Vehicle diagnostic systems and methods

• US 10,606,445 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2018
• Issued: 03/31/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ALLDATA LLC (Autozone Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ALLDATA LLC (Autozone Incorporated)
• Inventors: Marshall, Paul A., Lagges, Jeffrey W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Titcomb, William D
• Application Number:
  US16/186,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20190095078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 715825
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A system for diagnosing and repairing vehicles is provided. An example apparatus includes a vehicle interface configured to transmit one or more instructions to an adaptor connected to a vehicle and retrieve an indication of one or more diagnostic trouble codes from the adaptor. The apparatus includes a communication module configured to transmit the diagnostic trouble codes to a remote server along with a user identifier or a vehicle identification number, and receive repair information from the remote server. The apparatus further includes a user interface configured to receive user requests for information and to display information regarding the adaptor, the vehicle information, the one or more diagnostic trouble codes, and/or the repair information. Finally, the apparatus includes a memory and a processor configured to control the vehicle interface, the communication module, the user interface, and the memory.

Claims

1. An apparatus for vehicle maintenance, the apparatus comprising:

a vehicle interface configured to;

send, via a wireless transmission, one or more instructions to an adaptor connected to a vehicle, and

retrieve, from the adaptor via a wireless transmission, vehicle identification data of the vehicle, and an indication of diagnostic data of the vehicle;

a communication module configured to;

transmit, to a remote server, the vehicle identification data of the vehicle and data associated with a user identifier associated with the apparatus,

receive, from the remote server, historical information regarding the user identifier,

transmit, to the remote server, the retrieved indication of the diagnostic data and at least one of the user identifier or the vehicle identification data, and

receive, from the remote server, maintenance information based on the diagnostic data, the user identifier, or the vehicle identification data; and

one or more memory storage areas; and

a user interface configured to;

display selectable elements each relating to a portion of the diagnostic data of the vehicle, and

receive, via selection of a displayed selectable element, a user request for information regarding a corresponding portion of the diagnostic data,

display a portion of the maintenance information received from the remote server relating to the corresponding portion of the diagnostic data; and

a processor configured to control the vehicle interface, the communication module, the one or more memory storage areas, and the user interface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a tablet computing device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication module is further configured to receive, from the remote server, diagnostic predictions in response to transmission of the retrieved indication of the diagnostic data and at least one of the user identifier or the vehicle identification data.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic data of the vehicle comprises at least one of:

an indication of one or more diagnostic trouble codes, an indication of one or more parameter IDs, or an indication of sensor data generated by one or more vehicle sensors.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the diagnostic data of the vehicle comprises an indication of sensor data generated by the one or more vehicle sensors, and wherein the user interface is further configured to:

graphically display sensor data generated by the one or more vehicle sensors.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the diagnostic data of the vehicle further comprises an indication of one or more diagnostic trouble codes, and wherein the user interface is further configured to:

graphically display sensor data relating to displayed one or more diagnostic trouble codes.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic data of the vehicle comprises freeze frame data comprising an indication of one or more diagnostic trouble codes and sensor data occurring at the time the one or more diagnostic trouble codes were initiated.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic data of the vehicle comprises emissions monitoring data relating to one or more monitors of vehicle systems.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle identification data comprises at least one of (a) a vehicle identification number or (b) year, make, model, or engine information.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle interface is further configured to:

identify one or more adaptors with which the apparatus may communicate, wherein the adaptor connected to the vehicle is embodied as one of the one or more adaptors; and

establish a connection between the apparatus and the adaptor based on the adaptor being located at a first physical location and connected to the vehicle.

11. A computer-readable storage device for vehicle maintenance, the computer-readable storage device storing computer program instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a computing device to:

send a wireless transmission including one or more instructions to an adaptor connected to a vehicle;

retrieve, from the adaptor, a wireless transmission including an indication of diagnostic data of the vehicle;

retrieve, from the adaptor, a wireless transmission including vehicle identification data of the vehicle;

transmit, to a remote server, the vehicle identification data of the vehicle and data associated with a user identifier associated with the computing device;

receive, from the remote server, historical information regarding the user identifier;

transmit, to the remote server, the retrieved indication of the diagnostic data and at least one of the user identifier or the vehicle identification data;

receive, from the remote server, maintenance information based on the diagnostic data, the user identifier, or the vehicle identification data;

display selectable elements each relating to a portion of the diagnostic data of the vehicle;

receive, via selection of a displayed selectable element, a user request for information regarding a corresponding portion of the diagnostic data; and

display a portion of the maintenance information received from the remote server relating to the corresponding portion of the diagnostic data.

12. The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the computing device comprises a tablet computing device.

13. The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the computer program instructions, when executed by a processor, further cause the computing device to:

receive, from the remote server, diagnostic predictions in response to transmission of the retrieved indication of the diagnostic data and at least one of the user identifier or the vehicle identification data.

14. The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the diagnostic data of the vehicle comprises at least one of:

an indication of one or more diagnostic trouble codes, an indication of one or more parameter IDs, or an indication of sensor data generated by one or more vehicle sensors.

15. The computer-readable storage device of claim 14, wherein the diagnostic data of the vehicle comprises an indication of sensor data generated by the one or more vehicle sensors, and wherein the computer program instructions, when executed by a processor, further cause the computing device to:

graphically display historical sensor data generated by the one or more vehicle sensors.

16. The computer-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein the diagnostic data of the vehicle further comprises an indication of one or more diagnostic trouble codes, and wherein the computer program instructions, when executed by a processor, further cause the computing device to:

graphically display sensor data relating to displayed one or more diagnostic trouble codes.

17. The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the diagnostic data of the vehicle comprises freeze frame data comprising an indication of one or more diagnostic trouble codes and sensor data occurring at the time the one or more diagnostic trouble codes were initiated.

18. The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the diagnostic data of the vehicle comprises emissions monitoring data relating to one or more monitors of vehicle systems.

19. The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the vehicle identification data comprises at least one of (a) a vehicle identification number or (b) year, make, model, or engine information.

20. The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the computer program instructions, when executed by a processor, further cause the computing device to, prior to transmitting the one or more instructions to the adaptor:

identify one or more adaptors with which the computing device may communicate, wherein the adaptor is embodied as one of the one or more adaptors;

display selectable elements representing each of the one or more adaptors;

receive, via selection of one of the selectable elements representing the adaptor, a user request to establish a connection with the adaptor;

determine whether the one or more adaptors are connected to respective vehicles; and

in response to receiving the user request, establish a connection between the computing device and the adaptor.