Internet-based emissions test for vehicles

• US 6,928,348 B1
• Filed: 07/08/2003
• Issued: 08/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Reynolds & Reynolds Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Banet, Matthew J., Borrego, Diego, Lowrey, Larkin Hill, Lightner, Bruce, Myers, Chuck
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US10/615,516
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/33
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

The invention provides a method and device for characterizing a vehicle'"'"'s emissions. These systems feature the steps of generating a data set from the vehicle that includes at least one of the following: diagnostic trouble codes, status of a MIL, and data relating to I/M readiness flags; and then transferring the data set to a wireless appliance that features a microprocessor and a wireless transmitter in electrical contact with the microprocessor. The wireless appliance then transmits a data packet comprising the data set (or a version of the data set) with the wireless transmitter over an airlink to a wireless communication system. Here, ‘a version of the data set’ means a representation (e.g., a binary representation) of data in the data set, or data calculated or related to data in the data set.

Claims

1. A method of remotely testing emissions of a vehicle, comprising:

(a) wirelessly receiving, by a computer system and from a vehicle, data comprising at least one of (i) at least one vehicle diagnostic trouble code (DTC), (ii) status of a MIL, and (iii) data relating to at least one I/M readiness flag;

(b) analyzing the received data to determine a status of the vehicle'"'"'s emissions;

(c) repeating the wirelessly receiving and analyzing while the vehicle is in use, wherein the repeating is stopped when a predetermined set of readiness flags are characterized by a complete condition; and

(d) outputting information indicative of the determined status of the vehicle'"'"'s emissions.

2. A method of remotely testing emissions of a vehicle, comprising:

(a) wirelessly receiving, by a computer system and from a vehicle, data comprising at least one of (i) at least one vehicle diagnostic trouble code (DTC), (ii) status of a MIL, and (iii) data relating to at least one I/M readiness flag;

(b) analyzing the received data to determine a status of the vehicle'"'"'s emissions, wherein analyzing the received data includes;

(i) determining if one or more DTCs are present among the received data;

(ii) determining the status of the MIL; and

(iii) determining a status of the at least one I/M readiness flag;

(c) repeating the wirelessly receiving and analyzing while the vehicle is in use; and

(d) outputting information indicative of the determined status of the vehicle'"'"'s emissions.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein analyzing the received data further includes determining whether a user passes or does not pass an emissions test.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the data relating to the at least one I/M readiness flag describes a status of the flag.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein analyzing the receive data further includes determining if the at least one I/M readiness flag is characterized by at least one of a complete condition, an incomplete condition, a not available condition, and a not supported condition.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the vehicle is determined to not pass an emissions test if more than two I/M readiness flags are characterized by an incomplete condition.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the vehicle is determined to not pass an emission test if at least one DTC is present among the received data.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the vehicle is determined to not pass an emissions test if the MIL status is characterized by an on condition.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the vehicle is determined to pass an emissions test if no DTCs are present among the receive data.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the vehicle is determined to pass an emissions test if the MIL status is characterized by an off condition and a predetermined set of supported I/M readiness flags are characterized by a complete condition.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the vehicle is determined to pass an emissions test if the MIL status is characterized by an off condition and a predetermined set of supported I/M readiness flags are characterized by an incomplete condition.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the vehicle is determined to pass an emissions test if the MIL status is characterized by an off condition and no more than two of a predetermined set of supported I/M readiness flags are characterized by an incomplete condition.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the vehicle is determined to pass an emissions test if the MIL status is characterized by an off condition, the vehicle has no DTCs, and all supported I/M readiness flags are characterized by a complete condition.

14. A method of remotely testing emissions of a vehicle, comprising:

(a) wirelessly receiving, by a computer system and from a vehicle, data comprising at least one of (i) at least one vehicle diagnostic trouble code (DTC), (ii) status of a MIL, and (iii) data relating to at least one I/M readiness flag;

(b) analyzing the received data to determine a status of the vehicle'"'"'s emissions;

(c) repeating the wirelessly receiving and analyzing while the vehicle is in use;

(d) outputting information indicative of the determined status of the vehicle'"'"'s emissions; and

(e) wirelessly transmitting a schema configured to adjust a transmission frequency in the vehicle.

