Automated automobile maintenance using a centralized expert system

• US 8,600,831 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2010
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Xiao, Hong, Moshrefi, Afshin, Khushoo, Rahul, Wang, Dongchen
• Primary Examiner(s): Desai, Resha
• Application Number:
  US12/899,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20120089474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 705 261- 272, 701 291- 344
• US Class Current: 705/26.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A system includes a database that stores an expert knowledgebase, and one or more servers configured to implement an expert system. The one or more servers receive sensor data associated with sensors from automobile maintenance systems associated with respective ones of multiple automobiles, and analyze the sensor data, using the expert system and the expert knowledgebase, to diagnose whether the multiple automobiles require maintenance and/or repair. The one or more servers send, via a network, results of the analysis of the sensor data to service stations for scheduling maintenance and/or repair of the multiple automobiles.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

maintaining, by a data center comprising one or more network devices, an expert knowledgebase that stores historical sensor data obtained from sensors disposed in a plurality of automobiles and historical repair data associated with the plurality of automobiles;

receiving, at the data center, first sensor data associated with automobile maintenance sensors from an automobile maintenance system of a first automobile via a first network comprising a wireless satellite network or a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN);

storing the first sensor data in the historical sensor data of the expert knowledgebase;

analyzing, by one of the one or more network devices using an expert system, the first sensor data based on the historical sensor and repair data stored in the expert knowledgebase to identify one or more maintenance problems or one or more automobile defects, associated with the first automobile, that correspond to certain patterns in the historical sensor or the repair data;

sending, from the data center via a second network, the identified one or more maintenance problems or one or more automobile defects associated with the first automobile to service stations near a location of the first automobile or a location of a person associated with the first automobile for scheduling maintenance or repair of the one or more maintenance problems or automobile defects;

receiving service bids, via the second network, from one or more of the service stations for performing the maintenance or repair of the one or more maintenance problems or automobile defects;

providing an alert, via the first network, to the automobile maintenance system of the one or more maintenance problems or automobile defects, including a description of the one or more maintenance problems or automobile defects and a list of bids from the one or more service stations;

receiving, from the automobile maintenance system via the first network, selection of a service station of the one or more service stations for performing maintenance or repair; and

notifying the selected service station that the first automobile will be arriving for service including an identification of the one or more maintenance problems or automobile defects, and parts required for performing the maintenance or repair of the one or more maintenance problems or automobile defects.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the data center comprising the one or more network devices, second sensor data associated with automobile maintenance sensors from an automobile maintenance system of a second automobile via the first wireless network;

storing the second sensor data in the historical sensor data of the expert knowledgebase;

analyzing, at the one of the one or more network devices using the expert system, the second sensor data based on the historical sensor and repair data stored in the expert knowledgebase to identify one or more maintenance problems or one or more automobile defects, associated with the second automobile, that correspond to certain patterns in the historical sensor or repair data; and

sending, via the second network, the identified one or more maintenance problems or one or more automobile defects associated with the second automobile to service stations near a location of the second automobile or a location of a person associated with the second automobile for scheduling maintenance or repair of the one or more maintenance problems or defects.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the automobile maintenance sensors comprise an array of maintenance sensors that sense or measure various parameters associated with the operation of the automobile.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the array of maintenance sensors include sensors that detect one or more parameters associated with drive-train and vehicle control, driver safety, comfort, or emissions;

sensors that monitor temperature, gases, voltages, currents, air flow, vacuum or torques associated with the operation of the automobile;

sensors that detect or measure tire pressure, brake pad status, battery voltages, engine temperature, or spark plug voltages;

a sensor that detects engine Revolutions Per Minute (RPM);

a sensor that measures the rate at which a wheel of the automobile is turning compared to the speed of the automobile;

a sensor that detects a throttle position;

a sensor that measures a speed of the automobile;

or still image or video cameras or audio sensors that may sense images, video or audio associated with the automobile.

5. A system, comprising:

a database configured to store an expert knowledgebase that further stores historical sensor data obtained from sensors disposed in a plurality of automobiles and historical repair data associated with the plurality of automobiles;

a communication interface coupled to a network;

one or more processing units configured to implement an expert system and to;

receive, via the communication interface, first sensor data associated with sensors from a first automobile maintenance system associated with a first automobile,

receive, via the communication interface, second sensor data associated with sensors from a second automobile maintenance system associated with a second automobile,

analyze the first sensor data, using the expert system, based on the historical sensor and repair data stored in the expert knowledgebase to identify one or more maintenance problems or one or more automobile defects, associated with the first automobile, that correspond to certain patterns in the historical sensor or repair data,

analyze the second sensor data, using the expert system, based on the historical sensor and repair data stored in the expert knowledgebase to identify one or more maintenance problems or one or more automobile defects, associated with the second automobile, that correspond to certain patterns in the historical sensor or repair data,

send, via the network, the identified one or more maintenance problems or one or more automobile defects associated with the first automobile to one or more first service stations near a location of the first automobile or a location of a person associated with the first automobile for scheduling maintenance or repair of the first automobile,

send, via the network, the identified one or more maintenance problems or one or more automobile defects associated with the second automobile to one or more second service stations near a location of the second automobile or a location of a person associated with the second automobile for scheduling maintenance or repair of the second automobile,

