Methods, devices, and mediums associated with managing vehicle maintenance activities

• US 8,886,392 B1
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Fund 79 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Fund 79 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Maeng, Joon
• Primary Examiner(s): Jabr, Fadey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Troost, Aaron L
• Application Number:
  US13/333,717
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 701/29, 701/29.4, 701/36, 701/33.8, 701/29.1, 701/29.3, 701/32.1, 701/33.4, 701/33.7, 701/33.9, 701/34.2, 340/438
• US Class Current: 701/29.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

A method, device, and/or medium associated with managing vehicle maintenance activities may include monitoring data associated with an operating condition of a particular vehicle and updating historic operational data associated with the particular vehicle based on the data associated with the operating condition of the particular vehicle. The updated historic operational data may be updated with a predetermined maintenance standard associated with a substantially similar type of vehicle and a maintenance recommendation may be generated based, at least in part, on a result of the comparing.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

monitoring, by a processing device, data associated with an operating condition of a particular vehicle;

updating, by the processing device, historic operational data associated with the particular vehicle based on the data associated with the operating condition of the particular vehicle;

displaying, by the processing device, information designating one or more vehicle systems associated with the operating condition;

receiving, by the processing device, a user selection of a vehicle system from the displayed information;

retrieving, by the processing device, operational data associated with a different vehicle from a database, wherein the different vehicle is substantially similar to the particular vehicle;

adjusting, by the processing device, the operational data associated with the different vehicle to account for differences in vehicle type between the particular vehicle and the different vehicle;

comparing, by the processing device, the updated historic operational data with a predetermined maintenance standard associated with the different vehicle;

revising the predetermined maintenance standard based, at least in part, on the adjusted operational data associated with the different vehicle;

determining, by the processing device, whether the operating condition indicates a deviation in operation of the selected vehicle system from the adjusted operational data associated with the different vehicle based, at least in part, on comparing the updated historic operational data with the predetermined maintenance standard; and

generating, by the processing device, a maintenance recommendation for the particular vehicle in response to determining the deviation in operation of the selected vehicle system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the processing device, an identification of the particular vehicle; and

retrieving the historic operational data based, at least in part, on the identification of the particular vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the identification of the particular vehicle comprises receiving the identification of the particular vehicle that is operatively coupled to the processing device through a wireless network.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the identification of the particular vehicle comprises receiving the identification of the particular vehicle that is operatively coupled to the processing device through a mobile communication network.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the predetermined maintenance standard based, at least in part, on the historic operational data prior to the historic operational data being updated with the operating condition.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising generating, by the processing device, an alert when the operating condition is inconsistent with an expected performance based on the predetermined maintenance standard.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the predetermined maintenance standard based on historic operational data associated with a population of similar type vehicles.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising generating, by the processing device, an alert when the operating condition is inconsistent with an expected performance based on the population of similar type vehicles.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the operating condition comprises a fuel efficiency of the particular vehicle, and wherein the fuel efficiency is less than the expected performance.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the differences in vehicle type comprise differences associated with at least one of a vehicle make or a vehicle model.

11. A non-transitory memory device having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a processing device, cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

monitoring data associated with an operating condition of a particular vehicle;

updating historic operational data associated with the particular vehicle based on the data associated with the operating condition of the particular vehicle;

displaying information designating one or more vehicle systems associated with the operating condition;

receiving a user selection of a vehicle system from the displayed information;

identifying a substantially similar vehicle to the particular vehicle in a database;

identifying differences in vehicle type between the particular vehicle and the substantially similar vehicle;

retrieving operational data associated with the substantially similar vehicle from the database;

adjusting the operational data associated with the substantially similar vehicle to account for the differences in the vehicle type between the particular vehicle and the substantially similar vehicle;

revising a predetermined maintenance standard associated with the substantially similar vehicle based, at least in part, on the adjusted operational data;

comparing the updated historic operational data with the revised predetermined maintenance standard;

determining whether the operating condition indicates a deviation in operation of the selected vehicle system from the adjusted operational data associated with the substantially similar vehicle based, at least in part, on comparing the updated historic operational data with the revised predetermined maintenance standard; and

generating a maintenance recommendation for the particular vehicle in response to determining the deviation in operation of the selected vehicle system.

12. The memory device of claim 11, wherein monitoring the data associated with the operating condition comprises receiving input from one or more vehicle sensors.

13. The memory device of claim 11, wherein monitoring the data associated with the operating condition comprises receiving a wireless communication from the particular vehicle.

14. The memory device of claim 11, wherein the operating condition comprises a battery status or a fuel efficiency associated with the particular vehicle.

15. The memory device of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise generating an alert when the data associated with the operating condition indicates a deviation from the revised predetermined maintenance standard.

16. The memory device of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise:

identifying a deviation between the updated historic operational data and the revised predetermined maintenance standard; and

generating an alert when the deviation from the revised predetermined maintenance standard exceeds a threshold.

17. The memory device of claim 11, wherein the data associated with the operating condition is received from a wireless transmitter located on the particular vehicle.

