Method for carrying out a telediagnosis on a motor vehicle, vehicle diagnosis module and service center

• US 20040112124A1
• Filed: 10/08/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Sonnenrein, Thomas, Laedke, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,096,101 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/118.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/007 Wheeled or endless-tracked vehicles G01M17/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for carrying out a remote diagnosis in a motor vehicle, having the following steps:

a) initializing the remote diagnosis;

b) determining diagnostic data in the vehicle as a function of diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters available in the vehicle at the time of the diagnostic data determination;

c) transferring at least portions of the diagnostic data to an external service center which is designed to evaluate the transmitted diagnostic data.

According to the present invention, provision is made for the diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters to be at least in part transferred from the service center to the vehicle upon execution of method step a).

The invention also relates to a diagnostic module and a service center.

Claims

1. A method for carrying out a remote diagnosis in a motor vehicle (28), comprising the following steps:

a) initializing the remote diagnosis;

b) determining diagnostic data (24) in the vehicle (28) as

a function of diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters (26) available in the vehicle (28) at the time of the diagnostic data determination;

c) transferring at least portions of the diagnostic data (24) to an external service center (20) which is designed to evaluate the transmitted diagnostic data (24),

wherein the diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters (26) are at least in part transferred from the service center (20) to the vehicle (28) upon execution of method step a).

2. The method as recited in claim 1,

wherein method step b) is performed by the coaction of a diagnostic module (12) with a closed- and/or open-loop control device (10).

3. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims,

wherein method step a) encompasses the transfer from the vehicle (28) to the service center (20) of vehicle identification data that are used in the service center (20) for the determination of suitable diagnostic mechanisms and/or suitable diagnostic parameters (26).

4. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims,

wherein method step b) is performed after a diagnostic command has been transferred from the service center (20) to the vehicle (28).

5. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims,

wherein the data transfer between the vehicle (28) and the service center (20) is accomplished via a radio connection, in particular via a mobile radio connection.

6. The method as recited d in one of the preceding claims,

wherein method step b) and/or c) is performed repeatedly, depending on diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters (26) transferred again from the external service center (20).

7. A vehicle diagnostic module (12), in particular for use in the method as recited in one of the preceding claims, which is designed, after an initialization of a remote diagnosis, to determine diagnostic data (24) as a function of diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters (26) available in the vehicle (28) at the time of the diagnostic data determination, those data being provided for transfer, at least in part, to an external service center (20) for evaluation,

wherein it has an interface (14) which is provided in order to receive the diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters (26), upon initialization of the remote diagnosis, at least in part from the external service center (20).

8. The vehicle diagnostic module (12) as recited in claim 7,

wherein it determines the diagnostic data (24) in coaction with a closed- and/or open-loop control device (10).

9. The vehicle diagnostic module (12) as recited in claim 7 or 8,

wherein it authorizes the transfer of vehicle identification data to the service center (20) upon initialization of the remote diagnosis, the vehicle identification data being provided for utilization in the service center (20) in order to determine suitable diagnostic mechanisms and/or suitable diagnostic parameters (26).

10. The vehicle diagnostic module (12) as recited in one of claims 7 through 9,

wherein it initiates determination of the diagnostic data (24) after a diagnostic command has been transferred from the service center (20) to the vehicle (28).

11. The vehicle diagnostic module (12) as recited in one of claims 7 through 10,

wherein the interface (14) is designed for connection of a radio device (16), in particular a mobile radio device.

12. The vehicle diagnostic module (12) as recited in one of claims 7 through 11,

wherein it has volatile memory means (30) for storing diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters (26) transferred from the external service center (20).

13. A service center (20), in particular for use in the method as recited in one of claims 1 through 6, which is designed to evaluate diagnostic data (24) transferred from a vehicle (28) via a radio connection,

wherein it has means which are designed for determining, on the basis of vehicle identification data transmitted from the vehicle (28), suitable diagnostic mechanisms and/or suitable diagnostic parameters (26) and for transmitting them via a radio connection to the vehicle (28), the diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters (26) being provided for utilization in the vehicle (28) for determination of the diagnostic data (24).

14. The service center (20) as recited in claim 13,

wherein the radio connection is a mobile radio connection.

15. The service center (20) as recited in claim 13 or 14,

wherein it is a mobile service center.