Abstract:
A method for remote vehicle communication is provided. The method monitors, stores and/or transmits data representative of the operation of a component or system, whereby the transmitted data may be analyzed and vehicle performance improved through the analysis thereof. Additionally, the vehicle systems are remotely accessible such that a technician can remotely analyze the vehicle without taking control of the vehicle away from the consumer.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATONS 
     This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/604,764, 60/604,773, and 60/604,591, filed Aug. 26, 2004, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Onboard vehicle maintenance systems, diagnostic systems, engineering development devices, and testing systems that monitor vehicular components and systems typically rely on manual input from an operator and/or technician and require the physical presence of the vehicle during analysis. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An automated data collection and transmission system would provide the ability to observe the behavior of vehicular components and systems in the field (i.e. remotely), as the components and systems are being operated, which would provide significant advantages to vehicle manufacturers. A method and apparatus for in-vehicle telematics communication is therefore provided. The apparatus includes a maintenance system for a vehicle having a component or system with a measurable characteristic. The maintenance system includes at least one sensor configured and positioned with respect to the component or system to measure, and thereby obtain a value for, the measurable characteristic. 
     The sensor transmits a signal indicating the value of the measurable characteristic to a microprocessor. The microprocessor is configured according to the method of the present invention to analyze the value of the measurable characteristic and thereby identify correctable aberrations in the vehicle&#39;s operation. The microprocessor is further configured to transmit the value of the measurable characteristic which may be indicative of a potential aberration to a user interface. 
     Preferably, the maintenance system includes a data recorder module for transmitting values of the measurable characteristic to an offboard network or data collection device, and for receiving instructions therefrom to correct aberrations in the vehicle&#39;s operation. The maintenance system is thus able to regularly communicate performance data of the component or system to an offboard network for use by a technician or others. 
     The ability to transmit data from a vehicle to a remote location is particularly advantageous, for example, when a vehicle is inaccessible. Vehicles are often tested in distant, environmentally extreme locations and the ability to collect vehicle data from vehicles in such locations without physically visiting the vehicles would simplify the process of vehicle testing. Further, a system that allows an engineer to collect data from a vehicle as it is being operated by a consumer would allow the engineer access to vehicle system data without taking control of the vehicle away from the consumer. 
     An automated or unattended data collection and transmission system is also preferably provided according to a method of the present invention. Such a system removes the obligation of manually controlling data collection while retaining the advantages inherent in manual data collection. Such a system may provide valuable advantages over strictly manual data collection systems. An automated data collection system may eliminate user error, thereby improving the quality of the data. Further, an automated data collection system potentially provides for detection of vehicle malperformance prior to its detection by the operator. Automated vehicle system data collection may also improve vehicle performance in a vast multitude of driving conditions by continuously monitoring the vehicle and adjusting its systems to function at peak performance depending upon the vehicle&#39;s physical location and current driving environment. 
     The apparatus of the present invention is preferably composed of hardware adapted to initialize quickly after power-up, thereby allowing data collection much sooner after vehicle ignition than previously possible. Similarly, the method of the present invention is preferably composed of an algorithm optimized for quick initialization after power-up. Additionally, the apparatus is preferably configured to automatically shut down after the vehicle&#39;s ignition is turned off such that the vehicle battery is not drained. 
