Methods, systems and tools for programming tire pressure monitoring sensors
First Claim
1. A method of programming a tire pressure monitoring sensor of a vehicle wheel unit, comprising the steps of:
- storing, in a hand-held programming tool, a database of identification codes, wherein the database of identification codes includes a plurality of vehicle identification numbers (VINs), wherein each of the plurality of VINs includes an associated make, model, or year of a vehicle, and wherein each of the plurality of VINs includes a reference to a program software associated with one or more of the make, the model, or the year of the vehicle;
storing, in the hand-held programming tool, a database of program software, wherein the database of program software includes a plurality of program software modules, and wherein each of the plurality of program software modules is identified by a selected reference from the database of identification codes;
linking, by the hand-held programming tool, at least some of the plurality of program software modules to a manufacturer'"'"'s database;
periodically updating selected ones of the plurality of program software modules from the manufacturer'"'"'s database;
obtaining a first identification information of a vehicle with the hand-held programming tool for a tire pressure monitoring sensor of a vehicle wheel unit, wherein the first identification information of the vehicle is in an electronic form;
automatically retrieving a second identification information from the database of identification codes, wherein the second identification information is in an electronic form;
automatically comparing the first identification information of the vehicle with the second identification information to determine, from the database of identification codes, one or more of a make, a model, or a year of the vehicle;
selecting and obtaining a selected one of the plurality of program software modules associated with one or more of the make, the model, or the year of the vehicle from the database of program software using the reference; and
automatically programming the tire pressure monitoring sensor of the vehicle wheel unit with the selected one of the plurality of program software modules via a communication link that exists between the hand-held programming tool and the tire pressure monitoring sensor of the vehicle wheel unit.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to methods, systems and tools for programming tire pressure monitoring sensors based upon ascertained vehicle identification numbers. In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of programming a tire pressure monitoring sensor of a vehicle wheel unit. The method includes obtaining identification information of a vehicle with a programming tool for a tire pressure monitoring sensor. The method further includes comparing the identification information with a database of identification information to determine a program software that is compatible with the vehicle. The method further includes programming the tire pressure monitoring sensor with the program software.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of programming a tire pressure monitoring sensor of a vehicle wheel unit, comprising the steps of:
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storing, in a hand-held programming tool, a database of identification codes, wherein the database of identification codes includes a plurality of vehicle identification numbers (VINs), wherein each of the plurality of VINs includes an associated make, model, or year of a vehicle, and wherein each of the plurality of VINs includes a reference to a program software associated with one or more of the make, the model, or the year of the vehicle; storing, in the hand-held programming tool, a database of program software, wherein the database of program software includes a plurality of program software modules, and wherein each of the plurality of program software modules is identified by a selected reference from the database of identification codes; linking, by the hand-held programming tool, at least some of the plurality of program software modules to a manufacturer'"'"'s database; periodically updating selected ones of the plurality of program software modules from the manufacturer'"'"'s database; obtaining a first identification information of a vehicle with the hand-held programming tool for a tire pressure monitoring sensor of a vehicle wheel unit, wherein the first identification information of the vehicle is in an electronic form; automatically retrieving a second identification information from the database of identification codes, wherein the second identification information is in an electronic form; automatically comparing the first identification information of the vehicle with the second identification information to determine, from the database of identification codes, one or more of a make, a model, or a year of the vehicle; selecting and obtaining a selected one of the plurality of program software modules associated with one or more of the make, the model, or the year of the vehicle from the database of program software using the reference; and automatically programming the tire pressure monitoring sensor of the vehicle wheel unit with the selected one of the plurality of program software modules via a communication link that exists between the hand-held programming tool and the tire pressure monitoring sensor of the vehicle wheel unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A programming system for a tire pressure monitoring sensor of a vehicle wheel unit, comprising:
