Vehicle Fault Early Warning System
First Claim
1. A method of providing a fault warning notification for a potential vehicle fault, the method comprising the steps of:
- monitoring a set of vehicle subsystems in each of a plurality of vehicles, wherein for each of said plurality of vehicles said step of monitoring said set of vehicle subsystems is performed by a corresponding on-board controller;
monitoring a set of ambient conditions corresponding to each of said plurality of vehicles, wherein for each of said plurality of vehicles said step of monitoring said set of ambient conditions is performed by said corresponding on-board controller;
detecting a vehicle subsystem fault within one vehicle of said plurality of vehicles;
identifying a portion of said set of ambient conditions corresponding to said one vehicle of said plurality of vehicles, wherein said portion of said set of ambient conditions extends over a period of time inclusive of said vehicle subsystem fault; and
comparing said vehicle subsystem fault and said portion of said set of ambient conditions with a plurality of vehicle faults identified in said plurality of vehicles, wherein if said vehicle subsystem fault has occurred in more than a preset number of said plurality of vehicles under a set of conditions similar to said portion of said set of ambient conditions then said method further comprises the step of transmitting said fault warning notification to at least a portion of said plurality of vehicles, wherein if said vehicle subsystem fault has not occurred in more than said preset number of said plurality of vehicles under said set of conditions similar to said portion of said set of ambient conditions then said method does not include said step of transmitting said fault warning notification, and wherein if said vehicle subsystem fault has not occurred in more than said preset number of said plurality of vehicles under said set of conditions similar to said portion of said set of ambient conditions then said method further comprises the step of storing said vehicle subsystem fault and said portion of said set of ambient conditions in a memory.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle fault early warning system is provided in which a central processing system (e.g., vehicle manufacturer, service center, third party) transmits a warning once a set of conditions is identified that routinely leads to a particular vehicle malfunction, where the malfunction may either cause the failure of a component/subsystem or cause a component/subsystem to perform out-of-spec. The warning, which may be accompanied by instructions as to how to avoid, or at least mitigate, the effects of the vehicle malfunction, may either be sent to all users or only those that are likely to be affected by the malfunction.
69 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of providing a fault warning notification for a potential vehicle fault, the method comprising the steps of:
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monitoring a set of vehicle subsystems in each of a plurality of vehicles, wherein for each of said plurality of vehicles said step of monitoring said set of vehicle subsystems is performed by a corresponding on-board controller; monitoring a set of ambient conditions corresponding to each of said plurality of vehicles, wherein for each of said plurality of vehicles said step of monitoring said set of ambient conditions is performed by said corresponding on-board controller; detecting a vehicle subsystem fault within one vehicle of said plurality of vehicles; identifying a portion of said set of ambient conditions corresponding to said one vehicle of said plurality of vehicles, wherein said portion of said set of ambient conditions extends over a period of time inclusive of said vehicle subsystem fault; and comparing said vehicle subsystem fault and said portion of said set of ambient conditions with a plurality of vehicle faults identified in said plurality of vehicles, wherein if said vehicle subsystem fault has occurred in more than a preset number of said plurality of vehicles under a set of conditions similar to said portion of said set of ambient conditions then said method further comprises the step of transmitting said fault warning notification to at least a portion of said plurality of vehicles, wherein if said vehicle subsystem fault has not occurred in more than said preset number of said plurality of vehicles under said set of conditions similar to said portion of said set of ambient conditions then said method does not include said step of transmitting said fault warning notification, and wherein if said vehicle subsystem fault has not occurred in more than said preset number of said plurality of vehicles under said set of conditions similar to said portion of said set of ambient conditions then said method further comprises the step of storing said vehicle subsystem fault and said portion of said set of ambient conditions in a memory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification