Controller area network and connectivity health troubleshooting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11233713-B2
Application number	US-201916516833-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 19, 2019
Priority date	Jul 19, 2019
Publication date	Jan 25, 2022
Grant date	Jan 25, 2022

Abstract

A system and method for diagnosing connection and communication in an industrial machine includes performing a software check to obtain software data related to software applications, performing a connectivity check to obtain connection status data for one or more controllers, and performing a CAN bus check to obtain CAN bus data. The software data, connection status data, and CAN bus data is analyzed to determine a likely cause of an industrial machine connection or communication issue. A solution to the industrial machine connection or communication issue is output to a technician based on the analyzed data.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method of diagnosing a connection or communication issue with an industrial machine comprising:
connecting a diagnostic system to an electronic processing system of an industrial machine, wherein the electronic processing system includes a CAN bus and a plurality of controllers connected to the CAN bus, the plurality of controllers programmed to run one or more software applications;
performing a software check to obtain software data related to the software applications, wherein the software check includes determining if there are any missing or outdated software applications;
performing a connectivity check to obtain connection status data for one or more of the controllers;
performing a CAN bus check to obtain CAN bus data, wherein the CAN bus check includes a controller response check;
analyzing, by the diagnostic system, the software data, the connection status data, and the CAN bus data to determine a likely cause of an industrial machine connection or communication issue; and
outputting a solution to the industrial machine connection or communication issue to a technician based on the analyzed data.

2. The method claim 1 , wherein connecting the diagnostic system to the electronic processing system includes connecting from a remote location over a network or connecting locally on-site.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising capturing and storing resolution information.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising obtaining telematics data, wherein the telematics data includes past machine health data.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the software check includes at least one of determining if there are any conflicting software applications, determining if there is a missing file or driver, determining if any software updates are needed, and determining if there are software dependencies between different controllers.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the connectivity check includes at least one of performing a VCI hardware status check, obtaining RP1210 information, obtaining machine controller programming error logs, obtaining engine controller programming error objects, and obtaining software processor error logs.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the CAN bus check includes at least one of performing a VCI status check, injecting a voltage pulse and performing an advanced CAN diagnostic, performing a physical layer check, and performing a message check.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein outputting a solution includes at least one of providing steps to resolve an issue, providing a solution article, and providing a link to further information.

9. An industrial machine connection and communication diagnostic system comprising:
a diagnostic system having a communication interface configured to connect to an electronic processing system of an industrial machine, wherein the electronic processing system includes a CAN bus and a plurality of controllers connected to the CAN bus, the plurality of controllers programmed to run one or more software applications,
wherein the diagnostic system includes one or more processors and is configured to,
initiate a software check to obtain software data related to the software applications, wherein the software check includes determining if there are any missing or outdated software applications,
initiate a connectivity check to obtain connection status data for one or more of the controllers,
initiate a CAN bus check to obtain CAN bus data, wherein the CAN bus check includes a controller response check, and
analyze the software data, the connection status data, and the CAN bus data to determine a likely cause of an industrial machine connection or communication issue and output a solution to the industrial machine connection or communication issue to a technician based on the analyzed data.

10. The connection and communication diagnostic system of claim 9 , wherein the communication interface includes at least one of a wired connection and a wireless connection.

11. The connection and communication diagnostic system of claim 9 , wherein initiating the software check includes at least one of determining if there are any conflicting software applications, determining if there is a missing file or driver, determining if any software updates are needed, and determining if there are software dependencies between different controllers.

12. The connection and communication diagnostic system of claim 9 , wherein performing the connectivity check includes at least one of performing a VCI hardware status check, obtaining RP1210 information, obtaining machine controller programming error logs, obtaining engine controller programming error objects, and obtaining software processor error logs.

13. The connection and communication diagnostic system of claim 9 , wherein performing the CAN bus check includes at least one of performing a VCI status check, injecting a voltage pulse and performing an advanced CAN diagnostic, performing a physical layer check, and performing a message check.

14. The connection and communication diagnostic system of claim 9 , wherein outputting a solution includes at least one of providing steps to resolve an issue, providing a solution article, and providing a link.

15. The connection and communication diagnostic system of claim 9 , wherein the diagnostic module is configured to receive telematics data, wherein the telematics data includes past machine health data that is analyzed with the software data, the connection status data, and the CAN bus data to determine the likely cause of an industrial machine connection or communication issue.

16. An industrial machine connection and communication diagnostic system comprising:
a communication interface configured to connect to an electronic processing system of an industrial machine, wherein the electronic processing system includes a CAN bus and a plurality of controllers connected to the CAN bus, the plurality of controllers programmed to run one or more software applications; and
a diagnostic application implemented by one or more processors and configured to initiate a controller response check, the controller response check including determining the number of controllers and the controller layout, requesting a response from each controller, providing a graphical representation of the controller layout, determining a fault, and displaying the location of the fault on the graphical representation.

17. The industrial machine connection and communication diagnostic system of claim 16 , wherein determining the fault includes at least one of obtaining error counts, obtaining diagnostic trouble codes, and obtaining voltage readings.

18. The industrial machine connection and communication diagnostic system of claim 16 , wherein the fault indicates a wiring fault.

19. The industrial machine connection and communication diagnostic system of claim 16 , wherein displaying the fault on the graphical representation includes highlighting a network segment.

20. The industrial machine connection and communication diagnostic system of claim 16 , wherein the graphical representation is updated in real time.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Brinkman Jason E
• Ritter Curtis P
• Zebarth Matthew R
• Smart David C
• Schroeder Warren L

Classifications

• H04L2012/40215

  Controller Area Network CAN · CPC title

• H04L43/0811 Primary

  by checking connectivity · CPC title

• G05B23/0221

  Preprocessing measurements, e.g. data collection rate adjustment; Standardization of measurements; Time series or signal analysis, e.g. frequency analysis or wavelets; Trustworthiness of measurements; Indexes therefor; Measurements using easily measured parameters to estimate parameters difficult to measure; Virtual sensor creation; De-noising; Sensor fusion; Unconventional preprocessing inherently present in specific fault detection methods like PCA-based methods · CPC title

• G05B19/0428 Primary

  Safety, monitoring (G05B19/0423 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G05B2219/2637

  Vehicle, car, auto, wheelchair · CPC title