System and method to improve the efficiency of vehicle inspections by enabling remote actuation of vehicle components

• US 8,810,385 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2010
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zonar Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Zonar Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: McQuade, Charles Michael, Brinton, Brett
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung T.
• Application Number:
  US12/881,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20110022248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,435 Days
• Field of Search: 340/439, 340/442, 340/453, 340/539.1, 340/576, 340/870.16, 340/933, 340/938, 235/376, 235/380, 701/33, 701/35, 702/127, 702/183
• US Class Current: 340/439
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

A handheld, portable device is used to facilitate inspection of vehicles, by wirelessly conveying an activation command to the vehicle to actuate a vehicle component, to facilitate inspection of the actuated component. The activation command is received by a wireless data link in the vehicle, which is electrically/logically coupled to either a switch that controls actuation of the component, an actuator configured to manipulate the component, and/or a vehicle processor configured to selectively convey an actuation command to the component. In some embodiments, in response to conveying the activation command, the handheld device enables the user to input a condition of the actuated component, which is added to an inspection record. In some embodiments, the handheld device sends a query to the vehicle, which results in the handheld device providing an indication to a user of each component in the vehicle that is capable of remote actuation.

Claims

1. A method for performing a vehicle inspection, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing;

(i) a vehicle including at least one vehicle component configured to be remotely actuated, and a wireless data link component for wirelessly receiving an actuation command to remotely actuate the at least one vehicle component; and

(ii) a portable device for recording data related to the inspection, said portable device including a wireless data link component configured to wirelessly convey an actuation command to the vehicle to remotely actuate the at least one vehicle component to facilitate an inspection of the vehicle; and

(b) enabling an operator to use the portable device to remotely actuate the at least one vehicle component during the vehicle inspection, and to record data corresponding to a condition of the vehicle;

(c) in response to remotely actuating the vehicle component, displaying to the operator a plurality of different possible conditions associated with the vehicle component;

(d) enabling the operator to select one of the plurality of different possible conditions, to indicate a condition associated with the component as determined by the operator; and

(e) storing in the portable device a record of said one of the plurality of different possible conditions selected by the operator.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of enabling the operator to use the portable device to remotely actuate the at least one vehicle component during the vehicle inspection comprises the steps of:

(a) detecting a vehicle component that can be remotely actuated by the portable device;

(b) providing an indication to the operator that the vehicle component detected is capable of remote actuation; and

(c) enabling the operator to selectively actuate the vehicle component detected using the portable device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of using the portable device to detect the vehicle component that can be remotely actuated by the portable device comprises the step of placing the portable device sufficiently close to the vehicle component such that the portable device can detect the vehicle component is capable of remote actuation, the detection by the portable device that the vehicle component is capable of remote actuation occurring being a function of a distance between the portable device and the vehicle component.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of enabling the operator to use the portable device to remotely actuate at least one vehicle component during the vehicle inspection comprises the steps of:

(a) using the data link component in the portable device to convey a query to the vehicle, requesting the vehicle to identify each vehicle component that can be remotely actuated by the portable device;

(b) receiving from the vehicle data identifying each vehicle component that can be remotely actuated by the portable device;

(c) providing an indication to the operator of the portable device that remote actuation of each vehicle component identified in the data is possible; and

(d) enabling the operator to selectively actuate any vehicle component identified in the data using the portable device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of enabling the operator to use the portable device to remotely actuate at least one vehicle component during the vehicle inspection comprises the steps of:

(a) providing an indication to the operator that remote actuation of at least one of a plurality of vehicle components is possible; and

(b) enabling the operator to selectively actuate the at least one of the plurality of vehicle components indicated using the portable device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of enabling an operator to use the portable device to remotely actuate at least one vehicle component during the vehicle inspection comprises the steps of:

(a) using the wireless data link component in the portable device to wirelessly convey an actuation command from the portable device to the wireless data link in the vehicle;

