Method, device, computer program, and computer program product for making available data

Abstract

In a method for making available data relating to the tires of a vehicle, vehicle data and/or tire data is made available by a vehicle memory unit of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle data is acquired by a sensor which is arranged in the vehicle. The vehicle data and/or the tire data have information on at least one property of the tires of the vehicle. A tire-wear probability of the tires of the vehicle is acquired as a function of the vehicle data and/or tire data. The tire-wear probability and/or the vehicle data and/or tire data are stored permanently in a memory unit arranged externally with respect to the vehicle and are made available for determining whether the vehicle requires new tires.

Claims

1. A method for providing data relating to tires of a vehicle, the method comprising the acts of: providing tire data from a vehicle memory unit of the vehicle, which tire data have a piece of information pertaining to at least one property of the tires of the vehicle; determining a tire wear probability for the tires of the vehicle based on the provided tire data; and permanently storing the tire wear probability and the tire data in a memory unit arranged externally to the vehicle, wherein the tire wear probability and the tire data are provided for determining whether the vehicle needs new tires, wherein the tire data comprise a brand of the tire, a dimension of the tire, a tire type, a date of manufacture of the tire, a date on which the tire has been fitted to the vehicle, a name of the tire manufacturer, and/or a 12-digit tire identification number.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tire wear probability is determined externally to the vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tire wear probability is determined on the vehicle.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tire data and/or the tire wear probability are transmitted from a vehicle transmission unit to a reception unit arranged externally to the vehicle via a wireless radio link in order to store the tire wear probability and/or the tire data in the memory unit arranged externally to the vehicle.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tire data are transmitted to a vehicle reception unit when triggered by the tires being installed on the vehicle in order to store the tire data in the vehicle memory unit.

6. A method for providing data relating to tires of a vehicle, the method comprising the acts of: providing vehicle data from the vehicle, said vehicle data being determined via at least one sensor arranged in the vehicle; providing tire data from a vehicle memory of the vehicle, which tire data have a piece of information pertaining to at least one property of the tires of the vehicle; determining a tire wear probability for the tires of the vehicle based on the provided vehicle data; and permanently storing the tire wear probability in a memory unit arranged externally to the vehicle, wherein the tire wear probability is provided for determining whether the vehicle needs new tires, and the vehicle data comprise a respective unique identifier for a respective tire pressure sensor of the tires of the vehicle, said respective unique identifier being taken as a basis for determining the tire wear probability.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the vehicle data comprise one or more of: data pertaining to a mileage of at least one individual tire on the vehicle, data pertaining to torque profiles of the vehicle, data pertaining to weight profiles of the vehicle, or data pertaining to other driving dynamic indicators of the vehicle.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the acts of: determining the tire wear probability of the tires of the vehicle based on the provided tire data and the vehicle data; and storing the tire wear probability and tire data in the memory unit arranged external to the vehicle, wherein the tire wear probability and the tire data are provided for determining whether the vehicle needs new tires.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the tire data, the vehicle data, and/or the tire wear probability are transmitted from a vehicle transmission unit to a reception unit arranged externally to the vehicle via a wireless radio link in order to store the tire wear probability and the tire data in the memory unit arranged externally to the vehicle.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the tire data are transmitted to a vehicle reception unit when trigged by the tires being installed on the vehicle in order to store the tire data in the vehicle memory unit.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the tire data and/or the tire wear probability are taken as a basis for automatically determining, externally to the vehicle, whether the vehicle needs new tires.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein if it is determined that the vehicle needs new tires, a signal indicating that the vehicle needs new tires is output.

13. The method according to claim 6, wherein the tire wear probability is determined externally to the vehicle.

14. The method according to claim 6, wherein the tire wear probability is determined on the vehicle.

15. An apparatus for providing data relating to tires of a vehicle, comprising: a data processing apparatus and associated memory having stored therein program code that is executed to: provide tire data from a vehicle memory unit of the vehicle, which tire data have a piece of information pertaining to at least one property of the tires of the vehicle; determine a tire wear probability for the tires of the vehicle based on the provided tire data; permanently store the tire wear probability and the tire data in a memory unit stored externally to the vehicle, the tire wear probability and the tire data being provided for determining whether the vehicle needs new tires, wherein the tire data comprise a brand of the tire, a dimension of the tire, a tire type, a date of manufacture of the tire, a date on which the tire has been fitted to the vehicle, a name of the tire manufacturer, and/or a 12-digit tire identification number.

