ON BOARD DIAGNOSTIC (OBD) DEVICE SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20140067195A1
• Filed: 09/26/2012
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IVSC IP LLC
• Original Assignee: Frias Transportation Infrastructure, LLC
• Inventors: James, Mark Alan, Wisniewski, James Alan, Samson, Leocadio Dominquez
• Application Number:
  US13/627,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20140067195A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/32.4
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/00 Measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles, persons, animals or other moving solid bodies, e.g. using odometers, using pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2240/00 Transportation facility access, e.g. fares, tolls or parking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/30 Transportation; Communications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00

Abstract

Systems and methods for processing and transmitting on-board diagnostics (OBD) signals are provided. An electronic device includes a housing, an OBD engagement member configured to physically engage with an OBD port of an (FHV) and receive power and data communications therefrom. Computer circuitry disposed at least partially within the housing is configured to receive time, location, and/or distance information associated with a trip taken by the FHV, the information being received through the OBD port of the FHV. The computer circuitry is further configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more computing devices disposed within the FHV over a local area network when the on-board diagnostics device is connected to the OBD port.

Claims

1. An on-board vehicle diagnostics device comprising:

a housing;

an on-board diagnostics (OBD) engagement member configured to physically engage with an OBD port of a for-hire vehicle (FHV) and receive power and data communications therefrom; and

computer circuitry disposed at least partially within the housing configured to receive time, location, and/or distance information associated with a trip taken by the vehicle, the information being received through the OBD port of the vehicle;

wherein the computer circuitry is further configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more computing devices disposed within the FHV over a local area network when the on-board diagnostics device is connected to the OBD port.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a GPS receiver.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the GPS receiver is electrically coupled to an antenna external to the device.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising an OBD signal pass-through connection port.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the pass-through port is a 16-pin female connection port.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the pass-through port is configured to allow for a dedicated taximeter device to be plugged into the port.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein the pass-through port provides identical signals as are provided by the OBD port of the FHV.

8. The device of claim 4, wherein the pass-through port supports additional signals to synchronize with start/stop buttons of a dedicated taximeter.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the computer circuitry is configured to communicate with the one or more external computing devices over a Bluetooth connection.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the computer circuitry is configured to communicate with the one or more external computing devices over a Wi-Fi connection.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the computer circuitry is configured to transmit odometer information to the one or more external computing devices.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more external computing devices are smartphones.

13. The device of claim 1, further comprising an electrical cord connecting the OBD engagement member to the housing.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the computer circuitry is configured to wirelessly communicate with the one or more computing devices automatically.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving a GPS signal using a GPS receiver that is not part of the FHV'"'"'s OBD system.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing pass-through OBD signals to a directed taximeter device disposed within the FHV over a wired connection.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the pass-through OBD signals are provided over a 16-pin female connection port.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein linking with the mobile computing device comprises pairing with the mobile computing device over a Bluetooth connection.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein said receiving, linking, and transmitting are performed automatically.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising communicatively linking wirelessly with a passenger mobile device.

15. A computer-implemented method of communicating vehicle diagnostics information, the method comprising:

receiving odometer, time, and/or location information from an on-board diagnostics (OBD) system of an FHV over a wired connection;

communicatively linking wirelessly with a mobile computing device disposed within the FHV; and

transmitting the odometer, time, and/or location information over the wireless link while the FHV is in transit.

22. An on-board vehicle diagnostics device comprising:

a housing;

an on-board diagnostics (OBD) engagement member configured to physically engage with an OBD port of a for-hire vehicle (FHV) and receive power and data communications therefrom; and

computer circuitry disposed at least partially within the housing configured to receive GPS information associated with a trip taken by the vehicle, the information being received through the OBD port of the vehicle;

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the computer circuitry is further configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more computing devices disposed within the FHV over a local area network when the on-board diagnostics device is connected to the OBD port.

24. An on-board vehicle location device comprising:

a housing physically coupled to a component of a for-hire vehicle (FHV);

a GPS receiver;

computer circuitry disposed at least partially within the housing configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more computing devices disposed within the FHV over a local area network when the FHV is in operation.