US6959235B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Diagnosis and repair system and method
Assignee: Transportation IP Holdings LLC
•
Filing: 2000-08-23
•
Granted: 2005-10-25
•
Expires: 2020-08-23
Abstract
Abstract A diagnosis and repair recommendation system for a railroad locomotive is disclosed. The system uses generalized repair recommendations and instantiates them to a specific repair process for a unique road number locomotive. In addition to repair steps to be executed by the technician, the method and system remotely provides supporting documentation specifically tailored for each step in the repair process. As the repair is being conducted, feedback information is entered by the technician. The repair recommendations and the supporting documents are available to the technician via a remote unit, thereby allowing the technician to access the repair steps and supporting documentation while the repair is in progress.
Inventors
- 👤 Aiman Abdel-Malek
- 👤 Brian Scallan
- 👤 Jeanette M. Bruno
- 👤 Bryan A. Mathewson
- 👤 James E. Schlabach
- 👤 Gregory J. Fera
- 👤 Ivan Gomez
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:30
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07C; G07C5/00; G07C5/008; B; B61; B61L; B61L27/00; B61L27/50; B61L27/57; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for generating and implementing a service recommendation for a locomotive, said method comprising: collecting operating information from the locomotive via a first computing device on the locomotive; communicating the operating information to a remote diagnostic center via a wireless communications link; analyzing the operating information at the diagnostic center to identify anomalous conditions in the operation of the locomotive; generating a service recommendation for the anomalous condition of the locomotive; posting the service recommendation to an Internet site for later retrieval, wherein the Internet site comprises a web site; providing an address of the Internet site where the service recommendation is posted to a portable second computing device operated by a technician at the site of the locomotive for implementing the service recommendation on the locomotive; downloading the service recommendation from the address of the Internet site to the second computing device; and displaying multimedia information associated with the service recommendation and downloaded from the web site on a display of the second computing device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for generating and implementing a service recommendation for a locomotive, said method comprising: collecting operating information from the locomotive via a first computing device on the locomotive; communicating the operating information to a remote diagnostic center via a wireless communications link; analyzing the operating information at the diagnostic center to identify anomalous conditions in the operation of the locomotive; generating a service recommendation for the anomalous condition of the locomotive; posting the service recommendation to an Internet site for later retrieval, wherein the Internet site comprises a web site; providing an address of the Internet site where the service recommendation is posted to a portable second computing device operated by a technician at the site of the locomotive for implementing the service recommendation on the locomotive; downloading the service recommendation from the address of the Internet site to the second computing device; and displaying multimedia information associated with the service recommendation and downloaded from the web site on a display of the second computing device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the service recommendation comprises instructions for conducting repairs or performing maintenance operations on the locomotive, wherein the repairs or maintenance operations are responsive to the anomalous condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic center is located to service a plurality of geographically distributed locomotives, and wherein a site of the locomotive is a remotely-located service facility.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising; returning information relevant to the service recommendation to the diagnostic center from a location of the locomotive via the wireless communications link.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the returned information is in the form of a video image of a portion of the locomotive.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the returned information is in the form of an audible message.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting voice signals over the wireless communications link between the diagnostic center and a site of the locomotive.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the multimedia information includes one or more of pictures, photographs, text, pre-recorded audio, real-time audio, pre-recorded video and real-time video.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising at a location of the locomotive, ordering repair parts from a parts inventory store to implement the service recommendation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the service recommendation includes technical information of the structure and operation of components on the locomotive as related to the anomalous condition.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the technical information describes the components and operation of the locomotive.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising retrieving technical information relevant to the service recommendation from the remote diagnostic center in response to a plurality of sequential queries originating from the second computing device and communicated to the diagnostic center.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
95 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising, during execution of the service recommendation, answering queries included within the service recommendation to provide feedback to the diagnostic center via the second computing device. 14 .. The method of claim 1 wherein each locomotive is assigned a unique designator, further comprising providing the unique designator to the remote diagnostic center via the wireless communications link, and wherein the unique designator is utilized at the remote diagnostic center for generating the recommendation, and wherein each service recommendation is associated with a specific locomotive based on the locomotive designator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising transmitting queries from the diagnostic center to the location of the locomotive over the wireless communications link, wherein the queries request operational parametric information for the uniquely identified locomotive.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising requesting, from the diagnostic center over the wireless communications link, configuration information of one or more components of the locomotive.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: passing a bar code reader proximate a bar code on a component of the locomotive; and providing the information derived from the bar code to the diagnostic center.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: taking a video image of a component of the land based vehicle; and providing the video image to the diagnostic center.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising creating a record when a service recommendation is provided to the location of the locomotive.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising providing information as to the status of the implementation of each service recommendation to the second computing device from the input/output device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the status information includes one of the following: ongoing, halted, and closed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the second computing device includes a kiosk for displaying all service recommendations stored therein including the status of each service recommendation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the second computing device includes a kiosk for printing all service recommendations stored therein, including the status of each such service recommendation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising displaying each service recommendation and the implementation status thereof on a monitor board.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the service recommendation further comprises technical information in the form of one or more of schematic diagrams, photographs, textual technical descriptions, block diagrams, and parts list relevant to the anomalous condition.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
195 words
A method for generating and implementing a service recommendation for a land-based vehicle, said method comprising: collecting operating information from the land-based vehicle via a first computing device on the vehicle; communicating the operating information to a remote diagnostic center via a wireless communications link; analyzing the operating information at the diagnostic center to identify anomalous conditions in the operation of the land-based vehicle; generating a service recommendation comprising instructions for conducting repairs or performing maintenance operations on the land-based vehicle, wherein the repairs or maintenance operations are responsive to the anomalous condition; communicating the service recommendation from the diagnostic center to a second computing device at a service location for the land-based vehicle; and accessing the service recommendation from the second computing device via an input/output device to implement the service recommendation on the land-based vehicle; storing the service recommendations in a database on the second computing device, wherein each service recommendation has an assigned version number; examining the version number of each stored service recommendation; determining if there is more than a single version for a service recommendation; and retaining only the latest version for any service recommendation having more than one version.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
195 words
A method for generating and implementing a service recommendation for a land-based vehicle, said method comprising: collecting operating information from the land-based vehicle via a first computing device on the vehicle; communicating the operating information to a remote diagnostic center via a wireless communications link; analyzing the operating information at the diagnostic center to identify anomalous conditions in the operation of the land-based vehicle; generating a service recommendation comprising instructions for conducting repairs or performing maintenance operations on the land-based vehicle, wherein the repairs or maintenance operations are responsive to the anomalous condition; communicating the service recommendation from the diagnostic center to a second computing device at a service location for the land-based vehicle; and accessing the service recommendation from the second computing device via an input/output device to implement the service recommendation on the land-based vehicle; storing the service recommendations in a database on the second computing device, wherein each service recommendation has an assigned version number; examining the version number of each stored service recommendation; determining if there is more than a single version for a service recommendation; and retaining only the latest version for any service recommendation having more than one version.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
149 words
A method for generating and implementing a service recommendation for a land-based vehicle, said method comprising: collecting operating information from the land-based vehicle via a first computing device on the vehicle; communicating the operating information to a remote diagnostic center via a wireless communications link; analyzing the operating information at the diagnostic center to identify anomalous conditions in the operation of the land-based vehicle; generating a service recommendation comprising instructions for conducting repairs or performing maintenance operations on the land-based vehicle, wherein the repairs or maintenance operations are responsive to the anomalous condition; communicating the service recommendation from the diagnostic center to a second computing device at a service location for the land-based vehicle; and accessing the service recommendation from the second computing device via an input/output device to implement the service recommendation on the land-based vehicle; creating a record when a service recommendation is terminated prior to completion.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
149 words
