Patent ID: 12248326

It will be recognized that some or all of the figures are schematic representations for purposes of illustration. The figures are provided for the purpose of illustrating one or more implementations with the explicit understanding that they will not be used to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Following below are more detailed descriptions of various concepts related to, and implementations of, methods, apparatuses, and systems for roadside support of vehicle inducement events. The various concepts introduced above and discussed in greater detail below may be implemented in any number of ways, as the concepts described are not limited to any particular manner of implementation. Examples of specific implementations and applications are provided primarily for illustrative purposes.

Referring generally to the figures, the various embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems, apparatuses, and methods for requesting roadside assistance and controlling vehicle inducement events in response to the request.

On and off-highway vehicles equipped with diesel engines include emissions control systems to reduce the amount of pollutants exhausted from the diesel engine. These emissions control systems may employ various methods to reduce exhausted pollutants; for example, an emissions control system may use selective catalytic reduction (SCR) techniques to minimize the amount of nitrogen oxides (NOx) exhausted into the environment surrounding the vehicle. The SCR system may require a consumable fluid such as diesel exhaust fluid or urea, which needs to be replenished periodically to maintain the functionality of the SCR system. In the event that the fluid is not replenished, a vehicle inducement will be activated (e.g., enabled, etc.) in which the vehicle will begin to automatically de-rate engine performance to limit vehicle operations. The vehicle inducement may differ between vehicles intended for on-highway use and off-highway use. For example, vehicle inducement for an on-highway vehicle may include limiting a maximum road speed of the vehicle. For an off-highway vehicle, vehicle inducement may include limiting a maximum engine rotational speed (e.g., preventing operation above idle) or preventing further engine operation entirely by shutting down the engine. In some embodiments, the vehicle inducement may be implemented in stages. Ultimately, a final vehicle inducement stage will be triggered that limits the maximum operating speed of the vehicle and prevents an operator from driving the vehicle.

The method, according to various illustrative embodiments disclosed herein, includes transmitting (e.g., via telematics) an override request including a fault condition to a fleet manager, an inducement assistance service (e.g., a dealership, a vehicle or engine manufacturer, etc.), or another remote computing device. The vehicle may be an on-highway or an off-highway diesel truck. The fault condition may be indicative of increased exhaust emissions from the diesel engine; for example, due to a failure to refill a fluid tank (e.g., a diesel exhaust fluid, a urea solution, etc.) used as part of an emissions control system for the vehicle. Alternatively, the fault condition may be indicative of an engine operating parameter (e.g., oil pressure, oil temperature, etc.) that is outside of an allowable range. In yet other embodiments, the fault conditions may result from sensor data indicating that an operator or another user has tampered with the vehicle.

The method includes receiving instructions including an inducement calibration from the fleet manager in response to the override request. The inducement calibration adjusts vehicle inducement parameters (e.g., a maximum vehicle operating speed, a maximum torque output from the engine, a lock that prevents engine operation above idle (e.g., an speed lock), a lock that prevents engine operation (e.g., an operational lock), etc.), in order to enable an operator to drive the vehicle to a dealership or another service center. Among other benefits, modifying vehicle inducement parameters significantly reduces the risk of operator injury as compared to existing vehicle inducement approaches (e.g., as compared to stranding an operator of the vehicle along the side of the road). The method also eliminates the need for a separate tow truck and the associated greenhouse gas emissions associated with tow truck operation to move the vehicle to a dealership or service center.

According to various illustrative embodiments, the inducement calibration includes a mileage limit that prevents an operator from continuously driving the vehicle when the fault condition is present. In some embodiments, the mileage limit is determined based on a real-time distance of the vehicle from a nearest service center (e.g., dealership, filling station, etc.), which can, advantageously, minimize a duration of vehicle operation when the fault condition is present. The vehicle controller may also include download counter logic (e.g., a download counter) to prevent an operator from requesting repeated calibrations or a number of calibrations exceeding a threshold value. These and other advantageous features with become apparent to those reviewing the present disclosure.

FIG.1depicts a block diagram of a vehicle roadside support system, shown as system100. In alternative embodiments, the system100may include additional, fewer, and/or different components. The system100includes a plurality of vehicles10,20,30,40. In alternative embodiments, the system100includes one vehicle10. According to various illustrative embodiments, the vehicles10,20,30,40are commercial on-road vehicles such as semi-trucks or the like. Alternatively, or in combination, the vehicles10,20,30,40may include medium or light duty vehicles (e.g., a school bus, a pickup truck, etc.) configured for on-road use. Each one of the vehicles10,20,30,40includes a prime mover structured to power the vehicle such as an internal combustion engine. The engine may be a diesel internal combustion engine that uses diesel fuel to drive the combustion process. Alternatively, the engine may be a bi-fuel internal combustion engine system, a gasoline internal combustion engine system, a liquid natural gas internal combustion engine system, a compressed natural gas internal combustion engine system, a biofuel internal combustion engine system, an ethanol internal combustion engine system, or another internal combustion engine system using a different type of fuel source.

As shown inFIG.1, the system100additionally includes a plurality of remote computing devices, shown as fleet manager102and inducement assistance service104. The fleet manager102may be a vehicle location tracking and maintenance service. The fleet manager102may be structured to receive vehicle diagnostic information (e.g., fault conditions, etc.) and/or locational information regarding the vehicle10,20,30,40. The fleet manager102may also be structured to receive identification information for the vehicles10,20,30,40such as a vehicle electronic serial number (ESN), registration information, a vehicle identification number (VIN), or another form of vehicle identification information. The fleet manager102may be structured to view and approve inducement calibration requests received from a controller of the vehicle10,20,30,40or an operator of the vehicle10,20,30,40(e.g., via telematics, a mobile phone, the internet, etc.). The fleet manager102may additionally be structured to compare the location of the vehicle10,20,30,40with a nearest service center (e.g., dealership, distribution center, filling station, etc.) in order to determine how far the vehicle10,20,30,40must travel to correct a fault condition.

The inducement assistance service104may include the same or similar functionality as the fleet manager102. Additionally, the inducement assistance service104may be structured to transmit inducement calibrations to at least one of the plurality of vehicles10,20,30,40. In various illustrative embodiments, the inducement assistance service104may be provided by a dealership or an original equipment manufacturer (e.g., a manufacturer of the internal combustion engine, etc.).

In the illustrative embodiment ofFIG.1, each of the vehicles10,20,30,40is communicatively coupled to the fleet manager102and the inducement assistance service104through a network106. The network106may include a wide area network (WAN), a telematics network such as a telecommunications network, a public switched telephone network (PSTN), the Internet, and/or any other type of communication network known to those of skill in the art. The vehicles10,20,30,40may be structured to transmit and/or receive information from fleet manager102and the inducement assistance service104through the network106. Moreover, the fleet manager102may be able to transmit and/or receive information from the inducement assistance service104through the network106.

FIG.2shows a block diagram of an inducement control circuit200for one of the vehicles10. The inducement control circuit200includes memory202, a transceiver204, a communications interface206, and a processor208. In alternative embodiments, the inducement control circuit200may include additional, fewer, and/or different components. Memory202may be structured to store machine readable instructions for the inducement control circuit200. The machine readable instructions may include instructions to monitor and store sensor data from one or more sensors210on the vehicle10. Additionally, the machine readable instructions may include instructions to determine a fault condition (e.g., a condition requiring vehicle inducement, a condition indicative of a failure of an emissions system of the vehicle10, etc.) based on the sensor data.

In some embodiments, memory202is structured to store vehicle inducement parameters (e.g., vehicle de-rating parameters, performance parameters, etc.) corresponding to one or more fault conditions. For example, memory202may be structured to store a maximum allowable operating speed of the vehicle10(e.g., a limited speed), a maximum output torque for the engine, or another suitable vehicle inducement parameter. Additionally, memory202may be structured to store vehicle identification and/or location information. The vehicle identification information may include an electronic serial number (ESN) associated with the vehicle10, a vehicle registration number, a vehicle license number, a vehicle identification number (VIN), or the like. The location information may include global positioning system (GPS) coordinates for the vehicle10, a mile marker and highway number, or the like.

The transceiver204may include a transmitter for transmitting information and/or a receiver for receiving information. As an example, the transceiver204of the inducement control circuit200may be structured to transmit sensor data from the one or more sensors210on the vehicle10, fault conditions determined by the inducement control circuit200, and vehicle location and/or identification information to the remote computing device (e.g., to the fleet manager102and/or the inducement assistance service104). The transceiver204may also be structured to receive instructions from the remote computing device. For example, the transceiver204may be structured to receive inducement calibrations that cause the inducement control circuit200to modify one or more vehicle inducement parameters such as a maximum operating speed of the vehicle, a maximum torque provided by the engine, a maximum engine rotational speed, a lock that prevents engine operation, or the like.

The communications interface206is structured to interface the inducement control circuit200with other vehicle components. As shown inFIG.2, the communications interface206is operably coupled to a plurality of vehicle sensors and controls for the vehicle10and structured to transmit and/or receive data from the sensors and controls. In the illustrative embodiment ofFIG.2, the communications interface206is operably coupled to the sensor210and a vehicle performance limiter, shown as vehicle inducement speed limiter212. The communications interface206is structured to receive sensor data from the sensor210(e.g., a control signal from the sensor210indicative of a fault condition, etc.). The sensor210may include a liquid level sensor structured to determine a level of fluid for an emissions reduction system of the vehicle10, a temperature sensor structured to determine an engine oil temperature, a pressure sensor structured to determine an engine oil pressure, or another engine and/or vehicle sensor. In various illustrative embodiments, the sensor210is one of a plurality of sensors that are operably coupled to the communications interface206.

The vehicle inducement speed limiter212is structured to control a maximum road speed (e.g., driving speed) of the vehicle10. The vehicle inducement speed limiter212may be operably coupled to a throttle positioning system, fuel system, and/or another vehicle subsystem. The vehicle inducement speed limiter212controls these various vehicle subsystems to limit the maximum road speed of the vehicle10. By way of example, the vehicle inducement speed limiter212may be structured to limit a maximum throttle position signal delivered to the engine (by the throttle positioning system) when a fault condition is detected, and thereby prevent an operator of the vehicle10from damaging the vehicle or circumventing emissions regulations. In other embodiments, the vehicle inducement speed limiter212may be structured to control a maximum engine rotational speed (e.g., revolutions per minute, etc.) or to shut down the engine.

In some embodiments, the communications interface206is operably coupled to a different vehicle performance limiter or a combination of limiters for the vehicle10. For example, the communications interface206may be operably coupled to a torque limiter structured to de-rate engine torque in response to a fault condition (e.g., independently from road speed, etc.).

The communications interface206may include any type and any number of wired or wireless connections. For example, a wired connection may include a serial cable, a fiber optic cable, a CAT5 cable, or any other form of wired connection. Wireless connections may include the Internet, Wi-Fi®, cellular, radio, Bluetooth®, ZigBee®, etc. In one embodiment, the inducement control circuit200forms part of a controller area network (CAN) bus for the vehicle10that provides the exchange of signals, information, and/or data between vehicle components. The CAN bus includes any number of wired and wireless connections.

The processor208may be operably coupled to each of the components of the inducement control circuit200and may be structured to control interaction between the components. For example, the processor208may be structured to control the collection, processing, and transmission of sensor data for the inducement control circuit200. Additionally, the processor208may be structured to retrieve and interpret vehicle inducement parameters stored in memory202. The processor208may further be structured to interpret inducement calibrations received from the remote computing device (e.g., the fleet manager102and/or the inducement assistance service104as shown inFIG.1). For example, the processor208may be structured to control the vehicle inducement speed limiter212or another limiter or another vehicle controller in response to instructions from the remote computing device.

The inducement control circuit200is structured to monitor and control vehicle inducement parameters in response to a fault condition and instructions from the remote computing device. The vehicle inducement parameters may include limits to engine performance or another vehicle operating parameter (e.g., a maximum operating speed of the vehicle10, a maximum output torque for the engine, a maximum engine rotational speed, or another suitable vehicle operating parameter).

FIG.3shows a method300of requesting an inducement calibration in response to a vehicle inducement that modifies a maximum vehicle operating speed (e.g., road speed). In other embodiments, the method300may modify any other vehicle operating parameter (e.g., a maximum operating speed of the vehicle10, a maximum output torque for the engine, a maximum engine rotational speed, an engine operating state, or any other suitable vehicle parameter). At302, sensor data indicative of a fault condition is received by an inducement control circuit of a vehicle. The vehicle and the inducement control circuit may be the same or similar to the vehicle10ofFIG.1and the inducement control circuit200ofFIG.2, respectively. The sensor data may be received from one or more vehicle sensors210onboard the vehicle10. Block302may include receiving a control signal from the sensor210indicative of an engine or vehicle10operating parameter being outside of an allowable range. For example, in an embodiment where the sensor210is an engine oil pressure sensor, block304may include receiving a control signal from the sensor210indicative of an oil pressure that exceeds a threshold oil pressure over a given time interval. In an embodiment where the sensor210is a liquid level sensor for an emissions control system, block304may include receiving a control signal from the sensor210indicative of a level of fluid (e.g., a level of fluid in a bulk storage tank on the vehicle10, etc.) being below a given threshold level. Block304may include continuously receiving and interpreting the control signal of the vehicle sensor(s)210in real-time (e.g., querying the control signal at a first sampling rate, conditioning the control signal using signal conditioning circuitry onboard one of the control circuit200or the sensor210, and converting the conditioned control signal to digital values using for example an analog-to-digital converter onboard one of the control circuit200or the sensor210, etc.).

