Network-based method and system for distributing data

• US 6,859,699 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2002
• Issued: 02/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: API Technologies LLC (API Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: Carroll, Anthony, Kling, Michael J. III, O'Sullivan, Brian, deBelleuille, Jean, Gibbs, Joe, McAuliffe, Brian, Gill, George M., Baird, Michael L., Rogers, Steven W.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US10/066,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20030097211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 701/33, 701/29, 701/32, 701/35, 702/113, 709/220, 709/221, 705/400, 705/500, 707/104, 717/168, 717/172, 717/173, 717/177, 717/178
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/567 Integrating service provisioning from a plurality of service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A network-based method and system for distributing data, such as service data for various types of service processes and models, including software applications, specifications, user'"'"'s manuals, or parameters, etc, over a data transmission network. A remote service provider maintains a database of the data. The database is updated frequently. The remote service provider maintains a website for authorized users to access the data. Authorized users can access and download desired data by connecting to the remote service provider via the data transmission network. Certain approaches are used to verify a user'"'"'s identity. In one aspect, a combination of a product code that is specific to a system and a license/activation code that is generated based on the product code is verified. Unless a proper combination exists, the downloaded data cannot be properly accessed. The remote service provider also allows users to purchase a license to access the data online. Therefore, users can access the most updated data without waiting for CD-ROMs containing new software or specifications to arrive.

Claims

1. A machine-implemented method for providing service data over a data transmission network, comprising the steps of:

providing a user interface for soliciting selections of desired service data;

receiving an input signal representative of a selection of desired service data via the data transmission network;

receiving input representing a product code associated with a device or system;

retrieving the desired service data based on the selection;

generating a license code with embedded information related to the product code for activating the desired service data; and

transmitting the desired service data and the license code to a data processing system via the data transmission network;

wherein the service data includes information needed for carrying out a machine-implemented service process and the license code is implemented to access the desired service data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the service data is indexed by types of diagnoses and models.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the service data is used to convert signals representative of a vehicle diagnostic state into a processed diagnostic signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the service data includes alignment specifications.

5. A machine-implemented method for providing service data over a data transmission network, comprising the steps of:

providing a user interface for soliciting selections of desired service data;

receiving an input signal representative of a selection of desired service data;

receiving user information including a product code associated with a device or system;

verifying the user information;

generating a license code with embedded information related to the product code for activating the desired service data; and

responsive to the user information representing a valid user, transmitting the desired service data and the license code to a data processing system via the data transmission network;

wherein the license code is implemented to access the desired service data.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the product code is unique to a specific device or system.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the verifying step includes comparing the product code with a database of valid product codes.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the service data is used to convert signals representative of a vehicle diagnostic state into a processed diagnostic signal.

9. A machine-implemented method for providing service data over a data transmission network, comprising the steps of:

providing a user interface for soliciting selections of desired service data;

receiving an input signal representative a selection of desired service data;

receiving payment information;

initiating validation of the payment information;

receiving a product code associated with a device or system;

generating a license code with embedded information related to the product code; and

responsive to validation of the payment information, transmitting the desired service data and the license code to a data processing system via the data transmission network;

wherein the license code is required to access the desired service data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the payment information includes credit card information.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the initiating step includes sending credit card information to a remote data processing system via the data transmission network for validation.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the service data is used to convert signals representative of a vehicle diagnostic state into a processed diagnostic signal.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the license code includes an expiration date and cannot be used to access the service data after the expiration date.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein a correct combination of the product code and the license code is required to access the service data.