16. A computer program product comprising one or more non-transitory computer readable mediums having stored thereon program code that, when executed, causes a data processing apparatus to: provide tire data from a vehicle memory unit of the vehicle, which tire data have a piece of information pertaining to at least one property of the tires of the vehicle; determine a tire wear probability for the tires of the vehicle based on the provided tire data; permanently store the tire wear probability and the tire data in a memory unit stored externally to the vehicle, the tire wear probability and the tire data being provided for determining whether the vehicle needs new tires, wherein the tire data comprise a brand of the tire, a dimension of the tire, a tire type, a date of manufacture of the tire, a date on which the tire has been fitted to the vehicle, a name of the tire manufacturer, and/or a 12-digit tire identification number.

17. The method according to claim 4, wherein the vehicle transmission unit is manufactured in a factory in which the vehicle is manufactured, and the vehicle transmission unit is configured to transmit the tire data after the tires have been fitted to the vehicle.

18. The method according to claim 9, wherein the vehicle transmission unit is manufactured in a factory in which the vehicle is manufactured, and the vehicle transmission unit is configured to transmit the tire data after the tires have been fitted to the vehicle.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tire wear probability is determined on the basis of the tire data and vehicle data.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a system for providing data relating to tires of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention, and

(2) FIG. 2 is an exemplary flowchart for a program for providing data relating to tires of a vehicle.

(3) Elements having the same design or function are denoted by the same reference symbols throughout the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(4) FIG. 1 shows a system for providing data relating to tires of a vehicle 10.

(5) The vehicle 10 has a vehicle memory unit 21 that is designed to permanently store data, such as tire data RD, for example, that have a piece of information pertaining to at least one property of the tires of the vehicle 10.

(6) To this end, by way of example, a tire data transmission unit 13 arranged externally to the vehicle 10 is designed to transmit the tire data RD to a vehicle reception unit 23. The vehicle reception unit 23 is coupled to the vehicle memory unit 21 for communication purposes.

(7) By way of example, the tire data transmission unit 13 is produced in a factory in which the vehicle 10 is manufactured. By way of example, the tire data transmission unit 13 is designed to transmit the tire data RD after tires have been fitted to the vehicle 10.

(8) In this context, the tire data RD are transmitted from a database, for example. The database comprises documentation pertaining to fitted components, for example. The database stores production and property data, for example, for each individual vehicle produced, such as date of production, parts list, factory, software levels installed and/or the tire data RD, for example.

(9) Alternatively, or additionally, the tire data transmission unit 13 is produced in an inspection unit and designed to transmit the tire data RD during an inspection prior to delivery of the vehicle 10 to a customer.

(10) In addition, the tire data RD can also be prescribed by a customer, for example in the vehicle 10.

(11) By way of example, the tire data RD comprise a unique tire identification, such as the brand of the tire, the factory, the dimension, the model and/or the date of production of the tire, for example in the form of what is known as the DOT (Department of Transportation) number. Alternatively, or additionally, the tire data RD can comprise a type of the tire, for example, such as whether it is a summer and/or winter tire and/or an all-year tire, for example. Alternatively or additionally, the tire data RD comprise a respective special feature of the tires, such as whether it is a run-flat tire, for example. Alternatively or additionally, the tire data RD comprise when the tires where fitted.

(12) By way of example, the tire data RD can alternatively or additionally be transmitted to the vehicle 10 by a local unit 17, for example by a vehicle dealer after new tires are fitted.

(13) By way of example, the tire data RD can alternatively or additionally be transmitted to the vehicle 10 by a backend server 15, for example by way of a wireless radio link. To this end, after new tires are installed, for example, the local unit 17 can transmit the tire data RD to the backend server 15 and from the latter on to the vehicle 10.

(14) In this context, the backend server 15 is distinguished particularly by virtue of its being designed to send, to receive and to permanently store data, particularly data that relate to a vehicle.

(15) To this end, the backend server 15 comprises an external reception unit 33 for receiving data from the local unit 17 and/or from the vehicle 10, an external memory unit 31 for storing data and an external transmission unit 35 for sending data to the local unit 17 and/or to the vehicle 10, for example.

(16) The data transmission between the vehicle 10 and the backend server 15 is implemented particularly by way of a wireless radio link, for example by way of mobile radio, the data transmission being implemented indirectly, for example, via one or more radio antennas and/or via one or more switching units, for example.

