Wireless diagnostic system for vehicles
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for characterizing a vehicle'"'"'s performance, comprising:
- (a) retrieving data representative of the vehicle'"'"'s performance, through the vehicle'"'"'s OBD or OBD-II connector, according to a communication protocol, at a predetermined time interval, and with a data collector, the data collector comprising, i) an electrical connector configured to connect to the OBD or OBD-II connector, ii) a microprocessor interfaced with the electrical connector and configured to retrieve and transmit data at the predetermined time interval, and iii) a wireless transmitter interfaced with the microprocessor; and
(b) wirelessly transmitting the data with the wireless transmitter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention features a method and apparatus for remotely characterizing a vehicle'"'"'s performance. The method features the steps of: i) generating data representative of the vehicle'"'"'s performance with at least one microcontroller disposed within the vehicle; ii) transferring the data through an OBD, OBD-II or equivalent electrical connector to a data collector/router that includes a microprocessor and an electrically connected wireless transmitter; iii) transmitting a data packet representing the data with the wireless transmitter over an airlink to a wireless communications system and then to a host computer; and iv) analyzing the data packet with the host computer to characterize the vehicle'"'"'s performance.
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Citations
116 Claims
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1. A method for characterizing a vehicle'"'"'s performance, comprising:
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(a) retrieving data representative of the vehicle'"'"'s performance, through the vehicle'"'"'s OBD or OBD-II connector, according to a communication protocol, at a predetermined time interval, and with a data collector, the data collector comprising, i) an electrical connector configured to connect to the OBD or OBD-II connector, ii) a microprocessor interfaced with the electrical connector and configured to retrieve and transmit data at the predetermined time interval, and iii) a wireless transmitter interfaced with the microprocessor; and
(b) wirelessly transmitting the data with the wireless transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for characterizing a vehicle'"'"'s performance, comprising:
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(a) a data collector/router comprising, (i) an electrical connector configured to connect to the vehicle'"'"'s OBD or OBD-II connector;
(ii) a microprocessor interfaced with the electrical connector, the microprocessor configured to retrieve data generated by the vehicle at a predetermined time interval; and
(iii) a wireless transmitter configured to receive the data from the microprocessor and wirelessly transmit the data; and
(b) a location-determining component configured to determine location data representative of the vehicle'"'"'s location, wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to receive the location data and wirelessly transmit the location data; and
(c) a wireless receiver configured to receive (1) data configured to adjust a setting in a diagnostic system of the vehicle and (2) data configured to modify a software or firmware configuration in the vehicle, wherein the retrieved data describes at least one of the vehicle'"'"'s mileage, exhaust emissions, engine performance, engine temperature, coolant temperature, intake-manifold pressure, vehicle-identification number, engine-performance tuning parameters, alarm status, accelerometer status, fuel-injector performance, spark-plug timing, odometer reading, and a status of an anti-lock braking system, wherein the microprocessor is configured to retrieve data at a configurable predetermined or random time interval, wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit data at a configurable predetermined or random time interval, wherein the location data includes global positioning system (GPS) data, wherein the data collector/router is configured to serially transfer data through an OBD-II connector to the data collector/router, and wherein the data collector/router is configured to transfer data using a J1850, ISO 9141-2, or J2284 protocol.
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14. A system for characterizing a vehicle'"'"'s performance, comprising:
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(a) a data collector/router comprising, (i) an electrical connector configured to connect to the vehicle'"'"'s OBD or OBD-II connector;
(ii) a microprocessor interfaced with the electrical connector, the microprocessor configured to retrieve data generated by the vehicle at a predetermined time interval; and
(iii) a wireless transmitter configured to receive the data from the microprocessor and wirelessly transmit the data. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method executed by a programmable host computer to characterize a vehicle'"'"'s performance, the method comprising:
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(a) wirelessly receiving, by the host computer, a first set of data representative of the vehicle'"'"'s performance;
(b) wirelessly receiving, by the host computer, a second set of data representative of the vehicle'"'"'s location;
(c) analyzing the first and second sets of data with the host computer to generate analyzed data, wherein the analyzing includes applying at least one algorithm to at least a portion of the first and second sets of data; and
(d) displaying the analyzed data on at least one web page accessible on the Internet, wherein the displayed analyzed data includes at least one map representation depicting a current location of the vehicle, and wherein the at least one web page includes a plurality of regions associated with respective analyzed data. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
(i) estimating the vehicle'"'"'s odometer reading;
(ii) comparing the odometer reading to a schedule indicative of at least one service event associated with mileage; and
(iii) based on the comparing, sending a notification if a service event is recommended for the vehicle.
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43. The method of claim 25, further comprising wirelessly transmitting data configured to modify a software or firmware configuration in the vehicle.
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44. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one web page provides access to analysis software executable by a user, wherein the analysis software is remote from the user.
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45. The method of claim 25, wherein the analyzing the data includes:
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(i) remotely identifying a problem condition in the vehicle, wherein the vehicle is located at a location remote from a service entity; and
(ii) sending a message to at least one of the service entity and an owner of the vehicle, wherein the message is associated with the identified problem condition.
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46. The method of claim 45, wherein the sending a message comprises updating a web page associated with the service entity or owner.
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47. The method of claim 45, wherein the problem condition relates to an existing problem.
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48. The method of claim 45, wherein the problem condition relates to a predicted problem.
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49. The method of claim 25, wherein the analyzing the data comprises:
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(i) remotely identifying a problem condition in the vehicle; and
(ii) remotely repairing the vehicle to correct the problem condition, wherein the vehicle is located at a location remote from a service entity.
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50. The method of claim 25, wherein the analyzing the data comprises:
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(i) determining a location of the vehicle; and
(ii) activating a safety or anti-theft function associated with the determined location.
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51. A programmable host computer for characterizing a vehicle'"'"'s performance, comprising:
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(a) a data collection component configured to receive data sent wirelessly by the vehicle, the received data including a first set of data representative of the vehicle'"'"'s performance and a second set of data representative of the vehicle'"'"'s location;
(b) a data transmission component configured to wirelessly transmit data;
(c) a data analysis component configured to analyze the first and second sets of data to generate analyzed data, wherein the data analysis component is configured to apply at least one algorithm to at least a portion of the first and second sets of data; and
(d) a web display component configured to provide the analyzed data for display on at least one web page accessible on the Internet, wherein the displayed analyzed data includes at least one map representation depicting a current location of the vehicle, and wherein the at least one web page includes a plurality of regions associated with respective analyzed data. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79)
(i) estimate the vehicle'"'"'s odometer reading;
(ii) compare the odometer reading to a schedule indicative of at least one service event associated with mileage; and
(iii) based on the comparing, send a notification if a service event is recommended for the vehicle.
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71. The programmable host computer of claim 51, wherein the data transmission component is configured to wirelessly transmit data configured to modify a software or firmware configuration in the vehicle.
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72. The programmable host computer of claim 51, wherein the at least one web page provides access to analysis software executable by a user, wherein the analysis software is remote from the user.
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73. The programmable host computer of claim 51, wherein the data analysis component is configured to:
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(i) remotely identify a problem condition in the vehicle, wherein the vehicle is located at a location remote from a service entity; and
(ii) send a message to at least one of the service entity and an owner of the vehicle, wherein the message is associated with the identified problem condition.
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74. The programmable host computer of claim 73, wherein a web page associated with the service entity or owner is updated.
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75. The programmable host computer of claim 73, wherein the problem condition relates to an existing problem.
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76. The programmable host computer of claim 73, wherein the problem condition relates to a predicted problem.
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77. The programmable host computer of claim 51, wherein the data analysis component is configured to:
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(i) remotely identify a problem condition in the vehicle; and
(ii) remotely repair the vehicle to correct the problem condition, wherein the vehicle is located at a location remote from a service entity.
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78. The programmable host computer of claim 51, wherein the data analysis component is configured to:
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(i) determine a location of the vehicle; and
(ii) activate a safety or anti-theft function associated with the determined location.
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79. The programmable host computer of claim 51, wherein the wireless transmission component is configured to transmit data to the vehicle which adjusts at least one setting in a diagnostic system of the vehicle.
