Technique for collecting data from vehicles for analysis thereof

• US 7,319,848 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2005
• Issued: 01/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silver State Intellectual Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: American Calcar, Inc.
• Inventors: White, Philip E., Obradovich, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): EWART, JAMES D
• Application Number:
  US11/280,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20060079252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 455/96, 455/99, 455/345, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/422, 455/426, 455/466, 455/507, 455/556, 455/557, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 340/7.52, 340/7.31, 340/7.35, 340/286.14, 340/425.5, 340/426.1, 340/438, 340/457, 340/825.72, 340/825.52, 340/426.28, 340/426.29, 340/539.16, 340/998, 340/539.1, 340/539.24, 340/853.2, 701/24, 701/29, 701/36, 701/30, 701/32
• US Class Current: 455/99
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/137 the indicator being in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1845 broadcast or multicast in a specific location, e.g. geocast protocols for adapting network applications to user terminal location H04L67/52; services specially adapted for wireless communication networks making use of the location of users or terminals H04W4/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 : for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]

Abstract

In an automobile, communications to and from the automobile are in the form of messages. Such messages are referred to as “electronic car-mail” or “C-mail” messages as each message has a destination or origination address which includes an identifier, e.g., a vehicle identification number (VIN), identifying the automobile. The messages may be delivered to the automobile from a remote server through a communications network, e.g., the Internet. One such message may contain a recall notice to the automobile. Another message may contain just-in-time map information for navigation, depending on the current location of the automobile. Yet another message may contain advertising information concerning selected entities, e.g., restaurants, gas stations, department stores, etc., also depending on the current location of the automobile. The messages transmitted from the automobile to the remote server may contain, e.g., GPS information identifying the location of the automobile, dynamic data furnished by sensors in the automobile for analysis, an odometer reading and a speedometer reading for records, etc.

Claims

1. A method for use in a system for collecting data from vehicles, comprising:

receiving at least one data message from a vehicle over a communications network, the at least one data message from the vehicle being formatted to include at least a measure generated by a device in the vehicle, information for identifying the vehicle, and mileage of the vehicle;

determining, from the information, a type of the vehicle; and

providing at least selected data concerning the measure, and the mileage of the vehicle associated therewith for an analysis concerning the type of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the measure is indicative of a condition of a battery in the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the measure is indicative of a condition of a tire of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the measure is indicative of a condition of a brake of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the measure is indicative of a condition of an air-bag in the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the measure is indicative of a condition of a restraint device in the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the measure is indicative of a condition of an engine of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the device includes a sensor.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the type of the vehicle includes at least a vehicle model.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the type of the vehicle includes at least a vehicle year.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the type of the vehicle includes at least a vehicle manufacturer.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the information includes at least part of a vehicle identification number (VIN).

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected data is provided to an original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the analysis relates to a warranty of a vehicle component for the type of the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the mileage is provided by an odometer of the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the communications network includes at least part of the Internet.

17. A system for collecting data from vehicles, comprising:

an interface for receiving at least one data message from a vehicle over a communications network, the at least one data message from the vehicle being formatted to include at least a measure generated by a device in the vehicle, information for identifying the vehicle, and mileage of the vehicle;

a processing element configured for determining, from the information, a type of the vehicle; and

a mechanism for providing at least selected data concerning the measure, and the mileage of the vehicle associated therewith for an analysis concerning the type of the vehicle.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the measure is indicative of a condition of a battery in the vehicle.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the measure is indicative of a condition of a tire of the vehicle.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the measure is indicative of a condition of a brake of the vehicle.

21. The system of claim 17 wherein the measure is indicative of a condition of an air-bag in the vehicle.

22. The system of claim 17 wherein the measure is indicative of a condition of a restraint device in the vehicle.

23. The system of claim 17 wherein the measure is indicative of a condition of an engine of the vehicle.

24. The system of claim 17 wherein the device includes a sensor.

25. The system of claim 17 wherein the type of the vehicle includes at least a vehicle model.

26. The system of claim 17 wherein the type of the vehicle includes at least a vehicle year.

27. The system of claim 17 wherein the type of the vehicle includes at least a vehicle manufacturer.

28. The system of claim 17 wherein the information includes at least part of a VIN.

29. The system of claim 17 wherein the selected data is provided to an OEM.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the analysis relates to a warranty of a vehicle component for the type of the vehicle.

31. The system of claim 17 wherein the mileage is provided by an odometer of the vehicle.

32. The system of claim 17 wherein the communications network includes at least part of the Internet.