Method for decreasing downtime in vehicle identification number stamping operations

• US 6,760,794 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2002
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Johnson, Jay, Deno, John, Dalton, Rick
• Primary Examiner(s): Elamin, A.
• Application Number:
  US10/301,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20040103074A1
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 710/52, 409/11, 409/12, 406/30, 427/7, 455/557, 400/127
• US Class Current: 710/52
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 40/911 Automobile body identification
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 40/912 Automobile motor identification

Abstract

Vehicle identification number (VIN) data acquisition and stamping center control, wherein a main computer supplies VIN data to a PLC disposed at the stamping center, and the PLC stores a quantity of VIN data, up to a predetermined maximum, in an input buffer memory of the PLC in order to permit the stamping center to continue operating even when the network connection with the main computer is broken. The PLC also includes an output buffer memory in which stamped VINs may be stored until the network connection is restored, at which point the stamped VINs are transmitted to the main computer. Alternative semi-automatic and manual modes of operation permit the stamping center to continue operating even when the supply of VIN data from the input buffer memory is exhausted.

Claims

1. A vehicle identification number data acquisition and stamping method for use in conjunction with a vehicle identification number stamping center, said data acquisition and stamping method comprising the steps of:

generating a plurality of vehicle identification numbers in a main computer;

transmitting said plurality vehicle-identification numbers to a programmable logic controller, said controller including an input buffer memory and an output buffer memory, said input buffer memory being adapted to store a predetermined maximum number of vehicle identification numbers;

serially accessing individual ones of said plurality of vehicle identification numbers stored in said input buffer memory for subsequent use in a vehicle identification number stamping operation;

monitoring a quantity of vehicle identification numbers stored in said input buffer memory and, when said quantity is equal to a predetermined minimum number, requesting said main computer to send further vehicle identification numbers to said programmable logic controller such that, so long as a communication link between said main computer and said programmable logic controller is operational, the quantity of vehicle identification numbers contained in the programmable logic controller input buffer memory is always maintained between said predetermined minimum and said predetermined maximum number.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined minimum number of vehicle identification numbers is selected such that said stamping operation can proceed for a predetermined length of time when said communications link between said main computer and said programmable logic controller is disrupted.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising the further step of:

checking the accessed vehicle identification number and, if said vehicle identification number is satisfactory, using said accessed vehicle identification number in the stamping operation as a stamped vehicle identification number and, if said vehicle identification number is defective, discarding said defective vehicle identification number and accessing a next vehicle identification number.

4. The method according to claim 3, comprising the further step of:

copying said stamped vehicle identification number to a file and, if said communication link between said programmable logic controller and said main computer is operational, transmitting said stamped vehicle identification number to said main computer.

5. The method according to claim 4, comprising the further step of:

if said communication link between said programmable logic controller is not operational, storing said stamped vehicle identification number in said output buffer memory, said output buffer memory being adapted to store a quantity of stamped vehicle identification numbers that is equal to or greater than said predetermined maximum number of vehicle identification numbers.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said predetermined minimum number of vehicle identification numbers is selected such that said stamping operation can proceed for a predetermined length of time when said communications link between said main computer and said programmable logic controller is disrupted.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said quantity of stamped vehicle identification numbers stored in said output buffer memory is selected such that said stamping operation can proceed even when said quantity of vehicle identification numbers stored in the input buffer memory is exhausted.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein, in addition to vehicle identification numbers accessed from the input buffer memory, vehicle identification numbers may be made available to the stamping operation by means of semi-automatic data input means.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein, during a test mode of operation, vehicle identification numbers are manually input, said manually input vehicle identification numbers being discarded after use in a stamping operating and therefore are not communicated to the main computer.

10. A vehicle identification number data acquisition, communication, and stamping method for a vehicle identification number stamping center, said data acquisition, communication, and stamping method comprising the steps of:

generating a plurality of vehicle identification numbers in a main computer;

transmitting said plurality vehicle identification numbers to a programmable logic controller, said controller including an input buffer memory and an output buffer memory, said input buffer memory being adapted to store a predetermined maximum number of vehicle identification numbers;

monitoring a communications link between said main computer and said programmable logic controller;

serially accessing individual ones of said plurality of vehicle identification numbers stored in said input buffer memory for subsequent use in a vehicle identification number stamping operation;

monitoring a quantity of vehicle identification numbers stored in said input buffer memory and, when said quantity is equal to a predetermined minimum number and said communication link between said main computer and said programmable logic controller is operational, requesting said main computer to send further vehicle identification numbers to said programmable logic controller such that the quantity of vehicle identification numbers contained in the programmable logic controller input buffer memory is normally maintained between said predetermined minimum and said predetermined maximum number;

using said accessed vehicle identification number in a stamping operation as a stamped vehicle identification number; and

,

transmitting said stamped vehicle identification number from said programmable logic controller to said main computer.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein, if said communications link between said main computer and said programmable logic controller is not operational, said stamped vehicle identification number is stored in said output buffer memory.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein, upon reestablishment of said communications link, the stamped vehicle identification number stored in said output buffer memory is transmitted to said main computer.

13. The method according to claim 12, comprising the further step of:

checking the accessed vehicle identification number and, if said vehicle identification number is satisfactory, using said accessed vehicle identification number in the stamping operation as a stamped vehicle identification number and, if said vehicle identification number is defective, discarding said defective vehicle identification number and accessing a next vehicle identification number.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said predetermined minimum number of vehicle identification numbers is selected such that said stamping operation can proceed for a predetermined length of time when said communications link between said main computer and said programmable logic controller is disrupted.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said quantity of stamped vehicle identification numbers stored in said output buffer memory is selected such that said stamping operation can proceed even when said quantity of vehicle identification numbers stored in the input buffer memory is exhausted.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein, in addition to vehicle identification numbers accessed from the input buffer memory, vehicle identification numbers may be made available to the stamping operation by means of semi-automatic data input means.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein, during a test mode of operation, vehicle identification numbers are manually input, said manually input vehicle identification numbers being discarded after use in a stamping operating and therefore are not communicated to the main computer.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein said semi-automatic data input means are selected from the group consisting of scanning and keyboarding.