Wireless motor vehicle diagnostic and software upgrade system
First Claim
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1. A wireless diagnostic and software upgrade motor vehicle system, which system includes a vehicle with an engine and manual controls, the system comprising:
- a plurality of sensors positioned to sense a variety of dynamic data in the vehicle;
a plurality of mechanical controls coupled to the vehicle and the engine for mechanically controlling the operation of various components thereof;
a memory;
a microprocessor coupled to the plurality of sensors and to the memory to receive the dynamic data and store the dynamic data in the memory, the microprocessor further being coupled to the plurality of mechanical controls and including programs to cause functioning of the mechanical controls in accordance with signals from the manual controls; and
a transceiver coupled to the microprocessor to receive the dynamic data from the memory and transmit the dynamic data to a remote diagnostic station and to provide program upgrades to the microprocessor in response to signals received from the remote diagnostic station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A transceiver and additional memory are connected to the microprocessor in a vehicle so that all, or selected portions, of operating data is stored in the memory and periodically transmitted to a remote station. The data is diagnosed at the remote station and, for minor repairs, a fix is transmitted back to the vehicle. The information for a large population of vehicles is used by the manufacturer to determine if a problem is generic to a specific model and to generate repairs and/or model changes.
756 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A wireless diagnostic and software upgrade motor vehicle system, which system includes a vehicle with an engine and manual controls, the system comprising:
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a plurality of sensors positioned to sense a variety of dynamic data in the vehicle; a plurality of mechanical controls coupled to the vehicle and the engine for mechanically controlling the operation of various components thereof; a memory; a microprocessor coupled to the plurality of sensors and to the memory to receive the dynamic data and store the dynamic data in the memory, the microprocessor further being coupled to the plurality of mechanical controls and including programs to cause functioning of the mechanical controls in accordance with signals from the manual controls; and a transceiver coupled to the microprocessor to receive the dynamic data from the memory and transmit the dynamic data to a remote diagnostic station and to provide program upgrades to the microprocessor in response to signals received from the remote diagnostic station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In a vehicle including an engine and manual controls, a method of diagnosis and software upgrade comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of sensors positioned to sense a variety of dynamic data and a plurality of mechanical controls coupled to the vehicle and the engine for mechanically controlling the operation of various components thereof; providing a microprocessor coupled to the plurality of mechanical controls and including programs to cause functioning of the mechanical controls in accordance with signals from the manual controls, the microprocessor further including a variety of selectable program constants, each program constant producing a modified functioning of the mechanical controls; collecting and sending the variety of dynamic data to a remote diagnostic station; receiving signals from the remote diagnostic station indicative of program changes; and selecting different program constants in response to the received signals. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. In a motor vehicle system including a vehicle with an engine and manual controls, a method of diagnosis and software upgrade comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of sensors positioned to sense a variety of dynamic data and a plurality of mechanical controls coupled to the vehicle and the engine for mechanically controlling the operation of various components thereof; providing a microprocessor coupled to the plurality of mechanical controls and including programs to cause functioning of the mechanical controls in accordance with signals from the manual controls, the microprocessor further having access to a variety of selectable program constants, each program constant producing a modified functioning of the mechanical controls; collecting and transmitting the variety of dynamic data to a remote diagnostic station; receiving, at the remote diagnostic station, the transmitted dynamic data and utilizing the dynamic data to diagnose operating problems; transmitting, from the remote diagnostic station, signals indicative of different program constants; receiving, at the vehicle, the transmitted signals from the remote diagnostic station indicative of program changes; and selecting different program constants in response to the received signals. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. In a motor vehicle system including a vehicle with an engine and manual controls, a method of diagnosis and software upgrade comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of mechanical controls coupled to the vehicle and the engine for mechanically controlling the operation of various components thereof; providing a microprocessor coupled to the plurality of mechanical controls and including microprocessor programs to cause functioning of the microprocessor and the mechanical controls in accordance with signals from the manual controls; transmitting, from the remote diagnostic station, signals indicative of microprocessor program changes; receiving, at the vehicle, the transmitted signals from the remote diagnostic station indicative of the microprocessor program changes; and changing the microprocessor programs in response to the received transmitted signals.
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15. In a motor vehicle system including a vehicle with an engine and manual controls, a method of diagnosis and software upgrade comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of sensors positioned to sense a variety of dynamic data and a plurality of mechanical controls coupled to the vehicle and the engine for mechanically controlling the operation of various components thereof; providing a microprocessor coupled to the plurality of mechanical controls and including microprocessor programs to cause functioning of the microprocessor and the mechanical controls in accordance with signals from the manual controls; collecting and transmitting the variety of dynamic data to a remote diagnostic station; receiving, at the remote diagnostic station, the transmitted dynamic data and utilizing the dynamic data to determine the status of the microprocessor programs; transmitting, from the remote diagnostic station, signals indicative of microprocessor program changes; receiving, at the vehicle, the transmitted signals from the remote diagnostic station indicative of the microprocessor program changes; and changing the microprocessor programs in response to the received transmitted signals.
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Specification