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80. A machine-readable medium including instructions for performing a method for a programmable host computer to characterize a vehicle'"'"'s performance, said medium comprising:
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(a) instructions for wirelessly receiving, by the host computer and from the vehicle, a first set of data representative of the vehicle'"'"'s performance;
(b) instructions for wirelessly receiving, by the host computer and from the vehicle, a second set of data representative of the vehicle'"'"'s location;
(c) instructions for analyzing the first and second sets of data with the host computer to generate analyzed data, wherein the analyzing includes applying at least one algorithm to at least a portion of the first and second sets of data; and
(d) instructions for displaying the analyzed data on at least one web page accessible on the Internet, wherein the displayed analyzed data includes at least one map representation depicting a current location of the vehicle, and wherein the at least one web page includes a plurality of regions associated with respective analyzed data. - View Dependent Claims (81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105)
(i) instructions for estimating the vehicle'"'"'s odometer reading;
(ii) instructions for comparing the odometer reading to a schedule indicative of at least one service event associated with mileage; and
(iii) instructions for, based on the comparing, sending a notification if a service event is recommended for the vehicle.
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98. The machine-readable medium of claim 80, further comprising instructions for wirelessly transmitting data configured to modify a software or firmware configuration in the vehicle.
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99. The machine-readable medium of claim 80, wherein the at least one web page provides access to analysis software executable by a user, wherein the analysis software is remote from the user.
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100. The machine-readable medium of claim 80, wherein the instructions for analyzing the data include:
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(i) instructions for remotely identifying a problem condition in the vehicle, wherein the vehicle is located at a location remote from a service entity; and
(ii) instructions for sending a message to at least one of the service entity and an owner of the vehicle, wherein the message is associated with the identified problem condition.
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101. The machine-readable medium of claim 100, wherein the instructions for sending a message comprise instructions for updating a web page associated with the service entity or owner.
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102. The machine-readable medium of claim 100, wherein the problem condition relates to an existing problem.
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103. The machine-readable medium of claim 100, wherein the problem condition relates to a predicted problem.
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104. The machine-readable medium of claim 80, wherein the instructions for analyzing the data comprise:
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(i) instructions for remotely identifying a problem condition in the vehicle; and
(ii) instructions for remotely repairing the vehicle to correct the problem condition, wherein the vehicle is located at a location remote from a service entity.
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105. The machine-readable medium of claim 80, wherein the instructions for analyzing the data comprise:
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(i) instructions for determining a location of the vehicle; and
(ii) instructions for activating a safety or anti-theft function associated with the determined location.
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106. A graphical user interface for displaying performance and location information for a vehicle, the interface comprising:
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a plurality of regions, each region displaying analyzed data for the vehicle, wherein at least one region includes data representative of the vehicle'"'"'s performance, wherein at least one region includes data representative of a location of the vehicle, and wherein the plurality of regions are displayed on at least one web page accessible on the Internet. - View Dependent Claims (107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114)
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115. A motor vehicle for use in cooperation with a programmable central computer, comprising:
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(a) an engine;
(b) a transmission;
(c) a braking mechanism;
(d) an onboard diagnostic system having an OBD or OBD-II connector, the diagnostic system configured to query at least data relating to the engine, transmission, and braking mechanism;
(e) a data collector/router comprising, (i) an electrical connector configured to connect to the OBD or OBD-II connector, (ii) a microprocessor interfaced with the electrical connector, the microprocessor configured to retrieve data generated by the vehicle at a predetermined time interval, and (iii) a wireless transmitter configured to receive the data from the microprocessor and wirelessly transmit the data; and
(f) a location-determining component configured to determine location data representative of the vehicle'"'"'s location, wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to receive the location data and wirelessly transmit the location data; and
(g) a wireless receiver configured to receive (1) data configured to adjust a setting in a diagnostic system of the vehicle and (2) data configured to modify a software or firmware configuration in the vehicle, wherein the retrieved data describes at least one of the vehicle'"'"'s mileage, exhaust emissions, engine performance, engine temperature, coolant temperature, intake-manifold pressure, vehicle-identification number, engine-performance tuning parameters, alarm status, accelerometer status, fuel-injector performance, spark-plug timing, odometer reading, and a status of an anti-lock braking system, wherein the microprocessor is configured to retrieve data at a configurable predetermined or random time interval, wherein the location data includes global positioning system (GPS) data, wherein the data collector/router is configured to serially transfer data through an OBD-II connector to the data collector/router, and wherein the data collector/router is configured to transfer data using a J1850, ISO 9141-2, or J2284 protocol. - View Dependent Claims (116)
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Specification