Equipment service vehicle with network-assisted vehicle service and repair
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- (A) an equipment service vehicle comprising(1) a communication network,(2) a plurality of vehicle subsystems, each vehicle subsystem comprising a mechanical system and an electronic control system that controls the mechanical system, each respective electronic control system being connected to the communication network and transmitting information pertaining to the health and operation of the mechanical system on the communication network,(3) an on-board computer system including(a) a test control module, the test control module being coupled to the plurality of vehicle subsystems by way of to communication network, the test control module being programmed to acquire at least some of the information pertaining to the health and operation of the mechanical system, and(b) an operator interface, the operator interface being coupled to the test control module, the operator interface comprising a display that displays the at least some information pertaining to the health and operation of the mechanical system, the operator interface displaying a menu of test options to an operator of the equipment service vehicle and receiving an operator input, the operator input being indicative of a menu selection made by the operator, the menu selection indicating a zest selected by the operator; and
(B) an off-board computer system;
wherein the on-board computer system performs the selected test on the vehicle and displays results of the test to the operator using the operator interface, the results of the test indicating that a vehicle part is in need of replacing; and
wherein the on-bard computer is capable of establishing a wireless radio-frequency communication link with the off-board computer system to place an order for a replacement part to replace the vehicle part.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of ordering parts for an equipment service vehicle comprises performing a diagnostic test on the equipment service vehicle, the performing step being performed by an on-board computer system of the equipment service vehicle and transmitting a request for a replacement part for the equipment service vehicle, the request being transmitted from the on-board computer system to an off-board computer system by way of a wireless radio-frequency (RF) communication link. A method of scheduling maintenance for an equipment service vehicle comprises performing a diagnostic test on the equipment service vehicle using an on-board computer system of the equipment service vehicle, and transmitting a request to schedule the equipment service vehicle for maintenance. The request is transmitted from the on-board vehicle computer system to an off-board computer system by way of a wireless radio-frequency communication link.
567 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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(A) an equipment service vehicle comprising (1) a communication network, (2) a plurality of vehicle subsystems, each vehicle subsystem comprising a mechanical system and an electronic control system that controls the mechanical system, each respective electronic control system being connected to the communication network and transmitting information pertaining to the health and operation of the mechanical system on the communication network, (3) an on-board computer system including (a) a test control module, the test control module being coupled to the plurality of vehicle subsystems by way of to communication network, the test control module being programmed to acquire at least some of the information pertaining to the health and operation of the mechanical system, and (b) an operator interface, the operator interface being coupled to the test control module, the operator interface comprising a display that displays the at least some information pertaining to the health and operation of the mechanical system, the operator interface displaying a menu of test options to an operator of the equipment service vehicle and receiving an operator input, the operator input being indicative of a menu selection made by the operator, the menu selection indicating a zest selected by the operator; and (B) an off-board computer system; wherein the on-board computer system performs the selected test on the vehicle and displays results of the test to the operator using the operator interface, the results of the test indicating that a vehicle part is in need of replacing; and wherein the on-bard computer is capable of establishing a wireless radio-frequency communication link with the off-board computer system to place an order for a replacement part to replace the vehicle part. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of ordering parts for an equipment service vehicle comprising:
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performing a diagnostic test on the equipment service vehicle, the performing step being performed by an on-board computer system of the equipment service vehicle, the results of the diagnostic test indicating that a part on the equipment service vehicle is in need of replacing; transmitting a request for a replacement part for the part in need of replacing, the request being transmitted from the on-board computer system to a first off-board computer system by way of a wireless radio frequency (RF) communication link, the first off-board computer system being associated with a maintenance center that maintains the equipment service vehicle; transmitting the request from the first off-board computer system to a second off-board computer system, the second off-board computer system being associated with a parts supplier that is capable of supplying replacement parts for the equipment service vehicle; responding to the request at the second off-board computer system, including transmitting expected delivery date information of the replacement part at the maintenance center, the expected delivery date information being transmitted from the second off-board computer system to the first off-board computer system; and scheduling the equipment service vehicle for maintenance on a scheduled maintenance date, the scheduling step being performed by the first off-board computer system based on the expected delivery date information. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system comprising:
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(A) an equipment service vehicle including (1) a power source, (2) a power transmission link, (3) a plurality of input devices, the plurality of input devices including a sensor that provides information pertaining to health and operation of the equipment service vehicle, (4) a plurality of output devices, (5) an on-board computer system including a plurality of microprocessor-based interface modules and a communication network, the plurality of interface modules being coupled to the power source by way of the power transmission link, the plurality of interface modules being interconnected to each other by way of the communication network, each of the plurality of interface modules being coupled to respective ones of the plurality of input devices and the plurality of output devices by way of respective dedicated communication links; and (B) an off-board computer system; wherein the on-board computer system receives the health and operation information from the sensor, the health and operation information being used to determine that the equipment service vehicle has a part which needs to be replaced; wherein the on-board communication establishes a wireless radio-frequency communication link with the off-board computer system and places an order for a replacement part to replace the part which needs to be replaced; and (C) an off-board computer-implemented inventory management system, the inventory management system comprising inventory information for an inventory of replacement parts for the equipment service vehicle, the inventory management system being used to determine whether the replacement part is in the inventory, and the inventory management system transmitting a message to the on-board computer indicating whether the replacement part is in inventory, wherein the inventory management system categorizes the replacement parts according to a multi-tier system, the multi-tier system including a first tier of replacement parts that can be ordered by the on-board computer directly without human intervention, and a second tier of replacement parts that can be ordered by the on-board computer only with the assistance of human intervention.
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Specification