Predicting vehicular failures using autonomous collaborative comparisons to detect anomalies

{
  "publication_number": "US10565807B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Predicting vehicular failures using autonomous collaborative comparisons to detect anomalies",
  "abstract": "A computer-implemented method includes: determining, by a computer device, a value of an operating condition of a component of a vehicle; obtaining, by the computer device, a comparison value for the operating condition from one of: a same type component on the same vehicle; a same type component on at least one other vehicle; and a remote database; comparing, by the computer device, the determined value to the comparison value; determining, by the computer device and based on the comparing, whether the determined value deviates from the comparison value by more than a threshold amount; and generating an alert in the vehicle based on the determining the determined value deviates from the comparison value by more than the threshold amount.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a computer device to cause the computer device to: determine, based on data from a first sensor on a vehicle, a value of an operating condition of a component of the vehicle; obtain, based on data from a second sensor on the vehicle, a comparison value for the operating condition from a same type component on the same vehicle; determine the determined value based on the data from the first sensor deviates from the comparison value based on the data from the second sensor by more than a threshold amount; and generate an alert in the vehicle based on the determining the determined value deviates from the comparison value by more than the threshold amount.",
    "2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein: the obtaining the comparison value comprises detecting plural values of an operating condition of plural ones of the same type component on the same vehicle from plural sensors on the vehicle; and the comparison value is an average of the plural values.",
    "3. The computer program product of claim 2, wherein the average is determined over a rolling window of time with a predefined duration.",
    "4. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein, based on the determining the determined value deviates from the comparison value by more than the threshold amount, the program instructions cause the computer device to automatically limit a speed of the vehicle.",
    "5. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein, based on the determining the determined value deviates from the comparison value by more than the threshold amount, the program instructions cause the computer device to automatically alter a navigation system of the vehicle to direct a driver of the vehicle to a repair facility.",
    "6. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein: the determining the determined value and the obtaining the comparison value are repeated at a defined time interval; and the computer device is configured to receive input from a user via an interface in the vehicle, and to change the defined time interval based on the input.",
    "7. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer device is configured to receive input from a user via an interface in the vehicle, and to adjust the threshold amount based on the input.",
    "8. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the threshold amount is initially set at a factory default value and the input from the user changes the threshold amount from the factory default value to another value that is different than the factory default value.",
    "9. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein: the determining the value of the operating condition comprises determining a temperature of a brake rotor of the vehicle; and the obtaining the comparison value for the operating condition comprises determining an average temperature of plural other brake rotors of the vehicle.",
    "10. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein: the determining the value of the operating condition comprises determining a temperature of a wheel bearing of the vehicle; and the obtaining the comparison value for the operating condition comprises determining an average temperature of plural other wheel bearings of the vehicle.",
    "11. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein: the determining the value of the operating condition comprises determining a travel distance of a strut of the vehicle; and the obtaining the comparison value for the operating condition comprises determining an average travel distance of plural other struts of the vehicle.",
    "12. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein: the determining the value of the operating condition comprises determining a temperature of a cylinder of the vehicle; and the obtaining the comparison value for the operating condition comprises determining an average temperature of plural other cylinders of the vehicle.",
    "13. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer device is integrated in the vehicle.",
    "14. A method, comprising: determining, by a computer device in a vehicle and based on data from a first sensor on the vehicle, a value of an operating condition of a component of the vehicle; obtaining, by the computer device and based on data from a second sensor on the vehicle, a comparison value for the operating condition from a same type component on the same vehicle; determining, by the computer device, that the determined value based on the data from the first sensor deviates from the comparison value based on the data from the second sensor by more than a threshold amount; and generating, by the computer device, an alert in the vehicle based on the determining the determined value deviates from the comparison value by more than the threshold amount.",
    "15. A system, comprising: a vehicle comprising an on-board computer device that is configured to: determine, based on data from a first sensor on the vehicle, a value of an operating condition of a component of the vehicle; obtain, based on data from a second sensor on the vehicle, a comparison value for the operating condition from a same type component on the same vehicle; determine the determined value based on the data from the first sensor deviates from the comparison value based on the data from the second sensor by more than a threshold amount; and generate an alert in the vehicle based on the determining the determined value deviates from the comparison value by more than the threshold amount."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention generally relates to vehicle condition monitoring and, more particularly, to predicting vehicular failures using autonomous collaborative comparisons to detect anomalies.\n\nVehicles and trailers today are not instrumented as much as they could be to give a driver awareness of problems before they become catastrophic failures. Travel being interrupted by a mechanical failure in a vehicle is an unfortunate and unpleasant experience and can result in injuries. This problem is especially significant in the insurance industry and the commercial fleet industry.\n\nIn an aspect of the invention, a computer-implemented method includes: determining, by a computer device, a value of an operating condition of a component of a vehicle; obtaining, by the computer device, a comparison value for the operating condition from one of: a same type component on the same vehicle; a same type component on at least one other vehicle; and a remote database; comparing, by the computer device, the determined value to the comparison value; determining, by the computer device and based on the comparing, whether the determined value deviates from the comparison value by more than a threshold amount; and generating an alert in the vehicle based on the determining the determined value deviates from the comparison value by more than the threshold amount. In embodiments, the computer device is integrated in the vehicle.",
  "cpc": [
    "G07C 5/0816",
    "G07C 5/008"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G07C 5/00",
    "G07C 5/08"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "International Business Machines Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Gregory J. Boss",
    "Andrew R. Jones",
    "Charles S. Lingafelt",
    "Kevin C. McConnell",
    "John E. Moore, JR."
  ],
  "filing_date": "2018-09-10",
  "publication_date": "2020-02-18",
  "grant_date": "2020-02-18",
  "priority_date": "2016-10-25",
  "application_number": "US-201816126379-A",
  "family_id": "61970990",
  "cited_by_count": 12,
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}