VEHICLE MAINTENANCE SYSTEMS AND METHODS
First Claim
1. A preventative vehicle maintenance system comprising:
- a plurality of vehicles each having an electronic control module (ECM) disposed therein, wherein each ECM is configured to collect data from one or more sensors of the vehicle in which the ECM is disposed;
one or more processors configured to;
receive sensor signal data collected from the one or more sensors disposed within the respective plurality of vehicles;
analyze the received sensor signal data from the plurality of vehicles to identify an earmark that represents an acceptable operating range;
receive sensor signal data associated with a first vehicle;
determine whether the sensor signal data associated with the first vehicle is within a predetermined range of the earmark;
after determining that the sensor signal data associated with the first vehicle is within the predetermined range of the earmark, generate an alert code comprising indicia indicating an assigned priority for repairing a potential fault for the first vehicle; and
automatically coordinate repair of the first vehicle to prevent the occurrence of a failure of one or more vehicle components in response to detecting the generated alert code.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system that enables a fleet of vehicles to be maintained is provided. The disclosed system allows a fleet operator to review the history of the vehicles in the fleet along with vehicle sensor data to identify earmarks in the vehicle sensor data that are predictive of faults that the vehicles have experienced. The operator develops statistical algorithms that can detect an earmark in vehicle sensor data. The system then collects vehicle sensor data and applies the statistical algorithms the vehicle data to determine if a potential fault is going to occur in a vehicle. In response to determining that a potential fault is going to occur, the disclosed system automatically alerts the vehicle driver, automatically schedules a maintenance visit, automatically checks the fleet inventory for components required for a maintenance visit and orders unavailable components, and automatically dispatches the components to the mechanic.
9 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A preventative vehicle maintenance system comprising:
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a plurality of vehicles each having an electronic control module (ECM) disposed therein, wherein each ECM is configured to collect data from one or more sensors of the vehicle in which the ECM is disposed; one or more processors configured to; receive sensor signal data collected from the one or more sensors disposed within the respective plurality of vehicles; analyze the received sensor signal data from the plurality of vehicles to identify an earmark that represents an acceptable operating range; receive sensor signal data associated with a first vehicle; determine whether the sensor signal data associated with the first vehicle is within a predetermined range of the earmark; after determining that the sensor signal data associated with the first vehicle is within the predetermined range of the earmark, generate an alert code comprising indicia indicating an assigned priority for repairing a potential fault for the first vehicle; and automatically coordinate repair of the first vehicle to prevent the occurrence of a failure of one or more vehicle components in response to detecting the generated alert code. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer-implemented method for maintaining a vehicle comprising the steps of:
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receiving, via one or more processors, sensor signal data from each of a plurality of vehicles, wherein the sensor signal data is collected during operation of the respective plurality of vehicles; analyzing, via the one or more processors, the received sensor signal data from the plurality of vehicles to identify an earmark that represents an acceptable operating range; receiving, via the one or more processors, sensor signal data associated with a first vehicle; determining, via the one or more processors, whether the sensor signal data associated with the first vehicle is within a predetermined range of the earmark; after determining that the sensor signal data associated with the first vehicle is within the predetermined range of the earmark, generating, via the one or more processors, an alert code comprising indicia indicating an assigned priority for repairing a potential fault for the first vehicle; and automatically coordinating, via one or more processors, repair of the first vehicle to prevent the occurrence of a failure of one or more vehicle components in response to detecting the generated alert code. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer program product, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:
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an executable portion configured to receive sensor signal data from each of a plurality of vehicles, wherein the sensor signal data is collected during operation of the respective plurality of vehicles; an executable portion configured to analyze the received sensor signal data from the plurality of vehicles to identify an earmark that represents an acceptable operating range; an executable portion configured to receive sensor signal data associated with a first vehicle; an executable portion configured to determine whether the sensor signal data associated with the first vehicle is within a predetermined range of the earmark; an executable portion configured to, after determining that the sensor signal data associated with the first vehicle is within the predetermined range of the earmark, generate an alert code comprising indicia indicating an assigned priority for repairing a potential fault for the first vehicle; and an executable portion configured to automatically coordinate repair of the first vehicle to prevent the occurrence of a failure of one or more vehicle components in response to detecting the generated alert code, wherein initiating the repair comprises coordinating the repair. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification