Data collection and manipulation apparatus and method

• US 6,745,153 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2002
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Chernoff, Adrian B., White, Tommy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dougherty, Anthony T
• Application Number:
  US10/303,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20030137194A1
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/30, 701/33, 701/35, 340/438, 340/459, 714/31, 702/179, 702/182, 702/183, 702/184, 702/185, 702/34
• US Class Current: 702/184
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0215 Protecting, fastening and routing means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle maintenance system predicts potential failure of a component or system using statistical data and methods. The maintenance system preferably includes a communications apparatus for communicating component or system performance data to an offboard network or data collection device. Methods for advantageously using the collected performance data are also provided.

Claims

1. A maintenance system for a system or component subject to degradation, the maintenance system comprising:

a sensor configured and positioned with respect to the component or system to measure, and thereby obtain a value for, the measurable characteristic, and transmit a signal indicating the value;

at least one data storage medium;

a database located on said at least one storage medium, the database containing statistical data describing a failure distribution for the component or system with respect to, or as a function of, the measurable characteristic;

a microprocessor operatively connected to the sensor and said at least one storage medium, configured to receive the value of the measurable characteristic indicated by the sensor, configured to retrieve the statistical data from said at least one storage medium, and programmed to analyze in a first predetermined manner the value of the measurable characteristic and the statistical data to calculate or otherwise determine an indication of the remaining useful life of the component or system; and

an interface for the microprocessor configured to transmit the indication of the remaining useful life of the component or system.

2. The maintenance system of claim 1, further comprising:

a diagnostics system operatively connected to the component or system and configured to recognize a predetermined fault condition; and

a communications apparatus;

wherein the sensor is operatively connected to said at least one storage medium, said at least one storage medium being configured to store a value of the measurable characteristic at predetermined time intervals;

wherein the diagnostic system is operatively connected to said at least one storage medium, said at least one storage medium configured to retain an indicator of the presence or absence of the predetermined fault condition at the predetermined time intervals; and

wherein the wireless communications apparatus is operatively connected to said at least one storage medium and configured to transmit the value stored in said at least one storage medium, the indicator of the presence or absence of the predetermined fault condition, and a unique identifier of the component or system to a remote data collection device.

3. The maintenance system of claim 2, wherein the database is rewritable via the communications apparatus to update the statistical data.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising making available the indication via the Internet.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the indication is accessible at a web site, and wherein the website includes commercial advertising.

4. An apparatus for the collection and manipulation of performance data from a plurality of monitored vehicular components or systems having a measurable characteristic and being on respective ones of a plurality of remotely located vehicles, the performance data from each of the plurality of monitored vehicular components or systems including a value of the measurable characteristic, the presence or absence of a predetermined fault condition and a unique identifier of the component or system from which the performance data is received, the apparatus comprising:

a communications apparatus configured to receive the performance data from the plurality of monitored vehicular components or systems;

at least one data storage medium operatively connected to the communications apparatus and configured to store the performance data in a first database; and

a processing unit operatively connected to the first database and programmed to generate from the performance data in the first database a first set of statistical data describing a failure distribution of the plurality of monitored components or systems with respect to, or as a function of, the measurable characteristic.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the plurality of monitored vehicular systems or components are one of steering systems;

braking systems;

fuel storage systems;

engines;

heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems;

batteries;

transmissions;

motors;

alternators;

fuel pumps;

water pumps; and

regulators.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

a second database located on said at least one data storage medium, the second database containing a second set of statistical data concerning the potential failure of the components or systems with respect to the measurable characteristic and derived or obtained from testing of similar components or systems;

wherein the processing unit is operatively connected to the second database and the first database, and configured to analytically compare the performance data to the second set of statistical data in the second database.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processing unit is configured to transmit at least part of the first set of statistical data to each of the plurality of vehicles via the communications apparatus.

8. A maintenance system lot a vehicle having a component or system with a measurable characteristic, the maintenance system comprising:

a sensor configured and positioned with respect to the component or system to measure, and thereby obtain a value for, the measurable characteristic, and transmit a signal indicating the value;

at least one data storage medium;

a database located on said at least one storage medium, the database containing statistical data describing a failure distribution for the component or system with respect to, or as a function of, the measurable characteristic;

a microprocessor operatively connected to the sensor and said at least one storage medium, configured to receive the value of the measurable characteristic indicated by the sensor, configured to retrieve the statistical data from said at least one storage medium, and programmed to analyze in a first predetermined manner the value of the measurable characteristic and the statistical data to calculate or otherwise determine an indication of the remaining useful life of the component or system; and

an interface for the microprocessor configured to transmit the indication of the remaining useful life of the component or system.

9. The maintenance system of claim 8, wherein the measurable characteristic is the total amount or duration of component operation;

and wherein the microprocessor employs a probability analysis to calculate or otherwise determine the indication of the remaining useful life of the component or system.

10. The maintenance system of claim 8, further comprising:

an onboard diagnostics system operatively connected to the component or system and configured to recognize a predetermined fault condition; and

a communications apparatus;

wherein the sensor is operatively connected to said at least one storage medium, said at least one storage medium being configured to store a value of the measurable characteristic at predetermined time intervals;

wherein the onboard diagnostic system is operatively connected to said at least one storage medium, said at least one storage medium configured to retain an indicator of the presence or absence of the predetermined fault condition at the predetermined time intervals; and

wherein the wireless communications apparatus is operatively connected to said at least one storage medium and configured to transmit the value stored in said at least one storage medium, the indicator of the presence or absence of the predetermined fault condition, and a unique identifier of the component or system to an offboard network.

11. The maintenance system of claim 10, wherein the microprocessor is reprogrammable via the communications apparatus such that the microprocessor analyzes in a second predetermined manner the value of the measurable characteristic and the statistical data to calculate an indication of the remaining useful life of the component or system.

12. The maintenance system of claim 10, wherein the component or system is one of a steering system;

a braking system;

a fuel storage system;

an engine;

a heating, ventilating and air conditioning system;

a battery;

a transmission;

motors;

an alternator;

a fuel pump;

a water pump; and

a regulator.

13. The maintenance system of claim 10, wherein the database is rewritable via the communications apparatus to update the statistical data.

14. An apparatus for the collection and exploitation of performance data from a plurality of monitored vehicular components or systems each having a measurable characteristic and being on respective ones of a plurality of remotely located vehicles, the performance data from each of the plurality of monitored vehicular components or systems including a value of the measurable characteristic, the presence or absence of a predetermined fault condition and a unique identifier of the component or system from which the performance data is received, the apparatus comprising:

a communications apparatus configured to receive the performance data from the plurality of monitored vehicular components or systems;

at least one data storage medium operatively connected to the communications apparatus and configured to store the performance data in a first database; and

a processing unit operatively connected to the first database, programmed to generate from the performance data in the first database a set of statistical data concerning the potential failure of the components or systems in relation to, or as a function of, the measurable characteristic, and programmed to maintain a second database on said at least one data storage medium containing the set of statistical data.

15. A method of exploiting performance data, the method comprising:

collecting performance data from a plurality of remotely-located components or systems that are subject to degradation, at a plurality of time increments or predetermined triggering events, the performance data from each component or system at each increment or triggering event including a value of a first measurable characteristic of the component or system, a unique component or system identifier, and the presence or absence of a fault condition;

storing the performance data in a first database; and

maintaining a second database containing a first set of statistical data concerning the potential failure of the components or systems in relation to, or as a function of, the first measurable characteristic.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising calculating or otherwise determining an indication of the remaining useful life of a particular component or system by analyzing the performance data of the particular component or system and the first set of statistical data.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the particular component or system is owned by or in the possession of a party, and the method further comprises notifying the party of the indication of the remaining useful life of the particular component or system.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising generating a second set of statistical data concerning the potential failure of the components or systems with respect to, or as a function of, the first measurable characteristic, wherein the second set of statistical data is derived from the performance data in the first database.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of remotely-located components or systems is operatively connected to a maintenance system;

wherein each maintenance system includes a rewritable storage medium and a communications apparatus operatively connected to the storage medium and configured to transmit statistical data to the rewritable storage medium;

wherein each maintenance system is configured to analyze a set of statistical data stored in the storage medium and a value of the first measurable characteristic from the component or system to which the maintenance system is operatively connected to calculate or otherwise determine an indication of the remaining useful life of the component or system to which the maintenance system is operatively connected;

wherein the method further comprises transmitting at least part of the second set of statistical data to each of the maintenance systems.

20. A method of exploiting performance data, the method comprising:

collecting performance data from a plurality of remotely-located components or systems, each of the plurality of remotely-located components or systems being part of a vehicle, at a plurality of time increments or predetermined triggering events, the performance data from each component or system at each increment or triggering event including a value of a first measurable characteristic of the component or system, a unique component or system identifier, and the presence or absence of a fault condition;

storing the performance data in a first database; and

maintaining a second database containing a first set of statistical data concerning the potential failure of the components or systems in relation to, or as a function of, the first measurable characteristic.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising calculating or otherwise determining an indication of the remaining useful life of a particular component or system by analyzing the performance data of the particular component or system and the first set of statistical data.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the particular component or system is owned by or in the possession of a party, and the method further comprises notifying the party of the indication of the remaining useful life of the particular component or system.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the notification of the party is by electronic mail.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the notification of the party is by telephone.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the notification of the party is by mail.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the notification of the party is by an electronic paging system.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the indication indicates that the remaining useful life of the particular component or system is less than a predetermined duration, and further comprising notifying a repair shop or other servicing entity of the indication.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein the indication indicates that the remaining useful life of the particular component or system is less than a predetermined duration, wherein the vehicle of which the particular component or system is a part is equipped with a telematics system, and the method further comprises notifying a user of a potential component or system failure via the telematics system.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising providing directions to a repair facility via the telematics system to the vehicle user.

32. The method of claim 20, further comprising generating a second set of statistical data concerning the potential failure of the components or systems with respect to, or as a function of, the first measurable characteristic, wherein the second set of statistical data is derived from the performance data in the first database.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein each of the plurality of remotely-located components or systems is operatively connected to a vehicle maintenance system;

wherein each vehicle maintenance system includes a rewritable storage medium and a communications apparatus operatively connected to the storage medium and configured to transmit statistical data to the rewritable storage medium;

wherein each vehicle maintenance system is configured to analyze a set of statistical data stored in the storage medium and a value of the first measurable characteristic from the component or system to which the maintenance system is operatively connected to calculate or otherwise determine an indication of the remaining useful life of the component or system to which the maintenance system is operatively connected;

wherein the method further comprises transmitting at least part of the second set of statistical data to each of the maintenance systems.

34. The method of claim 20, wherein the performance data from each component or system includes a value of a second measurable characteristic, and the method further comprises generating a second set of statistical data concerning the potential failure of the component or system with respect to, or as a function of, the second measurable characteristic, wherein the second set of statistical data is derived from the performance data in the first database.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein each of the plurality of remotely-located components or systems is operatively connected to a vehicle maintenance system;

wherein each vehicle maintenance system includes a rewritable storage medium and a communications apparatus operatively connected to the storage medium and configured to transmit statistical data to the rewritable storage medium;

wherein each vehicle maintenance system is configured to analyze a set of statistical data stored in the storage medium and a value of the second measurable characteristic from the component or system to which the maintenance system is operatively connected to calculate or otherwise determine an indication of the remaining useful life of the component or system to which the maintenance system is operatively connected;

wherein the method further comprises transmitting at least part of the second set of statistical data to each of the maintenance systems.

36. The method of claim 20, wherein each of the plurality of remotely-located components or systems is operatively connected to a vehicle maintenance system;

wherein each vehicle maintenance system includes at least one rewritable storage medium configured to store software and statistical data; and

a communications apparatus operatively connected to said at least one rewritable storage medium and configured to transmit software to said at least one rewritable storage medium;

wherein each vehicle maintenance system is configured to analyze, according to software stored in said at least one storage medium, a set of statistical data stored in said at least one storage medium and a value of the first measurable characteristic from the component or system to which the maintenance system is operatively connected to calculate or otherwise determine an indication of the remaining useful life of the component or system to which the maintenance system is operatively connected;

wherein the method further comprises reprogramming at least one of the maintenance systems by transmitting software to the at least one maintenance system.

37. The method of claim 20, further comprising adjusting an inventory of parts based on performance data received.

38. The method of claim 20, further comprising altering a component or system design in response to the performance data received.