receive first service bids from the one or more first service stations for performing the maintenance or repair of the first automobile,

send a first message to the first automobile that includes an identification of the one or more maintenance problems or automobile defects associated with the first automobile and a list comprising the received first service bids from the one or more first service stations,

receive a selection of a first service station from the one or more first service stations for performing repair and/or maintenance of the first automobile, and

send a second message notifying the selected first service station that the first automobile will be arriving for service, including an identification of the one or more maintenance problems or automobile defects, and parts required for performing the maintenance or repair of the one or more maintenance problems or automobile defects.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the sensors include sensors that detect one or more parameters associated with drive-train and vehicle control, driver safety, comfort or emissions;

sensors that monitor temperature, gases, voltages, currents, air flow, vacuum or torques associated with the operation of the first automobile;

sensors that detect or measure tire pressure, brake pad status, battery voltages, engine temperature, or spark plug voltages;

a sensor that detects engine Revolutions Per Minute (RPM);

a sensor that measures the rate at which a wheel of the first automobile is turning compared to the speed of the first automobile;

a sensor that detects a throttle position;

a sensor that measures a speed of the first automobile;

or still image cameras, video cameras or audio sensors that may sense images, video or audio associated with the first automobile.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the first automobile maintenance system is installed at the first automobile and the second automobile maintenance system is installed at the second automobile.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the one or more processing units are further configured to:

store the received first and second sensor data in the expert knowledgebase; and

store the identified one or more maintenance problems or one or more automobile defects associated with the first automobile and the second automobile in the expert knowledgebase.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the second message notifying the selected service station that the first automobile will be arriving for service includes an identification of the one or more maintenance problems or automobile defects associated with the first automobile and parts required for servicing the first automobile.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the sensors of the first automobile maintenance system comprise an array of maintenance sensors that sense or measure various parameters associated with the operation of the first automobile.

11. The system of claim 5, wherein the one or more processing units are further configured to:

receive service bids from the one or more second service stations for performing the maintenance or repair of the second automobile; and

send a first message to the second automobile that includes an identification of the one or more maintenance problems or automobile defects associated with the second automobile and a list comprising the received service bids from the one or more service stations.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more processing units are further configured to:

receive a selection of a service station one or more service stations for performing repair and/or maintenance of the second automobile; and

send a second message notifying the selected service station that the second automobile will be arriving for service.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second message notifying the selected service station that the second automobile will be arriving for service includes an identification of the one or more maintenance problems or automobile defects associated with the second automobile and parts required for servicing the second automobile.

14. A method, comprising:

maintaining, by a data center comprising one or more network devices, an expert knowledgebase that stores historical sensor data obtained from sensors disposed in a plurality of automobiles and historical repair data associated with the plurality of automobiles;

receiving, at the data center from a remotely located first automobile, first sensor data associated with sensors from a first automobile maintenance system of the first automobile;

receiving, at the data center from a remotely located second automobile, second sensor data associated with sensors from a second automobile maintenance system of the second automobile;

analyzing, by one of the one or more network devices using an expert system, the first sensor data based on the historical sensor and repair data stored in the expert knowledgebase to identify one or more maintenance problems or one or more automobile defects, associated with the first automobile, that correspond to certain patterns in the historical sensor or repair data; and

analyzing, by the one of the one or more network devices using the expert system, the second sensor data based on the historical sensor and repair data stored in the expert knowledgebase to identify one or more maintenance problems or one or more automobile defects, associated with the second automobile, that correspond to certain patterns in the historical sensor or repair data; and

sending, from the data center via a network, the identified one or more maintenance problems or one or more automobile defects of the first and second automobiles to one or more entities external to the data center;

receiving service bids from the one or more entities external to the data center for performing the maintenance or repair of the one or more maintenance problems or automobile defects associated with the first automobile;

providing a first alert to the first automobile maintenance system of the one or more maintenance problems or automobile defects associated with the first automobile, including a description of the one or more maintenance problems or automobile defects and a first list of bids from the one or more entities external to the data center;

receiving, from the first automobile maintenance system, selection of a first entity of the one or more entities external to the data center for performing maintenance or repair; and

notifying the first entity that the first automobile will be arriving for service including an identification of the one or more maintenance problems or automobile defects associated with the first automobile, and parts required for performing the maintenance or repair of the one or more maintenance problems or automobile defects associated with the first automobile.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the entities external to the data center comprise service stations that perform maintenance or repair of automobiles.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

storing the first and second sensor data in the historical sensor data of the expert knowledgebase.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving service bids from the one or more entities external to the data center for performing the maintenance or repair of the one or more maintenance problems or automobile defects associated with the second automobile;

providing a second alert to the second automobile maintenance system of the one or more maintenance problems or automobile defects associated with the second automobile, including a description of the one or more maintenance problems or automobile defects and a second list of bids from the one or more entities external to the data center;

receiving, from the second automobile maintenance system, selection of a second entity of the one or more entities external to the data center for performing maintenance or repair; and

notifying the second entity that the second automobile will be arriving for service including an identification of the one or more maintenance problems or automobile defects associated with the second automobile, and parts required for performing the maintenance or repair of the one or more maintenance problems or automobile defects associated with the second automobile.