Vehicle Alert and Notification System
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`Author(s): IBM TDB
`See, ME
`Stagg, AJ
`IP.com number: IPCOM000116157D
`Original Publication Date: August 1, 1995
`Original Disclosure Information: TDB v38 n8 08-95 p209-212
`IP.com Electronic Publication: March 30, 2005
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`RA893-0071
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`STK
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`M. E. See and A. J. Stagg
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`0
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`‘ii Technical Disclosure Bulletin
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`Vol. 38 No.08 August 1995
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`Vehicle Alert and Notification System
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`The modern automobile is composed of a complex family of interrelated systems. These systems
`are subject to breakage at the most inopportune times, subjecting operators to inconvenient and
`potentially dangerous situations. Many of these breakdowns are preventable if notification of a
`failing system can be effected prior to failure.
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`In addition, more time and money may be wasted when the correct part is not carried by
`the service vehicle or tow truck. This results in extra towing charges as well as lost time between
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`breakdown and ultimate repair.
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`A system, Vehicle Alert and Notification System (VANS), provides a solution to the prob-
`lems described. The VANS system relies on modem and, in part, existing technology to provide
`an automatic notification of failure, or potential failure, of an automotive system. For the pur-
`poses of this document, an automotive system is defined to be any vehicle whose motive power is
`provided by a combustion engine, to include automobiles, trucks, and specialty vehicles like RVs
`or mini-vans.
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`VANS consists of an on-board platform, the VANS Monitor, which provides notification of
`failing or failed systems to an external agency. VANS continues to_ provide the traditional oper-
`ator notification mechanism although with a much _irnproved notification system. While the
`entire system will be discussed, it is the VANS Monitor which is the heart of the proposed
`system.
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`The essential concept of VANS rests of marriage of the following existing technologies:
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`It is this
`1. Cellular telephony has proven a practical medium that is growing in popularity.
`technology that will provide the communication mechanism between the on-board platform
`and the external agency.
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`2. Increased utilization of microprocessor chips in the control and monitoring automotive
`systems.
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`3. Decreased costs of basic hardware such as modems, memory and processor boards make the
`VANS approach commercially attractive.
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`The VANS system uses an on-board computer to monitor automotive systems via existing,
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`and in some cases, newly devised chips. These chips generally are designed to monitor abnormal
`occurrences utilizing analog measurement systems. An example of this is a heat sensor used to
`control air flow in the engine. The VANS Monitor will receive these notifications, translate them
`into a digital format which may then be transmitted to an extemal agency. Transmission will be
`accomplished by utilization of existing cellular ‘technology.
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`Vol. 38 No. 08 August 1995
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`IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin
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`Vehicle Alert and Notification System — Continued
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`The VANS Monitor is the heart of the VANS system, it is the on-board platform which
`controls the notification of failure potential as well as actual failure events. The monitor is com-
`posed of the following components which are shown in the Figure and are described immediately
`following the Figure.
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`Sensors
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`Figure. VANS Monitor lntemal Components
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`Notes on the Figure
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`- System Ports — The system ports provide an interface between the analog sensors and the
`digital format required for processing and transmittal. Sensors are generally system or meas-
`urement type unique. Each may require a unique interface.
`For example,
`temperature
`readings from the cooling system require a different interface than fluid level readings from the
`transmission.
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`The interface to the VANS monitor is a multiple port Analog to Digital (A/D) con-
`verter. The analog signals from the various monitoring devices on the vehicle are sampled at
`a sufficiently high rate to guarantee an accurate digital representation of the analog signal.
`The A/D converter accepts multiple inputs and has the capability to sample each input at a
`different rate. Since most signals in an automobile change slowly (from a computer's perspec-
`tive), the conversion to digital signals can be accomplished with inexpensive A/D converters.
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`0 Processor ‘- Once the data is in digital format, it is interrogated by the processor and a deter-
`mination is made whether the reading lies within a normal range. When data is within
`normal range for a specific system, it may be saved in order to create a history of previous
`readings. This history may be used in analyzing trends in the various systems-to determine
`whether trends are present that indicate a potential failure occurrence. For abnormal readings
`the inforrnation is both transmitted to an external agency and displayed to the vehicle oper-
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`ator (not shown in the Figure).
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`The monitor does not require a very powerful processor (at least by today's standards).
`‘The equivalent of the Intel 286 should be sufficient. The following types of memory are
`required.
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`-- Non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM):
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`NVRAM is needed for storing the data derived from the ongoing sampling of the
`vehicle's operational parameters. There are existing NVRAM modules that include a
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`IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin
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`Vol. 38 No. 08 August 1995
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`Vehicle Alert and Notification System - Continued
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`time of day and date function. This is needed to allow the accurate dating and time
`stamping of messages transmitted to the appropriate agency.
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`Read-only memory (ROM) or FLASH:
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`ROM or FLASH memory is needed to store the code used by the processor.
`FLASH memory would allow code updates to be transmitted over the cellular link and
`updated automatically by the VANS monitor. ROMs would need to be replaced by a
`service technician.
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`- Dial Support and Modem - Dial support is invoked to transmit the diagnostic information to
`the external agency via standard communication mechanisms.
`(Note that the IBM S/390*
`family of processors have had a similar automatic dial feature for years). The dial support can
`be connected to the vehicle's existing cellular telephone or optionally to a cellular communi-
`cation mechanism that is part of the VANS monitor.
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`Power supply - Normally power is derived from the vehicle's electrical system. An additional
`battery backup is provided for use when the electrical system and battery have failed or been
`tampered with. Failure of either electrical supply results in a warning requesting service for
`the failed system.
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`The following aspects of the VANS Monitor are geared to provide a secure interface with an
`external agency.
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`° Hard coded phone number - To prevent the utilization of the dial capabilities of the monitor,
`only a single number will be supported.
`It is envisioned that this number would be an 800
`number providing access only to the external agency.
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`- Vehicle Identification - Identification of transmitting vehicles will be maintained via the vehi-
`cles identification number which is required by law to be unique.
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`The VANS view of a suitable extemal agency would be an automotive manufacturer-funded
`service bureau. These corporations are already building databases which include service and own-
`ership records of all new vehicles sold. The service bureau would provide the telephonic facilities
`for one or more manufacturers. Upon receiving a signal from a distressed vehicle, notification
`would be passed to a manufacturer and/or service vehicle.
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`"' Trademark of IBM Corp.
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`Vol. 38 No. 08 August 1395
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`IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin
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