18. The memory device of claim 17, wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the data associated with the operating condition to the processing device via a mobile communication network.

19. The memory device of claim 17, wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the data associated with the operating condition to the processing device via a local area network.

20. The memory device of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise displaying a graphic chart configured to compare the updated historic operational data associated with the particular vehicle with the revised predetermined maintenance standard as a function of time.

21. The memory device of claim 11, wherein the differences in vehicle type further comprise differences associated with a year of manufacture.

22. The non-transitory memory device of claim 11, wherein the differences in vehicle type comprise differences associated with at least one of a vehicle make or a vehicle model.

23. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory device configured to store instructions; and

a processing device that, in response to executing the instructions stored in the memory device, is configured to;

monitor data associated with an operating condition of a particular vehicle;

update historic operational data associated with the particular vehicle based on the data associated with the operating condition of the particular vehicle;

display information designating one or more vehicle systems associated with the operating condition;

receive a user selection of a vehicle system from the displayed information;

retrieve operational data associated with a different vehicle from a database, wherein the different vehicle is substantially similar to the particular vehicle;

adjust the operational data associated with the different vehicle to account for differences in vehicle type between the particular vehicle and the different vehicle;

display information designating one or more vehicle systems associated with the operating condition;

compare the updated historic operational data with a predetermined maintenance standard associated with the different vehicle;

revise the predetermined maintenance standard based, at least in part, on the adjusted operational data associated with the different vehicle;

determine whether the operating condition indicates a deviation in operation of the selected vehicle system from the adjusted operational data associated with the different vehicle based, at least in part, on comparing the updated historic operational data with the predetermined maintenance standard; and

generate a maintenance recommendation for the particular vehicle in response to determining the deviation in operation of the selected vehicle system.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the processing device is further configured to:

receive a communication from the particular vehicle, wherein the communication comprises the data associated with the operating condition; and

identify the particular vehicle from the communication.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the particular vehicle is identified when the particular vehicle comes into a local proximity of a base station.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the communication is transmitted from the base station to the processing device, and wherein the processing device is associated with a centralized processing center.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the centralized processing center is configured to monitor operating conditions associated with a fleet of vehicles.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the apparatus comprises a web-portal operatively connected to the base station through a network, and wherein the processing device is further configured to transmit the maintenance recommendation from the web-portal to a mobile communication device or a personal computer.

29. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile communication device, and wherein the instructions comprise a software application that is installed on the mobile communication device.

30. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the processing device is further configured to generate an alert when the deviation indicates a vehicle malfunction.

31. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the predetermined maintenance standard is based, at least in part, on the historic operational data of the particular vehicle.

32. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the predetermined maintenance standard is associated with a population of similar type vehicles.

33. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the differences in vehicle type comprise differences associated with at least one of a vehicle make or a vehicle model.

34. An apparatus, comprising:

means for monitoring data associated with an operating condition of a particular vehicle;

means for updating historic operational data associated with the particular vehicle based on the data associated with the operating condition of the particular vehicle;

means for displaying information designating one or more vehicle systems associated with the operating condition;

means for receiving a user selection of a vehicle system from the displayed information;

means for retrieving operational data associated with a substantially similar type of vehicle, wherein the operational data associated with the substantially similar type of vehicle is adjusted to account for differences in vehicle type between the particular vehicle and the substantially similar type of vehicle, and wherein a predetermined maintenance standard is revised based, at least in part, on the adjusted operational data associated with the substantially similar type of vehicle; and

means for comparing the updated historic operational data with the predetermined maintenance standard associated with the substantially similar type of vehicle, wherein the means for comparing comprises;

means for determining whether the operating condition indicates a deviation in operation of the selected vehicle system from the adjusted operational data of the substantially similar type of vehicle based, at least in part, on comparing the updated historic operational data with the predetermined maintenance standard; and

means for generating a maintenance recommendation for the particular vehicle in response to determining the deviation in operation of the selected vehicle system.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising means for receiving a communication comprising the data associated with the operating condition when a vehicle ignition system is turned off.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the communication is received by a base station located in proximity to the particular vehicle.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising means for generating an alert when the data associated with the operating condition indicates a deviation from the predetermined maintenance standard.

38. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the means for monitoring comprises means for measuring the data associated with the operating condition while the particular vehicle is in operation.

39. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the data associated with the operating condition comprises a measured value of the selected vehicle system, wherein the measured value comprises one or more of a noise level, an operating temperature, a system pressure, an emission level, or a level of vibration.

40. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the adjusted operational data associated with the substantially similar type of vehicle excludes data which falls outside of an expected range of data values for the selected vehicle system.

41. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the means for displaying comprises means for displaying a graphic comparison of the updated historic operational data associated with the particular vehicle with the predetermined maintenance standard as a function of time, and wherein the predetermined maintenance standard provides a minimum acceptable level of performance associated with a normal operation of the selected vehicle system.

42. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the differences in vehicle type comprise differences associated with at least one of a vehicle make or a vehicle model.