(b) receiving the actuation command at the, wireless data link component in the vehicle;

(c) conveying the actuation command from the wireless data link component in the vehicle to the vehicle component to be actuated; and

(d) receiving the actuation command at the vehicle component to be actuated, and in response, actuating said vehicle component.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of enabling an operator to use the portable device to remotely actuate at least one vehicle component during the vehicle inspection comprises the steps of:

(a) using the wireless data link component in the portable device to wirelessly convey an actuation command from the portable device to the wireless data link component in the vehicle;

(b) receiving the actuation command at the wireless data link component in the vehicle;

(c) conveying the actuation command from the wireless data link component in the vehicle to a vehicle processor configured to selectively actuate the vehicle component to be actuated; and

(d) receiving the actuation command at the vehicle processor, thereby causing the vehicle processor to actuate said vehicle component.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of enabling an operator to use the portable device to remotely actuate at least one vehicle component during the vehicle inspection comprises the steps of:

(a) using the wireless data link component in the portable device to wirelessly convey an actuation command from the portable device to the wireless data link component in the vehicle;

(b) receiving the actuation command at the wireless data link component in the vehicle; and

(c) conveying the actuation command from the wireless data link component in the vehicle to an actuator configured to selectively actuate the vehicle component to be actuated, thereby causing the actuator to actuate the vehicle component.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one vehicle component is selected from a group consisting of:

(a) a brake light;

(b) a turn signal;

(c) a headlight;

(d) an emergency flasher;

(e) a horn;

(f) a legacy component not normally actuated by a vehicle processor; and

(g) ancillary equipment for the vehicle.

10. A memory medium having machine instructions stored thereon for facilitating an inspection of a vehicle, the machine instructions, when implemented by a processor, further carry out the functions of:

(a) using a wireless data link component in a portable device that is employed to conduct the vehicle inspection to wirelessly convey an actuation command to remotely actuate a component in the vehicle, thereby facilitating inspection of that component;

(b) using the wireless data link component in the portable device to wirelessly convey a query to the vehicle, requesting the vehicle to identify each component that can be remotely actuated by the portable device;

(c) providing an indication to the operator that remote actuation of each component identified is possible;

(d) enabling the operator to selectively actuate any component identified, using the portable device, by wirelessly conveying to the vehicle the actuation command that corresponds to each component selected to be actuated; and

(e) generating an inspection record in the portable device that includes an identity of the component that was remotely activated.

11. A memory medium having machine instructions stored thereon for facilitating an inspection of a vehicle, the machine instructions, when implemented by a processor, carrying out the functions of:

(a) using a wireless data link component in a portable device that is employed to conduct the vehicle inspection to wirelessly convey an actuation command to remotely actuate a component in the vehicle, thereby facilitating inspection of that component;

(b) in response to remotely actuating the vehicle component, displaying to the operator of the portable device a plurality of different possible conditions associated with the component;

(c) enabling the operator to select one of the plurality of different possible conditions, to indicate a condition associated with the component as determined by the operator; and

(d) generating an inspection record in the portable device that includes an identity of the component that was remotely activated, and including in the inspection record said one of the plurality of different possible conditions selected by the operator.

12. A memory medium having machine instructions stored thereon for facilitating an inspection of a vehicle, the machine instructions, when implemented by a processor, carrying out the functions of:

(a) using a wireless data link component in a portable device that is employed to conduct the vehicle inspection to detect a component that can be remotely actuated by the portable device;

(b) providing an indication to the operator that the component detected is capable of remote actuation;

(c) enabling the operator to selectively actuate the component detected using the portable device, by conveying to the vehicle the actuation command corresponding to the component that was detected; and

(d) generating an inspection record in the portable device that includes an identity of the component that was remotely activated.

