Remote vehicle diagnostic system

• US 20030095038A1
• Filed: 10/05/2001
• Published: 05/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue Leaf IP Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.), CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Case Corporation (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Dix, Peter J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,677,854 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00984 fob
• 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 for determining whether vehicle servicing or maintenance is required is disclosed. Vehicle information is downloaded to a remote maintenance computer via a wireless link. The information includes sensor data such as temperatures and pressures of fluid in the vehicle. The remote computer analyzes this information and determines what, if any maintenance is required. Once the maintenance is determined, the maintenance computer determines who should perform the maintenance, what supplies are required and when and where the maintenance should occur. The system is configured to schedule such maintenance for several different vehicles based on the information it has downloaded from those vehicles. the type of maintenance needed to determine the maintenance personnel, the parts and supplies, and the maintenance sites are available. As each vehicle is scheduled, a scheduling record is made of the type of maintenance needed, as well as the required maintenance personnel, the parts and supplies, the maintenance site and the time at which the maintenance will be performed. Scheduling of each subsequent vehicle will include checking previous scheduling records for maintenance personnel availability, maintenance parts and supplies availability, and maintenance site availability in order to prevent scheduling “collisions”.

Claims

1. A method for determining whether vehicle maintenance is required, comprising the following steps:

storing a plurality of values indicative of a vehicle'"'"'s operational status in an electronic memory of the vehicle;

transmitting the plurality of values over at least one wireless communications link to a remote maintenance computer;

analyzing the plurality of values in the remote maintenance computer to determine if maintenance is appropriate;

transmitting data indicative of the need for maintenance to the vehicle over the wireless link to the vehicle; and

displaying a message indicative of the required maintenance on an operator'"'"'s display in the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying a message includes the step of displaying a message directing the operator to suspend operation of at least one vehicle system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of values includes values indicative of an engine operating condition.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the engine operating conditions include an engine temperature or a pressure.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the engine operating conditions include an elapsed time of engine operation.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of transmitting the plurality of values includes the step of substantially simultaneously transmitting a vehicle location.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of storing a plurality of values is preceded by the step of periodically monitoring electronic sensors on the vehicle that generate signals indicative of fluid temperatures or pressures.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of transmitting the plurality of values includes the step of transmitting the plurality of values to a transponder and storing them in the transponder.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of transmitting the plurality of values to a transponder and storing them is followed by the steps of:

moving the transponder out of radio contact with a transceiver on the vehicle;

moving the transponder into radio contact with the remote maintenance computer; and

downloading the plurality of values to the remote maintenance computer.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

scheduling the determined maintenance.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of scheduling the determined maintenance includes the steps of:

determining an appropriate time for the determined maintenance;

determining the supplies required for the maintenance; and

determining the required maintenance personnel to perform the maintenance.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of scheduling the determined maintenance includes the step of:

electronically contacting the required maintenance personnel.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of electronically contacting the personnel includes the step of:

electronically indicating a time for the maintenance to be performed.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of values are transmitted automatically by an electronic controller on the vehicle.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the data indicative of a need for maintenance are transmitted automatically by a remote diagnostics computer.

14. A method for scheduling a plurality of vehicles for maintenance, comprising the steps of:

a. storing a first plurality of values indicative of a first vehicle'"'"'s operational status in an electronic memory of the first vehicle;

b. transmitting the first plurality of values over at least one wireless communications link to a remote maintenance computer;

c. analyzing the first plurality of values in the remote maintenance computer to determine if maintenance is appropriate;

d. storing a second plurality of values indicative of a second vehicle'"'"'s operational status in an electronic memory of the second vehicle;

e. transmitting the second plurality of values over at least one wireless communications link to the remote maintenance computer;

f. analyzing the second plurality of values in the remote maintenance computer to determine if maintenance is appropriate;

g. electronically scheduling a first determined maintenance of the first vehicle; and

h. electronically scheduling a second determined maintenance for the second vehicle based upon the first determined maintenance of the first vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of electronically scheduling the first determined maintenance includes the step of electronically assigning a first maintenance person to perform the first determined maintenance.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of electronically determining the first determined maintenance includes the step of electronically allocating a first maintenance time for the first determined maintenance.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of electronically determining the first determined maintenance includes the step of electronically allocating first maintenance supplies required for the first determined maintenance.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of electronically determining the first determined maintenance includes the step of electronically reserving a first maintenance site for the first determined maintenance to be performed.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of electronically scheduling the second determined maintenance includes the step of electronically preventing the second determined maintenance from occurring at the first maintenance time with the first maintenance person.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of electronically scheduling the second determined maintenance includes the step of electronically preventing the allocation of first maintenance supplies for the second determined maintenance.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of electronically scheduling the second determined maintenance includes the step of preventing the second determined maintenance from using a maintenance site previously electronically scheduled to be used for the first determined maintenance based at least partially on the previous allocation of that site for the first determined maintenance

24. A method for determining whether vehicle maintenance is required, comprising the following steps:

storing a plurality of values indicative of a vehicle'"'"'s operational status in an electronic memory of the vehicle;

transmitting the plurality of values over at least one wireless communications link to a remote maintenance computer;

analyzing the plurality of values in the remote maintenance computer to determine if maintenance is appropriate;

transmitting data indicative of the need for maintenance to a computer over the Internet; and

providing the transmitted data to a repair technician.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the transmitted data includes data indicative of the vehicle.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the transmitted data includes data indicative of the vehicle'"'"'s location.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the transmitted data includes data indicative of a component to be replaced or repaired.

28. The method of claim 25, further including the steps of:

transmitting repair history information of the vehicle to the remote maintenance computer indicative of an actual repair performed in association with the data indicative of the vehicle; and

storing the repair history information in the remote maintenance computer in association with the data indicative of the vehicle.

29. A system that provides for the diagnosis of vehicle problems at a location remote from a vehicle, comprising:

at least one electronic controller mounted on the vehicle and coupled to a plurality of sensors disposed to sense a plurality of vehicle operational parameters including a fluid temperature and a fluid pressure, the at least one controller further including a telecommunications circuit configured to wirelessly transmit data provided by the plurality of sensors that is indicative of the plurality of vehicle operational parameters;

a remote maintenance computer including at least one data structure having plurality of maintenance rules associated with specific values of the vehicle operational parameters, wherein the computer is configured to receive the data provided by the sensors and to electronically determine at least one maintenance procedure based upon the data provided by the sensors; and

a technician computer coupled to the remote maintenance computer over the Internet and configured to receive data indicative of the at least one maintenance procedure from the remote maintenance.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the technician computer is further configured to receive data indicative of an actual maintenance procedure performed by a technician on the vehicle and to transmit data indicative of the actual maintenance procedure to the remote maintenance computer over the Internet.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the remote maintenance computer is configured to receive the data indicative of the actual maintenance procedure performed on the vehicle and to store the actual maintenance procedure on the remote maintenance computer in association with data indicative of the vehicle.