Communication system for vehicle management

• US 7,233,814 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2004
• Issued: 06/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AB Volvo
• Original Assignee: MACK Trucks Incorporated (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Wissinger, Wayne Ellsworth, Mochrie, P. Bruce, Skarlis, Isidoros Nikolaos
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild; Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Doan; Phuoc
• Application Number:
  US10/754,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20040157650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/99, 455/557, 455/569.2, 701/29, 709/237
• US Class Current: 455/569.2
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices

Abstract

A communication system for vehicle management includes a vehicle, a vehicle management system disposed in the vehicle outputting first data to control substantially a function of the vehicle and recording second data substantially analogous to an operating parameter of the vehicle, a base station substantially remote from the vehicle and having a second transceiver, a first transceiver disposed in the vehicle and connected communicably to the vehicle management system to receive third data from the second transceiver and send the second data to the second transceiver, the third data updating the vehicle management system.

Claims

1. A communication system for vehicle management comprising:

a vehicle;

a vehicle management system disposed in said vehicle, said vehicle management system outputting first data to control substantially a function of said vehicle and recording second data substantially analogous to an operating parameter of said vehicle;

a base station substantially remote from said vehicle and having a second transceiver;

a first transceiver disposed in said vehicle and connected communicably to said vehicle management system to receive third data from said second transceiver and send said second data to said second transceiver, said third data comprising a wakeup signal, a software update, a firmware update and/or an operating system update.

2. The communication system for vehicle management of claim 1, wherein said vehicle function is selected from the group consisting of:

an EGR,

a rate of fuel injection,

a rate of air flow,

a turbo-charger boost,

a valve timing,

a governor speed, and

a brake application.

3. The communication system for vehicle management of claim 1, wherein said vehicle operating parameter is selected from the group consisting of:

a duration of engine operation,

a distance traveled,

an engine speed,

a vehicle speed,

a wheel speed,

a vehicle location,

a barometric pressure,

a fuel consumption,

a diagnostic code,

an oil temperature,

an air temperature,

a coolant temperature,

a brake temperature,

a tractive effort,

a brake pad thickness, and

a tire pressure.

4. The communication system for vehicle management of claim 1, wherein, the vehicle management is configured such that if the vehicle management system is not powered up when said third data includes said wakeup signal, the vehicle management system automatically powers up in response to said wakeup signal being received by the first transceiver.

5. The communication system for vehicle management of claim 1, wherein said vehicle management system is selected from the group consisting of:

an engine control unit,

an transmission control unit,

an powertrain control unit, and

a vehicle control unit.

6. The communication system for vehicle management of claim 1, comprising further a GPS receiver.

7. The communication system for vehicle management of claim 1, wherein said second transceiver is connected communicably to said first transceiver over a channel selected from the group consisting of:

a wireless channel,

a cellular phone channel,

a satellite link, a SAE J1708/J1587 channel,

a radio channel,

a microwave channel, and

an IEEE 802.11 b channel.

8. A method of communication for a vehicle management system comprising:

outputting first data from a vehicle management system to control substantially a function of a vehicle;

recording second data substantially analogous to an operating parameter of said vehicle;

sending said second data to a base station substantially remote from said vehicle;

receiving third data from said base station; and

updating said vehicle management system with said third data, wherein said third data comprises a software update, a firmware update and/or an operating system update.

9. The method of communication for a vehicle management system of claim 8, comprising further:

waking up the vehicle management system with said third data.

10. A system for communication for a vehicle management system comprising:

means for outputting first data from a vehicle management system to control substantially a function of a vehicle;

means for recording second data substantially analogous to an operating parameter of said vehicle;

means for sending said second data to a base station substantially remote from said vehicle;

means for receiving a wakeup signal from said base station; and

means for powering up the vehicle management system in response to the receiving means receiving the wakeup signal.