At304, the inducement control circuit200activates (e.g., enables, etc.) a vehicle inducement to limit a performance parameter of the vehicle such as the road speed of the vehicle10to a first value or first limited speed (e.g., 5 mph or another suitable road speed to effectively prevent the operator from driving the vehicle10). Block304may include controlling the vehicle inducement speed limiter212of the inducement control circuit200to prevent the operator from exceeding the first limited speed (e.g., by limiting a maximum throttle position signal to the engine, by limiting the amount of fuel provided to the engine, etc.). At306, an override request including the fault condition is transmitted from the vehicle10to a remote computing device. The override request may be communicated manually (e.g., via telematics, a mobile phone, the internet, etc.) by an operator of the vehicle10to the remote computing device and/or by the inducement control circuit200in response to an operator's commands.

In some embodiments, block306may include communicating the override request to the fleet manager102to obtain approval for the request and, once approval has been received, submitting the approved request to the inducement assistance service104. Block306may additionally include retrieving, by the processor208, the fault condition and/or another form of diagnostic data (e.g., sensor data) stored in memory202for transmission to the remote computing device. Block306may further include transmitting identification and/or location information for the vehicle10to the remote computing device. For example, block306may include transmitting the vehicle's ESN, VIN, or another type of vehicle identification to the remote computing device. Alternatively, or in combination, block306may include transmitting global positioning system (GPS) coordinates for the vehicle10, a mile marker location and highway number at which the vehicle10is stranded, or the like.

In some embodiments, method300may further include generating an inducement calibration based on one, or a combination of the fault condition, the vehicle identification information, and the location of the vehicle. For example, the method300may include determining a real-time distance of the vehicle10from a nearest service center (e.g., a dealership, a filling station, etc.) based on a location of the vehicle10. The real-time distance between the vehicle10and the nearest service center may be determined using a mapping service in combination with the vehicle's GPS coordinates. The method300may include determining a mileage limit for the inducement calibration based on the real-time distance between the vehicle10and the nearest service center. In other embodiments, the mileage limit may be a fixed value (e.g., 200 miles). In yet other embodiment, the mileage limit may be determined based on the type of fault condition reported to the remote computing device (e.g., the issues resulting in the fault condition).

In another example, the method300includes determining a severity characteristic associated with the fault condition. The severity characteristic may be indicative of whether the vehicle10is safe to operate over a given distance (e.g., whether the fault condition is caused by a faulty sensor, tampering, or a condition which could result in permanent damage to the engine and/or other vehicle subsystems). The method300may additionally include selecting the inducement parameters for the inducement calibration and/or denying the inducement calibration based on the severity characteristic.

At308, instructions are received by the inducement control circuit200from the remote computing device in response to the override request. Block308may additionally include storing the instructions and any inducement parameters associated with the instructions in memory202. The instructions may include an inducement calibration that modifies the vehicle inducement parameters in order to enable the vehicle10to drive a given distance without exceeding a given maximum speed. In various illustrative embodiments, the given maximum speed is a second value of the performance parameter such as a second limited speed (e.g., 55 mph, etc.) that is greater than the first limited speed. The inducement calibration may also include a mileage limit or threshold, which, once exceeded, results in the inducement control circuit200controlling the vehicle inducement to limit the road speed of the vehicle10to the first limited speed. Among other benefits, utilizing a mileage limit or other duration tracking feature prevents the operator from driving the vehicle10indefinitely. The details of implementing the inducement calibration will be described in detail with reference toFIG.4.

At310, the vehicle inducement is controlled, in response to the inducement calibration, to limit a road speed of the vehicle10to the second limited speed. Block310may include controlling the vehicle inducement speed limiter212to prevent the operator from exceeding the second limited speed (e.g., by limiting a maximum throttle position signal, by limiting the amount of fuel provided to the engine, etc.). It will be appreciated that the methods and systems disclosed herein may also be applied by the inducement control circuit200to control other inducement parameters. For example, method300may include controlling a torque limiter to temporarily improve engine performance (e.g., to increase a maximum operating torque provided by the engine) or another inducement parameter.

