Method and system for diagnosing, collecting information and servicing a remote system

• US 7,349,964 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Issued: 03/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Motoyama, Tetsuro, Fong, Avery
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Quang N.
• Application Number:
  US11/544,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20070033267A1
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 709/224, 709/244, 709/246, 701/1, 701/29, 701/33, 340/988
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A monitoring system, method, and computer-program product tracks events and device states in a device and sends those events and states to a remote central service center using an Internet access module. The remote central service center monitors the received events and states for errors or warnings. The monitoring software (e.g., a dynamic link library) supports multiple data formats and multiple protocols to more effectively communicate the event and state information.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

obtaining and storing information of an event in a motor vehicle which is an interaction between a user and the motor vehicle, wherein the obtaining includes

monitoring the event as it occurs using sensors internal to the motor vehicle,

recording user ID information, a cumulative session identifier for the event, and a duration of the event corresponding to the session identifier,

determining a cumulative number of uses of a subcomponent of the motor vehicle that caused the event,

storing the cumulative number of uses of the subcomponent of the motor vehicle that caused the event in a storage device,

determining a sequence of use for a plurality of subcomponents of the motor vehicle, and

storing the sequence of use for the plurality of subcomponents of the motor vehicle in the storage device; and

transmitting the information of the event from the motor vehicle to a location which is remote from the motor vehicle to analyze the information of the event to identify a problem or an abnormal condition of the motor vehicle, wherein the information of the event includes the cumulative number of uses of the subcomponent of the motor vehicle that caused the event, the sequence of use for the plurality of subcomponents of the motor vehicle, the user ID information, the cumulative session identifier for the event, and the duration of the event corresponding to the session identifier.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the transmitting comprises transmitting the information to the manufacturer of motor vehicle.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the transmitting comprises transmitting the information to an organization which provides at least one of maintenance and service for the motor vehicle.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting comprises:

transmitting the information which includes event information relating to the use of at least one of;

power windows;

cruise control;

air conditioning;

power seats;

audio control;

actuating an accelerator input device; and

shifting of a transmission.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting further comprises:

transmitting position information.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting comprises:

transmitting the information of the event from the motor vehicle over the Internet.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the transmitting is performed periodically.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the transmitting is performed when an abnormal state is detected.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the obtaining and transmitting operate using information from an automobile.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the obtaining and transmitting operate using information from a motor vehicle from the group consisting of a train, an airplane, a motorcycle, and a boat.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting step further comprises:

transmitting a start time corresponding to the event.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting is performed when the motor vehicle turns off.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting is performed when a potential breakdown condition occurs in the motor vehicle.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting comprises:

transmitting using a wired connection.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting comprises:

transmitting using a wireless connection.

16. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the transmitted event information; and

storing the transmitted event information in a database.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the step of storing comprises:

storing the transmitted event information in a relational database.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the transmitted event information; and

storing the cumulative number of uses of the subcomponent, the sequence of use, the user ID information, the cumulative session identifier, and the duration of the event.

19. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a device configured to obtain and store information of an event in the motor vehicle which is an interaction between a user and the motor vehicle, wherein the device is further configured to

monitor the event as it occurs with sensors internal to the motor vehicle,

record user ID information, a cumulative session identifier for the event, and a duration of the event corresponding to the session identifier,

determine a cumulative number of uses of a subcomponent of the motor vehicle that caused the event,

store the cumulative number of uses of the subcomponent of the motor vehicle that caused in the event in a storage device,

determine a sequence of use for a plurality of subcomponents of the motor vehicle, and

store the sequence of events use for a plurality of subcomponents of the motor vehicle in the storage device; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the information of the event from the motor vehicle to a location which is remote from the motor vehicle to analyze the information of the event to identify a problem or an abnormal condition of the motor vehicle, wherein the information of the event includes the cumulative number of uses of the subcomponent of the motor vehicle that caused the event, the sequence of use for a plurality of subcomponents of the motor vehicle, the user ID information, the cumulative session identifier for the event and the duration of the event corresponding to the session identifier.

20. A motor vehicle according to claim 19, wherein:

the transmitter is configured to transmit the information to the manufacturer of motor vehicle.

