System and method to improve the efficiency of vehicle inspections by enabling remote actuation of vehicle components
First Claim
1. A method for performing a vehicle inspection, comprising the steps of:
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(i) a vehicle including at least one vehicle component configured to be remotely actuated, and a wireless data link component for wirelessly receiving an actuation command to remotely actuate the at least one vehicle component; and
(ii) a portable device for recording data related to the inspection, said portable device including a wireless data link component configured to wirelessly convey an actuation command to the vehicle to remotely actuate the at least one vehicle component to facilitate an inspection of the vehicle; and
(b) enabling an operator to use the portable device to remotely actuate the at least one vehicle component during the vehicle inspection, and to record data corresponding to a condition of the vehicle;
(c) in response to remotely actuating the vehicle component, displaying to the operator a plurality of different possible conditions associated with the vehicle component;
(d) enabling the operator to select one of the plurality of different possible conditions, to indicate a condition associated with the component as determined by the operator; and
(e) storing in the portable device a record of said one of the plurality of different possible conditions selected by the operator.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A handheld, portable device is used to facilitate inspection of vehicles, by wirelessly conveying an activation command to the vehicle to actuate a vehicle component, to facilitate inspection of the actuated component. The activation command is received by a wireless data link in the vehicle, which is electrically/logically coupled to either a switch that controls actuation of the component, an actuator configured to manipulate the component, and/or a vehicle processor configured to selectively convey an actuation command to the component. In some embodiments, in response to conveying the activation command, the handheld device enables the user to input a condition of the actuated component, which is added to an inspection record. In some embodiments, the handheld device sends a query to the vehicle, which results in the handheld device providing an indication to a user of each component in the vehicle that is capable of remote actuation.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for performing a vehicle inspection, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing; (i) a vehicle including at least one vehicle component configured to be remotely actuated, and a wireless data link component for wirelessly receiving an actuation command to remotely actuate the at least one vehicle component; and (ii) a portable device for recording data related to the inspection, said portable device including a wireless data link component configured to wirelessly convey an actuation command to the vehicle to remotely actuate the at least one vehicle component to facilitate an inspection of the vehicle; and (b) enabling an operator to use the portable device to remotely actuate the at least one vehicle component during the vehicle inspection, and to record data corresponding to a condition of the vehicle; (c) in response to remotely actuating the vehicle component, displaying to the operator a plurality of different possible conditions associated with the vehicle component; (d) enabling the operator to select one of the plurality of different possible conditions, to indicate a condition associated with the component as determined by the operator; and (e) storing in the portable device a record of said one of the plurality of different possible conditions selected by the operator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A memory medium having machine instructions stored thereon for facilitating an inspection of a vehicle, the machine instructions, when implemented by a processor, further carry out the functions of:
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(a) using a wireless data link component in a portable device that is employed to conduct the vehicle inspection to wirelessly convey an actuation command to remotely actuate a component in the vehicle, thereby facilitating inspection of that component; (b) using the wireless data link component in the portable device to wirelessly convey a query to the vehicle, requesting the vehicle to identify each component that can be remotely actuated by the portable device; (c) providing an indication to the operator that remote actuation of each component identified is possible; (d) enabling the operator to selectively actuate any component identified, using the portable device, by wirelessly conveying to the vehicle the actuation command that corresponds to each component selected to be actuated; and (e) generating an inspection record in the portable device that includes an identity of the component that was remotely activated.
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11. A memory medium having machine instructions stored thereon for facilitating an inspection of a vehicle, the machine instructions, when implemented by a processor, carrying out the functions of:
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(a) using a wireless data link component in a portable device that is employed to conduct the vehicle inspection to wirelessly convey an actuation command to remotely actuate a component in the vehicle, thereby facilitating inspection of that component; (b) in response to remotely actuating the vehicle component, displaying to the operator of the portable device a plurality of different possible conditions associated with the component; (c) enabling the operator to select one of the plurality of different possible conditions, to indicate a condition associated with the component as determined by the operator; and (d) generating an inspection record in the portable device that includes an identity of the component that was remotely activated, and including in the inspection record said one of the plurality of different possible conditions selected by the operator.
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12. A memory medium having machine instructions stored thereon for facilitating an inspection of a vehicle, the machine instructions, when implemented by a processor, carrying out the functions of:
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(a) using a wireless data link component in a portable device that is employed to conduct the vehicle inspection to detect a component that can be remotely actuated by the portable device; (b) providing an indication to the operator that the component detected is capable of remote actuation; (c) enabling the operator to selectively actuate the component detected using the portable device, by conveying to the vehicle the actuation command corresponding to the component that was detected; and (d) generating an inspection record in the portable device that includes an identity of the component that was remotely activated.
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13. A portable device for facilitating a vehicle inspection, comprising:
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(a) a housing; (b) an output for providing at least one of a visual indication and an audible indication to a user of the portable device; (c) an operator interface; (d) a wireless data link component configured to wirelessly communicate with a corresponding wireless data link component in a vehicle to be inspected; (e) a memory in which machine instructions and data are stored; and (f) a controller coupled to the output, the memory, and the operator interface, said controller executing the machine instructions to enable the operator to; (i) use the portable device to remotely actuate at least one vehicle component during the vehicle inspection, by sending an actuation command to the vehicle using the wireless data link component in the portable device; and (ii) use the operator interface in the portable device to record data in the memory of the portable device corresponding to a condition of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for facilitating a vehicle inspection, comprising:
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(a) a vehicle to be inspected, the vehicle comprising; (i) a component that can be remotely actuated; and (ii) a wireless data link component configured to wirelessly communicate with a portable device used in the inspection, the wireless data link component being logically coupled to at least one of the following; (A) a switch that controls the remotely actuatable component; (B) an actuator configured to manipulate the remotely actuatable component; and (C) a vehicle controller logically coupled to the remotely actuatable component, and configured to convey an actuation command to the remotely actuatable component in response to actuation instructions received through the wireless data link; and (b) a portable device adapted to be transported to each location to be visited and inspected during the vehicle inspection, said portable device including; (i) a housing; (ii) an output for providing at least one of a visual output and an audible output to a user of the portable device; (iii) an operator interface; (iv) a wireless data link component configured to wirelessly communicate with the wireless data link component in the vehicle to be inspected; (v) a memory in which machine instructions and data are stored; and (vi) a controller coupled to the output, the memory, and the operator interface, said controller executing the machine instructions and enabling the operator to; (A) use the portable device to remotely actuate the vehicle component that can be remotely actuated, by sending the actuation instructions to the vehicle using the wireless data link component in the portable device; and (B) use the operator interface in the portable device to record data in the memory of the portable device corresponding to a condition of the vehicle.
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Specification