System and Method for Automotive Diagnostic Tool Data Collection and Analysis

• US 20160328890A1
• Filed: 12/23/2014
• Published: 11/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Keane, Dennis Patrick, Tuttle, Gina, Schumacher, Darren
• Granted Patent: US 10,109,119 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

A method for monitoring component usage during vehicle service activities has been developed. The method includes receiving with a diagnostic tool diagnostic data from a vehicle, receiving with the diagnostic tool a component identifier corresponding to a component in the vehicle that is replaced in a service procedure in response to the diagnostic data from the diagnostic tool, transmitting with the diagnostic tool the diagnostic data and the component identifier to a server, and transmitting with the server the component identifier to a listener computing device that is associated with a manufacturer of the component.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring component usage during vehicle service activities comprising:

receiving with a diagnostic tool diagnostic data from a vehicle;

receiving with the diagnostic tool a component identifier corresponding to a component in the vehicle that is replaced in a service procedure in response to the diagnostic data from the diagnostic tool;

transmitting with the diagnostic tool the diagnostic data and the component identifier to a server; and

transmitting with the server the component identifier to a listener computing device that is associated with a manufacturer of the component.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving with the diagnostic tool a vehicle identification number (VIN) from an electronic control unit in the vehicle;

transmitting with the diagnostic tool the VIN to the server;

identifying with the server at least one of a make, model, and year of the vehicle with reference to the VIN; and

transmitting with the server the at least one make, model, and year of the vehicle to the listener computing device in association with the component identifier without transmitting the VIN to the listener computing device.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving with the diagnostic tool a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) from an electronic control unit in the vehicle;

transmitting with the diagnostic tool the DTC to the server; and

transmitting with the server the DTC to the listener computing device in association with the component identifier.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving with the server a plurality of component identifiers from a plurality of diagnostic tools corresponding to a plurality of components in plurality of vehicles that are replaced in a plurality of service procedures; and

generating with the server an aggregate record of the plurality of component identifiers; and

transmitting with the server the aggregate record to the listener computing device.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

receiving with the server a plurality of vehicle identification numbers (VINs) from a plurality of diagnostic tools corresponding to the plurality of vehicles;

generating with the server an aggregate record of corresponding to a plurality of makes, models, and years of the plurality of vehicles with reference to the plurality of VINs; and

transmitting with the server the aggregate record of the plurality makes, models, and years of the plurality of vehicles to the listener computing device in association with the aggregate record of the plurality of component identifiers.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

receiving with the server a plurality of diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) from the plurality of diagnostic tools for the plurality of vehicles; and

transmitting with the server the plurality of DTCs to the listener computing device in aggregate record of the plurality of component identifiers.

7. A method for monitoring vehicle service activity comprising:

receiving with a plurality of diagnostic tools a plurality of diagnostic data from a plurality of vehicles;

transmitting with the plurality of diagnostic tools the plurality of diagnostic data and a plurality of service records corresponding to a plurality of service procedures performed on the plurality of vehicles in response to the plurality of diagnostic data from the plurality of vehicles to a server;

generating with the server a summary of the plurality of service procedures with reference to the plurality of service records and the plurality of plurality of diagnostic data from the plurality of diagnostic tools; and

transmitting with the server the summary to a listener computing device associated with a service center that performs the first and second service procedures on the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

receiving with one diagnostic tool in the plurality of diagnostic tools first diagnostic data from one vehicle in the plurality of vehicles;

transmitting with the one diagnostic tool the first diagnostic data and a first service record corresponding to a first service procedure performed on the one vehicle in response to the first diagnostic data from the one vehicle to the server;

receiving with the one diagnostic tool second diagnostic data from the one vehicle;

transmitting with the one diagnostic tool the second diagnostic data and a second service record corresponding to a second service procedure performed on the one vehicle in response to the second diagnostic data from the one vehicle to the server;

generating with the server a vehicle history summary with reference to the first service record, the second service record, the first diagnostic data, and the second diagnostic data; and

transmitting with the server the other summary to the listener computing device.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

receiving with the one diagnostic tool a vehicle identification number (VIN) from the one vehicle;

transmitting with the one diagnostic tool the VIN with the first diagnostic data and a first service record to the server;

transmitting with the one diagnostic tool the VIN with the second diagnostic data and a second service record to the server; and

generating with the server the vehicle history summary with reference to the VIN to associate the first service record, the second service record, the first diagnostic data, and the second diagnostic data with the one vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

identifying with the server at least one of a make, model, and year of the vehicle with reference to the VIN; and

generating with the server the vehicle history summary including the at least one make, model, and year of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

receiving with the plurality of diagnostic tools a plurality of vehicle identification numbers (VINs) each VIN in the plurality of VINs corresponding to one vehicle in the plurality of vehicles;

transmitting with the plurality of diagnostic tools the plurality of VINs to the server;

identifying with the server at least one of a make, model, and year of each vehicle in the plurality of vehicles with reference to the plurality of VINs; and

generating with the server the summary of the plurality of service procedures including the at least one make, model, and year of each vehicle in the plurality of vehicles.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

receiving with one diagnostic tool in the plurality of diagnostic tools first diagnostic data from one vehicle in the plurality of vehicles;

transmitting with the one diagnostic tool the first diagnostic data and a diagnostic query to the server;

identifying with the server a service record stored in a diagnostic history database corresponding to the diagnostic data and the diagnostic query;

transmitting with the server the service record to the one diagnostic tool; and

generating with the diagnostic tool an output of the service record to assist a user in performing a service procedure for the one vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

receiving with the one diagnostic tool a vehicle identification number (VIN) from an electronic control unit in the one vehicle;

transmitting with the one diagnostic tool the VIN to the server;

identifying with the server at least one of a make, model, and year of the vehicle with reference to the VIN; and

identifying with the server the service record stored in the diagnostic history database corresponding to a service procedure performed on another vehicle having at least one of the make, model, and year of the one vehicle.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

transmitting with the server the first diagnostic data and the diagnostic query to a diagnostic query listener computing device; and

establishing with the diagnostic query listener computing device a communication channel between the one diagnostic tool and a terminal in a call center to enable communication between a user of the one diagnostic tool and the call center to diagnose an issue with the one vehicle related to the first diagnostic data.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

transmitting with the query listener computing device the first diagnostic data to the terminal; and

displaying with the terminal in the call center the first diagnostic data from the one diagnostic tool.