21. A motor vehicle according to claim 19, wherein:

the transmitter is configured to transmit the information to an organization which provides at least one of maintenance and service for the motor vehicle.

22. A motor vehicle according to claim 19, wherein:

the device configured to obtain and store comprises obtaining and storing the information which includes the event information relating to the use of at least one of;

power windows;

cruise control;

air conditioning;

power seats;

audio control;

actuating an accelerator input device; and

shifting of the automobile.

23. A motor vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit position information.

24. A motor vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the event information from the motor vehicle over the Internet.

25. A motor vehicle according to claim 19, wherein:

the transmitter is configured to transmit the event information periodically.

26. A motor vehicle according to claim 19, wherein:

the transmitter is configured to transmit the event information when an abnormal state is detected.

27. A motor vehicle according to claim 19, wherein:

the motor vehicle is an automobile.

28. A motor vehicle according to claim 19, wherein:

the motor vehicle is from the group consisting of a train, an airplane, a motorcycle, and a boat.

29. A motor vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit a start time corresponding to the event.

30. A motor vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit when the motor vehicle turns off.

31. A motor vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the transmitter is configured to operate when a potential breakdown condition occurs in the motor vehicle.

32. A motor vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit over a wired connection.

33. A motor vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit over a wireless connection.

34. A system for use with the motor vehicle according to claim 19, further comprising:

a device configured to receive the transmitted event information; and

a device configured to store the transmitted event information in a database.

35. A system according to claim 34, wherein the device configured to store comprises:

a device configured to store the transmitted event information in a relational database.

36. A system for use with the motor vehicle according to claim 19, further comprising:

a device configured to receive the transmitted event information; and

a device configured to store the cumulative number of uses of the subcomponent, the sequence of use, the user ID information, the cumulative session identifier, and the duration of the event.

37. A motor vehicle, comprising:

means for obtaining and storing information of an event in the motor vehicle which is an interaction between a user and a motor vehicle, wherein the means for obtaining includes

means for monitoring the event as it occurs using sensors internal to the motor vehicle,

means for recording user ID information, a cumulative session identifier for the event, and a duration of the event corresponding to the session identifier,

means for determining a cumulative number of uses of a subcomponent of the motor vehicle that caused the event,

means for storing the cumulative number of uses of the subcomponent of the motor vehicle that caused the event in a storage device,

means for determining a sequence of use for a plurality of subcomponents of the motor vehicle, and

means for storing the sequence of use for the plurality of subcomponents of the motor vehicle in the storage device; and

means for transmitting the information of the event from the motor vehicle to a location which is remote from the motor vehicle to analyze the information of the event to identify a problem or an abnormal condition of the motor vehicle, wherein the information of the event includes the cumulative number of uses of the subcomponent of the motor vehicle that caused the event, the sequence of use for the plurality of subcomponents of the motor vehicle, the user ID information, the cumulative session identifier for the event, and the duration of the event corresponding to the session identifier.

38. A motor vehicle according to claim 37, wherein:

means for transmitting comprises means for transmitting the information to the manufacturer of motor vehicle.

39. A motor vehicle according to claim 37, wherein:

means for transmitting comprises means for transmitting the information to an organization which provides at least one of maintenance and service for the motor vehicle.

40. A motor vehicle according to claim 37, wherein:

the means for obtaining and storing comprises means for obtaining and storing the information which includes the event information relating to the use of at least one of;

power windows;

cruise control;

air conditioning;

power seats;

audio control;

actuating an accelerator input device; and

shifting of a transmission.

41. A motor vehicle according to claim 37, wherein the means for transmitting comprises means for transmitting position information.

42. A motor vehicle according to claim 37, wherein the means for transmitting comprises means for transmitting the event information from the motor vehicle over the Internet.

43. A motor vehicle according to claim 37, wherein:

the means for transmitting comprises means for transmitting the event information periodically.

44. A motor vehicle according to claim 37, wherein:

the means for transmitting comprises means for transmitting the event information when an abnormal state is detected.

45. A motor vehicle according to claim 37, wherein:

the motor vehicle is an automobile.

46. A motor vehicle according to claim 37, wherein:

the motor vehicle is from the group consisting of a train, an airplane, a motorcycle, and a boat.