Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
701030000 | Indication of maintenance interval | 53 |
20080215206 | Information communication system, facility-side apparatus and program, user-side apparatus and program, status detecting device and program, updating device and program - An information communication system includes a user-side apparatus that is associated with a user and a facility-side apparatus provided at a facility, which the user is capable of visiting. The user-side apparatus transmits to the facility-side apparatus a user identifying information item related to the user of the user-side apparatus. The user identifying information item is used for identifying an appearance characteristic of the user. The facility-side apparatus outputs the appearance characteristic of the user identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus. | 09-04-2008 |
20080228343 | Change Time Notifying Device for Notifying Change Time of a Consumable - A change time notifying device for notifying a change time of a consumable used on a vehicle. A control device counts a mileage accumulated from the last change of engine oil that must be changed according to the mileage of a vehicle as a mileage after the change. A change time notification processing section notifies a rider when a change time of the engine oil has come. A mileage display section displays mileage information based on the mileage after the change. | 09-18-2008 |
20080243330 | Stop-off facility guidance systems, methods, and programs - Stop-off facility guidance systems, methods, and programs calculate a time required for vehicle maintenance at a predetermined facility, search for stop-off facilities within a surrounding area of the predetermined facility, and display the searched for stop-off facilities on a display. The systems, methods, and programs receive an input selecting one of the displayed stop-off facilities, calculate a total time required for visiting the selected stop-off facility and returning to the predetermined facility on foot, and compare the calculated total time with a time required for the vehicle maintenance. Based on the comparison, the systems, methods, and programs provide a notification on the display indicating whether the selected stop-off facility can be visited on foot. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243331 | Stop-off facility guidance systems, methods, and programs - Stop-off facility guidance systems, methods, and programs calculate a time required for vehicle maintenance at a predetermined facility and calculate, for each of a plurality of stop-off facilities, a total time required for visiting the stop-off facility and returning to the predetermined facility on foot. The systems, methods, and programs compare each of the calculated total times with the time required for the vehicle maintenance and, based on the comparison, notify a driver of stop-off facilities which can be visited on foot or by other methods during the vehicle maintenance. | 10-02-2008 |
20080269977 | AUTOMATED SYNCHRONIZED SERVICE INTERVALS FOR VEHICLES - User generated service rules operate upon selected vehicle operating variables, vehicle configurations and vehicle vocations to produce estimates of the service life of diverse, routine service items. Items with corresponding projected service lives are grouped for service to reduce overall service frequency. | 10-30-2008 |
20080269978 | Method and apparatus for vehicle performance tracking - Method and apparatus for vehicle performance tracking is described. In one example, a wireless interface is configured to receive operation data generated by a plurality of sensors in a vehicle. A time stamping module is configured to track time-of-day. A location module is configured to locate the vehicle. An engine tracking client is configured to produce instance performance data that relates the operation data, time-of-day information from the time stamping module, and location information from the location module. A cellular transceiver is configured to transmit the instance performance data to a server via a wireless mobile network. | 10-30-2008 |
20080306649 | Vehicle Driving Safety Control Apparatus - A driving safety control apparatus for a vehicle is provided. In some embodiments, the driving safety control apparatus makes use of a hybrid wheel sensor capable of automatically detecting an abnormal state of one or more chassis components generated when the vehicle is running by using speed and acceleration signals of the hybrid wheel sensor with a semiconductor acceleration sensor mounted on the wheel of the vehicle, thereby informing the driver of the detected abnormal state. In this manner, the detected abnormal part can be repaired at an early stage. Also, the behavior of the vehicle wheels can be monitored, whereby signals representative of the measured behavior can be transmitted to an active suspension for improved control of the active suspension, compared to known systems. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306650 | FAILURE-DIAGNOSIS INFORMATION COLLECTION SYSTEM - A failure-diagnosis information collection system facilitates failure diagnosis in a vehicle. Electronic control units (ECUs) constituting an onboard network perform abnormality detection processing for a detected abnormality. When a duration during which an abnormality recognizing condition for a detected abnormality is established reaches an abnormality recognition time, abnormality information and a principal time stamp associated with the time point are stored. When the abnormality recognizing condition is established for the first time, a first preliminary time stamp that is time-instant information associated with the time point is stored. When the duration during which the abnormality recognizing condition is established reaches half of the abnormality recognition time, a second preliminary time stamp that is time-instant information associated with the time point is stored. Consequently, an abnormality that is a major factor having triggered other multiple abnormalities can be readily identified based on the first and second preliminary time stamps. | 12-11-2008 |
20090005927 | Integrated system for routine maintenance of mechanized equipment - An method to forecast parts requirements for a vehicle or fleet of vehicles using a computer system having a host processor and a database accessible by the host processor, where the database contains vehicle specific maintenance schedules indicating recommended maintenance intervals for scheduled maintenance events, where each scheduled maintenance event has associated maintenance tasks and where associated tasks may be have one or more recommended parts. The method involves determining a forecast window, determining whether a scheduled maintenance event is to occur, and predicting parts requirements based on any scheduled maintenance events and associated tasks. | 01-01-2009 |
20090018719 | Interface and monitoring system and method for a vehicle idling control - An idle control system for a vehicle is provided. | 01-15-2009 |
20090043445 | AUTOMOBILE MILEAGE NOTIFICATION SYSTEM - The application describes a system for notifying a vehicle owner regarding service due for a vehicle based on the vehicle's accumulated mileage. The system determines vehicle mileage based on GPS data, determines whether the mileage has exceeded a threshold, transmits a wireless signal from the vehicle to a notification service provider computer when the threshold is exceeded, and sends a notice from the notification service provider to the dealer and/or customer to indicate that vehicle service is due. | 02-12-2009 |
20090048731 | Systems And Methods For Unbundling Scheduled Maintenance Operations - A computer system running software operating as a vehicle service advisor is presented. The software on the computer system identifies one or more sets of scheduled maintenance operations for specific vehicles identified by make or build. The sets of the maintenance operations are unbundled into an individual operations that are recombined based on additional factors relating to the vehicles into a recommendation of maintenance operations. An estimate on the cost can be calculated and presented to a customer by correlating specific parts or labor costs with the operations in the recommendation. | 02-19-2009 |
20090076677 | Method for Determination of Engine Lubrication Oil Consumption - A method of determining lubrication oil consumption in a gas turbine engine that has an engine operating cycle interval comprising a starting phase, a running phase and a shutdown phase, comprises the steps of: measuring lubrication oil level upon initialisation of the starting phase of each engine operating cycle interval; comparing the starting phase measured lubrication oil level during the starting phase with a starting phase baseline lubrication measurement; recording the starting phase lubrication oil level measurement; determining average engine lubrication oil consumption rate during the complete engine operating cycle interval by dividing the difference between the starting phase lubrication oil measurement and the baseline lubrication oil measurement; and repeating these steps for each subsequent engine operating cycle interval; wherein the starting phase baseline lubrication oil level measurement is initially a predetermined lubrication oil level and then the previous starting phase lubrication oil measurement for subsequent engine operating cycle intervals. | 03-19-2009 |
20090112393 | GENERATING VEHICLE TRIP EXPENSES AND PROJECTED MAINTENANCE NEEDS - A method for generating vehicle trip expenses and projected maintenance needs is disclosed. The method includes determining a trip route via an Internet-enabled trip planning tool, and accessing vehicle performance information via the Internet-enabled trip planning tool. The vehicle performance information is selected from stored performance information, real-time performance information, and combinations thereof. The method further includes generating trip information based on the vehicle performance information and the trip route. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112394 | APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING, STORING AND TRANSMITTING VEHICLE INFORMATION - An apparatus for collecting, storing and transmitting vehicle information. The apparatus comprises an on-board diagnostic (OBD) port interface for providing connection to an OBD port of a vehicle; a plurality of engine sensory monitors for collecting at least engine status and diagnostic information; a plurality of non-engine sensory monitors for collecting at least non-engine status and diagnostic information; a processor for processing at least information collected by the plurality of engine sensory monitors and the plurality of non-engine sensory monitors; and a plurality of communication interfaces for interfacing with a service system for the purpose of transmitting the processed information to the external service system. | 04-30-2009 |
20090177351 | Telematics Based Vehicle Maintenance Client Notification - The present invention provides a method for providing vehicle maintenance client notification within a telematics equipped mobile vehicle that includes monitoring the mobile vehicle for vehicle system maintenance information, determining an oil-life value based on the vehicle system maintenance information, determining when the oil-life value exceeds at least one oil-life threshold level, sending the vehicle system maintenance information to a call center responsive to the oil-life threshold level determination, and generating a service reminder, at the call center, based on the received vehicle system maintenance information. The step of determining when the oil-life value exceeds the oil-life threshold level may include comparing the determined oil-life value with the at least one oil-life threshold level, determining at least one oil-life threshold level that is exceeded by the oil-life value, and initiating a vehicle data upload based on the at least one exceeded oil-life threshold level. | 07-09-2009 |
20090182467 | Indicating a Low Volume of Fluid in a Transmission Sump - A method for sensing a volume of fluid located in an oil sump of a motor vehicle transmission includes repetitively determining a rate of change of a temperature of the oil, repetitively determining an acceleration of the vehicle, counting the number of occurrences in which said acceleration is greater than a reference acceleration and said rate of change of the temperature is greater than a reference rate of change of temperature, and producing an indication that the volume of fluid is low, if said number is greater than a reference number. | 07-16-2009 |
20090210111 | Method for Detecting the State of a Tire - A method for detecting the state of a vehicle tire and/or a roadway, in which at least one sensor, in particular an acceleration sensor, disposed in the tire interior generates a signal that is assigned to physical variables of the vehicle tire and/or the roadway. A tire state and/or characteristics of the roadway are/is determined on the basis of the signal. | 08-20-2009 |
20090216398 | VEHICLE HEALTH AND USAGE MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A health and usage monitoring system (HUMS) and method for monitoring the health and/or usage of one or more components of a vehicle. In various embodiments, the present invention uses a plurality of wireless sensors configured, when activated by a vibration of the vehicle, to monitor one or more components of the vehicle and to communicate health and/or usage data of the one or more components of the vehicle to a data access point. The data access point may relay real-time health and/or usage data to an operator of the vehicle, or the health and/or usage data may accessed later. Such a system allows critical components of the vehicle to be monitored so as to reduce failures, and so that repairs to, or replacements of, the critical components of the vehicle may be planned, thus reducing unscheduled downtime. | 08-27-2009 |
20090222161 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ARRANGING VEHICLE REPAIR SERVICE - An exemplary vehicle management system for arranging vehicle repair service includes a management center and a vehicle. The management center includes a center processor associated with a center transceiver and a center database. The vehicle includes a vehicle processor associated with a GPS receiver and a vehicle transceiver. The GPS receiver receives satellite signals to be processed by the vehicle processor to generate corresponding position data of the vehicle. When the vehicle is determined to need repair service, the vehicle processor signals the vehicle transceiver to transmit the position data to the center transceiver of the management center. The center processor selects a repair station for providing vehicle repair service based on a criterion including the position data of the vehicle and the position data of the repair stations. | 09-03-2009 |
20090254240 | VEHICLE MAINTENANCE SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A system that enables a fleet of vehicles to be maintained is provided. The disclosed system allows a fleet operator to review the history of the vehicles in the fleet along with vehicle sensor data to identify earmarks in the vehicle sensor data that are predictive of faults that the vehicles have experienced. The operator develops statistical algorithms that can detect an earmark in vehicle sensor data. The system then collects vehicle sensor data and applies the statistical algorithms the vehicle data to determine if a potential fault is going to occur in a vehicle. In response to determining that a potential fault is going to occur, the disclosed system automatically alerts the vehicle driver, automatically schedule a maintenance visit, automatically check the fleet inventory for components required for a maintenance visit and order unavailable components, and automatically dispatch the components to the mechanic. | 10-08-2009 |
20090271060 | Method And Apparatus For Detecting An Insufficient Phase Current In A Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor - A method is provided for detecting an insufficient or missing phase current in a permanent magnet synchronous motor, and includes determining a composite vector position of a combined three-phase phase current with respect to a stationary portion of the motor, and assigning a sector to the position. The method includes comparing the phase current to a calibrated threshold current corresponding to the sector, and executing a response when the absolute value is less than the threshold. A vehicle includes an energy storage device (ESD), a motor/generator configured as a permanent magnet synchronous motor, a voltage inverter, and a bus for conducting DC current from the ESD to the inverter. A controller detects an insufficient phase current, determines a current vector position of the three-phase AC, assigns a sector to the position, and executes a response when an absolute value of the phase current is less than a calibrated threshold. | 10-29-2009 |
20090271061 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TIRE CORNERING POWER ESTIMATION AND MONITORING - A tire cornering power estimation and monitoring system, comprising a steering torque sensor, a steering wheel angle sensor, a yaw rate sensor, a lateral acceleration sensor, a speed sensor, and at least one controller configured to receive signals from the sensors and send a notification if the signals indicate that one or more of the vehicle's tires need to be checked or serviced. The system also comprises a notification system configured to indicate that one or more of the vehicle's tires need to be checked or serviced. | 10-29-2009 |
20100063668 | TELEMATICS-ENABLED AGGREGATED VEHICLE DIAGNOSIS AND PROGNOSIS - A system and method for telemetrically collecting on-road vehicle diagnostic data. In one embodiment, the method includes collecting vehicle diagnostic data from service shops, on-road vehicles and warranty records, aggregating the collected data and extracting knowledge therefrom. The extracted knowledge can be used to enhance algorithms on-board vehicles or at service centers so as to better identify vehicle faults and provide enhanced diagnostics and prognostics. The enhanced algorithms can then be used to provide predictive maintenance suggestions, provide trouble shooting assistance or provide vehicle design improvements. | 03-11-2010 |
20100070127 | Display system for a trailer vehicle - A display system is provided for a trailer equipped with an electronic braking system (EBS) and/or an anti-lock braking system (ABS). A separate display device having a display is provided for indicating at least the mileage on the trailer vehicle. In order to reduce the amount of wiring required, a speed signal of at least one of the wheels of the trailer is looped through the EBS/ABS and is routed directly to the display device. | 03-18-2010 |
20100087981 | VERSATILE VEHICULAR CARE ASSISTANT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A wireless system aimed to assist in vehicle care and operation is described. The system is based on wireless mesh networking technology, integrating in-vehicle (mobile) and in-location (stationary) wireless intranets. Each intranet comprises a short range wireless networking between a plurality of intranet points unit (IPU), each tied to an electronic data input/output device (EDD), and a network hub point. Each IPU obtains data from respective attached EDD to be locally processed and stored for transmission to the associated network hub point on request. A network hub point collects data from respective IPUs, communicates with other intranets, and provides system user interface functions for user interaction. | 04-08-2010 |
20100114423 | LOCATION-BASED VEHICLE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULING METHOD, SYSTEM, AND PROGRAM PRODUCT - The present invention provides a system, method, and program product for scheduling vehicle maintenance by identifying a future location at which a vehicle is available for a service and electronically providing at least the future location, a time and time duration that the vehicle is estimated to be at the future location, and the identified service to a mechanic. | 05-06-2010 |
20100138102 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF REMOTE DIAGNOSTICS - A system of remote diagnostics comprising a guidance device having a guidance device identifier, the guidance device further including a communication module for communicating a service request message, the service request message including the guidance device identifier; and a diagnostics module able to communicate with the communication module of the guidance device and configured to receive the service request message of the communication module of the guidance device, the diagnostics module maintaining a data store associating the guidance device identifier with a service provider entity; wherein, the diagnostics module is configured to facilitate communication between the service provider entity and the communication module of the guidance device in response to receipt of the service request message from the communication device of the guidance device and based upon the association of the guidance device identifier with the service provider entity. | 06-03-2010 |
20100174443 | MAINTENANCE TIME NOTIFICATION DEVICE - A maintenance time notification device includes a storing unit storing a threshold value of a usage time or a traveling distance for each of a plurality of vehicle parts; a measuring unit measuring the usage time and the traveling distance of a vehicle since the vehicle began to be used for each of the vehicle parts; a maintenance period determination unit determining a maintenance period of each of the vehicle parts by comparing the usage time and the traveling distance measured by the measuring unit, with the threshold value; and a reporting unit reporting to a passenger based on a determination result of the maintenance period determination unit. | 07-08-2010 |
20100262331 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE SERVICE INTERVALS FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE - The invention relates to a method for determining service intervals for a motor vehicle fitted with an exhaust gas treatment system, the treatment consisting in selective catalytic reduction, in a catalytic converter, of the exhaust gases, using a reducing agent injected into the exhaust line, the method comprising the following steps, performed upon vehicle start-up:—the step of determining an initial value for the distance still to be covered before the next service,—the step of determining an actual distance covered since the last start,—the step of determining a quantity of reducing agent consumed since the last start,—the step of determining, as a function of this consumed quantity of reducing agent, a vehicle driving harshness factor,—the step of correcting the actual distance covered on the basis of the harshness factor, in order to obtain a weighted distance covered, and—the step of updating, on the basis of this weighted distance covered, an updated value of the distance still to be covered before the next service. | 10-14-2010 |
20100280702 | PROCESS FOR UPDATING THE SCHEDULING OF A SERVICE STOP FOR A MACHINE - A process for updating the scheduling of a service stop for a machine includes determining, for at least one service operation, a service occurrence specification, monitoring the machine's usage severity, and setting an earliest occurrence point and a latest occurrence point for the service occurrence specification which are determined according to the machine usage severity monitored during a monitoring interval. | 11-04-2010 |
20100332072 | VEHICLE INFORMATION RECORDING APPARATUS, VEHICLE INFORMATION COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND VEHICLE INFORMATION COMMUNICATION METHOD - A GW device for relaying data sent and received between a plurality of ECUs mounted in a vehicle stores data sent from the respective ECUs in a database and then timely sends the data. The database is stored in a time series in association with time information, and copies of database at a plurality of time points are sent to a central device at predetermined time intervals, or at the time of detection of occurrence of a problem. | 12-30-2010 |
20110029186 | FAILURE DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION GENERATING APPARATUS AND FAILURE DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION GENERATING SYSTEM - A failure diagnostic information generating apparatus includes a repair information acquiring unit that acquires repair information indicating the content of repair or replacement conducted for a vehicle malfunction or a cause of the malfunction; an malfunction-time vehicle information acquiring unit that acquires malfunction-time vehicle information indicating a vehicle state detected when the malfunction occurs; an instruction information generating unit that generates instruction information, usable for future repair or replacement, on the basis of the repair information and the malfunction-time vehicle information; and a recurrence information acquiring unit that acquires recurrence information indicating whether the malfunction has recurred after the repair or replacement. It is determined, using the recurrence information, whether the malfunction has recurred after the repair or replacement. On the basis of the determination result, the instruction information generating unit determines whether to generate instruction information or whether to use generated instruction information for future repair or replacement. | 02-03-2011 |
20110040440 | INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR INDUSTRIAL VEHICLES - Industrial vehicles communicate across a wireless environment and the wireless communication, data collection and/or processing capabilities of industrial vehicles are utilized to implement dashboard functions that thread status information from detail level views, up through intermediate views and to summary level views to facilitate efficient fleet maintenance, management and control. Further, industrial vehicle data may be communicated to a trusted third party server. As such, wirelessly collected industrial vehicle information is utilized within robust software solutions that aggregate and analyze data across multiple enterprises. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040441 | DEVICE FOR SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS - The invention relates to a device for system diagnosis of an aircraft. The device includes: means for the monitoring of equipment of the system, the means for emitting messages of observations on the basis of effects produced by equipment; means for the determination of a set of observations on the basis of the messages of observations arising from the monitoring of a log of the messages of observations and of a model representing a current state of the system; means for the determination of indictments on the basis of observations of the set of observations and of a behavioural model of the system, the indictments being logical relations between operating modes of equipment having produced effects; and means for the determination of maintenance operations on the basis of the indictments. | 02-17-2011 |
20110054730 | System and process to record and transmit inspection information - Systems and methods for automatic collection and wireless transmission of inspection data, including visual data, to a remote inspection site and/or a portable inspection device, and verifying that the person tasked with performing the inspection actually performed the inspection. In some embodiments, wireless communication means is employed to record and transmit inspection data and related information. | 03-03-2011 |
20110071720 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MONITORING THE CONDITION OF VEHICLE COMPONENTS FROM A NOMADIC WIRELESS DEVICE OR COMPUTER - A computer-implemented method for detecting a working condition of one or more vehicle components includes communicating with a cellular communication module in a vehicle over a telecommunications network. A vehicle component characteristic or identifier for the vehicle components is received over the telecommunication network. One or more operation status identifiers for the one or more vehicle components based on data from the vehicle is also received. A location for servicing or purchasing the one or more vehicle components based on the vehicle component characteristic or identifier is determined. A service status of the one or more vehicle components based on the one or more operation status identifiers is also determined. Based on the service status, a message including an identification of the vehicle components and a service or purchase location for the vehicle components is generated. The message is transmitted to a terminal for display. | 03-24-2011 |
20110071721 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OBTAINING EMISSIONS OFFSET CREDITS - Methods for obtaining emissions offset credits and methods for reducing emissions from a fuel filler cap. An interface system for gathering emissions reduction data and for converting the emissions reduction data into emissions trading data includes at least one tester for generating the emissions reduction data, at least one local computer for gathering the emissions reduction data from the at least one tester, and a central computer for converting the emissions reduction data gathered by the at least one local computer into the emissions trading data. | 03-24-2011 |
20110071722 | AIR CONDITIONER FOR VEHICLE, AND SYSTEM AND METHOD OF VEHICLE AIR-CONDITIONING MANAGEMENT - A management system for vehicle air-conditioning and a method of managing the same are provided. Changes of a temperature in a vehicle from various environmental information, between a standard for showing a comfortable environment in the vehicle and actual environment information, are recognized to identify abnormalities occurring in components at an early stage and to appropriately judge the necessity and urgency of maintenance. A management system of vehicle air-conditioning includes an air-conditioning controller that predicts abnormalities of components of the refrigeration cycle by comparing a temperature in the vehicle obtained when the refrigeration cycle is actually driven with a preset temperature in the vehicle that constitutes a standard. | 03-24-2011 |
20110093157 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTING A MAINTENANCE OPERATION - There is provided a method of selecting a maintenance operation to be performed on a device. An exemplary method comprises determining a health parameter for the device, the health parameter being predictive of a probability of failure of the device based on archival data about a plurality of devices similar to the device. The exemplary method also comprises performing a first maintenance operation on the device if the health parameter indicates that the probability of failure of the device is below a threshold. The exemplary method additionally comprises performing a second maintenance operation on the device if the health parameter indicates that the probability of failure of the device exceeds the threshold. | 04-21-2011 |
20110093158 | SMART VEHICLE MANUALS AND MAINTENANCE TRACKING SYSTEM - An emotive advisory system for use by one or more occupants of an automotive vehicle includes a computer configured to receive input indicative of an operating state of the vehicle. The computer determines at least one of a need to provide owner's manual (or maintenance) information to an occupant based on the operating state of the vehicle and a request to provide owner's manual (or maintenance) information to the occupant. The computer generates (i) data representing an avatar having an appearance and (ii) data representing a spoken statement for the avatar. The spoken statement provides owner's manual (or maintenance) information to the occupant in spoken dialog based on at least one of the need and the request. The data representing the avatar is output for visual display, and the data representing the statement for the avatar is output for audio play. | 04-21-2011 |
20110118931 | GRILLE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR VEHICLE - A grille control mechanism for a vehicle includes a movable member being switchable between opened and closed positions, an electric motor actuating the movable member, and a control device controlling a supply of electric current until detecting a lock current value to execute an opening operation or a closing operation, wherein the control device executes a checking operation for returning the movable member to an initial position and executing once again the opening or closing operation in a case where a detecting time of the lock current value since the opening or closing operation is started exceeds a predetermined time, and the control device determines that the movable member is in an abnormal state in a case where a detecting time of the lock current value after the operation is started from the initial position in the checking operation exceeds the predetermined time for a predetermined number of times. | 05-19-2011 |
20110130914 | MONITORING FOR EQUIPMENT EFFICIENCY AND MAINTENANCE - A system and method for monitoring fuel efficiency of a vehicle is provided. Fuel efficiency of a vehicle may be monitored in real-time using telemetry transmitted from the vehicle. The telemetry may be analyzed in combination with a fuel efficiency model in order to determine whether the real-time fuel efficiency determination deviates from a baseline fuel efficiency. The real-time fuel efficiency monitoring system and method may be used for feedback for the driver, such as sending real-time messages to the driver to modify operation of the vehicle to increase fuel efficiency. The fuel efficiency model may further be used to assign vehicles in a fleet to particular routes, vehicles to particular drivers, or vehicles to particular routes with particular drivers. | 06-02-2011 |
20110137516 | DEVICE FOR MONITORING WASTAGE ON AUTOMOTIVE SUSPENSION - Device for monitoring wastage on automotive suspension (slm). New device, to be applied on automotive suspension in general. Such allows monitoring of components of the suspension, concerning their lifetime, providing the user an exact verification of the state of each component, thus allowing that they may be checked and replaced before it gets damaged. This device provides a preventive maintenance, offering greater safety for the vehicle and its occupants. | 06-09-2011 |
20110153148 | VEHICLE TELEMATICS COMMUNICATION FOR PROVIDING IN-VEHICLE REMINDERS - A method and system for providing a reminder message to a user associated with a vehicle via a vehicle telematics unit. The method carried out by the system involves sending to a user an email, web page or other communication that contains a user selectable reminder request, receiving the reminder request from the user, setting a reminder trigger in the vehicle, and then carrying out a requested action in response to occurrence of the trigger. The requested action can be presentation of a reminder message to the occupant and/or establishment of a call from the vehicle to a call center or other remote location to obtain services, such as telematics subscription renewal, or dealer service. The user-selectable reminder request can be implemented in the communication as a virtual button that mimics the look of a physical button installed in the car that is used to provide telematics services. | 06-23-2011 |
20110166739 | VEHICLE MAINTENANCE EVENT REPORTING SYSTEM - A vehicle maintenance event reporting system and method that utilizes a vehicle email notification system in which triggers are used to initiate the generation and transmission of email messages that provide diverse types of dynamic vehicle information to the owner or other authorized subscriber. The email notifications are triggered by different events, some of which are independent of the vehicle (e.g., a monthly trigger), and others of which occur at the vehicle, such as a mileage or low oil life trigger. The notification system builds and sends to the subscriber an email message that contains the dynamic vehicle information. Maintenance service events such as an oil change reset are detected and used to trigger email reporting to the subscriber as well as to transmit the oil change reset event back to a central data system where it is included in a vehicle maintenance record. | 07-07-2011 |
20110172873 | EMOTIVE ADVISORY SYSTEM VEHICLE MAINTENANCE ADVISOR - A vehicle maintenance advisor system for use by a driver of an automotive vehicle includes a computer. The computer is configured to receive input indicative of a vehicle history. The vehicle history includes how the vehicle is driven over time. The computer is further configured to identify a need to advise the driver that the vehicle requires a maintenance service based on the vehicle history. An alert is output to the driver. The alert indicates the required maintenance service for the vehicle. | 07-14-2011 |
20110208385 | METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY DETERMINING ENGINE OIL CHANGE FREQUENCY BASED ON FUEL INJECTED - A method for automatically determining an engine oil change frequency at an engine control unit includes the steps of determining an amount of fuel used per oil change, and calculating an amount of fuel remaining from the fuel used per oil change. The method also includes the steps of comparing the amount of fuel remaining to a predetermined amount of fuel remaining, and actuating an oil change indicator if the fuel remaining is less than the predetermined amount of fuel. | 08-25-2011 |
20110224864 | VEHICLE NAVIGATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle. A determination is made as to whether the vehicle requires a service. A determination is also made as to whether the vehicle is proximate a location at which the service can be performed. A notification is provided that the vehicle requires the service and is proximate the location. | 09-15-2011 |
20110270484 | Real-Time Prognostic and Health Management System, Program Product, and Associate Methods - Embodiments of the present invention provide a prognostics and health management (PHM) system for one or more electronic, electro-mechanical, pneudraulic and mechanical devices of an aircraft, and associated diagnostic methods and computer program products. The system includes a tangible and non-transitory memory preloaded with prognostics and health management signature data; one or more sensors that are adapted to monitor the one or more devices; and a logic device adapted to calculate an address and to access the tangible and non-transitory memory using the calculated address in real time. One or more portions of the calculated address are responsive to one or more parameter values associated with the sensors so that sensor parameter data determines the address into the memory. In the PHM system, the logic device is further adapted to generate a PHM alert in real time responsive to a value of the PHM signature data accessed at the address. | 11-03-2011 |
20110276218 | WIRELESS VEHICLE SERVICING - Various embodiments include methods, systems, and computer-program products for wireless vehicle servicing. Instructions for performing a vehicle servicing operation may be received at a servicing terminal. Further, vehicle servicing operation data based on the instructions and data communication rules for communicating data to a vehicle computing system may be received. Servicing request data stored in computer-readable media may be generated and may include the vehicle servicing operation data and the one or more data communication rules. The servicing request data may be transmitted to the vehicle computing system and servicing return data may be received. Servicing status information may be presented on the servicing terminal based on the servicing return data. | 11-10-2011 |
20110288721 | PRE-FILLING VEHICLE DATA CHECK - A pre-filling vehicle data check method and system are disclosed herein. One example of the method includes receiving, at a financial institution, an authorization request from a filling station for initiating a filling event, where the authorization request includes a financial code. Via a computing device at the financial institution, the financial code is recognized as being associated with at least one of a vehicle identification number or a station identification associated with a vehicle, thereby identifying the vehicle. At least one parameter of the identified vehicle is identified via the computing device at a data center in selective communication with the vehicle and the financial institution, and an authorization or denial of the at least one filling event based at least upon the at least one parameter is transmitted from the computing device at the data center. | 11-24-2011 |
20110307143 | Method And System For Facilitating The Exchange Of Information Between A Vehicle And A Remote Location - The present invention is directed to a system and method that includes a vehicle that exchanges information with the remote location by way of a communication network. A remote server transmits vehicle-related information to the vehicle by way of a communication system. Information may also be broadcast to and received by the vehicle by way of a broadcast communication system. A receiver of the vehicle provides user access to only a subset of the broadcast information based on user preferences of a user profile. The user may update the user profile by accessing and updating it at either the vehicle or by accessing a database. The user may access the database through a network, such as the Internet. The vehicle also selectively transmits vehicle-related information to the remote location when a predetermined event occurs. The vehicle-related information is compiled and analyzed at the remote location, and the analyzed information is transmitted back to the vehicle. | 12-15-2011 |