     The above features, and advantages, and other features, and advantages, of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a maintenance system in accordance with an aspect of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a more detailed schematic illustration of the maintenance system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of a data recorder module in accordance with an aspect of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating a method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating a step wherein a telematics process of  FIG. 4  is run; 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating a step wherein an incoming remote command of  FIG. 5  is processed; 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram illustrating a step wherein a command of  FIG. 6  is processed; 
         FIG. 8  is a block diagram illustrating a step wherein a pass-through command of  FIG. 6  is processed; 
         FIG. 9  is a block diagram illustrating a step wherein an incoming vehicle communication link response of  FIG. 5  is processed; and 
         FIG. 10  is a block diagram illustrating a step wherein a response to a remote device of  FIG. 5  is processed. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic depiction of a maintenance system or device  20  installed in a vehicle  10 . The vehicle  10  includes at least one vehicle communications link  13 , a plurality of components and systems, including a steering system; a braking system; a fuel storage system; an engine; a heating, ventilating and air conditioning system; a battery; a transmission; a motor; an alternator; a fuel pump; a water pump; a regulator; etc. One or more of these components or systems being monitored will be identified as component or system  12  (which may include any of the above listed systems, for example). 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the maintenance system  20  includes a plurality of sensors  22 , one or more electric control unit or ECU  24 , and a data recorder module  26 . The electronic control unit  24  further includes a microprocessor  28 , and a data storage medium  30 . According to a preferred embodiment, the maintenance system  20  also includes a manual transmit button  23  that is preferably disposed within the vehicle&#39;s passenger compartment and is electronically connected to the ECU  24 . The manual transmit button  23  generates a transmit signal  25  telling the ECU  24  to transmit the recorded data, and thereby allows an occupant of the vehicle to manually transmit the data if, for example, the vehicle is operating abnormally. The ECU  24  transmits data to and receives data from the data recorder module  26  in the form of recorder signals  38 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the data recorder module  26  preferably includes a microprocessor  40 , a data storage device  42  (preferably including RAM and ROM), removable flash memory  44 , an input/output interface  46 , a global positioning system or GPS circuit  48 , and a power supply circuit  50 . The input/output interface  46  is preferably adapted to accommodate a cell phone interface  52  and a GPS interface  54  to connect to PC mapping software. The cell phone interface  52  preferably includes a modern connection  56  and allows an off site technician to prompt the ECU  24  to record and/or transmit data representative of component or system  12  operation. 
       FIGS. 4-10  depict a method for communicating with a vehicle  10  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) according to the present invention. More precisely,  FIGS. 4-10  show a series of block diagrams representing steps performed by the microprocessor  40  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the method of remote vehicle communication  140  (also referred to herein as algorithm  140 ) of the present invention is configured at step  60  to initiate when the vehicle  10  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) is started. At step  62 , the data recorder module  26  (shown in  FIGS. 2-3 ) is initialized. At step  64 , the algorithm runs the data recorder module process. At step  142 , telematics processes are run as will be described in detail hereinafter. At step  144 , shutdown tasks are performed. Shutdown tasks are preferably user-defined but may include, for example, saving vehicle setup data and powering down hardware for energy conservation. 
     The shutdown tasks of step  144  are preferably user-defined but may include, for example, saving vehicle setup data. Also at step  66 , when vehicle shutdown is detected the power supply circuit  50  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) may be configured to power the data recorder module  26  (shown in  FIGS. 2-3 ) long enough to allow the microprocessor  40  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) to save any relevant data. After the relevant data has been saved, the data recorder module  26  may be powered-down by the power supply circuit  50 . In this manner, the vehicle&#39;s battery (not shown) is not unnecessarily drained because the data recorder module  26  is powered by the power supply circuit  50  when the vehicle  10  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) is not running. Additionally, energy is conserved by automatically powering-down the data recorder module  26  after the relevant data has been saved. 
     Steps  62  and  64  are described in more detail in the incorporated application 60/604,764. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , step  142 , wherein the telematics processes are run, is shown in more detail. At step  146 , if an incoming command is received from a remote device the command is processed at step  148  as will be described in detail hereinafter. The remote device may include, for example, a cell phone but may also include any other device adapted to send a signal from a remote location. At step  150 , if an incoming response is received from one of the vehicle&#39;s communication links, the response is processed at step  152  as will be described in detail hereinafter. A response received from the vehicle&#39;s communication links  13  would typically be from one of the vehicle control modules. At step  154 , if an outgoing response is scheduled to be sent to a remote device, the response is processed at step  156  as will be described in detail hereinafter. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , step  148 , wherein an incoming remote command is processed, is shown in more detail. At step  158  the incoming remote command is retrieved. At step  160 , if the incoming remote command is directed to the data recorder module  26  (shown in  FIGS. 2-3 ) the command is processed at step  162  as will be described in detail hereinafter. If the incoming remote command is not directed to the data recorder module at step  160 , the algorithm  140  proceeds to step  164 . At step  164 , if the incoming remote command is directed to a vehicle communication link  13  (i.e. a pass-through command), the pass-through command is processed at step  166  as will be described in detail hereinafter. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , step  162 , wherein an incoming remote command directed to the data recorder module is processed, is shown in more detail. At step  168  the algorithm  140  checks for a signal commanding the data recorder module to set up data collection. This set-up command typically tells the data recorder module  26  (shown in  FIGS. 2-3 ) which type of data to collect from the relevant vehicle control modules (not shown). The type of data collected is user defined but may include, for example, data pertaining to engine temperature, engine output, turbine acceleration, shift duration, etc. If there is a signal commanding the data recorder module to set up data collection at step  168 , the algorithm  140  proceeds to step  170  wherein the command is processed and thereafter to step  172  at which a response to the command is inserted into an outgoing transmit buffer. The response generated at step  172  includes an acknowledgement that the command was received as well as an indication of the commands success. If there is not a signal commanding the data recorder module to set up data collection at step  168 , the algorithm proceeds to step  174 . 
