Smart Power Management System and Method Thereof

• US 20140277915A1
• Filed: 09/19/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Service Solutions US LLC
• Inventors: Bertosa, Thomas, Gessner, Michael, Lancki, Alfred L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,996,237 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/31.4
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/007 Wheeled or endless-tracked vehicles G01M17/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/00 Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A diagnostic tool that can communicate with a computing device such as smart phone is provided. The diagnostic tool can include a power management system that allows the dynastic tool to enter lower power state in order to prevent the power drain of vehicle battery. The diagnostic tool can also AutoID a vehicle or use a “fingerprinting” process to identify the vehicle. A crediting system is provided that can be used to credit a 3^rd party for software purchased for use by the diagnostic tool or smart phone.

Claims

1. A diagnostic tool, comprising:

a processor that controls a function of the diagnostic tool;

a memory that stores software for diagnosing an issue of a vehicle and to operate the function of the diagnostic tool;

a power manager configured to switch the diagnostic tool from a normal power state to a lower power state and vice versa;

a vehicle connector interface configured to connect the diagnostic tool to a data link connector in the vehicle; and

a wireless interface configured to communicate with a remote device, wherein when a command from the remote device is received by the wireless interface within a first predetermined period of time, the diagnostic tool will remain in the normal power state.

2. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein when the command is not received within the first predetermined period of time, then the diagnostic tool will switch from the normal power state to the lower power state.

3. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic tool is powered by an internal battery or by a vehicle'"'"'s battery.

4. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the command includes a power status ping, view data, or read codes.

5. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined amount of time is 5 minutes, 7 minutes, 10 minutes, 12 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes or any other time period.

6. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein when the command is not received within the first predetermined period of time by the wireless interface, then a confirmatory message is sent to the remote device to confirm that the diagnostic tool should enter the lower power state.

7. The diagnostic tool of claim 6, wherein if a response from the remote device is not received by a second predetermine period of time, then the diagnostic tool enters the lower power state.

8. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein in the lower power state, the diagnostic tool breaks a communication with the remote device.

9. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the remote device is a smart phone.

10. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein when the wireless interface is in communication with the remote device, the diagnostic tool remains in the normal power state.

11. A method of power management in a diagnostic tool comprising the steps of:

establishing a communication session between the diagnostic tool and a smart phone;

receiving, at the diagnostic tool, a power status request from the smart phone;

sending battery voltage information from the diagnostic tool to the smart phone in response to the request;

starting a timer for a predetermined period of time if the battery voltage is below a predetermined amount;

sending, from the diagnostic tool to the smart phone, a message that the connection between the diagnostic tool and the smart phone is terminating and a remaining amount of time remaining on the timer; and

powering the diagnostic tool from a normal power state to a lower power state.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

accepting an additional communication session during the powering step; and

cleaning up the communication session between the diagnostic tool and the smart phone.

13. A vehicle diagnostic tool, comprising:

a processor that controls a plurality of functions of the vehicle diagnostic tool;

a memory that stores vehicle diagnostic software and software to operate the plurality of functions of the vehicle diagnostic tool;

an indicator configured to indicate a status of the vehicle diagnostic tool;

a power management device configured to switch the vehicle diagnostic tool from a normal power state to a lower power state and vice versa;

a vehicle connector interface configured to connect the vehicle diagnostic tool to a data link connector in the vehicle;

a wireless interface configured to communicate with a smart phone; and

a housing configured to house the processor, the memory, the indicator, the power management device, the vehicle connector interface, and the wireless interface, wherein when a command is not received from the smart phone by the wireless interface within a first predetermined period of time, the vehicle diagnostic tool will switch from the normal power state to the lower power state.

14. The vehicle diagnostic tool of claim 13, wherein the status is a power status of the vehicle diagnostic tool.

15. The vehicle diagnostic tool of claim 13, wherein when the command is received within the first predetermined period of time, then the diagnostic tool remains in the normal power state.

16. The vehicle diagnostic tool of claim 13, wherein the vehicle diagnostic tool is powered by an internal battery or by a vehicle'"'"'s battery.

17. The diagnostic tool of claim 13, wherein the command includes a power status ping, view data, or read codes.

18. The vehicle diagnostic tool of claim 13, wherein the first predetermined amount of time is 5 minutes, 7 minutes, 10 minutes, 12 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes or any other time period.

19. The diagnostic tool of claim 13, wherein when the command is not received within the first predetermined period of time by the wireless interface, then a confirmatory message is sent to the smart phone to confirm that the diagnostic tool should enter the lower power state.

20. The vehicle diagnostic tool of claim 13, wherein if a response from the smart phone is not received by a second predetermine period of time, then the vehicle diagnostic tool enters the lower power state.