13. A portable device for facilitating a vehicle inspection, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) an output for providing at least one of a visual indication and an audible indication to a user of the portable device;

(c) an operator interface;

(d) a wireless data link component configured to wirelessly communicate with a corresponding wireless data link component in a vehicle to be inspected;

(e) a memory in which machine instructions and data are stored; and

(f) a controller coupled to the output, the memory, and the operator interface, said controller executing the machine instructions to enable the operator to;

(i) use the portable device to remotely actuate at least one vehicle component during the vehicle inspection, by sending an actuation command to the vehicle using the wireless data link component in the portable device; and

(ii) use the operator interface in the portable device to record data in the memory of the portable device corresponding to a condition of the vehicle.

14. The portable device of claim 13, wherein the machine instructions, when implemented by the processor, further carry out the functions of:

(a) using the wireless data link component in the portable device to convey a query to the vehicle, requesting the vehicle to identify each vehicle component that is capable of being remotely actuated by the portable device;

(b) using the output to provide an indication to the operator of each vehicle component identified as being capable of remote actuation; and

(c) enabling the operator to selectively actuate any vehicle component identified, using the portable device.

15. The portable device of claim 13, wherein the portable device further comprises a sensor capable of detecting a token that is proximate to a vehicle component to be inspected, and wherein the machine instructions, when implemented by the processor, further carry out the functions of:

(a) using the sensor in the portable device to detect a token that is proximate to a vehicle component that can be remotely actuated by the portable device;

(b) providing an indication to the operator that the vehicle component proximate to the token detected is capable of remote actuation; and

(c) enabling the operator to selectively actuate the vehicle component that is proximate to the token detected using the portable device, by conveying to the vehicle the actuation command corresponding to said vehicle component.

16. The portable device of claim 15, wherein the machine instructions, when implemented by the processor, further carry out the functions of causing the memory to store a record indicative of each token visited during the inspection, in response to a signal produced by the sensor, such that whenever the sensor produces the signal indicating that the portable device is proximate to one of a plurality of tokens at a different location on the vehicle, the machine instructions executed by the processor further causing a plurality of different possible conditions associated with the location to be presented to the operator on the display, a condition selected by the operator from the plurality of different possible conditions being added to the record for that location.

17. The portable device of claim 13, wherein the machine instructions, when implemented by the processor, further carry out the functions of:

(a) in response to remotely actuating the vehicle component, displaying to the operator of the portable device a plurality of different possible conditions associated with the vehicle component;

(b) enabling the operator to select one of the plurality of different possible conditions, to indicate a condition associated with the vehicle component as determined by the operator; and

(c) storing in the portable device a record of said one of the plurality of different possible conditions selected by the operator.

18. A system for facilitating a vehicle inspection, comprising:

(a) a vehicle to be inspected, the vehicle comprising;

(i) a component that can be remotely actuated; and

(ii) a wireless data link component configured to wirelessly communicate with a portable device used in the inspection, the wireless data link component being logically coupled to at least one of the following;

(A) a switch that controls the remotely actuatable component;

(B) an actuator configured to manipulate the remotely actuatable component; and

(C) a vehicle controller logically coupled to the remotely actuatable component, and configured to convey an actuation command to the remotely actuatable component in response to actuation instructions received through the wireless data link; and

(b) a portable device adapted to be transported to each location to be visited and inspected during the vehicle inspection, said portable device including;

(i) a housing;

(ii) an output for providing at least one of a visual output and an audible output to a user of the portable device;

(iii) an operator interface;

(iv) a wireless data link component configured to wirelessly communicate with the wireless data link component in the vehicle to be inspected;

(v) a memory in which machine instructions and data are stored; and

(vi) a controller coupled to the output, the memory, and the operator interface, said controller executing the machine instructions and enabling the operator to;

(A) use the portable device to remotely actuate the vehicle component that can be remotely actuated, by sending the actuation instructions to the vehicle using the wireless data link component in the portable device; and

(B) use the operator interface in the portable device to record data in the memory of the portable device corresponding to a condition of the vehicle.