     At step  174 , the algorithm  140  checks for a command to retrieve data from the data recorder module  26  (shown in  FIGS. 2-3 ). If there is a command to retrieve data from the data recorder module  26  at step  174 , the algorithm proceeds to step  176  wherein the command is processed and thereafter to step  178  at which a response to the command is inserted into an outgoing transmit buffer. If there is not a command to retrieve data from the data recorder module at step  174 , the algorithm proceeds to step  180 . 
     At step  180 , the algorithm  140  checks for any of the following commands: a command to write data recorder module memory; a command to read data recorder module memory; a command to read data recorder module information; or a command to reprogram data recorder module software. If there is such a command at step  180 , the algorithm proceeds to step  182  wherein the command is processed and thereafter to step  184  at which a response to the command is inserted into an outgoing transmit buffer. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , step  166 , wherein a pass-through command is processed, is shown in more detail. The pass-through command is so named because the command is not directed to the data recorder module  26  (shown in  FIGS. 2-3 ) but rather just passes through the data recorder module  26  to a communication link  13  such that the pass-through command is transferable to any vehicle system. As the pass-through commands may originate from a remote location, the present invention allows remote access to any of the vehicle systems. As an example, a technician may remotely access any vehicle system to analyze and/or reprogram the systems control unit to improve vehicle performance. At step  186 , the pass-through command is extracted from the incoming remote command message. This step is incorporated to separate the raw data of the command from additional header information included in the remote command message. The header information may include, for example, information indicating the date and time of the message, as well as information telling the data recorder module  26  where to send the pass-through command. 
     At step  188 , the algorithm  140  determines which specific vehicle communication link to transmit the pass-through command on. This determination may be made based on information contained in the header of the incoming remote command message. At step  190 , the pass-through command is sent to the vehicle communication link  13  selected at step  188 . If the pass-through command prompts a response, the data recorder module sets up a vehicle communication link  13  to receive the response at step  192 . In the manner described herein, the method of the present invention may be configured to send any pass-through message on any vehicle communication link. Accordingly, an off-site technician has as much access to the vehicle systems remotely as would be available through a physical connection. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , step  152 , wherein an incoming response from the vehicle communication links is processed, is shown in more detail. At step  194  the incoming response is retrieved, preferably from a vehicle communication link buffer. At step  196 , the incoming response is inserted into an outgoing remote command message which preferably includes a header as described hereinabove. At step  198  the algorithm  140  sets a source in the outgoing remote command message. The source may, for example, include information specifying the vehicle control module and communication link that sent the response. At step  200 , the response is preferably inserted into an outgoing transmit buffer. At step  202 , the response is scheduled to be sent. Scheduling essentially assigns a priority to the response thereby dictating when the response will actually be sent. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , step  156 , wherein a response to a remote device is processed, is shown in more detail. At step  204 , the response to the remote device is retrieved, typically from an outgoing remote device transmit buffer. At step  206  the response to the remote device is transmitted. The response is transmitted by the data recorder module  26  (shown in  FIGS. 2-3 ) on any device adapted for telematics communication such as, for example, a cellular modem or a global positioning satellite link. 
     The steps shown in  FIGS. 4-10  and described herein need not be performed in the order shown. 
     As set forth in the claims, various features shown and described in accordance with the different embodiments of the invention illustrated may be combined. 
     While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the scope of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.