Telematic service system and method

• US 7,359,774 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2005
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Grenn, Daniel P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Dalena
• Application Number:
  US11/054,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20060190148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/30, 701/31, 701/34, 701/33, 701/35, 340/438, 340/439, 340/457.4, 340/459, 340/539.1, 340/539.24, 340/426.24, 602/76, 602/77, 602/85
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

A method and apparatus for servicing a vehicle component that includes contacting a remote service center through a telematic module. The method and apparatus also includes diagnosing remotely a vehicle issue and servicing remotely said vehicle issue. Remotely servicing the vehicle saves cost and time when compared to bringing the vehicle to a vehicle service facility.

Claims

1. A method of remotely servicing a vehicle component, comprising:

contacting a remote service center through a telematic module on a vehicle;

diagnosing remotely a vehicle issue; and

servicing remotely said vehicle issue by actuation of a vehicle component based on communication with said remote service center to service said vehicle issue.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising communicating with a driver.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising detecting a control module fault through the telematic module.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising creating a session log and transmitting said session log to said remote service center.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising setting a vehicle parameter to facilitate one of said diagnosing and servicing remotely said vehicle issue.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of setting said vehicle parameter includes one of setting an engine speed, selecting a transmission gear, adjusting a vehicle accessory and combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of servicing includes actuating a throttle body at a predetermined frequency and magnitude.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of servicing includes adjusting said predetermined frequency and magnitude at which said throttle body is actuated based on a previous remote service procedure.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of servicing includes actuating a engine gas recycling valve at a predetermined frequency and magnitude.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of servicing includes actuating a purge valve at a predetermined frequency and magnitude.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of servicing includes actuating a transmission solenoid at a predetermined frequency and magnitude.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of servicing includes cycling an interior indicator light.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of servicing includes heating a hot-wire airflow meter, wherein said heating is adapted to burn off debris, corrosion, containments and combinations thereof.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting a fuel system sensor to determine whether a fuel tank cap is missing.

15. A method of servicing a vehicle component by contacting a remote service center though a telematic module, comprising:

communicating a fault to the remote service center through the telematic module;

diagnosing remotely a vehicle issue based on said fault; and

executing a remote service procedure to remotely service said vehicle issue by activation or deactivation of a vehicle component based on communication with said remote service center to service said vehicle issue.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising diagnosing remotely a vehicle issue based on communication between the remote service center and a driver.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising creating a session log and transmitting said session log to the remote service center.

18. A control system that communicates with a remote service center to perform a remote service procedure, the control system comprising:

a telematic module that communicates with the remote service center to remotely diagnose a vehicle issue; and

a control module that executes a remote service procedure to service said vehicle issue based on communication with said remote service center through said telematic module;

wherein said control module continues to adjust at least one of magnitude, frequency, and sensitivity of a vehicle component until said vehicle issue is resolved.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said remote service center communicates with a vehicle user through said telematic module.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein said control module communicates faults to said remote service center through said telematic module.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein said control module creates a session log and transmits said session log to the remote service center.

22. The system of claim 18 wherein said control module sets a vehicle parameter to facilitate one of diagnosis and service of said vehicle issue.

23. The system of claim 18 wherein the remote service center communicates with said control module through said telematic module to set a vehicle parameter.

24. The system of claim 18 wherein the vehicle parameter includes one of setting an engine speed, selecting a transmission gear, adjusting a vehicle accessory and combinations thereof.

25. The system of claim 18 wherein the remote service center communicates with said control module through said telematic module to actuate at a predetermined frequency and magnitude one of a throttle body, an engine gas recycling valve, a purge valve, and combinations thereof.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the remote service center communicates with said control module through said telematic module to adjust said predetermined frequency and magnitude.

27. The system of claim 18 wherein the remote service center communicates with said control module through said telematic module to actuate a transmission solenoid at a predetermined frequency and magnitude.

28. The system of claim 18 wherein the remote service center communicates with said control module through said telematic module to cycle an interior indicator light.

29. The system of claim 18 wherein the remote service center communicates with said control module through said telematic module to service a hot-wire airflow meter, wherein said service includes heating that is adapted to burn off one of debris, corrosion, containments and combinations thereof.

30. The system of claim 18 wherein the remote service center communicates with said control module through said telematic module to adjust a fuel system sensor to determine whether a fuel tank cap is missing.