15. A data processing system for providing service data over a data transmission network, comprising:

a processor for processing data;

a memory;

a data storage device for storing data;

a communication interface for operatively coupling to the data transmission network and transmitting data therefrom; and

a bus operatively coupled to the memory, the data storage device, the communication interface, and the processor;

the data storage device bearing instructions to cause the data processing system upon execution of the instructions by the processor to perform the steps of;

providing a user interface for soliciting selections of desired service data;

receiving an input signal representative of a selection of desired service data from the communication interface;

retrieving the desired service data from the data storage device or a remote storage device operatively coupled to the data processing system;

receiving a product code associated with a device or system;

generating a license code including embedded information related to the product code; and

transmitting the desired service data and the license code to a remote data processing system via the data transmission network;

wherein the service data includes information needed for carrying out a machine-implemented service process and the license code is implemented to access the service data.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the data storage device further bearing instructions to cause the data processing system upon execution of the instructions by the processor to perform the steps of:

receiving payment information; and

initiating validation of the payment information.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein a correct combination of the product code and the activation code required to access the service data.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the product code is unique to a data processing system.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the product code is a number associated with a component of a data system.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the license code includes an expiration date and cannot be used to access the service data after the expiration date.

21. A data processing system for providing service data over a data transmission network, comprising:

a processor for processing data;

a memory;

a data storage device for storing data;

a communication interface for operatively coupling to the data transmission network and transmitting data therefrom; and

a bus operatively coupled to the memory, the data storage device, the communication interface, and the processor;

the data storage device bearing instructions to cause the data processing system upon execution of the instructions by the processor to perform the steps of;

providing a user interface for soliciting selections of desired service data;

receiving an input signal representative a selection of desired service data;

receiving user information representing a user;

verifying the user information;

responsive to the user information representing a valid user, retrieving the desired service data from the data storage device or a remote storage device connected to the data processing system;

receiving a product code representing a device or system;

responsive to the user information representing a valid user, generating a license code with embedded information related to the product code; and

transmitting the desired service data and the license code to a remote data processing system via the data transmission network;

wherein the license code is implemented to access the service data.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the license code includes information related to an expiration date and becomes invalid after the expiration date.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein a correct combination of the product code and the license code is required to access the service data.

24. A machine-implemented method for providing data over a data transmission network, comprising the steps of:

providing a user interface for soliciting selections of desired data;

receiving an input signal representative a selection of desired data;

receiving a product code associated with a specific device or system;

validating the product code;

responsive to a valid product code, generating a license code with embedded information related to the product code; and

transmitting the license code to a remote data processing system via the data transmission network;

retrieving the desired data; and

transmitting the desired data to the remote data processing system via the data transmission network;

wherein the license code is required to access the desired data.

25. The method of claim 24, including using the data to convert signals representative of a vehicle diagnostic state into a processed diagnostic signal.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein a correct combination of the product code and license code is required to access the desired data.

27. A data processing system for providing data over a data transmission network, comprising:

a processor for processing data;

a memory;

a data storage device for storing the data;

a communication interface for operatively coupling to the data transmission network and transmitting data therefrom; and

a bus operatively coupled to the memory, the data storage device, the communication interface, and the processor;

the data storage device bearing instructions to cause the data processing system upon execution of the instructions by the processor to perform the steps of;

providing a user interface for soliciting selections of desired data;

receiving an input signal representative a selection of desired data;

receiving a product code associated with a specific device or system;

validating the product code;

responsive to a valid product code, generating a license code with embedded information related to the product code;

transmitting the license code to a remote data processing system via the data transmission network;

retrieving the desired data from the data storage device; and

transmitting the desired data to the remote data processing system via the data transmission network;

wherein the license code is required to access the desired data.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein a correct combination of the product code and license code is required to access the desired data.

29. A data processing system for providing data over a data transmission network, comprising:

means for processing data;

means for storing data;

means for operatively coupling to the data transmission network for transmitting or receiving data therefrom; and

bus means for transmitting data thereon, the bus means operatively coupled to the means for storing data, the means for operatively coupling to the data transmission network, and the means for processing data;

the means for storing data bearing instructions to cause the data processing system upon execution of the instructions by the means for processing data to perform the steps of;

providing a user interface for soliciting selections of desired data;

receiving an input signal representative a selection of desired data;

receiving a product code associated with a specific device or system;

validating the product code;

responsive to a valid product code, generating a license code with embedded information related to the product code;

transmitting the license code to a remote data processing system via the data transmission network;

retrieving the desired data from the means for storing data; and

transmitting the desired data to the remote data processing system via the data transmission network;

wherein the license code is required to access the desired data.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein a correct combination of the product code and license code is required to access the desired data.