15. A method of remotely testing emissions of a vehicle, comprising:

(a) wirelessly receiving, by a computer system and from a vehicle, data comprising at least one of (i) at least one vehicle diagnostic trouble code (DTC), (ii) status of a MIL, and (iii) data relating to at least one I/M readiness flag;

(b) analyzing the received data to determine a status of the vehicle'"'"'s emissions;

(c) repeating the wirelessly receiving and analyzing while the vehicle is in use;

(d) outputting information indicative of the determined status of the vehicle'"'"'s emissions; and

(e) providing at least one webpage with access to emissions testing software.

16. A method of remotely testing emissions of a vehicle, comprising:

(a) wirelessly receiving, by a computer system and from a vehicle, data comprising at least one of (i) at least one vehicle diagnostic trouble code (DTC), (ii) status of a MIL, and (iii) data relating to at least one I/M readiness flag;

(b) analyzing the received data to determine a status of the vehicle'"'"'s emissions;

(c) repeating the wirelessly receiving and analyzing while the vehicle is in use;

(d) outputting information indicative of the determined status of the vehicle'"'"'s emissions; and

(e) sending at least a portion of the received data to an entity for analysis.

17. A method of remotely testing a vehicle'"'"'s emissions, comprising:

(a) generating, in a vehicle, data comprising at least one of (i) at least one vehicle diagnostic trouble code (DTC), (ii) status of a MIL, and (iii) data relating to at least one I/M readiness flag;

(b) transferring the data to a wireless appliance comprising,

(i) a microprocessor, and

(ii) a wireless transmitter interfaced with the microprocessor;

(c) wirelessly transmitting the data with the wireless transmitter; and

(d) repeating the generating, transferring, and transmitting while the vehicle is in use,

wherein the generating further includes generating a status of at least one of the following I/M readiness tests;

(i) misfire monitoring;

(ii) fuel systems monitoring;

(iii) comprehensive component monitoring;

(iv) catalyst monitoring;

(v) evaporative system monitoring;

(vi) oxygen sensor monitoring;

(vii) oxygen sensor heater monitoring; and

(viii) exhaust gas recirculator system monitoring,

wherein the generating further includes generating a status of each of tests (i) through (viii) that are supported by the vehicle,

wherein the generating further includes monitoring an engine computer in the vehicle to generate the data comprising at least one of (i) at least one vehicle DTC, (ii) status of a MIL, and (iii) data relating to at least one I/M readiness flag, and

wherein the data is transferred to the wireless appliance until the wireless appliance receives at least one instruction to stop the transferring.

18. A method of remotely testing a vehicle'"'"'s emissions, comprising:

(a) generating, in a vehicle, data comprising at least one of (i) at least one vehicle diagnostic trouble code (DTC), (ii) status of a MIL, and (iii) data relating to at least one I/M readiness flag, wherein the generating further includes generating a status of at least one of the following I/M readiness tests;

(i) misfire monitoring;

(ii) fuel systems monitoring;

(iii) comprehensive component monitoring;

(iv) catalyst monitoring;

(v) evaporative system monitoring;

(vi) oxygen sensor monitoring;

(vii) oxygen sensor heater monitoring; and

(viii) exhaust gas recirculator system monitoring;

(b) transferring the data to a wireless appliance comprising,

(i) a microprocessor, and

(ii) a wireless transmitter interfaced with the microprocessor;

(c) wirelessly transmitting the data with the wireless transmitter; and

(d) repeating the generating, transferring, and transmitting while the vehicle is in use.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the generating further includes generating a status of each of tests (i) through (viii) that are supported by the vehicle.

