Method and system for acquiring integrated operational and support data for a vehicle

• US 8,258,936 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2008
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Mahalingaiah, Pradeep
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wang, Jack
• Application Number:
  US12/253,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20100097201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,418 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 701/29, 701/33
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for acquiring integrated operational data and support data regarding a vehicle. The apparatus comprising a network interface for communicating with the vehicle and a processor that is coupled to the network interface. The processor is configured to transmit a first request for operational data to the vehicle, receive the requested operational data from the vehicle, the requested operational data including at least one event indicator, and retrieve the support data that corresponds to a selected event indicator from a stored location.

Claims

1. A remote device for acquiring integrated operational data and support data regarding a vehicle, the remote device comprising:

a network interface configured to communicate with the vehicle; and

a processor, coupled to the network interface and configured to;

transmit a first request for operational data to the vehicle;

receive the requested operational data from the vehicle, the requested operational data including at least one selectable event indicator; and

retrieve the support data that corresponds to a selected event indicator.

2. The remote device of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a remote device interface configured to manage a connection between the vehicle and one or more remote devices and wherein the processor is further configured to transmit a connection request to the remote device interface prior to transmitting the first request, wherein the connection authorizes the remote device to receive the operational data from the vehicle.

3. The remote device of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to maintain a record of each connection between the remote device and the vehicle.

4. The remote device of claim 3, wherein the vehicle further comprises a maintenance system interface configured to transmit requested operational data to one or more authorized devices and the processor is further configured to:

transmit a request operational data to the maintenance system interface; and

receive the requested operational data from the maintenance system interface, if the remote device is currently authorized to receive the operational data.

5. The remote device of claim 4, wherein the support data comprises at least one electronic document that describes an operational issue associated with the selected event indicator.

6. The remote device of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to retrieve the support data from a remote server.

7. The remote device of claim 1, wherein a user of the remote device may request additional operational data from the vehicle based on the support data.

8. The remote device of claim 2, wherein the network interface comprises a wireless network interface configured to establish a wireless communication link with the vehicle.

9. The remote device of claim 3, wherein the processor is further configured to periodically transmit a first status message to the remote device interface, wherein the first status message identifies the connections between the remote device and the vehicle.

10. The remote device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

periodically receive a second status message from the remote device interface, the periodic status message describing each connection between the vehicle and one or more devices; and

analyze the second status message to determine if the remote device and the vehicle are currently connected.

11. A method for acquiring integrated operational data and support data for a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a remote device interface for managing a plurality of connections between the vehicle and at least one remote device, the method comprising:

requesting a connection with the remote device interface;

maintaining a record of each connection with the vehicle;

transmitting a first request for operational data to the vehicle; and

receiving the requested operational data from the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the vehicle further comprises a maintenance system interface for transmitting requested operational data to the at least one remote device;

and wherein

the step of transmitting the first request further comprises transmitting the first request for operational data to the maintenance system interface; and

the step of receiving the requested operational data further comprises receiving the requested operational data from the maintenance system interface.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the requested operational data comprises a selectable event indicator that is associated with an operational issue and the method further comprises:

retrieving the support data that corresponds to a selected event indicator from a stored location.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of retrieving further comprises retrieving support data that corresponds to a selected event indicator from a remote server.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting a second request for operational data to the remote device interface; and

receiving the requested operational data from the maintenance system interface.

16. A system configured to provide integrated operational data and support data regarding a vehicle to at least one remote device, the system comprising:

a network interface configured to communicate with the at least one remote device;

a remote device interface coupled to the network interface configured to;

manage connections between the vehicle and the at least one remote device,

receive a request for a connection from the at least one remote device;

determine when the vehicle is able to support the connection; and

a maintenance system interface coupled to the network interface and the remote device interface configured to transmit operational data to the at least one remote device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the remote device interface is further configured to:

authorize the at least one remote device to receive operational data from the maintenance system interface, when the vehicle is able to support the connection.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the remote device interface is further configured to maintain a remote device connection record describing each connection between the vehicle and each remote device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the maintenance system interface is further configured to:

receive a first request for operational data from the at least one remote device;

communicate with the remote device interface to determine if the at least one remote device is authorized to receive the requested operational data; and

transmit the requested operational data to the at least one remote device, if the at least one remote device is authorized.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the remote device interface is further configured to:

receive a second request for operational data from the at least one remote device;

determine if the at least one remote device is authorized to receive the requested operational data; and

direct the maintenance system interface to transmit the requested operational data to the at least one remote device, if the at least one remote device is authorized.