METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING VEHICLE DATA

• US 20100010705A1
• Filed: 02/09/2009
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Airmax Group PLC
• Original Assignee: Airmax Group PLC
• Inventors: Stilliard, Ron, Duddle, Ashley, Perham, Steve
• Application Number:
  US12/368,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20100010705A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49169 Assembling electrical component directly to terminal or elongated conductor

Abstract

A method of installing a vehicle data-monitoring device and a substitute vehicle data connector into a vehicle having a vehicle data-monitoring system with an existing vehicle data connector. The method comprises the steps of: removing the existing vehicle data connector from a socket in the vehicle; inserting the substitute vehicle data connector into the socket; connecting the vehicle data connectors such that the existing vehicle data connector is in communication with the vehicle data-monitoring device and also in communication with the substitute vehicle data connector.

Claims

1. A method of installing a vehicle data-monitoring device and a substitute vehicle data connector into a vehicle having a vehicle data-monitoring system with an existing vehicle data connector, the method comprising the steps of:

removing the existing vehicle data connector from a socket in the vehicle;

inserting the substitute vehicle data connector into the socket;

connecting the vehicle data connectors such that the existing vehicle data connector is in communication with the vehicle data-monitoring device and also in communication with the substitute vehicle data connector.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising connecting the vehicle connector to the substitute vehicle data connector with a first cable having a vehicle connector end and a substitute vehicle data connector end.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising connecting the vehicle connector to the vehicle data-monitoring device with a second cable having a vehicle connector end and a vehicle data-monitoring device end.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the vehicle connector end of the first cable is the same connector as the vehicle connector end of the second cable.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the second cable branches off from the first cable.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the substitute vehicle data connector is the same type as the existing vehicle data connector.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the substitute vehicle data connector and the existing vehicle data connector are OBD or EOBD interfaces.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising connecting an antenna to the data-monitoring device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the antenna is arranged to transmit over a mobile telephony network.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the data-monitoring device is installed such that it is obscured from view, when the bonnet of a vehicle is opened and the substitute vehicle data connector is observed.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the data-monitoring device is installed in a cavity behind the socket.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising connecting the vehicle connector to the substitute vehicle data connector with a first cable having a vehicle connector end and a substitute vehicle data connector end, wherein the data-monitoring device is installed such that it is obscured from view, when the bonnet of a vehicle is opened and the substitute vehicle data connector is observed, and the first cable is connected such that it is obscured from view.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the first cable is connected such that it is located in a cavity behind the socket.

14. The method of claim 3 wherein the data-monitoring device is installed such that it is obscured from view, when the bonnet of a vehicle is opened and the substitute vehicle data connector is observed and the second cable is connected such that it is obscured from view.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the second cable is connected such that it is located in a cavity behind the socket.

16. The method of claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the antenna is connected such that it is obscured from view.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle data-monitoring system is a vehicle diagnostics system and/or a vehicle telemetric system.

18. A kit comprising a data-monitoring device, data transfer means having a substitute vehicle data connector, and a set of instructions for installing the data-monitoring device and data transfer means into a vehicle having a vehicle data-monitoring system with an existing vehicle data connector, wherein the data transfer means is arranged, in use, to provide a communication path between the data-monitoring device and the existing vehicle data connector, and also to provide a communication path between the substitute vehicle data connector and the existing vehicle data connector.

19. The kit of claim 18 wherein the substitute vehicle data connector is the same type as the existing vehicle data connector associated with the vehicle data-monitoring system.

20. The kit of claim 19 wherein the substitute vehicle data connector and the existing vehicle data connector are OEBD interfaces.

21. The kit of claim 18 wherein the data transfer means is a cable.

22. The kit of claim 21 wherein the cable is releasably attachable to the data-monitoring device.

23. The kit of claim 21 wherein the cable is integral with the data-monitoring device.

24. The kit of claim 18 further comprising an antenna arranged to transmit data from the data-monitoring device.

25. The kit of claim 24 wherein the antenna is arranged to transmit over a mobile telephony network.

26. The kit of claim 18 wherein the communication path between the existing vehicle data connector and the data-monitoring device is interruptable when data is transferred between the existing vehicle data connector and the substitute vehicle data connector.

27. The kit of claim 26 wherein the communication path between the existing vehicle data connector and the data-monitoring device is capable of being resumed when data transfer between the existing vehicle data connector and the substitute vehicle data connector ceases.

28. The kit of claim 18 wherein the vehicle data-monitoring system is a vehicle diagnostics system.

29. A vehicle comprising a vehicle data-monitoring system having a previously fitted vehicle data connector, a data-monitoring device and a subsequently fitted data connector, wherein the previously fitted vehicle data connector is in communication with the data-monitoring device and also in communication with the vehicle data connector.

30. An on-board vehicle diagnostics system comprising a diagnostics processor, a first on-board diagnostics interface connector and a second on-board diagnostic interface connector, and a vehicle data acquisition and/or monitoring device that is additional to the diagnostics processor;

the first connector being coupled to the vehicle data acquisition and/or monitoring device and the second connector being exposeable for coupling to a releasably couplable processor interrogator or data acquisition device.

31. A vehicle comprising a vehicle data-monitoring system having a vehicle EOBD or OBD processor, and first and second interface connectors adapted to communicate with the processor.

32-34. -34. (canceled)