Automated Vehicle Health & Maintenance Predictor

• US 20160110934A1
• Filed: 10/19/2015
• Published: 04/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AutoAp, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AutoAp, Inc.
• Inventors: PAUL, Mark O., ERNST, Joseph J.
• Application Number:
  US14/887,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20160110934A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance
• 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 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning

Abstract

Status and maintenance data (including real-time fault information) about mechanical devices such as vehicles, as well as recommended maintenance information and manufacturing/safety-defect information are collected from a range of sources and used to help diagnose system problems. Recommended/preventative maintenance may also be scheduled, and the information is aggregated to enhance device value by providing complete problem, repair and maintenance records.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

recording vehicle parameters in a database;

recording safety recall information in the database;

receiving a specific vehicle identification from a vehicle and recording the specific vehicle information in the database;

correlating the specific vehicle information with the vehicle parameters and the safety recall information to produce an action item; and

executing the action item.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving status information from the vehicle;

recording the status information in the database; and

repeating the correlating and executing operations in view of the status information.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the action item is a time-based maintenance event and executing the action item is scheduling an appointment to perform the time-based maintenance event.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the action item is a mileage-based maintenance event and executing the action item is scheduling an appointment to perform the mileage-based maintenance event.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the status information is an on-board diagnostic (“

OBD”

) alert.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the status information is a geographic location of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the status information is a crash sensor activation.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the action item is to dispatch roadside assistance.

9. A system comprising:

a special-purpose interface device to receive operational information from a mechanical system;

a general-purpose computer configured with instructions and data to perform predetermined operations;

a database containing manufacturer and non-manufacturer information about the mechanical system; and

data communication means for transmitting the operational information from the special-purpose interface device to the general-purpose computer, wherein

the instructions and data cause the general purpose computer to correlate the operational information with the manufacturer and non-manufacturer information in the database and transmit a message based on the correlation to a receiving party.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the message is an alert to an operator of the mechanical system.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the message is an alert to an owner of the mechanical system.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the mechanical system is a vehicle.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the vehicle is an automobile.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the message is an alert to a service center that performs maintenance on the mechanical system.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the message schedules an appointment on an electronic calendaring system.

16. A computer-readable medium containing data and instructions to cause a programmable processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving maintenance information about a vehicle model from a plurality of sources and storing the maintenance information in a database;

registering vehicle owner information in the database, said vehicle owner information comprising a name and a contact address of the vehicle owner and model information of the vehicle owner'"'"'s vehicle;

receiving status information from the vehicle owner'"'"'s vehicle;

correlating the status information with the maintenance information in the database; and

transmitting a message based on the correlating operation to the vehicle owner at the contact address.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, containing additional data and instructions to cause the programmable processor to perform operations comprising:

recording the status information in the database.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, containing additional data and instructions to cause the programmable processor to perform operations comprising:

computing an estimated value of the vehicle owner'"'"'s vehicle based on the information in the database; and

transmitting the estimated value to the vehicle owner at the contract address.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, containing additional data and instructions to cause the programmable processor to perform operations comprising:

computing an estimated value of the vehicle owner'"'"'s vehicle based on the information in the database; and

transmitting the estimated value to a vehicle dealership.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein the status information is at least one of:

a mileage traveled by the vehicle;

a number of hours of operation of the vehicle;

a speed of the vehicle;

a location of the vehicle;

or

an abnormal mechanical condition detected by the vehicle.