20. A method of remotely testing a vehicle'"'"'s emissions, comprising:

(a) generating, in a vehicle, data comprising at least one of (i) at least one vehicle diagnostic trouble code (DTC), (ii) status of a MIL, and (iii) data relating to at least one I/M readiness flag, wherein the generating further includes monitoring an engine computer in the vehicle to generate the data comprising at least one of (i) at least one vehicle DTC, (ii) status of a MIL, and (iii) data relating to at least one I/M readiness flag, wherein the monitoring ceases when the data relating to the I/M readiness flags indicates that no more than two flags supported in the vehicle are characterized by an incomplete condition;

(b) transferring the data to a wireless appliance comprising,

(i) a microprocessor, and

(ii) a wireless transmitter interfaced with the microprocessor;

(c) wirelessly transmitting the data with the wireless transmitter; and

(d) repeating the generating, transferring, and transmitting while the vehicle is in use.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the monitoring ceases when the data relating to the I/M readiness flags indicates that each flag supported in the vehicle is characterized by a complete condition.

22. A method of remotely testing a vehicle'"'"'s emissions, comprising:

(a) generating, in a vehicle, data comprising at least one of (i) at least one vehicle diagnostic trouble code (DTC), (ii) status of a MIL, and (iii) data relating to at least one I/M readiness flag;

(b) transferring the data to a wireless appliance comprising,

(i) a microprocessor, and

(ii) a wireless transmitter interfaced with the microprocessor;

(c) wirelessly transmitting the data with the wireless transmitter, wherein at least one of the generating and transmitting is performed at a configurable, predetermined, or random interval;

(d) repeating the generating, transferring, and transmitting while the vehicle is in use; and

(e) wirelessly downloading a schema configured to change the interval.

23. A programmed apparatus, programmed to execute a method of remotely testing emissions of a vehicle, said method comprising:

(a) wirelessly receiving, by a computer system and from a vehicle, data comprising at least one of (i) at least one vehicle diagnostic trouble code (DTC), (ii) status of a MIL, and (iii) data relating to at least one I/M readiness flag;

(b) analyzing the received data to determine a status of the vehicle'"'"'s emissions;

(c) repeating the wirelessly receiving and analyzing while the vehicle is in use;

(d) outputting information indicative of the determined status of the vehicle'"'"'s emissions;

(e) storing at least a portion of the received data in a database;

(f) wirelessly receiving GPS data from the vehicle; and

(g) providing at least one webpage with access to emissions testing software,

wherein the vehicle is at a location remote from an emissions testing entity,

wherein the repeating includes determining whether the vehicle'"'"'s emissions are compliant with at least one predetermined emissions criterion;

wherein the repeating includes monitoring the data relating to the at least one I/M readiness flag, wherein the monitoring is authorized by a user,

wherein outputting information includes sending an electronic text, data, or voice message to a computer, cellular telephone, or wireless device,

wherein outputting information includes displaying information on at least one webpage,

wherein outputting information includes notifying an entity when the vehicle'"'"'s emissions are not compliant with at least one test criterion,

wherein outputting information includes providing information concerning the vehicle'"'"'s emissions to at least one entity, wherein the at least one entity comprises a governmental or nongovernmental organization or a user, and

wherein analyzing the received data includes;

(i) determining if one or more DTCs are present among the received data;

(ii) determining the status of the MIL; and

(iii) determining a status of the at least one I/M readiness flag.

24. A programmed apparatus, programmed to execute a method of remotely testing emissions of a vehicle, said method comprising:

(a) wirelessly receiving, by a computer system and from a vehicle, data comprising at least one of (i) at least one vehicle diagnostic trouble code (DTC), (ii) status of a MIL, and (iii) data relating to at least one I/M readiness flag;

(b) analyzing the received data to determine a status of the vehicle'"'"'s emissions;

(c) repeating the wirelessly receiving and analyzing while the vehicle is in use, wherein the repeating is stopped when a predetermined set of readiness flags are characterized by a complete condition; and

(d) outputting information indicative of the determined status of the vehicle'"'"'s emissions.

