Method and system for computer network implemented vehicle diagnostics
First Claim
1. A method of diagnosing a vehicle via a remote computer, the vehicle having an on-board computer for generating a diagnostic trouble code signal, the diagnostic trouble code signal being related to a passed status of the vehicle or a problem status of the vehicle, the method comprising:
- (a) connecting a portable code reader to the onboard computer;
(b) communicating diagnostic trouble code signals from the on-board computer to the code reader;
(c) communicating from the code reader to a personal computer respective ones of the diagnostic trouble code signals which are related to a problem status of the vehicle;
(d) communicating the respective ones of the diagnostic trouble code signals which are related to a problem status of the vehicle from the personal computer to a remote computer, the remote computer being configured to correlate the diagnostic trouble code signals to problem description data for diagnosing the vehicle; and
(e) communicating from the remote computer to the personal computer problem description data correlated to the respective ones of the diagnostic trouble code signals related to a problem status of the vehicle.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of diagnosing a status of a vehicle. The vehicle has an on-board computer for generating a diagnostic trouble code signal related to a passed or problem status of the vehicle. A portable code reader is connected to the on-board computer. Diagnostic trouble code signals are communicated from the on-board computer to the code reader. The code reader communicates to a personal computer respective ones of the diagnostic trouble code signals related to a problem status of the vehicle. The personal computer communicates the respective ones of the diagnostic trouble code signals from the personal computer to a remote computer. The remote computer is configured to correlate the diagnostic trouble code signals to problem description data for diagnosing the vehicle. Problem description data correlated to the respective ones of the diagnostic trouble code signals are communicated from the remote computer to the personal computer.
168 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of diagnosing a vehicle via a remote computer, the vehicle having an on-board computer for generating a diagnostic trouble code signal, the diagnostic trouble code signal being related to a passed status of the vehicle or a problem status of the vehicle, the method comprising:
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(a) connecting a portable code reader to the onboard computer;
(b) communicating diagnostic trouble code signals from the on-board computer to the code reader;
(c) communicating from the code reader to a personal computer respective ones of the diagnostic trouble code signals which are related to a problem status of the vehicle;
(d) communicating the respective ones of the diagnostic trouble code signals which are related to a problem status of the vehicle from the personal computer to a remote computer, the remote computer being configured to correlate the diagnostic trouble code signals to problem description data for diagnosing the vehicle; and
(e) communicating from the remote computer to the personal computer problem description data correlated to the respective ones of the diagnostic trouble code signals related to a problem status of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of diagnosing a status of a vehicle, the vehicle having an on-board computer for generating a diagnostic trouble code signal, the diagnostic trouble code signal being related to a problem status of the vehicle, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving the diagnostic trouble code signals from the personal computer with a remote computer;
(b) correlating the diagnostic trouble code signals to problem description data for diagnosing the vehicle; and
(c) communicating the problem description data to the personal computer. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A vehicle diagnosis system for diagnosing a status of a vehicle, the vehicle having an on-board computer for generating diagnostic trouble code signals, the diagnostic trouble code signals being related to a passed status of the vehicle or a problem status of the vehicle, the system comprising:
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a portable code reader configured to electronically communicate with the on-board computer for receiving diagnostic trouble code signals from the on-board computer, the code reader having an output device for indicating a status of the vehicle in response to receipt of the diagnostic trouble code signals from the on-board computer; and
a personal computer configured to electronically communicate with the code reader for receiving from the code reader diagnostic trouble code signals related to a problem status of the vehicle, the personal computer having a remote electronic communications interface, the remote electronic communications interface being configured to establish an electronic communications link between the personal computer and a remote computer for transmitting the diagnostic trouble code signals to the remote computer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A portable code reader for diagnosing a status of a vehicle, the vehicle having an on-board computer for generating a diagnostic trouble code signals, the diagnostic trouble code signals being related to a passed status of the vehicle or a problem status of the vehicle, the code reader comprising:
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an on-board computer connection interface configured to electronically communicate with the onboard computer for receiving diagnostic trouble code signals from the on-board computer;
an output device configured to indicate a passed or a problem status of the vehicle in response to receipt of the diagnostic trouble code signals from the on-board computer and an inconclusive status of the vehicle in response to a failure to receive a diagnostic trouble code signals from the on-board computer;
a code reader memory configured to store diagnostic trouble code signals received from the onboard computer connection interface related to a problem status of the vehicle; and
a personal computer connection interface configured to electronically communicate with a personal computer for transmitting diagnostic trouble code signals indicative of a problem status stored in the code reader memory for diagnosing the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification