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

• US 7,447,770 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• 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:
  US11/544,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20070027951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 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:

using a sensor disposed in a motor vehicle to measure a condition of a component of the motor vehicle;

storing information generated by the sensor locally in the motor vehicle;

transmitting the information from the motor vehicle to a first computer at a central service center via a network, the first computer being configured to maintain a service history for the motor vehicle;

analyzing, with at least one processor at the first computer, the information from the motor vehicle to automatically identify a problem or abnormal condition of the motor vehicle;

analyzing, with the at least one processor at the first computer, the service history to automatically identify one of a manufacturer, a service depot, and a dealer;

transmitting a maintenance request and the service history from the first computer to a second computer of the one of the manufacturer, the service depot, and the dealer through the network;

sending a network communication from the second computer of one of the manufacturer, the service depot, and the dealer to a user of the motor vehicle, based on the information stored in the motor vehicle that has been transmitted to the first computer,

wherein the condition of the component of the motor vehicle includes an event in the motor vehicle which is an interaction between the user of the motor vehicle and the motor vehicle;

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;

determining a sequence of use for a plurality of subcomponents of the motor vehicle;

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

transmitting the cumulative number of uses of the subcomponent and the sequence of use from the motor vehicle to the first computer.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the sending comprises:

sending an Internet email as the network communication.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the sending comprises:

sending the email which includes a service request.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the sending comprises:

sending the email to the motor vehicle.

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein the sending comprises:

sending the email by the manufacturer.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein the sending comprises:

sending the email by at least one of the service depot and the dealer.

7. A method according to claim 2, wherein the transmitting the information comprises:

transmitting at least one of temperature information, a voltage;

battery status;

oil pressure;

fuel information;

mileage;

position information; and

motor vehicle identification information.

8. A method according to claim 2, wherein the sending comprises sending based on information related to oil of the motor vehicle.

9. A method according to claim 2, wherein the transmitting the information comprises:

transmitting periodically.

10. A method according to claim 2, wherein the transmitting the information comprises:

transmitting periodically.

11. A method according to claim 2, wherein the transmitting the information comprises:

transmitting based on a predetermined amount of operation of the motor vehicle.

12. A method according to claim 2, wherein the transmitting the information comprises:

transmitting in response to an occurrence of a potential breakdown event.

13. A method according to claim 2, wherein the transmitting the information comprises:

transmitting based on an operation state of the motor vehicle.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the transmitting the information comprises:

transmitting based on an operation state of the motor vehicle, which is when the motor vehicle is turned off.

15. A system, comprising:

means for measuring a condition of a component of a motor vehicle, said means for measuring being disposed in the motor vehicle;

means for storing information generated by the sensor locally in the motor vehicle;

means for transmitting the information from the motor vehicle to a first computer at a central service center via a network, the first computer being configured to maintain a service history for the motor vehicle,

means for analyzing, with at least one processor at the first computer, transmitted information received from the motor vehicle to automatically identify a problem or abnormal condition of the motor vehicle;

means for analyzing, with the at least one processor at the first computer, the service history to automatically identify one of a manufacturer, a service depot, and a dealer;

means for transmitting a maintenance request and the service history from the first computer to a second computer of the one of the manufacturer, the service depot, and the dealer through the network;

means for sending a network communication from the second computer of one of the manufacturer, the service depot, and the dealer to a user of the motor vehicle, based on the information stored in the motor vehicle that has been transmitted to the first computer,

wherein the condition of the component of the motor vehicle includes an event in the motor vehicle which is an interaction between the user of the motor vehicle and the motor vehicle;

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;

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

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

means for transmitting the cumulative number of uses of the subcomponent and the sequence of use from the motor vehicle to the first computer.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the means for sending comprises:

means for sending an Internet email as the network communication.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the means for sending comprises:

means for sending the email which includes a service request.

18. A system according to claim 16, wherein the means for sending comprises:

means for sending the email to the motor vehicle.

19. A system according to claim 16, wherein the means for sending comprises:

means for sending the email by the manufacturer.

20. A system according to claim 16, wherein the means for sending comprises:

means for sending the email by at least one of the service depot and the dealer.

21. A system according to claim 16, wherein the means for transmitting the information comprises:

means for transmitting at least one of temperature information;

a voltage;

battery status;

oil pressure;

fuel information;

mileage;

position information; and

motor vehicle identification information.

22. A system according to claim 16, wherein the means for sending comprises means for sending based on information related to oil of the motor vehicle.

23. A system according to claim 16, wherein the means for transmitting the information comprises:

means for transmitting periodically.

24. A system according to claim 16, wherein the means for transmitting the information comprises:

means for transmitting aperiodically.

25. A system according to claim 16, wherein the means for transmitting the information comprises:

means for transmitting based on a predetermined amount of operation of the motor vehicle.

26. A system according to claim 16, wherein the means for transmitting the information comprises:

means for transmitting in response to an occurrence of a potential breakdown event.

27. A system according to claim 16, wherein the means for transmitting the information comprises:

means for transmitting based on an operation state of the motor vehicle.

28. A system according to claim 27, wherein the means for transmitting the information comprises:

means for transmitting based on an operation state of the motor vehicle, which is when the motor vehicle is turned off.

29. A system according to claim 16, wherein the motor vehicle is an automobile.

30. A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to implement a method comprising:

using a sensor disposed in a motor vehicle to measure a condition of a component of the motor vehicle;

storing information generated by the sensor locally in the motor vehicle;

transmitting the information from the motor vehicle to a first computer at a central service center via a network, the first computer being configured to maintain a service history for the motor vehicle;

analyzing, with at least one processor at the first computer, the information from the motor vehicle to automatically identify a problem or abnormal condition of the motor vehicle;

analyzing, with the at least one processor at the first computer, the service history to automatically identify one of a manufacturer, a service depot, and a dealer;

transmitting a maintenance request and the service history from the first computer to a second computer of the one of the manufacturer, the service depot, and the dealer through the network;

sending a network communication from the second computer of one of the manufacturer, the service depot, and the dealer to a user of the motor vehicle, based on the information stored in the motor vehicle that has been transmitted to the first computer,

wherein the condition of the component of the motor vehicle includes an event in the motor vehicle which is an interaction between the user of the motor vehicle and the motor vehicle;

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;

determining a sequence of use for a plurality of subcomponents of the motor vehicle;

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

transmitting the cumulative number of uses of the subcomponent and the sequence of use from the motor vehicle to the first computer.