Visual diagnostic system and subscription service

• US 7,912,602 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Sells, Scott Matthew, Greene, James Lester
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen; Shelley
• Application Number:
  US11/819,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20090005928A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,362 Days
• Field of Search: 701/33
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means

Abstract

A visual diagnostic system is disclosed. The visual diagnostic system has a sensor located onboard a machine to generate a signal indicative of a status of a machine component, and a user interface associated with the machine to receive input from and provide information to a user. The visual diagnostic system also has a controller in communication with the sensor and the user interface. The controller is configured display on the user interface a model containing the machine component in response to the signal.

Claims

1. A visual diagnostic system for providing a diagnostic service for a machine, comprising:

a sensor located onboard the machine and configured to generate a signal indicative a status of a machine component;

a display device associated with the machine; and

a controller in communication with the sensor and the display device, wherein the controller is configured to;

responsive to the status signal, determine whether a customer associated with the machine has a subscription under the diagnostic service to access computer-aided design (CAD) models of components of the machine;

when it is determined the customer has a subscription, access at least one CAD model associated with the component and stored in a component model database;

render a view of at least the component based on the accessed at least one model; and

display on the display device the rendered view of at least the component.

2. The visual diagnostic system of claim 1, further comprising a user input device configured to receive input from a user of the visual diagnostic system, wherein the controller is further configured to:

display on the display device a user interface allowing selection of a plurality of different hierarchical component levels of the machine that include the component;

receive, by way of the user input device, a selection by the user of a desired component level of the machine;

identify components of the machine included within the selected level;

render a view of the identified components based on the accessed at least one model; and

display, on the display device, the rendered view of the identified components.

3. The visual diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the status includes a failure of the component.

4. The visual diagnostic system of claim 3, further comprising a user input device configured to receive input from a user of the visual diagnostic system, wherein the controller is further configured to:

display a warning on the display device indicating that the component has failed, based on the status;

prompt, by way of the display device, the user to order a replacement for the component; and

receive, by way of the user input device, user input indicating that the replacement be ordered.

5. The visual diagnostic system of claim 4, further including an off-board system in communication with the controller, wherein the controller is further configured to:

identify a dealer local to the machine that can supply the replacement; and

communicate to the off-board system an order for the replacement from the local dealer.

6. The visual diagnostic system of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to:

prompt, by way of the display device, the user to order a recommended accessory associated with the replacement; and

receive, by way of the user input device, input indicating that the recommended accessory be ordered.

7. The visual diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the accessed at least one model comprises an encrypted JT CAD data format file containing information about the machine.

8. The visual diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the accessed at least one model is stripped of at least dimensional information of the component.

9. A computer-implemented method for providing a visual diagnostic service for a machine, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of a status of a component of the machine;

responsive to the status indication, determining whether a customer associated with the machine has a subscription under the diagnostic service to access CAD models associated with components of the machine;

when it is determined that the customer has a subscription to the diagnostic service, receiving access to at least one CAD model associated with the component and stored in a model database;

rendering a view of at least the component based on the accessed at least one model; and

displaying the view of at least the component on a display device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

displaying, on the display device, a user interface allowing selection of different hierarchical component levels of the machine that include the component;

receiving input from a user of the visual diagnostic service selecting of a desired hierarchical component level of the machine;

identifying components of the machine included within the selected hierarchical component level;

rendering a view of the identified components based on the accessed at least one model; and

displaying, on the display device, the rendered view of the identified components.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the status indicates a failure of the component.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

displaying a warning on the display device indicating that the component has failed;

prompting the user to order a replacement for the component; and

receiving input from the user indicating that the replacement be ordered.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

identifying a dealer local to the machine that can supply the replacement; and

communicating an order for the replacement from the local dealer.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the accessed at least one model comprises an encrypted JT CAD data format file containing information about the component.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the accessed at least one model is stripped of at least dimensional information of the component.