25. A programmed apparatus, programmed to execute a method of remotely testing emissions of a vehicle, said method comprising:

(a) wirelessly receiving, by a computer system and from a vehicle, data comprising at least one of (i) at least one vehicle diagnostic trouble code (DTC), (ii) status of a MIL, and (iii) data relating to at least one I/M readiness flag;

(b) analyzing the received data to determine a status of the vehicle'"'"'s emissions,

wherein analyzing the received data includes;

(i) determining if one or more DTCs are present among the received data;

(ii) determining the status of the MIL; and

(ii) determining a status of the at least one I/M readiness flag;

(c) repeating the wirelessly receiving and analyzing while the vehicle is in use; and

(d) outputting information indicative of the determined status of the vehicle'"'"'s emissions.

26. The programmed apparatus of claim 25, wherein analyzing the received data further includes determining whether a user passes or does not pass an emissions test.

27. The programmed apparatus of claim 26, wherein the data relating to the at least one I/M readiness flag describes a status of the flag.

28. The programmed apparatus of claim 27, wherein analyzing the received data further includes determining if the at least one I/M readiness flag is characterized by at least one of a complete condition, an incomplete condition, a not available condition, and a not supported condition.

29. A programmed apparatus, programmed to execute a method of remotely testing a vehicle'"'"'s emissions, said method comprising:

(a) generating, in a vehicle, data comprising at least one of (i) at least one vehicle diagnostic trouble code (DTC), (ii) status of a MIL, and (iii) data relating to at least one I/M readiness flag;

(b) transferring the data to a wireless appliance comprising,

(i) a microprocessor, and

(ii) a wireless transmitter interfaced with the microprocessor;

(c) wirelessly transmitting the data with the wireless transmitter; and

(d) repeating the generating, transferring, and transmitting while the vehicle is in use,

wherein the generating further includes generating a status of at least one of the following I/M readiness tests;

(i) misfire monitoring;

(ii) fuel systems monitoring;

(iii) comprehensive component monitoring;

(iv) catalyst monitoring;

(v) evaporative system monitoring;

(vi) oxygen sensor monitoring;

(vii) oxygen sensor heater monitoring; and

(viii) exhaust gas recirculator system monitoring,

wherein the generating further includes generating a status of each of tests (i) through (viii) that are supported by the vehicle,

wherein the generating further includes monitoring an engine computer in the vehicle to generate the data comprising at least one of (i) at least one vehicle DTC, (ii) status of a MIL, and (iii) data relating to at least one I/M readiness flag, and

wherein the data is transferred to the wireless appliance until the wireless appliance receives at least one instruction to stop the transferring.

30. A programmed apparatus, programmed to execute a method of remotely testing a vehicle'"'"'s emissions, said method comprising:

(a) generating, in a vehicle, data comprising at least one of (i) at least one vehicle diagnostic trouble code (DTC), (ii) status of a MIL, and (iii) data relating to at least one I/M readiness flag, wherein the generating further includes generating a status of at least one of the following I/M readiness tests;

(i) misfire monitoring;

(ii) fuel systems monitoring;

(iii) comprehensive component monitoring;

(iv) catalyst monitoring;

(v) evaporative system monitoring;

(vi) oxygen sensor monitoring;

(vii) oxygen sensor heater monitoring; and

(viii) exhaust gas recirculator system monitoring;

(b) transferring the data to a wireless appliance comprising,

(i) a microprocessor, and

(ii) a wireless transmitter interfaced with the microprocessor;

(c) wirelessly transmitting the data with the wireless transmitter; and

(d) repeating the generating, transferring, and transmitting while the vehicle is in use.

31. A programmed apparatus, programmed to execute a method of remotely testing a vehicle'"'"'s emissions, said method comprising:

(a) generating, in a vehicle, data comprising at least one of (i) at least one vehicle diagnostic trouble code (DTC), (ii) status of a MIL, and (iii) data relating to at least one I/M readiness flag, wherein the generating further includes monitoring an engine computer in the vehicle to generate the data comprising at least one of (i) at least one vehicle DTC, (ii) status of a MIL, and (iii) data relating to at least one I/M readiness flag, wherein the monitoring ceases when the data relating to the I/M readiness flags indicates that no more than two flags supported in the vehicle are characterized by an incomplete condition;

(b) transferring the data to a wireless appliance comprising,

(i) a microprocessor, and

(ii) a wireless transmitter interfaced with the microprocessor;

(c) wirelessly transmitting the data with the wireless transmitter; and

(d) repeating the generating, transferring, and transmitting while the vehicle is in use.

