Method for assisting in error detection for a motor vehicle

• US 20070185630A1
• Filed: 02/08/2007
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Sykora, Thomas, Hneini, Nizar, Schulze Wessel, Anne-Laure, Kiefer, Tobias
• Granted Patent: US 8,121,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241

Abstract

An a method for assisting in error detection for a motor vehicle, characteristic data for an accessory device connected to a device in the motor vehicle are stored in a memory unit provided in the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for assisting in error detection for a motor vehicle, comprising the act of:

storing, in a memory unit provided in the motor vehicle, characteristic data for an accessory device connected to a device in the motor vehicle.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the act of:

sending an interrogation command from the device in the motor vehicle, to which the accessory device is connected, to the accessory device for reading the characteristic data for the accessory device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the memory unit in which the characteristic data are stored is assigned to the device in the motor vehicle to which the accessory device is connected.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the device in the motor vehicle to which the accessory device is connected is a hands-free device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the accessory device is connected to the device in the motor vehicle in a wireless manner.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein, after being read, the characteristic data for the accessory device are converted from a first data format to a second data format.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compatability of the accessory device with the device in the motor vehicle is checked on the basis of the characteristic data.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the characteristic data and the result of a compatability test are read from the memory unit by a diagnostic device which is temporarily connected to the motor vehicle.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the result of the compatability test is relayed to a system for at least one of error analysis, customer consultation, and invoice billing, and is taken into account by the system.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the result of the compatability test is displayed in the motor vehicle.

11. The method according to claim 2, wherein the memory unit in which the characteristic data are stored is assigned to the device in the motor vehicle to which the accessory device is connected.

12. The method according to claim 2, wherein the device in the motor vehicle to which the accessory device is connected is a hands-free device.

13. The method according to claim 2, wherein the accessory device is connected to the device in the motor vehicle in a wireless manner.

14. The method according to claim 2, wherein, after being read, the characteristic data for the accessory device are converted from a first data format to a second data format.

15. The method according to claim 2, wherein the compatability of the accessory device with the device in the motor vehicle is checked on the basis of the characteristic data.

16. The method according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the characteristic data and the result of a compatability test are read from the memory unit by a diagnostic device which is temporarily connected to the motor vehicle.

17. The method according to claim 9, wherein the result of the compatability test is displayed in the motor vehicle.

18. An apparatus for assisting in error detection for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a control device configured to detect a first connection to the control device of an accessory device, transmit an interrogation command to the accessory device based on detection of the first connection, receive characteristic data from the accessory device, and store the characteristic data in a memory unit of the control device.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the accessory device is a hands-free device.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the accessory device is wirelessly connected to the control device.