Remote vehicle programming system and method

• US 8,688,313 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2010
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Repairify, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aes Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Margol, Lonnie E, McIntyre, Walter W, Delashmutt, Richard C, Stiltner, Daniel J, Olsen, Charles P
• Primary Examiner(s): Algahaim, Helal A
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, SHARDUL D
• Application Number:
  US12/977,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20110106374A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 701/33, 701/29.1, 701/31.4, 701/33.2, 710/305
• US Class Current: 701/31.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A system and method for remotely programming a vehicle including a vehicle connector with a plurality of pins in communication with one or more vehicle sub-systems or modules, a vehicle communication device connected to the vehicle connector; a bi-directional communication link between the vehicle communication device and a remote communication device, and a computer system connected to the remote communication device. The vehicle communication device is configured to receive signals from the pins, convert the signals to a network compatible data packet which can then be transmitted to the remote communication device, which re-coverts the signals to the pin signals, which can be read by a computing system, such as a vehicle scan tool. Programming instructions can be sent from the scan tool to the vehicle, over the bi-directional communication link between the remote communication device and the vehicle communication device.

Claims

1. A system for remotely programming one or more sub-systems of a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle connector having a plurality of pins, said pins in communication with a said one or more sub-systems;

a vehicle communication device connected to said vehicle connector;

a bi-directional communication link between said vehicle communication device and a remote communication device;

a computer system connected to said remote communication device;

wherein said vehicle communication device is configured to;

receive one or more outgoing pin signals present on said pins, said pin signals containing data corresponding to one or more said sub-systems;

convert said one or more outgoing pin signals to a network-compatible vehicle packet;

transmit said vehicle packet to said remote communication device over said bi-directional communication link;

wherein said remote communication device is configured to;

re-convert said vehicle packet to said one or more outgoing pin signals; and

transmit said one or more outgoing pin signals to said computer system; and

wherein said computer system and said vehicle connector are engaged in continuous bi-directional communication using a standard OBD communications protocol; and

wherein said computer system is enabled by said continuous bi-directional communication using a standard OBD communications protocol to actively and continuously communicate with, scan and program said sub-systems as if it were located proximate to said vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1:

wherein one or more programming instructions are sent from said computer system to said remote communication device;

wherein said remote communication device is configured to;

convert said programming instructions to a network-compatible programming packet;

transmit said programming packet to said vehicle communication device over said bi-directional communication link;

wherein said vehicle communication device is configured to;

convert said programming packet to one or more incoming pin signals;

transmit said one or more incoming pin signals to said one or more sub-systems of said vehicle over said pins and

wherein said standard ORD communications protocol is selected from the group comprised of SAE J2284, SAE J1850 PWM, SAE VPM ISO 9141, ISO 14230, and ISO 15765.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said one or more sub-systems are selected from the group consisting of:

Air bag control module, Alarm Control Module, Antenna Control Module, Automatic Control Module, Body Control Module, Cabin Heater Control Module, Central Control Module, Charging Control Module, Communication Control Module, Door Control Module, Electronic Brake Control Module, HVAC Control Module, Electronic Throttle Control Module, Engine Control Module, Headlamp Control Module, Instrument Control Module, Navigation Control Module, Park Assist Control Module, Power Mirror Control Module, Power seat control Module, Radiator Fan Control Module, Seat Heater Control Module, Steering Column Control Module, Steering Control Module, Steering Mounted Control Module, Sunroof Control Module, Transfer Case Control Module, General Electronic Control Module, Moonroof Control Module, Suspension Control Module, Tire Pressure Control Module, Traction Control Module, Trailer Light, Control Module, and combinations thereof.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said programming instructions are selected from the group of instructions consisting of reprogramming, program updating, calibration, linking, marriage, serial coding, security coding, and combinations thereof.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said computer system is a vehicle scan tool.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said bi-directional communication link is carried over the Internet.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said vehicle communication device or said remote communication device connects to said bi-directional communication link through a wired connection selected from the group consisting of a telephone connection, Ethernet connection, universal serial bus connection, firewire connection, and combinations thereof.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said vehicle communication device or said remote communication device connects to said bi-directional communication link through a wireless connection selected from the group consisting of WiFi, Bluetooth, a cellular data communications network, and combinations thereof.

9. A method of remotely programming one or more sub-systems of a vehicle, comprising:

connecting a vehicle communication device and a remote communication device;

said vehicle communication device in communication with said one or more sub-systems and said remote communication device in communication with a computer system;

establishing continuous bi-directional communication using a standard OBD communications protocol between said vehicle communications device and said computer system

said computer system requesting, from said vehicle communication device over said continuous bi-directional communication link, a network-compatible vehicle packet corresponding to one or more outgoing pin signals from said one or more vehicle sub-systems;

receiving, on said remote communication device over said continuous bi-directional communication link, said network-compatible vehicle packet;

converting, on said remote communication device, said vehicle packet to said one or more outgoing pin signals; and

transmitting said one or more outgoing pin signals to said computer system;

wherein said computer system is enabled by said continuous bi-directional communication using a standard OBD communications protocol to actively and continuously communicate with, scan and program said sub-systems as if it were located proximate to said vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

generating programming instructions on said computer system;

transmitting said programming instructions from said computer system to said remote communication device;

converting, on said remote communication device, said programming instructions to a network-compatible programming packet; and

transmitting said programming packet to said vehicle communication device over said bi-directional communication link.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said one or more sub-systems are selected from the group consisting of Air bag control module, Alarm Control Module, Antenna Control Module, Automatic Control Module, Body Control Module, Cabin Heater Control Module, Central Control Module, Charging Control Module, Communication Control Module, Door Control Module, Electronic Brake Control Module, HVAC Control Module, Electronic Throttle Control Module, Engine Control Module, Headlamp Control Module, Instrument Control Module, Navigation Control Module, Park Assist Control Module, Power Mirror Control Module, Power seat control Module, Radiator Fan Control Module, Seat Heater Control Module, Steering Column Control Module, Steering Control Module, Steering Mounted Control Module, Sunroof Control Module, Transfer Case Control Module, General Electronic Control Module, Moonroof Control Module, Suspension Control Module, Tire Pressure Control Module, Traction Control Module, Trailer Light Control Module, and combinations thereof.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said programming instructions are selected from the group of instructions consisting of reprogramming, program updating, calibration, linking, marriage, serial coding, security coding, and combinations thereof.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said computer system is a vehicle scan tool.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein said bi-directional communication link comprises the Internet.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein said vehicle communication device or said remote communication device connects to said bi-directional communication link through a wired connection selected from the group consisting of a telephone connection, Ethernet connection, universal serial bus connection, firewire connection, and combinations thereof.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein said vehicle communication device or said remote communication device connects to said bi-directional communication link through a wireless connection selected from the group consisting of WiFi, Bluetooth, a cellular data communications network, and combinations thereof.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein said standard OBD communications protocol is selected from the group comprised of SAE J2284, SAE J1850 PWM, SAE VPM, ISO 9141, ISO 14230, and ISO 15765.