Method and system for communicating vehicle diagnostic data to internet server via Bluetooth enabled cell phone for subsequent retrieval
First Claim
1. A vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle bus;
a plurality of sensors for monitoring the operational status or condition of components of the vehicle, each sensor generating a sensor signal indicative of the monitored vehicle component and providing the sensor signal to the vehicle bus;
a diagnostics module connected to the vehicle bus to receive the sensor signals, wherein the diagnostics module generates diagnostic data of the vehicle based on the sensor signals; and
a hands-free phone system having a communications module connected to the vehicle bus and operable for wirelessly communicating voice signals and the diagnostic data over a Bluetooth wireless path with a Bluetooth enabled cell phone in the vehicle using Bluetooth communications;
wherein during a call between a user using the cell phone and another party over a phone network, the communications module receives voice signals of the user via a microphone connected to the communications module and wirelessly transmits the voice signals of the user over the wireless path to the cell phone for transmission over the phone network for receipt by the other party and the communications module wirelessly receives voice signals of the other party over the wireless path from the cell phone and outputs the voice signals of the other party through speakers connected to the communications module for the user to hear;
wherein the diagnostics module transfers the diagnostic data to the communications module and the communications module wirelessly transmits the diagnostic data over the Bluetooth wireless path to the cell phone using Bluetooth communications for the cell phone to communicate the diagnostic data to an external destination.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for communicating vehicle diagnostic data to a vehicle service provider employs sensors for generating sensor signals indicative of the status or condition of vehicle components. A diagnostics module in the vehicle generates diagnostic data based on the sensor signals and transfers the diagnostic data to a communications module of a hands-free phone system in the vehicle. The communications module wirelessly communicates the diagnostic data to a Bluetooth enabled cell phone in the vehicle using Bluetooth communications. The cell phone communicates the diagnostic data to an Internet server via the Internet. The provider accesses the diagnostic data from the Internet server using a computer connected to the Internet to determine if any of the vehicle components are in need of repair or maintenance. The provider notifies a user of the vehicle of any vehicle component that is in need of repair or maintenance.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle comprising:
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a vehicle bus; a plurality of sensors for monitoring the operational status or condition of components of the vehicle, each sensor generating a sensor signal indicative of the monitored vehicle component and providing the sensor signal to the vehicle bus; a diagnostics module connected to the vehicle bus to receive the sensor signals, wherein the diagnostics module generates diagnostic data of the vehicle based on the sensor signals; and a hands-free phone system having a communications module connected to the vehicle bus and operable for wirelessly communicating voice signals and the diagnostic data over a Bluetooth wireless path with a Bluetooth enabled cell phone in the vehicle using Bluetooth communications; wherein during a call between a user using the cell phone and another party over a phone network, the communications module receives voice signals of the user via a microphone connected to the communications module and wirelessly transmits the voice signals of the user over the wireless path to the cell phone for transmission over the phone network for receipt by the other party and the communications module wirelessly receives voice signals of the other party over the wireless path from the cell phone and outputs the voice signals of the other party through speakers connected to the communications module for the user to hear; wherein the diagnostics module transfers the diagnostic data to the communications module and the communications module wirelessly transmits the diagnostic data over the Bluetooth wireless path to the cell phone using Bluetooth communications for the cell phone to communicate the diagnostic data to an external destination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system for communicating diagnostic data of a vehicle from the vehicle to a vehicle service provider, the system comprising:
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a plurality of sensors for monitoring the operational status or condition of components of the vehicle, each sensor generating a sensor signal indicative of the monitored vehicle component; a diagnostics module operable for receiving the sensor signals from the sensors, wherein the diagnostics module generates diagnostic data based on the sensor signals; a Bluetooth enabled cell phone in the vehicle; a hands-free phone system in the vehicle, the hands-free phone system having a communications module operable for wirelessly communicating voice signals and the diagnostic data over a Bluetooth wireless path with the cell phone using Bluetooth communications; and a computer of a vehicle service provider having access to an Internet server via the Internet; wherein during a call between a user using the cell phone and another party over a phone network, the communications module receives voice signals of the user via a microphone connected to the communications module and wirelessly transmits the voice signals of the user over the wireless path to the cell phone for transmission over the phone network for receipt by the other party and the communications module wirelessly receives voice signals of the other party over the wireless path from the cell phone and outputs the voice signals of the other party through speakers connected to the communications module for the user to hear; wherein the diagnostics module transfers the diagnostic data to the communications module, wherein the communications module wirelessly transmits the diagnostic data over the Bluetooth wireless path to the cell phone using Bluetooth communications, wherein the cell phone communicates the diagnostic data to the Internet server via the Internet. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for communicating diagnostic data of a vehicle to a vehicle service provider, the method comprising:
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monitoring components of a vehicle using sensors; generating sensor signals indicative of the monitored vehicle components; generating diagnostic data based on the sensor signals; providing in the vehicle a hands-free phone system operable for wirelessly communicating voice signals and the diagnostic data over a Bluetooth wireless path with a Bluetooth enabled cell phone in the vehicle using Bluetooth communications; during a call between a user using the cell phone and another party over a network, receiving by the phone system voice signals of the user via a microphone connected to the phone system and wirelessly transmitting from the phone system the voice signals of the user over the wireless path to the cell phone for transmission over the network for receipt by the other party and wirelessly receiving by the phone system voice signals of the other party over the wireless path from the cell phone and outputting from the phone system the voice signals of the other party through speakers connected to the phone system for the user to hear; transferring the diagnostic data to the hands-free phone system of the vehicle; wirelessly communicating the diagnostic data from the hands-free phone system over the Bluetooth wireless path to the Bluetooth enabled cell phone in the vehicle using Bluetooth communications; communicating over a communications line having at least one wireless segment the diagnostic data from the cell phone to an Internet server via the Internet. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification