Vehicle Condition Detection and Service Provider Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Drivers face challenges in locating and accessing suitable vehicle service providers quickly, especially when their vehicles require urgent maintenance, leading to potential safety hazards due to the abundance of service providers and the difficulty in organizing relevant data.

Innovation Solution

A method that determines a vehicle's current condition using sensor data and provides a condition message with mitigating action plan data, including an offer fulfillment location, which can be selected based on provider capabilities and proximity, with options for turn-by-turn navigation or automatic navigation to ensure safe vehicle operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a driver uses a list of nearby vehicle service providers, then the driver can identify available service providers, but the data is not organized in a helpful way and it is difficult to locate an appropriate provider quickly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveorganization of service provider dataVSAvoidtime to locate appropriate service provider
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing different levels of information organization at different stages: initial filtering by condition type, then detailed sorting by multiple criteria (distance, wait time, capabilities). This hierarchical organization structure allows drivers to quickly locate appropriate providers by first identifying relevant service types and then selecting from well-organized lists sorted by preferred criteria.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adapts the presentation of service provider information based on the detected vehicle condition and user preferences. The data organization changes according to the specific service needed, presenting different sorting options and filtering criteria relevant to each condition type, making the information structure flexible and context-aware rather than static.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If there are many vehicle service providers, then more service options are available, but it becomes difficult to determine an appropriate provider

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of service provider optionsVSAvoiddifficulty in selecting appropriate provider
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the large set of service providers into smaller, manageable groups based on the detected vehicle condition. Providers are filtered and categorized by their capabilities to service specific conditions, then further organized by distance, wait time, and other criteria. This segmentation transforms an overwhelming list into structured, condition-specific subsets that are easier to evaluate and select from.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary filtering and organization of service providers based on the vehicle's detected condition before presenting options to the driver. By pre-sorting providers according to relevance, distance, and wait time, and by filtering out providers incapable of servicing the specific condition, the system reduces the decision complexity before the driver needs to make a selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Duration of action of stationary object

If a driver continues to drive with a vehicle problem, then the vehicle can continue operating temporarily, but safety hazards may arise from losing control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle operation durationVSAvoidvehicle safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system detects vehicle conditions and determines mitigating action plans in advance, before safety hazards occur. By identifying service needs early and providing organized information about available providers, the system enables drivers to plan and execute service visits proactively, preventing condition deterioration that could lead to safety issues while maintaining vehicle operation during the transition period.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10726639B2Wireless incentive system for vehicle users
Publication Date: 2020.07.28 TOYOTA INFOTECH CENT U S A
  • US10726639B2 patent drawing
  • US10726639B2 patent drawing
  • US10726639B2 patent drawing

AI summary

The disclosure includes a method for determining, based on vehicle sensor data associated with a vehicle, a current vehicle condition associated with the vehicle that is detrimental to operation of the vehicle and receiving a condition message that includes mitigating action plan data describing one or more steps configured to alter the current vehicle condition, the mitigating action plan data including an offer fulfillment location included in a route of a journey for the vehicle.