Configurable Vehicle Module Universal Part Numbering
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of part numbers for vehicle components across different regions and model years leads to inefficiencies in manufacturing and service, limiting flexibility in enabling or disabling features based on specific needs, and complicates global part management, impacting a company's bottom line.
Innovation Solution
A configurable vehicle module that operates independently of specific part numbers, connecting to a service delivery network to receive build and feature configuration information, allowing features to be enabled, disabled, or customized based on vehicle-specific requirements through a publish/subscribe model using topic trees for software updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple part numbers are used to identify parts in different vehicle lines and model years, then part identification accuracy is improved, but part number complexity increases exponentially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal part numbering system where a single part number can identify the same part across different vehicle lines, model years, and regions. The configurable module with feature set configuration enables one part to serve multiple functions and be identified by one part number regardless of the specific vehicle application, eliminating the need for multiple part numbers for the same physical part.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a service delivery network and configurable module as intermediaries between the part number and the actual part implementation. These intermediaries handle the complexity of feature configuration and part identification, allowing the part number itself to remain simple while the system manages the complexity of different vehicle line requirements through software-based feature sets.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different part numbers are used for the same part in different regions, then regional customization is improved, but global part management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal part numbering approach where the same part number can be used globally for the same part. Regional customization is achieved not through different part numbers but through the configurable module's feature set configuration, which can be adjusted based on regional requirements while maintaining a single part number identifier.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the customization dimension from the part number space to the feature configuration space. Instead of creating different part numbers for different regions (one-dimensional differentiation), the system uses the configurable module's feature sets to handle regional variations (adding a software/configuration dimension for customization).
3Ease of manufacture
If configurable modules are deployed without feature set configuration, then deployment simplicity is improved, but feature flexibility and adaptability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the module with a feature set configuration during manufacturing or deployment. The service delivery network delivers the appropriate feature set configuration to the module before the vehicle enters service, so that when the vehicle is deployed, the module is already configured for its specific application without requiring complex on-site configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The configurable module performs self-service by automatically receiving and applying its feature set configuration from the service delivery network. The module self-configures based on the delivered feature set, eliminating the need for manual configuration while maintaining full feature flexibility and adaptability to different vehicle line requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle may gather vehicle build configuration information, and provide a vehicle identifier and the vehicle information to a server. The server may determine a feature set configuration of a configurable module of the vehicle based on the vehicle information and vehicle feature associations retrieved from a vehicle data source, and provide, in a message topic of a topic tree associated with the vehicle identifier to which the vehicle is subscribed, a notification to configure the configurable module. The vehicle may update a feature set configuration of a configurable module supporting a plurality of features based on the notification.