METHOD FOR PERFORMING DIAGNOSTICS OR SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20120041638A1
• Filed: 09/10/2010
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Johnson, Michael R., Colavita, Daniel, Pullen, Tammy R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,751,100 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0739 in a data processing system embedded in automotive or aircraft systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0757 by exceeding a time limit, i.e. time-out, e.g. watchdogs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0793 Remedial or corrective actions recovery from an exception in an instruction pipeline G06F9/3861; by retry G06F11/1402; for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity H04L69/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3003 Monitoring arrangements specially adapted to the computing system or computing system component being monitored
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3013 where the computing system is an embedded system, i.e. a combination of hardware and software dedicated to perform a certain function in mobile devices, printers, automotive or aircraft systems testing or monitoring of control systems or parts thereof G05B23/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3409 for performance assessment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3466 Performance evaluation by tracing or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/81 Threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/865 Monitoring of software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/88 Monitoring involving counting
• 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 performing diagnostics or software maintenance on a vehicle comprises storing components of configuration files in a central processing system. An update of the configuration files is requested for the vehicle from a central electronic data processing system based on a user request. The requested update of components of configuration files are received from the central electronic data processing system based on a comparison of a record of the vehicle-installed configuration files and target configuration information on configuration files stored at the central electronic data processing system.

Claims

1. A method of performing diagnostics or software maintenance on a vehicle, the method comprising:

storing components of configuration files in a central processing system, the components of configuration files support electronic communication of the same components over local diagnostic computer and a central electronic data processing system;

requesting an update of the stored configuration files for the vehicle from a central electronic data processing system based on a user request; and

receiving the requested components of configuration files from the central electronic data processing system based on a comparison of a record of the vehicle-installed configuration files and the target configuration information, on configuration files, stored at the central electronic data processing system.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the configuration files comprise a target list of software for loading on the vehicle, the target list associated with a corresponding valid time period.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the configuration files comprise an as-loaded list of software that is loaded on the vehicle in accordance with archived records of the central electronic data processing system.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the receiving at vehicle electronics from the central data processing system is accomplished via a communications network and wireless infrastructure, wherein the wireless infrastructure is selected from a group of communications systems comprising a land-based wireless system and a satellite system.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein prior to the receiving the method further comprises:

verifying the vehicle-installed configuration files by sending a software status inquiry message from the central data processing system to one or more controllers associated with the vehicle electronics.

6. A method of performing diagnostics or software maintenance on a vehicle, the method comprising:

storing software components for vehicle electronics in a central data processing system;

generating a common payload from the stored software components, compatible with the remote and local connection to vehicle electronics in response to a request to update software on the vehicle electronics;

receiving the generated common payload from the central data processing system; and

installing the received, generated common payload in the vehicle electronics.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising:

using common payload processing software at the central data processing system and a local diagnostic computer, where the central data processing system facilitates remote programming of the vehicle electronics via a communications network and wireless infrastructure, and wherein the local diagnostic computer facilitates local programming of the vehicle electronics via wireline or short-range wireless connection to a data port of the vehicle electronics.

8. The method according to claim 6 further comprising:

using common payload processing software at the central data processing system to reprogram an engine controller and non-engine controller substantially simultaneously.

9. The method according to claim 6 further comprising:

using common payload processing software at the central data processing system to reprogram a first controller that is functioning properly and to ignore a second controller that is malfunctioning.

10. The method according to claim 6 further comprising:

installing the generated common payload in a manner that allows the central data processing system to revert the vehicle electronics to a previous programming state, upon a request generated by a technician or user from a first service technician terminal, the second service technician terminal, or a user interface of the vehicle electronics.

11. The method according to claim 6 comprising:

displaying a status of the programming the common payload or a patch to a user via a user interface.

12. The method according to claim 11 further comprising:

allowing a user to control progress of the programming of the vehicle with the common payload or patch.