VEHICLE SOFTWARE UPGRADE TECHNIQUES
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Abstract
System and method for maintaining functionality of software includes initially providing the vehicle with software resident on computer-readable medium to enable it to operate and interact with components thereof and updating the vehicle software by receiving a wireless transmission from one or more remote locations, e.g., a location maintained by a dealer or manufacturer of the vehicle. The software may be diagnostic software for a diagnostic module which diagnoses operability of components of the vehicle. Different remote locations may be responsible for different portions of the vehicle-resident software and may therefore provide different software upgrades, based on need.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1-15. -15. (canceled)
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16. A method for predicting impending failures in one or more of a plurality of components or subsystems on a vehicle to prevent a breakdown of the vehicle that could result in an inability to operate the vehicle, comprising:
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mounting sensors on the vehicle, the sensors providing data which is affected by the operation of the components or subsystems, the sensors being selected and arranged such that the data provided by the sensors is different for different operating states of each of the plurality of components and subsystems; obtaining data from the sensors during operation of the components or subsystems; detecting patterns in the obtained data on the vehicle; analyzing, using a processor on the vehicle, the detected patterns to create a prediction of an impending failure of one of the components or subsystems before the predicted failure occurs; informing the user, owner, dealer or manufacturer of the vehicle about the predicted failure before the predicted failure occurs to enable corrective action to be taken before the predicted failure occurs, whereby a breakdown of the vehicle that might occur if the predicted failure of the component were to occur is thereby avoided; and communicating the predicted failure to the dealer or manufacturer at a location remote from the vehicle, and wherein the predicted failure is one or more of the following;
out of balance tires, front end out of alignment, tune up required, oil change needed, front end looseness, differential problems, catalytic converter failure, muffler failure, ignition failure, tire wear, fuel leakage, fan belt slippage, alternator deterioration, coolant pump failure, coolant hose failure, starter failure, or dirty air filter.
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17. A method for predicting impending failures in one or more of a plurality of components or subsystems on a vehicle to prevent a breakdown of the vehicle that could result in an inability to operate the vehicle, comprising:
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mounting sensors on the vehicle, the sensors providing data which is affected by the operation of the components or subsystems, the sensors being selected and arranged such that the data provided by the sensors is different for different operating states of each of the plurality of components and subsystems; obtaining data from the sensors during operation of the components or subsystems; detecting patterns in the obtained data on the vehicle; analyzing, using a processor on the vehicle, the detected patterns to create a prediction of an impending failure of one of the components or subsystems before the predicted failure occurs; informing the user, owner, dealer or manufacturer of the vehicle about the predicted failure before the predicted failure occurs to enable corrective action to be taken before the predicted failure occurs, whereby a breakdown of the vehicle that might occur if the predicted failure of the component were to occur is thereby avoided; coupling the sensors to the processor on the vehicle; and constructing the processor to detect the patterns in the obtained data and analyze the detected patterns to create a prediction of an impending failure of one of the components or subsystems such that the processor converts input from the sensors into an output constituting a signal about the condition of the components or subsystems, wherein the component or subsystem that is monitored, and for which the failure is predicted, is at least one of the following;
water pump, alternator, shock absorber, radiator, fuel pump, vehicle suspension, vehicle wiring system, differential gear assembly, fan belts, tires, catalytic converter, muffler, ignition, coolant pump, coolant hose, starter, or air filter.
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18. A method for predicting impending failures in one or more of a plurality of components or subsystems on a vehicle to prevent a breakdown of the vehicle that could result in an inability to operate the vehicle, comprising:
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mounting sensors on the vehicle, the sensors providing data which is affected by the operation of the components or subsystems, the sensors being selected and arranged such that the data provided by the sensors is different for different operating states of each of the plurality of components and subsystems; obtaining data from the sensors during operation of the components or subsystems; detecting patterns in the obtained data on the vehicle; analyzing, using a processor on the vehicle, the detected patterns to create a prediction of an impending failure of one of the components or subsystems before the predicted failure occurs; and informing the user, owner, dealer or manufacturer of the vehicle about the predicted failure before the predicted failure occurs to enable corrective action to be taken before the predicted failure occurs, whereby a breakdown of the vehicle that might occur if the predicted failure of the component were to occur is thereby avoided, wherein the step of informing the user, owner, dealer or manufacturer of the vehicle about the predicted failure comprises notifying the user of the vehicle, wherein notification to the user is provided via a display on the vehicle visible to the user, and wherein the prediction of an impending failure is an indication of when a component will be in need of repair or replacement.
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Specification