Handheld automotive diagnostic tool with VIN decoder and communication system
First Claim
1. A method of diagnosing a vehicle having an onboard computer and a vehicle identification number, the onboard computer configured to transmit the vehicle identification number in response to receipt of an identification request transmitted in a first protocol, the onboard computer including diagnostic data being retrievable in response to receipt of a diagnostic request in a second protocol, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. connecting a diagnostic device to the onboard computer;
b. retrieving the vehicle identification number from the onboard computer using the first protocol;
c. matching the vehicle identification number with a second protocol database independent of user intervention, the second protocol database stored locally on the diagnostic device and including one or more second protocols, to determine a specific second protocol of the one or more second protocol(s) being useful for retrieving diagnostic data associated with a particular vehicle system;
d. configuring the diagnostic device to communicate in the specific second protocol;
e. transmitting a diagnostic request in the specific second protocol from the diagnostic device to the onboard computer;
f. receiving diagnostic data associated with the particular vehicle system via the onboard computer;
g. transmitting the diagnostic data from the diagnostic device to a cell phone via a local connectivity network; and
h. transmitting the diagnostic data from the cell phone to a main server via a cellular telephone network, the main server having a diagnostic database being arranged to map vehicle diagnostic data to a possible vehicle fix(es),wherein the diagnostic device is configured to receive information from the onboard computer independent of the cell phone.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Provided is a method of receiving data from a vehicle onboard computer. The onboard computer is configured to transmit vehicle identification data in response to receipt of an identification request, which is transmitted in a basic communication protocol. The onboard computer is further configured to transmit private operational data in response to receipt of a private data request. The private data request is transmitted in a diagnostic protocol. The method includes connecting a scan tool to the onboard computer, and polling the onboard computer to identify the basic communication protocol. The identification request is then transmitted to the onboard computer. Vehicle identification data is subsequently received from the onboard computer. A protocol database having a plurality of diagnostic protocols is then accessed. Each diagnostic protocol is associated with respective vehicle identification data. The diagnostic protocol is then determined based on the received vehicle identification data.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method of diagnosing a vehicle having an onboard computer and a vehicle identification number, the onboard computer configured to transmit the vehicle identification number in response to receipt of an identification request transmitted in a first protocol, the onboard computer including diagnostic data being retrievable in response to receipt of a diagnostic request in a second protocol, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. connecting a diagnostic device to the onboard computer; b. retrieving the vehicle identification number from the onboard computer using the first protocol; c. matching the vehicle identification number with a second protocol database independent of user intervention, the second protocol database stored locally on the diagnostic device and including one or more second protocols, to determine a specific second protocol of the one or more second protocol(s) being useful for retrieving diagnostic data associated with a particular vehicle system; d. configuring the diagnostic device to communicate in the specific second protocol; e. transmitting a diagnostic request in the specific second protocol from the diagnostic device to the onboard computer; f. receiving diagnostic data associated with the particular vehicle system via the onboard computer; g. transmitting the diagnostic data from the diagnostic device to a cell phone via a local connectivity network; and h. transmitting the diagnostic data from the cell phone to a main server via a cellular telephone network, the main server having a diagnostic database being arranged to map vehicle diagnostic data to a possible vehicle fix(es), wherein the diagnostic device is configured to receive information from the onboard computer independent of the cell phone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of diagnosing a vehicle having an onboard computer and a vehicle identification number, the onboard computer configured to transmit the vehicle identification number in response to receipt of an identification request, the identification request being transmitted in a first protocol, the onboard computer including diagnostic data being retrievable in response to receipt of a diagnostic request in a second protocol, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. connecting a diagnostic device to the onboard computer; b. retrieving the vehicle identification number from the onboard computer; c. matching the vehicle identification number with a second protocol database independent of user intervention, the second protocol database stored locally on the diagnostic device and including one or more second protocols, to identify a specific second protocol of the one or more second protocol(s) being useful for retrieving diagnostic data associated with a particular vehicle system; d. configuring the diagnostic device to communicate in the specific second protocol; e. transmitting a diagnostic request in the second protocol from the diagnostic device to the onboard computer; and f. receiving the diagnostic data associated with the particular vehicle system via the onboard computer. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of receiving data from an onboard computer located on a vehicle, the onboard computer configured to transmit vehicle identification data in response to receipt of an identification request, the identification request being transmitted in a first protocol, the onboard computer further being configured to transmit private operational data in response to receipt of a private data request, the private data request being transmitted in a second protocol, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. connecting a diagnostic device to the onboard computer; b. polling the onboard computer to identify the first protocol; c. transmitting the identification request to the onboard computer in the first protocol; d. receiving the vehicle identification data from the onboard computer; e. accessing a second protocol database stored locally on the diagnostic device, the second protocol database having a plurality of second protocols, each second protocol being associated with respective vehicle identification data; and f. selecting a specific second protocol of the plurality of second protocols based on one or more portions of the received vehicle identification data without user intervention. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method of diagnosing a vehicle having an onboard computer and a vehicle identification number, the onboard computer configured to transmit the vehicle identification number in response to receipt of an identification request, the identification request being transmitted in a basic communication protocol, the onboard computer including diagnostic data being retrievable in response to receipt of a diagnostic request in a diagnostic protocol, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. connecting a diagnostic device to the onboard computer; b. retrieving the vehicle identification number from the onboard computer; c. matching the vehicle identification number with a second protocol database including diagnostic protocols associated with vehicle identification numbers to identify a diagnostic protocol for retrieving the diagnostic data associated with a particular vehicle system; d. configuring the diagnostic device to communicate in the identified diagnostic protocol; e. transmitting a diagnostic request in the identified diagnostic protocol from the diagnostic device to the onboard computer; f. receiving the diagnostic data associated with the particular vehicle system via the onboard computer; g. transmitting the diagnostic data from the diagnostic device to a cell phone via a local connectivity network; h. transmitting the diagnostic data from the cell phone to a main server via a cellular telephone network, the main server having a diagnostic database being arranged to map vehicle diagnostic data to a possible vehicle fix(es); i. soliciting a bid from a repair shop to perform the possible vehicle fix(es); j. communicating the bid to the cell phone via the cellular telephone network; k. prioritizing the possible vehicle fix(es) in accordance with ranked matches of the received diagnostic data to combinations of diagnostic data stored in a prior experience database, the prior experience database having an identified fix associated with each stored combination of diagnostic data, the fix associated with the highest ranked combination of operational data being identified as a most likely fix; and l. mapping the most likely fix to a vehicle repair procedure database, the most likely fix being directly mapped to an associated repair procedure. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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37. A method of diagnosing a vehicle having an onboard computer and a vehicle identification number, the onboard computer configured to transmit the vehicle identification number in response to receipt of an identification request, the identification request being transmitted in a basic communication protocol, the onboard computer including diagnostic data being retrievable in response to receipt of a diagnostic request in a diagnostic protocol, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. connecting a diagnostic device to the onboard computer; b. retrieving the vehicle identification number from the onboard computer; c. matching the vehicle identification number with a second protocol database including diagnostic protocols associated with vehicle identification numbers to identify a diagnostic protocol useful for retrieving the diagnostic data associated with a particular vehicle system; d. configuring the diagnostic device to communicate in the identified diagnostic protocol; e. transmitting a diagnostic request in the diagnostic protocol from the diagnostic device to the onboard computer; f. receiving the diagnostic data associated with the particular vehicle system via the onboard computer; g. transmitting the diagnostic data from the diagnostic device to a cell phone via a local connectivity network; h. transmitting the diagnostic data from the cell phone to a main server via a cellular telephone network; i. analyzing the diagnostic data to determine a possible vehicle fix(es); j. prioritizing the possible vehicle fix(es) in accordance with ranked matches of the received diagnostic data to combinations of diagnostic data stored in a prior experience database, the prior experience database having an identified fix associated with each stored combination of diagnostic data, the fix associated with the highest ranked combination of diagnostic data being identified as a most likely fix; and k. mapping the most likely fix to a vehicle repair procedure database, the most likely fix being directly mapped to an associated repair procedure. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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39. A method of diagnosing a vehicle having an onboard computer and a vehicle identification number, the onboard computer including diagnostic data being retrievable in response to receipt of a diagnostic request in a diagnostic protocol, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. connecting a diagnostic device to the onboard computer; b. receiving the vehicle identification number; c. matching the vehicle identification number with a protocol database including one or more diagnostic protocols identify a specific diagnostic protocol of the one or more diagnostic protocol(s) being useful for retrieving diagnostic data associated with a particular vehicle system, the protocol database stored locally on the diagnostic device; d. configuring the diagnostic device to communicate in the identified diagnostic protocol, the configuring step being performed after the diagnostic device is connected to the onboard computer; e. transmitting a diagnostic request in the identified diagnostic protocol from the diagnostic device to the onboard computer; f. receiving the diagnostic data associated with the particular vehicle system via the onboard computer; g. transmitting the diagnostic data from the diagnostic device to a cell phone via a local connectivity network; and h. transmitting the diagnostic data from the cell phone to a main server via a cellular telephone network, the main server having a diagnostic database being arranged to map vehicle diagnostic data to a possible vehicle fix(es); wherein the diagnostic device is configured to receive information from the onboard computer independent of any resources in the cell phone. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41)
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Specification