Visual diagnostic system and subscription service

• US 8,082,076 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2011
• Issued: 12/20/2011
• 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): Chen, Shelley
• Application Number:
  US13/027,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20110137755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 308 Days
• Field of Search: 701/33
• US Class Current: 701/31
• 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 computer-implemented method for providing a visual diagnostic service for a machine, the method comprising:

detecting a status of the at least one component of the machine;

identifying a customer associated with the machine;

determining whether the customer has a subscription to the diagnostic service to access electronic files containing computer-aided design (CAD) models of components of the machine, wherein the identification of the customer and the determination of whether the customer has a subscription are performed based on the detected status of the at least one component; and

when it is determined that the user has a subscription to the diagnostic service,

accessing at least one electronic file containing a CAD model of the at least one component of the machine;

rendering a view of the at least one component of the machine based on the accessed at least one electronic file; and

displaying the rendered view on a display device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the accessed at least one file comprises an encrypted JT CAD data format file containing information about the at least one component.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the file is stripped of at least dimensional information of the at least one component.

4. The method of claim 1, further including:

displaying a warning based on the detected status;

prompting a user to order a replacement for the at least one component;

receiving input from the user indicating that the replacement should be ordered;

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

communicating an order for a the replacement from the local dealer.

5. The method of claim 4, further including prompting the user to order a recommended accessory associated with the replacement.

6. The method of claim 1, further including:

displaying a user interface allowing a user of the visual diagnostic service to select among a plurality of component levels of the machine that include the identified component;

receiving, via the user interface, a selection by the user of a desired component level of the machine; and

identifying components of the machine within the selected component level,

wherein rendering a view of at least one component of the machine includes rendering a view of the identified components.

7. The method of claim 1, further including:

downloading the at least one electronic file to the machine over a network; and

storing the downloaded at least one electronic file in a memory devices on the machine.