System and method for managing a vehicle and a fleet of vehicles

• US 9,092,920 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2012
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rtx Corporation
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Scheid, Paul R., Beacham, William H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mawari, Redhwan K
• Application Number:
  US13/431,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20130261881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 701/33.4, 701/48, 701/1, 701/117, 701/29.1, 701/32.6, 701/33.8, 701/36, 701/409, 701/532, 701/93, 701/96, 714/E11.154, 714/14, 714/22, 714/47.2, 340/436, 340/901
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/21 Design, administration or maintenance of databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/40 Data acquisition and logging for input to computer G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/00 Methods or arrangements for processing data by operating upon the order or content of the data handled logic circuits H03K19/00
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A system and method for managing a vehicle is provided that includes at least one sensor, a certified processor, a database, a computer network, and a user portal. The at least one sensor is operable to generate data indicative of a critical condition of the vehicle. The certified processor in communication with the computer network and is operable to receive, process and store the data generated by the at least one sensor. The database is in communication with the computer network and is operable to selectively download and store a replica of the data stored on the certified processor via the computer network. The user portal is in communication with the computer network and is operable to enable a user to download, via the computer network, selected portions of the data stored on the certified processor or selected portions of the replica data stored on the database.

Claims

1. A system for managing a vehicle, comprising:

at least one sensor installed on the vehicle, wherein the at least one sensor is operable to generate data indicative of a critical condition of the vehicle, and wherein the data has a level of criticality;

a certified processor located on the vehicle and in communication with a computer network, wherein the certified processor is operable to perform a calculation on the data generated by the at least one sensor and is operable to generate calculation data indicative of the calculation, wherein the calculation data has the level of criticality of the data generated by the at least one sensor, and wherein the certified processor is operable to store the calculation data;

a database located remote from the vehicle and in communication with the computer network, wherein the database is operable to selectively download and store a replica of the calculation data stored on the certified processor via the computer network; and

a subsystem controller in communication with the certified processor and the at least one sensor, wherein the subsystem controller is operable to receive the data generated by the at least one sensor, and wherein the subsystem controller is operable to send the data generated by the at least one sensor to the certified processor.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user portal located remote from the vehicle and in communication with the computer network, wherein the user portal enables at least one of a plurality of users to download, via the computer network, selected portions of the calculation data stored on the certified processor or selected portions of the replica data stored on the database.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the user portal is operable to prevent at least one of the plurality of users from downloading selected portions of the calculation data or the replica data.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the user portal permits a first of the plurality of users to access a first selected portion of the calculation data or the replica data, wherein the user portal permits a second of the plurality of users to access a second selected portion of the calculation data or the replica data, and wherein the first selected portion is different from the second selected portion.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer network is one of a wired computer network or a wireless computer network.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the database is operable to store the replica data within a hierarchical directory of folders.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the certified processor is operable to execute software, wherein the software is Level A software as defined by Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics DO-178B specifications.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a microserver in communication with the certified processor and the database;

wherein the database is operable to selectively download and store the replica data via the computer network and the microserver; and

wherein the microserver is not operable generate calculation data having the level of criticality of the data generated by the at least one sensor.

9. A method of managing a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

using at least one sensor installed on the vehicle to generate data indicative of a critical condition of the vehicle, wherein the data has a level of criticality;

using a certified processor located on the vehicle to perform a calculation on the data generated by the at least one sensor, and to generate calculation data indicative of the calculation, wherein the calculation data has the level of criticality of the data generated by the at least one sensor, and wherein the data generated by the at least one sensor is communicated to the certified processor through a subsystem controller;

using the certified processor to store the calculation data;

selectively downloading and storing a replica of the calculation data stored on the certified processor to a database located remote from the vehicle, via a computer network; and

using a user portal located remote from the vehicle and in communication with the computer network to enable at least one of a plurality of users to download, via the computer network, selected portions of the calculation data stored on the certified processor or selected portions of the replica data stored on the database.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

analyzing the selected portions of the calculation data stored on the certified processor, or the selected portions of the replica data stored on the database, to determine whether a part of the vehicle requires repair or replacement.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

preventing at least one of the plurality of users from downloading portions of the data or the replica data.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

allowing a first of the plurality of users to access a first portion of the calculation data or the replica data and allowing a second of the plurality of users to access a second portion of the data or the replica data, wherein the first portion is different from the second portion.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the certified processor is operable to execute software, wherein the software is Level A software as defined by Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics DO-178B specifications.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the database is operable to store the replica data within a hierarchical directory of folders.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of selectively downloading and storing a replica of the calculation data stored on the certified processor to a database located remote from the vehicle is via the computer network and a microserver that is in communication with the certified processor and the database;

wherein the microserver is not operable to generate calculation data having the level of criticality of the data generated by the at least one sensor.