Methods and systems for generating and outputting test drive scripts for vehicles

• US 20160247331A1
• Filed: 02/25/2015
• Published: 08/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: Cacabelos, Kahlil H., Merg, Patrrick S., Theriot, Mark C., Brozovich, Roy S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,639,995 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• 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 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

Systems and methods pertaining to generating a test drive script (TDS) based on vehicle data values (VDV) from a vehicle and driving circumstance parameters (DCP) that correspond to use of the vehicle when the VDV are captured are described herein. The TDS can include a baseline path that includes the paths taken by the vehicle while the VDV are captured. The TDS can include an alternate path that includes paths that approximate one or more paths taken by the vehicle while the VDV are captured. The VDV can include, but are not limited to, DTC and PID values from the vehicle. The DCP can include, but are not limited to, traffic condition parameters, meteorological parameters, location parameters, and motion parameters. The TDS can include notifications to alert a user to a location where certain VDV were captured to assist the user in recreating a symptom in a vehicle.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing, by a computer-readable medium, a plurality of vehicle data values pertaining to a first vehicle;

storing, by the computer-readable medium, a plurality of driving circumstance parameters corresponding to the vehicle data values;

generating, by a processor, a test drive script (TDS) based on a selection of at least one of the vehicle data values and at least a portion of the driving circumstance parameters that correspond to the at least one of the vehicle data values;

storing, by the computer-readable medium, the TDS; and

outputting, by at least one of a user interface and a network interface, the stored TDS in response to a TDS request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of vehicle data values include vehicle data values selected from the group consisting of (i) a diagnostic trouble code, (ii) a vehicle data value associated with a parameter identifier (PID), and (iii) an electrical measurement of a component installed in the first vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of driving circumstance parameters include driving circumstance parameters selected from the group consisting of (i) a traffic condition parameter, (ii) a meteorological parameter, (iii) a location parameter, and (iv) a motion parameter.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the TDS includes generating a TDS having follow-path instructions for following at least a portion of a path the first vehicle was using when capture of the vehicle data values occurred.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the processor, a baseline path the first vehicle was using when capture of the vehicle data values occurred;

determining, by the processor, one or more characteristics of the baseline path; and

determining, by the processor, an alternate path that is different than the baseline path,

wherein one or more characteristics of the alternate path match or approximate the one or more characteristics of the baseline path, and

wherein generating the TDS includes generating a TDS having follow-path instructions for following the alternate path.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining, by the processor, at least one vehicle data value selected from among a plurality of vehicle data values that can be captured; and

determining, by the processor, the plurality of vehicle data values pertaining to the first vehicle include one or more instances of vehicle data values that match or approximate the selected vehicle data value,

wherein the at least a portion of the driving circumstance parameters include one or more driving circumstance parameters that correspond to vehicle data values that were captured immediately prior to capture of the one or more instances of vehicle data values that match or approximate the selected vehicle data value.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the one more characteristics of the first path include path characteristics selected from the group consisting of (i) a speed limit, (ii) a path inclination, (iii) a path curvature, (iv) a path pavement, (v) a path elevation, (vi) a path name, and (vii) a traffic direction.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving, by the processor, a location identifier and a distance range,

wherein the alternate path is located within an area defined by the location identifier and the distance range.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining, by the processor, at least one of a start path from a first location to a starting point of the alternate path and a return path from an intermediate or ending point of the alternate path to the first location or a second location,

wherein generating the TDS includes at least one of (i) adding follow-path instructions for following the start path prior to the follow-path instructions for following the alternate path, and (ii) adding follow-path instructions for following the return path after the follow-path instructions for following the alternate path.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein selection of the at least one of the vehicle data values is conditioned on the at least one of the vehicle data values indicating that a DTC is set within the first vehicle or that a value of the at least one of the vehicle data values exceeds a threshold vehicle data value.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, over a network by the network interface, a request for at least a portion of the driving circumstance parameters; and

receiving, from the network by the network interface, the at least a portion of the driving circumstance parameters,

wherein the at least a portion of the driving circumstance parameters include driving circumstance parameters selected from the group consisting of (i) a traffic condition parameter, (ii) a meteorological parameter, (iii) a location parameter, and (iv) a motion parameter.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing, by the computer-readable medium, at least one of a complaint, cause, and correction pertaining to servicing the first vehicle,

wherein the TDS request includes at least one of the complaint, cause, and correction pertaining to servicing the first vehicle.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting the stored TDS by the user interface includes at least one of displaying driving instructions and audibly outputting the driving instructions by a loudspeaker.

14. A system comprising:

a processor;

a network interface;

a user interface; and

a computer-readable medium storing a plurality of vehicle data values pertaining to a first vehicle, a plurality of driving circumstance parameters corresponding to the vehicle data values, and computer-readable program instructions,

wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processor, cause a set of functions to be performed, the set of functions including;

generating a test drive script (TDS) based on a selection of at least one of the vehicle data values and at least a portion of the driving circumstance parameters that correspond to the at least one of vehicle data values;

storing the TDS within the computer-readable medium; and

outputting, by at least one of the user interface and the network interface, the stored TDS in response to a TDS request.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the set of functions further include:

receiving, by the network interface, a location identifier corresponding to a location of a second vehicle;

determining, by the processor, a baseline path the first vehicle was using when capture of the vehicle data values occurred;

determining, by the processor, one or more characteristics of the baseline path; and

determining, by the processor, an alternate path that is different than the baseline path,

wherein one or more characteristics of the alternate path match or approximate the one or more characteristics of the baseline path,

wherein at least a portion of the second path is within a distance range proximate the location of the second vehicle, and

wherein generating the TDS includes generating a TDS having follow-path instructions for following the alternate path.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the set of functions further include:

associating the TDS with at least one of a cause, complaint, or correction that corresponds to a service performed on the first vehicle; and

associating the TDS with a vehicle identifier corresponding to the first vehicle.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the set of functions further include:

determining, by the processor, at least one of a start path from a first location to a starting point of a baseline path and a return path from an intermediate or ending point of the baseline path to the first location or a second location,

wherein generating the TDS includes at least one of (i) adding follow-path instructions for following the start path prior to follow-path instructions for following the baseline path, and (ii) adding follow-path instructions for following the return path after the follow-path instructions for following the baseline path.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of driving circumstance parameters include driving circumstance parameters selected from the group consisting of (i) a traffic condition parameter, (ii) a meteorological parameter, (iii) a location parameter, and (iv) a motion parameter.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a communication link that communicatively couples the processor to the network interface, the user interface, and the computer-readable medium, wherein the communication link includes at least one of a wired communication link and a wireless communication link.

20. A computer-readable medium storing program instructions, that when executed by a processor, cause a set of functions to be performed, the set of functions comprising:

storing, by the computer-readable medium, a plurality of vehicle data values pertaining to a first vehicle;

storing, by the computer-readable medium, a plurality of driving circumstance parameters corresponding to the vehicle data values;

generating, by a processor, a test drive script (TDS) based on a selection of at least one of the vehicle data values and at least a portion of the driving circumstance parameters that correspond to the at least one of the vehicle data values;

storing, by the computer-readable medium, the TDS; and

outputting, by at least one of a user interface and a network interface, the stored TDS in response to a TDS request.