System and method of agent self-repair within an intelligent agent system

• US 7,233,879 B1
• Filed: 05/09/2006
• Issued: 06/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Technical Center USA, Inc. (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Chigusa, Shunsuke
• Primary Examiner(s): NGHIEM, MICHAEL P
• Application Number:
  US11/430,382
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 702182-185, 717/124, 717/126, 714/25, 714/31
• US Class Current: 702/184
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/028 using expert systems only
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33062 Self repair

Abstract

A system and method of intelligent agent self-repair for an intelligent agent system in a vehicle is provided that includes a host system in communication with an intelligent agent via a communications network. An executable software program verifies if the agent work procedure list matches a corresponding work procedure list for the agent that is stored in the memory of the host system. Execution of the agent work procedure list by the agent is ceased and the agent is repaired by transmitting a new work procedure list to the agent from the host information database, if the agent work procedure list is not verified. The agent continues to execute the work instructions if the agent work procedure list is verified or the agent is repaired.

Claims

1. A method of intelligent agent self-repair for an intelligent agent system in a vehicle, said method including the steps of:

maintaining an encrypted work procedure list by an intelligent agent, wherein the intelligent agent includes a processor and a memory associated with the processor and the agent work procedure list is embedded in the memory and contains executable instructions for the agent;

comparing the agent work procedure list with a corresponding host work procedure list for the agent that is stored in the a memory of a host system, wherein the host system includes a processor, a memory associated with the host system processor, and an input/output means;

stopping execution of the agent work procedure list by the agent if the agent work procedure list does not match with the host work procedure list and repairing the agent by replacing the agent work procedure list with the host work procedure list for the agent from the host system; and

executing the instructions by the agent using the agent work procedure list.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of comparing further includes the step of comparing information in the agent work procedure list with corresponding information in the host work procedure list for the agent.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of stopping execution further includes the step of transmitting a copy of the host work procedure list for the agent from a host information database that is in communication with the host system.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said work procedure list contains executable work instructions to be performed by the agent.

5. A method of intelligent agent self-repair for an intelligent agent system in a vehicle, said method including the steps of:

maintaining an encrypted work procedure list by an intelligent agent, wherein the intelligent agent includes a processor and a memory associated with the processor and the agent work procedure list is embedded in the memory and contains executable work instructions for the agent;

comparing information in the agent work procedure list with corresponding information in the host work procedure list for the agent, wherein the host system includes a processor, a memory associated with the host system processor and an input/output means, and the host work procedure list for the agent is embedded in a memory associated with a host information database that is in communication with the host system;

stopping execution of the agent work procedure list by the agent if the agent work procedure list does not match with the host work procedure list and repairing the agent by replacing the agent work procedure list with the host work procedure list for the agent from the host information database by transmitting a copy of the host work procedure list for the agent from the host information database to the agent; and

executing the instructions by the agent using the agent work procedure list.

6. A system of agent self-repair within an intelligent agent system for a vehicle comprising:

an agent within the vehicle having a processor and a memory associated with the processor, wherein said agent maintains an encrypted agent work procedure list embedded in the memory and contains executable work instructions for the agent;

a host system operatively in communication with said agent via a communications network, wherein said host system includes a processor, a memory associated with the processor and an input/output means;

an executable agent self-repair software program stored in the memory of the host system that verifies if the agent work procedure list matches a corresponding host work procedure list for the agent that is embedded in the memory of the host system by comparing the agent work procedure list with the host work procedure list for the agent and ceases execution of the agent work procedure list by the agent and repairs the agent by replacing the agent work procedure list embedded in the memory of the agent with the host work procedure list for the agent if the agent work procedure list is not verified and the agent executes the work instructions in the agent work procedure list.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said agent work procedure list contains executable work instructions to be performed by the agent.