(17) The vehicle 10 additionally comprises a vehicle transmission unit 25 that is designed to transmit the tire data RD, vehicle data FD and/or a tire wear probability RVW, to the backend server 15 arranged externally to the vehicle 10. The tire data RD, the vehicle data FD and/or the tire wear probability RVW are particularly each transmitted with a time stamp, and/or with key data for unequivocal association with the vehicle 10.

(18) The vehicle data FD are determined particularly by use of at least one sensor that is arranged in the vehicle 10. By way of example, the vehicle data FD comprise a mileage of the individual tires, torque profiles of the vehicle 10, weight profiles of the vehicle 10 and/or further key indicators for driving dynamics. Alternatively or additionally, the vehicle data FD comprise a respective unique identifier for a respective tire pressure sensor of the tires of the vehicle 10.

(19) The tire wear probability RVW particularly comprises a piece of information about how probably the tires of the vehicle 10 are worn. The tire wear probability RVW is determined particularly on the basis of the vehicle data FD and/or the tire data RD.

(20) The backend server 15 has a backend control apparatus 37, the vehicle 10 has a vehicle control apparatus 27 and the local unit 17 has a local control apparatus 47. The backend control apparatus 37, the vehicle control apparatus 27 and the local control apparatus 47 each have a computation unit, a data and program memory and at least one communication interface. The respective computation units, data and program memories and communication interfaces are able to be produced in one unit and/or in a manner distributed over multiple units.

(21) The backend control apparatus 37 and/or the vehicle control apparatus 27 and/or a configuration distributed over the backend control apparatus 37 and/or the vehicle control apparatus 27 and/or the local control apparatus 47 store(s) particularly a program that is explained in more detail below with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 2.

(22) Referring to FIG. 2, in a step S1 the program is started. In step S1, variables are initialized as appropriate.

(23) In a step S3, the tire data RD are provided by the vehicle memory unit 21 of the vehicle 10.

(24) In a step S5, as an alternative or in addition to step S3, the vehicle data FD of the vehicle 10 are provided.

(25) In a step S7, the tire wear probability RVW is determined on the basis of the tire data RD and/or the vehicle data FD. The tire wear probability RVW is determined by the backend control apparatus 37 and/or by the vehicle control apparatus 27, for example.

(26) In a step S9, the tire data RD and/or the tire wear probability RVW are permanently stored in the external memory unit 31. When the tire wear probability RVW is determined in the vehicle control apparatus 27, this involves the tire data RD and/or the vehicle data FD being transmitted to the backend server 15, particularly by way of mobile radio. Subsequently, the program is terminated in a step S11.

(27) Alternatively the program can be continued after step S9, and a further step involves determining, externally to the vehicle 10, whether the vehicle 10 needs new tires. This is determined particularly in the backend control apparatus 37 and/or the local control apparatus 47.

(28) Subsequently, if it has been determined that the vehicle 10 needs new tires, it is possible, for example additionally, for a further step to involve giving a signal that the vehicle 10 needs new tires. This is performed particularly in the local control apparatus 47, if the visualization is provided for a dealer, for example, and/or in the vehicle control apparatus 27, if the visualization is provided for a driver of the vehicle 10.

(29) The approach shown means that the tire data RD and/or the tire wear probability RVW are stored in the external memory unit 31 and, when they are needed, can be requested by the local control apparatus 47, for example, so that a dealer, for example, can determine whether the vehicle 10 needs new tires and/or what new tires the vehicle needs.

(30) In summary, the following can be stated. The invention involves a method, an apparatus, a computer program and a computer program product being specified, to provide data relating to tires of a vehicle. In this case, particularly vehicle and/or tire data are provided by a vehicle memory unit of the vehicle, the vehicle data being determined by a sensor that is arranged in the vehicle. The vehicle data and/or the tire data have a piece of information pertaining to at least one property of the tires of the vehicle. The vehicle and/or tire data are taken as a basis for determining a tire wear probability for the tires of the vehicle. The tire wear probability, the vehicle and/or tire data are permanently stored in a memory unit arranged externally to the vehicle and are provided for determining whether the vehicle needs new tires.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

(31) 10 Vehicle 13 Tire data transmission unit 15 Backend server 17 Local unit 21 Vehicle memory unit 23 Vehicle reception unit 25 Vehicle transmission unit 27 Vehicle control apparatus 31 External memory unit 33 External reception unit 35 External transmission unit 35 Backend control apparatus 37 Local control apparatus 47 FD Vehicle data RD Tire data RVW Tire wear probability

(32) The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.