Patent Application
20160088427
The present disclosure relates to a method for linking an unlinked Bluetooth low energy (BLE) tagged machine component, and more particularly to the method for linking the unlinked BLE tagged machine component with the electronic control module (ECM) of the machine.
Servicing station for machines includes multiple service bays having machines lined up in those service bays. Each service bay includes multiple machines for the purpose of servicing, installation or replacement of machine components. Typically a Bluetooth low energy system installed on a target machine is used to communicate with the machine components within a range of the Bluetooth low energy system. Post communication with an electronic control module (ECM) of the target machine, the machine components can be linked to the target machine and may be tracked for future references. While servicing and within the range of the Bluetooth low energy system, the Bluetooth low energy system of the target machine may communicate with the other machine's components. This may create a difficulty in identifying the target machine's components.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,551,086, hereinafter referred as the '086 patent, describes a system and method for tracking aircraft components. The system includes a plurality of aircraft components, a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, and a transceiver operatively configured to transmit an activation signal to each of the RFID tags. Each of the RFID tags is associated with a respective one of the aircraft components and comprises identification and maintenance data information specific to the aircraft component to which it is associated. The transceiver is configured to receive information transmitted by each of the RFID tags which are configured to transmit identification and maintenance data information that is representative of a maintenance history for the aircraft component to which the RFID tag is associated. The '086 patent does not show the method for linking of the respective machine components tags wherein multiple machines are present, such as a servicing station.
In one aspect of the present disclosure, a method for linking an unlinked Bluetooth low energy (BLE) tagged component of a target machine with an electronic control module (ECM) of the target machine, wherein a plurality of machines are present. The method includes reading the unlinked BLE tagged component by the ECM of the target machine. The method also includes displaying the unlinked BLE tagged component of the available plurality of machines on a user interface of the ECM of the target machine. The method includes moving the machine away from the other available plurality of machines by a pre-determined distance. Thereafter, the method includes linking the displayed unlinked BLE tagged component with the ECM of the target machine, when the distance between the target machine and other plurality of machines is more than the pre-determined distance.
Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.
Reference will now be made in detail to specific embodiments or features, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, corresponding or similar reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or corresponding parts.
The servicing station 100 includes a plurality of service bays 102 located adjacent to each other. In an alternative embodiment, the plurality of service bays 102 may have a perpendicular arrangement or a combination of parallel and perpendicular arrangement. The plurality of service bay 102 includes multiple machines lined up one adjacent to the other. These multiple machines are present in the servicing station 100 for the purpose of servicing, installation or replacement of machine components. As shown in
A Bluetooth low energy system 106 installed on the target machine 104 is used to communicate with a Bluetooth low energy tagged machine components (not shown) present within a range of the Bluetooth low energy system 106. The Bluetooth low energy system 106, hereinafter the phrase ‘Bluetooth low energy’ will be referred to as BLE, installed on the target machine 104 communicates with an electronic control module (ECM) 110 of the target machine 104. During installation of the BLE tagged machine components on the target machine 104, the BLE system 106 will link the BLE tagged machine components to the target machine 104 and will display on an user interface 112 of the ECM 110. The linked BLE tagged machine components will be displayed on the user interface 112 of the ECM 110 as a list and can be tracked accordingly. Thereafter, the linked BLE tagged machine components will not be able to get linked to other BLE system installed on other machines. Further, the unlinked BLE tagged machine components will be displayed on the user interface 112 of the ECM 110 present within the range of BLE system 106. The unlinked BLE tagged components may be of the target machine 104 having the ECM 110 or of any other machines present within the range of the BLE system 106.
The user interface 112 of the ECM 110 will display the linked BLE tagged machine components and the unlinked BLE tagged machine components within the range of BLE system 106. The user interface 112 of the ECM 110, as shown in
The present disclosure relates to a method for linking an unlinked BLE tagged component of a target machine with an electronic control module (ECM) of the target machine, wherein a plurality of machines are present. The method includes detecting the unlinked BLE tagged component by the target machine ECM. The method also includes displaying the unlinked BLE tagged component of the available plurality of machines on a user interface of the target machine ECM. The method includes moving the target machine away from the other available plurality of machines by a pre-determined distance. Thereafter, the method includes linking the displayed unlinked BLE tagged component with target machine ECM when the distance between the target machine and other plurality of machines is more than the pre-determined distance. This method links and updates the linked BLE tagged machine components list, thereby notifying the operator of the target machine with regards to the linked BLE tagged machine components present in the target machine and track the performance of the linked BLE tagged machine components. For example, an engine oil filter is installed by replacing the old engine oil filter on the target machine, this method will enable to link the engine oil filter and update the list of linked machine components by adding the engine oil filter to the list. This will be helpful for the operator of the target machine to track the performance of the installed engine oil filter.
This method will notify the mechanic in a servicing station regarding the performance and life associated with the linked BLE tagged machine components of the target machine. Also, this method notifies regarding the modification done with respect to the linked BLE tagged machine components of the target machine by dealers, suppliers and/or customers. The method also enables to prepare reports of the health of the linked BLE tagged machine components of the target machine and notification may be sent to the dealers or suppliers. Further, this method may also keep a track of the linked BLE tagged machine components of the target machine being changed at intervals according to the life of the different machine components. Moreover, this method will also help to keep a track of counterfeit products and genuine products, thereafter notifying the operator regarding the information of the counterfeit or genuine machine components.
While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, systems and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.
