VISUAL DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM AND SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE

• US 20110137755A1
• Filed: 02/15/2011
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Sells, Scott Matthew, Greene, James Lester
• Granted Patent: US 8,082,076 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27.1
• 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

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. A method of visually identifying a failed component, comprising:

detecting a status of a machine component; and

displaying a model containing the machine component in response to the detected status.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein displaying includes:

requesting access to a media asset containing data about the machine;

determining if the machine has a subscription to access the media asset;

receiving access to the media asset only if it is determined that the machine has a subscription to access the media asset; and

rendering a model containing the machine component based on the received access.

11. The method of claim 9, further including:

displaying a plurality of user-selectable entries each corresponding to a different hierarchical assembly that contains the machine component;

receiving a selection of the plurality of user-selectable entries; and

displaying a model corresponding to the selection of the plurality of user-selectable entries.

12. The method of claim 9, further including:

displaying a warning that the component has failed based on the detected status;

prompting a user to order a replacement for the machine component; and

receiving input indicating whether the replacement should be ordered.

13. The method of claim 12, further including prompting the user to order a recommended accessory associated with the replacement.

14. The method of claim 12, further including:

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

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

15. A machine, comprising:

a power source configured to power machine operations;

a tool operatively coupled to receive power from the power source;

a traction device operatively coupled to receive power from the power source and to propel the machine;

a sensor to generate a signal indicative of a status of a component of at least one of the power source, tool, and the traction device;

a user interface to receive input from and provide information to an operator of the machine; and

a controller in communication with the sensor, the locating device, and the user interface, wherein the controller is configured display on the user interface a model containing the component in response to the signal.

16. The machine of claim 15, wherein displaying includes:

requesting access to a media asset containing data about the machine;

determining if the machine has a subscription to access the media asset;

receiving access to the media asset only if it is determined that the machine has a subscription to access the media asset; and

rendering the model containing the machine component based on the received access.

17. The machine of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to:

display on the user interface a plurality of user-selectable entries each corresponding to a different hierarchical assembly that includes the machine component;

receive by way of the user interface a selection the plurality of user-selectable entries; and

display on the user interface a model corresponding to the selection of the plurality of user-selectable entries.

18. The machine of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to:

display a warning on the user interface that the machine component has failed based on the status;

prompt a user by way of the user interface to order a replacement for the machine component; and

receive by way of the user interface input from the user indicating whether the replacement should be ordered.

19. The machine of claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to:

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

communicate to an off-board system an order for the replacement from the local dealer.

20. The machine of claim 16, wherein the media asset comprises an encrypted JT CAD data format file containing information about the machine.

21. A computer-implemented method for providing a visual diagnostic service for a machine, the method comprising:

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; 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 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.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the accessed at least one file comprises an encrypted JT CAD data format file containing information about the at least one component.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the file is stripped of at least dimensional information of the at least one component.

24. The method of claim 21, further including detecting a status of the at least one component 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.

25. The method of claim 24, 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.

26. The method of claim 25, further including prompting the user to order a recommended accessory associated with the replacement.

27. The method of claim 21, 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.

28. The method of claim 21, 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.