Vehicle diagnostic or prognostic message transmission systems and methods

• US 8,036,788 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2007
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Breed, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US11/836,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20080147265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,524 Days
• Field of Search: 701 29- 36, 702182-185, 702/188
• US Class Current: 701/30
• 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

Abstract

System and method for monitoring the condition of a vehicle includes a communications unit arranged to interface with a wireless communications network, at least one sensor for monitoring at least one component or subsystem of the vehicle and which is coupled to the communications unit, and a remote site connected to the wireless communications network and arranged to receive diagnostic or prognostic messages from the vehicle with the transmission initiated therefrom. A diagnostic module may be provided, included or coupled to the sensor(s) and directs the communications unit to transmit a message to the remote site upon determining an actual and/or potential failure of a component or subsystem.

Claims

1. A method for providing status data for vehicle maintenance, comprising:

monitoring for a triggering event on a vehicle having a wireless communications unit, the triggering event relating to a diagnostic or prognostic analysis of at least one of a plurality of different components or subsystems of the vehicle; and

initiating a wireless transmission between the communications unit and a remote site separate and apart from the vehicle in response to the triggering event, the transmission including a diagnostic or prognostic message about the at least one component or subsystem.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote site is a dealer of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the triggering event is a failure, predicted failure or fault code generation of the at least one component or subsystem.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of monitoring for the triggering event comprises providing at least one sensor that monitors the at least one component or subsystem.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one sensor is part of a diagnostic module on the vehicle, further comprising configuring the diagnostic module to analyze data obtained by the at least one sensor in order to diagnose operability of the at least one component of subsystem and generate the triggering event based on diagnostic criteria.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one sensor is part of a diagnostic module on the vehicle, further comprising configuring the diagnostic module to analyze data obtained by the at least one sensor in order to predict failure of the at least one component of subsystem and generate the triggering event based on prognostic criteria.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one sensor is part of a diagnostic module on the vehicle, further comprising:

arranging the diagnostic module and the communications unit on the vehicle; and

wirelessly coupling the diagnostic module on the vehicle to the communications unit on the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of monitoring for the triggering event comprises providing a plurality of different sensors that monitor the at least one component or subsystem.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote site is a manufacturer of the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote site is a repair or service facility for the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing, in a data storage unit, diagnostic and prognostic messages about the at least one component or subsystem from a plurality of vehicles for further analysis.

4. A system for providing status data for vehicle maintenance, comprising:

a diagnostic module including at least one sensor for monitoring a plurality of different components or subsystems of the vehicle, said diagnostic module being arranged to analyze monitoring data provided by said at least one sensor and detect a triggering event relating to a diagnostic or prognostic analysis of at least one of the plurality of different components or subsystems of the vehicle; and

a wireless communications unit arranged to interface with a wireless communications network, said communications unit being coupled to said diagnostic module and initiating a wireless transmission between said communications unit and a remote site separate and apart from the vehicle in response to the triggering event, the transmission including a diagnostic or prognostic message about the at least one component or subsystem.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the remote site is a dealer of the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the triggering event is a failure, predicted failure or fault code generation of the at least one component or subsystem.

15. The system of claim 4, wherein said diagnostic module is arranged to analyze monitoring data provided by said at least one sensor and detect the triggering event relating to predictive, prognostic analysis of the at least one component or subsystem of the vehicle.

16. The system of claim 4, wherein said diagnostic module is arranged to analyze monitoring data provided by said at least one sensor and detect the triggering event relating to diagnostic analysis of the at least one component or subsystem of the vehicle.

17. The system of claim 4, wherein said diagnostic module and said communications unit are arranged on the vehicle, and wherein said diagnostic module is wireless coupled to said communications unit.

18. The system of claim 4, wherein said diagnostic module comprises a plurality of different, sensors.

19. The system of claim 4, wherein the remote site is a manufacturer of the vehicle.

20. The system of claim 4, wherein the remote site is a repair or service facility for the vehicle.

21. The system of claim 4, further comprising a data storage unit that stores the diagnostic and prognostic messages about the at least one component or subsystem from a plurality of vehicles for further analysis.