Fleet Fuel Inefficiency Diagnosis via Peer Group Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Enterprise customers face challenges in identifying the cause of fuel inefficiency in their vehicles, as existing methods lack accuracy in distinguishing between vehicle performance decline over time and initial inefficiency, and fail to account for environmental and operational factors such as city driving, heavy loads, and driver behavior.

Innovation Solution

A method implemented via a network service provider's processor categorizes vehicles into peer groups based on type, fuel, weight, location, and population density, determines baseline efficiencies and behaviors, and identifies outliers to determine if driving behavior or maintenance needs are causing inefficiencies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If vehicles are monitored using existing methods, then fuel consumption data can be collected, but the cause of fuel inefficiency cannot be accurately identified

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidentification accuracy of fuel inefficiency causeVSAvoidlack of cause identification

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the fleet into peer groups based on vehicle characteristics (type, fuel, weight, age) and operating conditions (location, population density). This segmentation allows for meaningful comparisons by grouping similar vehicles together, enabling accurate identification of outliers that truly represent fuel inefficiency problems rather than normal variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the analytical approach by introducing multiple parameters for comparison: vehicle characteristics (type, fuel type, weight, age), operating conditions (location, population density), and performance metrics (fuel consumption, miles per gallon). By analyzing these parameters collectively and comparing against peer group baselines, the system can identify the specific cause of fuel inefficiency whether it be driving behavior or vehicle maintenance needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If historical data is used to determine efficiency, then long-term trends can be analyzed, but initial inefficiency cannot be distinguished from performance decline

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistinction between initial and declining efficiencyVSAvoidtime to identify inefficiency cause

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes baseline fuel consumption rates for each peer group in advance, representing the expected efficient performance for vehicles with similar characteristics. By comparing individual vehicle performance against these pre-established baselines, the system can immediately identify vehicles that are inefficient from the start versus those that have declined over time, eliminating the need to wait for historical trends to develop.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If manufacturer specifications are used for comparison, then standard efficiency metrics can be obtained, but environmental and operational factors are not accounted for

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of efficiency assessmentVSAvoidaccounting for operational conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating peer groups with specific local characteristics (geographic location, population density, driving conditions) rather than using a single universal standard. Each peer group establishes its own baseline reflecting the local operating conditions, allowing for accurate assessment that accounts for environmental factors such as city versus highway driving, traffic conditions, and geographic variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Measurement precision

If detailed analysis of each vehicle is performed, then accurate cause identification is possible, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecause identification accuracyVSAvoidanalysis system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces system complexity through segmentation into peer groups. Instead of analyzing each vehicle individually against all possible factors, the system groups vehicles with similar characteristics together, creating reference baselines for each group. This segmentation simplifies the analysis by providing ready-made comparison groups, reducing the computational burden while maintaining high accuracy in cause identification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10144434B2Method and apparatus for identifying a cause for a fuel inefficiency of a vehicle via a network

Publication Date: 2018.12.04 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

A method and apparatus for identifying a cause for a fuel inefficiency of a vehicle are disclosed. For example, the method categorizes a plurality of vehicles into a plurality of peer groups, determines for each peer group a baseline of a vehicle operation efficiency, determines for each peer group a baseline of driving behavior, identifies at least one vehicle with a vehicle operation efficiency in one peer group of the plurality of peer groups that is an outlier as compared to the baseline of the vehicle operation efficiency associated with the one peer group, determines whether a driving behavior of a driver driving the at least one vehicle is an outlier as compared to the baseline of the driving behavior associated with the one peer group, and identifies a cause for the vehicle operation efficiency being an outlier.