Vehicle Diagnostic or Prognostic Message Transmission Systems and Methods

US 20080147265A1
Filed: 08/09/2007
Published: 06/19/2008
Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

Patent Images

1. A system for monitoring the condition of at least one moving object comprising:

at least one moving object including 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 moving object, said at least one sensor being coupled to said communications unit; and

a remote site connected to said wireless communications network and arranged to receive diagnostic or prognostic messages from said at least one moving object with the transmission initiated from said at least one moving object.

View all claims

2 Assignments

Timeline View

Assignment View

0 Petitions

Accused Products

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.

345 Citations

21 Claims

1. A system for monitoring the condition of at least one moving object comprising:
- at least one moving object including 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 moving object, said at least one sensor being coupled to said communications unit; and
  
  a remote site connected to said wireless communications network and arranged to receive diagnostic or prognostic messages from said at least one moving object with the transmission initiated from said at least one moving object.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- - 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a diagnostic module, said at least one sensor being a part of said diagnostic module, said diagnostic module being arranged to direct said communications unit to transmit a message to said remote site upon determining an actual or potential failure of said at least one component or subsystem.
  - 3. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor is wirelessly coupled to said communications unit.
  - 4. The system of claim 1, wherein said remote site is another moving object.
  - 5. The system of claim 1, wherein said remote site is a traffic control system.
  - 6. The system of claim 1, wherein said remote site is a manufacturer of said at least one moving object.
  - 7. The system of claim 1, wherein said remote site is a seller or repairer of said at least one moving object.

8. A method for monitoring the condition of at least one moving object comprising:
- arranging a communications unit on at least one moving object;
  
  enabling the communications unit to interface with a wireless communications network;
  
  monitoring at least one component or subsystem of the moving object via at least one sensor;
  
  generating diagnostic or prognostic information about the at least one component or subsystem through the monitoring thereof;
  
  coupling the at least one sensor to the communications unit;
  
  connecting the wireless communications network to a remote site;
  
  initiating transmission of diagnostic or prognostic messages from the communications unit of the at least one moving object with the messages being based on the generated diagnostic or prognostic information; and
  
  receiving the transmission at the remote site for further processing.
- View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- - 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of generating diagnostic or prognostic information about the at least one component or subsystem comprises determining whether the at least one component or subsystem is about to fail, whereby the transmission of diagnostic or prognostic messages from the communications unit is a transmission of an indication of the actual or potential failure of the at least one component or subsystem.
  - 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one sensor is wirelessly coupled to the communications unit.
  - 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the remote site is another moving object, further comprising enabling the another moving object to plan its movement based on the transmission.
  - 12. The method of claim 8, wherein the remote site is a traffic control system, further comprising enabling the traffic control system to plan traffic control measures based on the transmission.
  - 13. The method of claim 8, wherein the remote site is a manufacturer of the at least one moving object, further comprising enabling the manufacturer to maintain a database of information about the at least one moving object.
  - 14. The method of claim 8, wherein the remote site is a repairer of the at least one moving object, further comprising enabling the repairer to contact an owner of the at least one moving object to schedule repair of the at least one component or subsystem.
  - 15. The method of claim 8, further comprising:
    - providing an interface to enable an occupant of the vehicle to initiate the transmission of diagnostic or prognostic messages; and
      
      notifying the occupant of the transmitted message.

16. 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 component or subsystem of the vehicle; and
  
  initiating a transmission between the communications unit and a remote site in response to the triggering event, the transmission including a diagnostic or prognostic message about the at least one component or subsystem.
- View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
- - 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the remote site is a dealer, manufacturer, repair or service facility.
  - 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the triggering event is a failure, predicted failure or fault code generation of the at least one component or subsystem.

19. A system for providing status data for vehicle maintenance, comprising:
- a diagnostic module including at least one sensor for monitoring at least one component or subsystem 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 the at least one component or subsystem 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 transmission between said communications unit and a remote site in response to the triggering event, the transmission including a diagnostic or prognostic message about the at least one component or subsystem.
- View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
- - 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the remote site is a dealer, manufacturer, repair or service facility.
  - 21. The system of claim 19, wherein the triggering event is a failure, predicted failure or fault code generation of the at least one component or subsystem.

Specification

Resources

Litigation Campaign Assessment

Current Assignee
American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
Original Assignee
Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
Inventors
Breed, David S.

Granted Patent

US 8,036,788 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

701/30
CPC Class Codes

G07C 5/008 communicating information t...

G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data...

Vehicle Diagnostic or Prognostic Message Transmission Systems and Methods

First Claim

2 Assignments

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

345 Citations

21 Claims

Specification

Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links

Vehicle Diagnostic or Prognostic Message Transmission Systems and Methods

First Claim

2 Assignments

Subscription Required

Subscription Required

0 Petitions

Subscription Required

Accused Products

Subscription Required

Abstract

345 Citations

21 Claims

Specification

Subscription Required

Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links