A method for generating and implementing a service recommendation for a land-based vehicle, said method comprising: collecting operating information from the land-based vehicle via a first computing device on the vehicle; communicating the operating information to a remote diagnostic center via a wireless communications link; analyzing the operating information at the diagnostic center to identify anomalous conditions in the operation of the land-based vehicle; generating a service recommendation comprising instructions for conducting repairs or performing maintenance operations on the land-based vehicle, wherein the repairs or maintenance operations are responsive to the anomalous condition; communicating the service recommendation from the diagnostic center to a second computing device at a service location for the land-based vehicle; and accessing the service recommendation from the second computing device via an input/output device to implement the service recommendation on the land-based vehicle; creating a record when a service recommendation is terminated prior to completion.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for closing a service recommendation for maintenance or repair of a land-based vehicle at a remote service site, said method comprising: confirming the implementation of a service recommendation for maintenance or repair performed on a land-based vehicle at the remote service site; determining that the vehicle as serviced operates properly to resume operational status; completing a return-to-service procedure for the vehicle, including communicating said operational status to a service center; returning the vehicle to service.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for closing a service recommendation for maintenance or repair of a land-based vehicle at a remote service site, said method comprising: confirming the implementation of a service recommendation for maintenance or repair performed on a land-based vehicle at the remote service site; determining that the vehicle as serviced operates properly to resume operational status; completing a return-to-service procedure for the vehicle, including communicating said operational status to a service center; returning the vehicle to service.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the return-to-service procedure includes returning the vehicle to an operational status.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 28 further comprising reassigning service personnel who implemented the service recommendation when the vehicle is returned to service.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 28 further comprising: determining whether there is an inventory deficiency for one or more components replaced on the vehicle; and in response to the determining step, restocking the inventory of said components.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 28 further comprising reassigning the service site for implementing another service recommendation at said site.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
213 words
A system for generating and implementing a service recommendation for a locomotive, said system comprising: a first computing component on the locomotive for collecting operating information from the locomotive; a first communication component responsive to the first computing component for sending the operating information from the locomotive to a diagnostic center via a first wireless communications link; an analysis component at the diagnostic center for analyzing the operating information to identify anomalous conditions in the operation of the locomotive; in response to the analysis component, a recommendation-generating component at the diagnostic center for creating a service recommendation to overcome the anomalous condition; and a second communication component for posting the service recommendation to an Internet site, wherein the Internet site comprises a web site; a second portable computing component at a service location of the locomotive, wherein the second communication component provides an address of the Internet site to the second computing component, and wherein the second computing component downloads the service recommendation from the address of the Internet site to the second computing component for implementation of the service recommendation on the locomotive by a technician operating the second computing component; and an input/output device comprising a display for displaying multimedia information associated with the service recommendation downloaded from the web site.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
213 words
A system for generating and implementing a service recommendation for a locomotive, said system comprising: a first computing component on the locomotive for collecting operating information from the locomotive; a first communication component responsive to the first computing component for sending the operating information from the locomotive to a diagnostic center via a first wireless communications link; an analysis component at the diagnostic center for analyzing the operating information to identify anomalous conditions in the operation of the locomotive; in response to the analysis component, a recommendation-generating component at the diagnostic center for creating a service recommendation to overcome the anomalous condition; and a second communication component for posting the service recommendation to an Internet site, wherein the Internet site comprises a web site; a second portable computing component at a service location of the locomotive, wherein the second communication component provides an address of the Internet site to the second computing component, and wherein the second computing component downloads the service recommendation from the address of the Internet site to the second computing component for implementation of the service recommendation on the locomotive by a technician operating the second computing component; and an input/output device comprising a display for displaying multimedia information associated with the service recommendation downloaded from the web site.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 33 wherein the service recommendation includes instructions for making one or more repairs to or performing maintenance on the locomotive and technical documentation related to the structure and function of the locomotive.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 33 wherein the second computing component downloads the service recommendation from the Internet site to the second computing component over a second wireless communications link.
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