FIG.4shows a method400of controlling vehicle inducement based on instructions received from the remote computing device (e.g., based on the inducement calibration). In alternative embodiments, the method400may include additional, fewer, and/or different operations. Method400may be implemented by an inducement control circuit on a vehicle, such as the inducement control circuit200described with reference toFIG.2. At402, a download counter is incremented. The download counter may be indicative of a number of separate inducement calibrations received by the inducement control circuit200since the fault condition occurred. Block402may include incrementing the download counter by an integer value after the instructions are received from the remote computing device.

The inducement control circuit200may be structured to utilize the download counter to prevent an operator from repeatedly circumventing vehicle inducement. At404, the inducement control circuit200determines whether the download counter exceeds a threshold number of downloads (a threshold number of downloads associated with the inducement calibration). Block404may include accessing a threshold number of downloads stored in memory202. Block404additionally includes comparing the download counter to the threshold number of downloads. In the event that the download counter exceeds the threshold number of downloads, the method400proceeds to418. At418, the inducement control circuit200controls the vehicle inducement speed limiter212to limit the road speed of the vehicle10to the first limited speed in order to prevent further vehicle operation. In the event that the download counter is below the threshold number of downloads, the method400proceeds to406. At406, the inducement control circuit200controls the vehicle inducement speed limiter212to limit the road speed of the vehicle10to the second limited speed, thereby allowing the operator to drive the vehicle10to the nearest service center for repair.

The method400includes continuously monitoring vehicle10operations in order to prevent the operator from driving the vehicle10indefinitely after an inducement calibration has been applied. At408, the inducement control circuit200queries the sensor210to determine whether the fault condition has been corrected (e.g., to determine if the vehicle10has been serviced, to determine that a fluid for the emissions system has been replenished, etc.). At412, the vehicle inducement is deactivated (e.g., disabled, etc.) based on a determination that the fault condition has been corrected (410). Block412may include deactivating the vehicle inducement speed limiter212to return the vehicle10to its full operational capabilities. In the event the fault condition still exists, the method400proceeds to414. At414, a mileage counter is queried to determine whether the mileage counter has elapsed (416) (e.g., that the vehicle10has exceeded the mileage limit associated with the inducement calibration). In other embodiments, the method400may include querying another counter or timer indicative of vehicle's operating duration (e.g., an inducement timer indicative of a time since the most recent calibration download was received, etc.). The method400continues to repeat blocks408-416until the mileage counter has elapsed. Once the mileage counter has elapsed, the method400proceeds to418, where the original vehicle inducement parameters are reinstated to prevent further vehicle10operation.

No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f), unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”

For the purpose of this disclosure, the term “coupled” means the connecting, joining, or linking of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members. For example, component A “coupled” to component B may signify that component A is connected directly to component B (i.e., no intermediary) or indirectly connected to component B (e.g., through one or more intermediaries).

While the term “processor” is briefly defined above, the term “processor” and “processing circuit” are meant to be broadly interpreted. In this regard and as mentioned above, the “processor” may be implemented as one or more general-purpose processors, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), or other suitable electronic data processing components structured to execute instructions provided by memory. The one or more processors may take the form of a single core processor, multi-core processor (e.g., a dual core processor, triple core processor, quad core processor, etc.), microprocessor, etc. In some embodiments, the one or more processors may be external to the apparatus, for example, the one or more processors may be a remote processor (e.g., a cloud based processor). Alternatively, or additionally, the one or more processors may be internal and/or local to the apparatus. In this regard, a given circuit or components thereof may be disposed locally (e.g., as part of a local server, a local computing system, etc.) or remotely (e.g., as part of a remote server such as a cloud based server). To that end, a “circuit” as described herein may include components that are distributed across one or more locations.

Although the present disclosure may provide a specific order and composition of method steps, the order of these steps may differ from what is described. For example, two or more steps may be performed concurrently or with partial concurrence. Also, some method steps that are performed as discrete steps may be combined, steps being performed as a combined step may be separated into discrete steps, the sequence of certain processes may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete processes may be altered or varied. The order or sequence of any element or apparatus may be varied or substituted according to alternative embodiments. All such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims. Such variations will depend on the machine-readable media and hardware systems chosen and on designer choice. All such variations are within the scope of the disclosure.

The foregoing description of embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from this disclosure. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the disclosure and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as expressed in the appended claims.

Accordingly, the present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the disclosure is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.