SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING A COMPONENT FOR A TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20120259884A1
• Filed: 04/03/2012
• Published: 10/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Titrimetric LLC
• Original Assignee: Tiremetrix, LLC
• Inventors: Donehue, Joseph William
• Granted Patent: US 8,768,955 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/769
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/02 Signalling devices actuated by tyre pressure hand-held tyre pressure gauges G01L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0471 System initialisation, e.g. upload or calibration of operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0479 Communicating with external units being not part of the vehicle, e.g. tools for diagnostic, mobile phones, electronic keys or service stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/242 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering

Abstract

A system and method for identifying a component, such as a sensor, for a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) to be replaced for a vehicle of interest by performing a Quick Search or an Advanced Search of a TPMS Manager database. In the Quick Search, the user inputs year/make/model (Y/M/M) or Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). In the Advanced Search, the user inputs various physical attributes of the component to be replaced. All related superseded, alias or interchange parts with like communication or physical structure and relevant service components are determined and the results displayed to the user. A relearn procedure for the replacement TPMS component for the vehicle of interest identifies and validates scan tool compatibility. A report to the user of a cause/failure analysis of the component to be replaced can be displayed.

Claims

1. A method for identifying a component of a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) to be replaced for a vehicle of interest comprising identifying an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) component or an equivalent component for the vehicle of interest by inputting a group of subsets into a graphical user interface (GUI) of a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Manager software program.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the OEM component or the equivalent component is determined by performing one of a Quick Search and an Advanced Search for the vehicle of interest.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the Quick Search is performed by inputting one of a year, make and model (Y/M/M) and a vehicle identification number (VIN) for the vehicle of interest.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the Advanced Search is performed by inputing one of a color of the OEM component, a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ID number, an Industry Canada (IC) number, a part number on the OEM component, a valve design, or any combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a service requirement for the OEM component for the vehicle of interest.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a superceding part for the OEM component for the vehicle of interest.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an alias component or an interchange component of the OEM component for the vehicle of interest.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing a relearn procedure to enable the OEM component or the equivalent component to communicate with the TPMS of the vehicle of interest.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a compatibility of a scan tool with the OEM component.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a report to the user of a cause/failure analysis of the component to be replaced.

11. A computer software program tangibly embodied in a computer readable medium that is capable of performing the method recited in claim 1.