# US 11,443,270 B2 · Method and apparatus for automated maintenance assistance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,443,270 B2 - Document ID: US11443270B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/117,271 - Filed: 2018-08-30 - Published: 2020-03-05 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-30 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: John Naum Vangelov - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11443270B2 ## CPC - G06Q 10/083: Shipping - G06Q 10/20: Administration of product repair or maintenance - G05D 1/0088: {characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours (using knowledge based models G06N5/00)} - G06Q 10/0843: {using forecasting or optimisation} - G07C 5/006: {Indicating maintenance} - G07C 5/0808: {Diagnosing performance data (testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005)} - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE ## Abstract A system includes a processor configured to detect a condition corresponding to low vehicle fluid. The processor is further configured to determine whether replacement fluid is available for on-site delivery to a vehicle location within a predefined time period. The processor is additionally configured to offer the fluid for sale to a user through a vehicle HMI, responsive to on-site delivery availability and, responsive to the user agreeing to purchase the fluid, instructing dispatch of a delivery entity to deliver the fluid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a vehicle-processor configured to: detect a vehicle diagnostic code on a vehicle bus; determine a trouble state pre-associated with the diagnostic code; determine that the trouble state associated with the diagnostic code can be rectified on-site, based on at least one of a plurality of predefined rectifiable states corresponding to the state associated with the diagnostic code, including a determination that the state is rectifiable by a driver of the vehicle based on the state corresponding to a condition predefined as reasonable for on-site rectification at a location of the vehicle; responsive to determining that the state can be rectified on-site, search known inventory of a plurality of parts-suppliers in a predefined proximity to a vehicle location to determine whether a vehicle part or fluid predefined for rectification of the state is available for on-site rectification; complete an order process for ordering the part or fluid, responsive to determining that the part or fluid is available; and instruct dispatch of a delivery of the part or fluid to the vehicle location, responsive to completing the ordering process. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the determination that the vehicle part or fluid is available for on-site rectification includes determining a respective part or fluid supplier, located within a predefined distance of the vehicle location, indicates available delivery to the vehicle location within a predefined time period. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle location includes a present location. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle location includes a preprogrammed destination. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the vehicle-processor is configured to choose the preprogrammed destination responsive to determining that the vehicle part or fluid is not available from the inventory of a first plurality of parts-suppliers in the predefined proximity to a present vehicle location and that the vehicle part or fluid is available from the inventory of a second plurality of parts-suppliers in a predefined proximity to the preprogrammed destination. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the dispatch to the vehicle location includes a dispatch to a vehicle location along a programmed route other than a present vehicle location, such that the delivery meets the vehicle at some point along the route. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the vehicle-processor is configured to choose the location along the route responsive to determining that the vehicle part or fluid is not available from the inventory of a first plurality of parts-suppliers in the predefined proximity to a present vehicle location and that the vehicle part or fluid is available from the inventory of a second plurality of parts-suppliers in a predefined proximity to the location along the route. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle-processor is further configured to: request fulfilment bids from a plurality of the parts-suppliers determined to have the vehicle part or fluid available for delivery; and select a parts-supplier providing a winning bid for order fulfilment. ### Claim 9 A non-transitory storage medium storing instructions, that, when executed by a vehicle processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising: detecting a vehicle diagnostic code on a vehicle bus; determine a trouble state pre-associated with the diagnostic code; determining that a state associated with the diagnostic code can be rectified on-site, based on at least one of a plurality of predefined rectifiable states corresponding to the state associated with the diagnostic code; responsive to determining that the state can be rectified on-site, searching known inventory of a plurality of parts-suppliers in a predefined proximity to a vehicle location to determine whether a vehicle part or fluid predefined for rectification of the state is available for on-site rectification; completing an order process for ordering the part or fluid, responsive to determining that the part or fluid is available; and instructing dispatch of a delivery of the part or fluid to the vehicle location, responsive to completing the ordering process. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The storage medium of claim 9, wherein the determination that the vehicle part or fluid is available for on-site rectification includes determining a respective part or fluid supplier, located within a predefined distance of the vehicle location, indicates available delivery to the vehicle location within a predefined time period. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The storage medium of claim 9, wherein the vehicle location includes a present location. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The storage medium of claim 9, wherein the vehicle location includes a preprogrammed destination. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The storage medium of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises choosing the preprogrammed destination responsive to determining that the vehicle part or fluid is not available from the inventory of a first plurality of parts-suppliers in the predefined proximity to a present vehicle location and that the vehicle part or fluid is available from the inventory of a second plurality of parts-suppliers in a predefined proximity to the preprogrammed destination. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The storage medium of claim 9, wherein the dispatch to the vehicle location includes a dispatch to a vehicle location along a programmed route other than a present vehicle location, such that the delivery meets the vehicle at some point along the route. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The storage medium of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises choosing the location along the route responsive to determining that the vehicle part or fluid is not available from the inventory of a first plurality of parts-suppliers in the predefined proximity to a present vehicle location and that the vehicle part or fluid is available from the inventory of a second plurality of parts-suppliers in a predefined proximity to the location along the route. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The storage medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises: requesting fulfilment bids from a plurality of the parts-suppliers determined to have the vehicle part or fluid available for delivery; and selecting a parts-supplier providing a winning bid for order fulfilment. ### Claim 17 A system comprising: a vehicle-processor configured to: detect a vehicle diagnostic code on a vehicle bus; determine a trouble state pre-associated with the diagnostic code; determine that a state associated with the diagnostic code can be rectified on-site, based on at least one of a plurality of predefined on-site rectifiable states corresponding to the state associated with the diagnostic code; responsive to determining that the state can be rectified on-site, search known inventory of a plurality of parts-suppliers in a predefined proximity to a vehicle location to determine whether a vehicle part or fluid predefined for rectification of the state is available for on-site rectification; complete an order process for ordering the part or fluid, responsive to determining that the part or fluid is available; and instruct dispatch of a delivery of the part or fluid to the vehicle location, responsive to completing the ordering process. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of on-site rectifiable states are defined for drivers generally as states expected to be rectifiable by a non-specific driver. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of on-site rectifiable states include at least one state defined for a specific driver for whom the rectification determination is made, the at least one state predefined as rectifiable by the specific driver.