Vehicle Information Collection System and Module Therefor
First Claim
1. A method for managing vehicle check in at an automotive service center comprising the steps of:
- connecting a device to the diagnostic port of an unknown vehicle and, without user input to the device, automatically downloading vehicle identification data and odometer data from the vehicle;
transferring the vehicle identification data and odometer data from the device to work station at the service center, wherein the work station include a database;
programmatically populating the vehicle identification data and odometer data into the database;
the work station retrieving information based on one or both of the vehicle identification data and the odometer; and
displaying the retrieved data on one or both of a computer and a paper printout.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for managing vehicle check in at an automotive service center comprising the steps of connecting a device to the diagnostic port of an unknown vehicle and, without user input to the device, automatically downloading vehicle identification data and odometer data from the vehicle, transferring the vehicle identification data and odometer data from the device to work station at the service center, wherein the work station include a database, programmatically populating the vehicle identification data and odometer data into the database, the work station retrieving information based on one or both of the vehicle identification data and the odometer; and displaying the retrieved data on one or both of a computer and a paper printout.
25 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for managing vehicle check in at an automotive service center comprising the steps of:
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connecting a device to the diagnostic port of an unknown vehicle and, without user input to the device, automatically downloading vehicle identification data and odometer data from the vehicle; transferring the vehicle identification data and odometer data from the device to work station at the service center, wherein the work station include a database; programmatically populating the vehicle identification data and odometer data into the database; the work station retrieving information based on one or both of the vehicle identification data and the odometer; and displaying the retrieved data on one or both of a computer and a paper printout. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for managing vehicle check in at an automotive service center comprising the steps of:
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connecting a device to the diagnostic port of an unknown vehicle; automatically downloading vehicle identification data and odometer data; transferring the vehicle identification data and the odometer data from the device to a programmed computer at the service center; and programmatically entering one or both of the vehicle identification information and the odometer into the service center business software on said programmed computer.
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7. A method for managing vehicle check in at an automotive service center for one or more vehicles having a diagnostic port, vehicle identification data and odometer data, the method comprising:
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connecting a device to the diagnostic port of a vehicle; automatically, and without user input, determining a protocol to retrieve the vehicle odometer information; downloading the vehicle identification data and the odometer data to the device; transferring the vehicle identification data and the odometer data to a computer for processing. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for managing a fleet of automotive vehicles, wherein on or more of the vehicles include a diagnostic port connected to an OEM computer, the system comprising:
a programmed control circuit including means for electrically and automatically acquiring information from the OEM computer of a vehicle, wherein the information is selected from the group consisting of an odometer report, a fuel level report and a combination thereof, and wherein the information acquiring means includes a database that includes a plurality of predetermined protocols and an information collection means for electrically and automatically identifying a protocol from the predetermined protocols that handshakes with a protocol specific to the vehicle such that the information collector can automatically obtain the information without manual input. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. An information collection module for acquiring information from a vehicle, the tool comprising:
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a connector for connecting the tool to a vehicle; means for electrically and automatically acquiring without user input information from the vehicle, wherein the information is selected from the group consisting of a an odometer report, a fuel level report and a combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A scan tool for collecting data from a vehicle having an odometer and where the scan tool receives no user input for configuring the scan tool to the unknown vehicle, comprising:
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a connector that interfaces with a vehicle'"'"'s data link connector; a signal translator coupled to the connector that communicates with the vehicle in at least one protocol; a processor that communicates with the vehicle via the signal translator; a software controlled by the processor that is programmed with an iterative algorithm to automatically determine the odometer without manual input; and a second processor that communicates with the first processor to process the odometer.
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Specification