32. The programmed apparatus of claim 31, wherein the monitoring ceases when the data relating to the I/M readiness flags indicates that each flag supported in the vehicle is characterized by a complete condition.

33. A machine-readable medium encoded with a plurality of processor-executable instructions for:

(a) wirelessly receiving, by a computer system and from a vehicle, data comprising at least one of (i) at least one vehicle diagnostic trouble code (DTC), (ii) status of a MIL, and (iii) data relating to at least one I/M readiness flag;

(b) analyzing the received data to determine a status of the vehicle'"'"'s emissions, wherein analyzing the received data includes;

(i) determining if one or more DTCs are present among the received data;

(ii) determining the status of the MIL; and

(iii) determining a status of the at least one I/M readiness flag;

repeating the wirelessly receiving and analyzing while the vehicle is in use; and

(d) outputting information indicative of the determined status of the vehicle'"'"'s emissions.

34. A machine-readable medium encoded with a plurality of processor-executable instructions for:

(a) generating, in a vehicle, data comprising at least one of (i) at least one vehicle diagnostic trouble code (DTC), (ii) status of a MIL, and (iii) data relating to at least one I/M readiness flag, wherein the generating further includes generating a status of at least one of the following I/M readiness tests;

(i) misfire monitoring;

(ii) fuel systems monitoring;

(iii) comprehensive component monitoring;

(iv) catalyst monitoring;

(v) evaporative system monitoring;

(vi) oxygen sensor monitoring;

(vii) oxygen sensor heater monitoring; and

(viii) exhaust gas recircular system monitoring;

(b)transferring the data to a wireless appliance comprising,

(i) a microprocessor, and

(ii) a wireless transmitter interfaced with the microprocessor;

(c) wirelessly transmitting the data with the wireless transmitter; and

(d) repeating the generating, transferring, and transmitting while the vehicle is in use.

35. A graphical user interface for displaying information associated with a remote emissions test of a vehicle, comprising:

a viewing device displaying a graphical user interface including,

(a) parameter information associated with a plurality of parameters monitored by the remote emissions tests, wherein the parameters include I/M readiness test parameter; and

(b) status information reflecting at least one status of the remote emissions test.

36. A method of remotely testing emissions of a vehicle, comprising:

(a) wirelessly receiving, by a computer system and from a vehicle, data comprising at least one of (i) at least one vehicle diagnostic trouble code (DTC), (ii) status of a MIL, and (iii) data relating to at least one I/M readiness flag;

(b) analyzing the received data to determine a status of the vehicle'"'"'s emissions;

(c) repeating the wirelessly receiving and analyzing while the vehicle is in use;

(d) outputting information indicative of the determined status of the vehicle'"'"'s emissions;

(e) storing at least a portion of the received data in a database;

(f) wirelessly receiving GPS data from the vehicle; and

(g) providing at least one webpage with access to emissions testing software,

wherein the vehicle is at a location remote from an emissions testing entity,

wherein the repeating includes determining whether the vehicle'"'"'s emissions are compliant with at least one predetermined emissions criterion;

wherein the repeating includes monitoring the data relating to the at least one I/M readiness flag, wherein the monitoring is authorized by a user,

wherein outputting information includes sending an electronic text, data, or voice message to a computer, cellular telephone, or wireless device,

wherein outputting information includes displaying information on at least one webpage,

wherein outputting information includes notifying an entity when the vehicle'"'"'s emissions are not compliant with at least one test criterion,

wherein outputting information includes providing information concerning the vehicle'"'"'s emissions to at least one entity, wherein the at least one entity comprises a governmental or nongovernmental organization or a user, and

wherein analyzing the received data includes;

(i) determining if one or more DTCs are present among the received data;

(ii) determining the status of the MIL; and

(iii) determining a status of the at least one I/M readiness flag.