Method and system for selective recall of motor vehicles

1. A method for selectively recalling, using a radio communications network management server, at least one motor vehicle from a collection of motor vehicles, said vehicle comprising at least one piece of equipment of a predetermined type, a wired communications network and an electronic control unit which is configured to receive from said equipment, via said wired communications network, a plurality of data pertaining to a plurality of parameters relating to the equipment, and a communications module configured to collect, from the electronic control unit, via the wired communications network, at least one data item from said plurality of data and communicate the at least one data item, over a radio communications link, to a mobile node of said radio communications network, said method comprising:

selecting at least one parameter from among the plurality of parameters, sending to the communications module, via the mobile node, a message indicating the parameter selected,

collecting from the electronic control unit at least one data item relating to said selected parameter, this collection being performed by the communications module, via the wired communications network,

sending the collected data item from the communications module to the mobile node,

sending the sent data item by the mobile node, to the management server,

analyzing, by the management server, the data item received,

detecting a defect with the piece of equipment on the basis of the data item analyzed by estimating, from the data item received, a mean life remaining until the piece of equipment breaks down or, alternatively, a margin until a maximum tolerable wear limit is reached, or alternatively still, a statistical position of a command within the tolerated interval in the design of the equipment,

determining a subset of vehicles comprising the piece of equipment for which a defect has been detected, in order to proceed with recalling these, and

sending, by the management server, a selective recall notice.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the selection step is performed by the management server and the method comprises a step in which the management server sends the mobile node a request message containing the selected parameter.

3. A management server of a radio communications network for the selective recall of at least one motor vehicle, from a set of motor vehicles, said vehicle comprising at least one piece of equipment for executing functions of the vehicle, a wired communications network, an electronic control unit which is configured to receive from said equipment, via said wired communications network, a plurality of data pertaining to a plurality of parameters relating to the equipment, and a communications module including a reception submodule configured to receive, from a mobile node over a radio communications link, a message indicating at least one parameter selected from the plurality of parameters, a collection submodule configured to collect, from the electronic control unit, via the wired communications network, at least one data item from said plurality of data, and a sending submodule configured to send the collected data item to the mobile node, said management server comprising:

a selection module configured to select at least one parameter from among the plurality of parameters,

a sending module configured to send a message containing the selected parameter to a mobile node of said radio communications network,

a reception module configured to receive at least one data item pertaining to at least one parameter of at least one piece of equipment, sent by said mobile node,

an analysis module configured to analyze the data item received,

a detection module for detecting a defect with the piece of equipment on the basis of the data item analyzed by estimating, from the data item received, a mean life remaining until the equipment item breaks down or, alternatively, a margin until a maximum tolerable wear limit is reached, or alternatively still, a statistical position of a command within the tolerated interval in the design of the equipment,

a determination module configured for determining a subset of vehicles comprising the same type of equipment as that for which the defect has been detected, in order to proceed with recalling these, and

a transmission module configured to send a selective recall notice out via the radio communications network.

4. A system for selectively recalling at least one motor vehicle from a set of motor vehicles, said system comprising:

at least one motor vehicle comprising at least one piece of equipment for executing functions of the vehicle, the at least one piece of equipment associated with a plurality of data pertaining to a plurality of parameters relating to the equipment, a wired communications network, and an electronic control unit connected to said equipment via said wired communications network so as to receive said plurality of data,

at least one communications module, connected removably to said wired communications network, the communication module comprising:

a reception submodule configured to receive, from a mobile node over a radio communications link, a message indicating at least one parameter selected from the plurality of parameters,

a collection submodule configured to collect, from the electronic control unit, via the wired communications network, at least one data item from said plurality of data, and

a sending submodule configured to send the collected data item to the mobile node,

wherein the communication module is in the form of a removable electronic key that can be connected removably to the wired communications network of the vehicle, and

wherein the electronic key is programmable so that both public data, that is freely accessible to a user of the vehicle, and private data, accessible only to the manufacturer of the vehicle, can both be collected, and

at least one management server including:

a selection module configured to select at least one parameter from among the plurality of parameters,

a sending module configured to send a message containing the selected parameter to a mobile node of said radio communications network,

a reception module configured to receive at least one data item pertaining to at least one parameter of at least one piece of equipment, sent by said mobile node,

an analysis module configured to analyze the data item received,

a detection module for detecting a defect with the piece of equipment on the basis of the data item analyzed by estimating, from the data item received, a mean life remaining until the equipment item breaks down or, alternatively, a margin until a maximum tolerable wear limit is reached, or alternatively still, a statistical position of a command within the tolerated interval in the design of the equipment,

a determination module configured for determining a subset of vehicles comprising the same type of equipment as that for which the defect has been detected, in order to proceed with recalling these, and

a transmission module configured to send a selective recall notice out via the radio communications network.