer system being configured to act as an information gateway for provisioning the current vehicle operation data to one or more remote server computers in communication with the computer system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the current vehicle operation data includes one or more of (a) current odometer information, (b) current engine performance information, (c) current fuel consumption information, and (d) current performance of vehicle sub-systems including engine emission systems, climate systems, or electrical systems.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

(a) the data harvesting device is configured to include or obtain information elements for identifying the vehicle to the computer system, and the data harvesting device includes these information elements in communications from the data harvesting device to the computer system including the vehicle operation data; and

(b) the computer system is responsive to the information elements to link current vehicle operation data with a profile established in the database system for the vehicle, and to log vehicle operation data to this profile.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the information elements include the vehicle information number for the vehicle, or the computer system is configured to retrieve the vehicle information number for the vehicle from the database system based on the information elements.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the current vehicle operation data includes current odometer information and the computer system includes or is linked to a vehicle service appointment scheduling component that is operable to:

(a) access or generate a vehicle information number for the vehicle associated with the vehicle operation data;

(b) apply one or more business rules to determine whether, based on the current odometer information, there is a current service or recall requirement for the vehicle; and

(c) generate a request for scheduling of a service or recall appointment, and send this request to one or more communication devices associated with the user.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the scheduling component is further operable to:

(a) retrieve the personnel and/or part requirements associated with the service or recall requirement, and initiate a lookup request for corresponding service personnel and/or part availability;

(b) send the lookup request to relevant computer systems;

(c) receive a response to the lookup request and include availability information in the response in the request for scheduling sent to the user.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is linked to a marketing system, wherein the marking system is operable to generate and send electronic promotional material, including offers, coupons, or tokens, to the user based on the current vehicle operation data.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer system enables the sharing of the vehicle operation data and optionally other related vehicle information via one or more social media networks linked to the computer system, based on one or more preferences defined by a user associated with the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer system enables the user to follow the vehicle via the one or more social media networks.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the computer system enables the user to permit one or more social media connections to follow the vehicle via one or more social media networks.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer system enables one or more other users to follow the vehicle via one or more social media networks.

12. A computer-implemented method for enabling the generation and sharing of vehicle operation data via a computer network, characterized in that the method comprises:

(a) configuring a data harvesting device to connect on an intermittent basis to an information system of a vehicle;

(b) the data harvesting device capturing vehicle information from the vehicle and processing the vehicle information to generate current vehicle operation data;

(c) the data harvesting device sending the current vehicle operation data via a wireless network to a computer system in communication with the data harvesting device, the computer system including one or more server computers connected to the computer network, being linked to or including a database system, and being configured to act as a information gateway for provisioning current vehicle operation data to one or more authorized remote computers via the computer network;

(d) the computer system logging the current vehicle operation data to the database system; and

(e) the computer system provisioning the current vehicle operation data via the computer network to the one or more authorized remote computers;

13. The method of claim 12, comprising the step of sharing of the vehicle operation data and optionally other related vehicle information via one or more social media networks linked to the computer system, based on one or more preferences defined by a user associated with the vehicle.

14. A computer-implemented method for extracting vehicle operation data from an internal automotive network, comprising:

(a) obtaining data available on the internal automotive network via iterative interrogation;

(b) analyzing the obtained data to identify a set of candidate data values having at least one common feature within a suitable proximity margin; and

(c) heuristically selecting a candidate data value best matching one or more selection criteria to identify a true value.