Granted Patent B2

US 8,700,416 · App. 11/847,550 · Granted Apr 15, 2014

Abstract

Claims (30)

1. A system for providing vehicle part information comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions, which when executed by a processor, implement modules comprising:

a build configuration module configured to provide standard build configurations and standard part numbers for vehicles produced at a particular plant during a particular time period;

a build data module that is configured to store vehicle identification information for build configurations each vehicle produced including date of manufacture and part numbers that differ from said standard part numbers based on said date of manufacture such that said build data module only stores said date of manufacture and said part numbers that differ from said standard part numbers for each vehicle produced; and

a display control module that comprises a database and that is configured to combine said configuration information, said parts standard part numbers, and said part numbers that differ from said standard part numbers in a matrix and that stores said matrix in said database, such that vehicle parts used to manufacture the particular vehicle can be determined from the matrix based on vehicle information of the particular vehicle, the display control module being further configured to generate a virtual image of at least one of said vehicles.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle identification information includes vehicle identification number (VIN) data.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said display control module is configured to generate said matrix based on at least one of build date, date and time stamp, and serial build code of said vehicles, said VIN data, and said build configuration.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said display control module is configured to output a parts list for one of said vehicles based on a VIN for said vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a service parts data module configured to provide data on service parts for said vehicles, wherein said display control module is configured to generate said virtual image based on said service parts data.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said display control module comprises a graphic bill of materials (GBOM) system that displays the virtual image.

7. A system for providing vehicle part information comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions, which when executed by a processor, implement modules comprising:

a configuration module for vehicles produced at a particular plant during a particular time period operable to store changes to standard vehicle parts for vehicles produced at a particular plant during a particular time period based on a date of manufacture and operable to store vehicle identification information for each vehicle produced during said particular time period, said configuration module only storing said vehicle identification information and said changes to said standard vehicle parts for each vehicle produced; and

a display control module that is configured to generate a virtual image of at least one of said vehicles based on a configuration of said at least one of said vehicles, said changes to said standard vehicle parts, and said vehicle identification information, such that vehicle parts used to manufacture the particular vehicle can be determined from the virtual image.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising a service parts data module configured to provide data on service parts for said vehicles, wherein said display control module is configured to generate said virtual image based on said service parts data.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein said vehicle identification information comprises vehicle identification numbers (VINs).

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a VIN build data module configured to provide said VINs based on vehicle sales data.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein at least one of vehicle make, vehicle model, and vehicle engine type are associated with said VINs.

12. A method for providing vehicle part information, comprising:

storing, by a processor on a non-transitory computer readable medium, build configurations for vehicles produced at a particular plant during a particular time period;

storing, by the processor on the non-transitory computer readable medium, vehicle identification information that indicates predetermined build parameters for said vehicles;

storing, by the processor on the non-transitory computer readable medium, only vehicle parts that differ from standard vehicle parts for each vehicle produced at a particular plant for a particular time period;

combining, by the processor, said configuration information, said vehicle parts that differ from said standard vehicle parts, and said vehicle identification information in a matrix;

determining, by the processor, vehicle parts used in originally manufacturing the particular vehicle by referencing the vehicle information of the particular vehicle on the matrix;

generating by the processor, a virtual image of at least one of said vehicles based on said matrix; and

generating, by the processor, a virtual image of at least one of said vehicles.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said vehicle identification information includes vehicle identification number (VIN) data.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising generating said matrix based on at least one of build date, date and time stamp, and serial build code of said vehicles, said VIN data, and said build configuration.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising outputting a parts list for one of said vehicles based on a VIN for said vehicle.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising generating said virtual image based on service parts data.

Assignments (18)