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an electronic vehicle identification code reader configured to electronically obtain a scanned vehicle identification code of a vehicle for a tire pressure monitoring sensor of a vehicle wheel unit; a hand-held programming tool, wherein the hand-held programming tool includes a database of identification codes, wherein the database of identification codes includes a plurality of vehicle identification numbers (VINs), wherein each of the plurality of VINs includes an associated make, model, or year of a vehicle, and wherein each of the plurality of VINs includes a reference to a program software associated with one or more of the make, the model, or the year of the vehicle; wherein the hand-held programming tool further includes a database of program software, wherein the database of program software includes a plurality of program software modules, and wherein each of the plurality of program software modules is identified by a selected reference from the database of identification codes; and wherein the hand-held programming tool links at least some of the plurality of program software modules and a manufacturer'"'"'s database such that selected ones of the plurality of program software modules are periodically updated from the manufacturer'"'"'s database; and a processing device configured to automatically execute software instructions to; obtain the scanned vehicle identification code of the vehicle with the electronic vehicle identification code reader for the tire pressure monitoring sensor of the vehicle wheel unit, wherein the scanned vehicle identification code of the vehicle is in an electronic form, automatically retrieve an identification information from the database of identification codes, wherein the identification information is in an electronic form, automatically compare the scanned vehicle identification code of the vehicle with the identification information to determine, from the database of identification codes, one or more of a make, a model, or a year of the vehicle, select and obtain a selected one of the plurality of program software modules associated with one or more of the make, the model, or the year of the vehicle from the database of program software using the reference, and automatically program the tire pressure monitoring sensor of the vehicle wheel unit with the selected one of the plurality of program software modules via a communication link that exists between the hand-held programming tool and the tire pressure monitoring sensor of the vehicle wheel unit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A hand-held programming tool for programming a tire pressure monitoring sensor of a vehicle wheel unit, the hand-held programming tool comprising:
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an electronic vehicle identification code reader configured to electronically obtain a scanned vehicle identification code of a vehicle for a tire pressure monitoring sensor of a vehicle wheel unit; a database of identification codes, wherein the database of identification codes includes a plurality of vehicle identification numbers (VINs), wherein each of the plurality of VINs includes an associated make, model, or year of a vehicle, and wherein each of the plurality of VINs includes a reference to a program software associated with one or more of the make, the model, or the year of the vehicle; a database of program software, wherein the database of program software including a plurality of program software modules, and wherein each of the plurality of program software modules is identified by a selected reference from the database of identification codes; one or more linkages between at least some of the plurality of program software modules and a manufacturer'"'"'s database such that selected ones of the plurality of program software modules are periodically updated from the manufacturer'"'"'s database; a control unit coupled to the electronic vehicle identification code reader, the database of identification codes, and the database of program software, wherein the control unit is configured to; obtain the scanned vehicle identification code of the vehicle with the electronic vehicle identification code reader for the tire pressure monitoring sensor of the vehicle wheel unit, wherein the scanned vehicle identification code of the vehicle is in an electronic form, automatically retrieve an identification information from the database of identification codes, wherein the identification information is in an electronic form, automatically compare the scanned vehicle identification code of the vehicle with the identification information to determine, from the database of identification codes, one or more of a make, a model, or a year of the vehicle, and select and obtain a selected one of the plurality of program software modules associated with one or more of the make, the model, or the year of the vehicle from the database of program software using the reference; and a programming device coupled to the control unit, wherein the programming device is configured to program the tire pressure monitoring sensor of the vehicle wheel unit with the selected one of the plurality of program software modules via a communication link that exists between the hand-held programming tool and the tire pressure monitoring sensor of the vehicle wheel unit. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A non-transitory computer-readable memory device storing computer program instructions which, when executed by a computer comprising at least one processor, results in:
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storing, in a hand-held programming tool, a database of identification codes, wherein the database of identification codes includes a plurality of vehicle identification numbers (VINs), wherein each of the plurality of VINs includes an associated make, model, or year of a vehicle, and wherein each of the plurality of VINs includes a reference to a program software associated with one or more of the make, the model, or the year of the vehicle; storing, in the hand-held programming tool, a database of program software, wherein the database of program software includes a plurality of program software modules, and wherein each of the plurality of program software modules is identified by a selected reference from the database of identification codes; linking, by the hand-held programming tool, at least some of the plurality of program software modules to a manufacturer'"'"'s database; periodically updating selected ones of the plurality of program software modules from the manufacturer'"'"'s database; obtaining a first identification information of a vehicle with the hand-held programming tool for a tire pressure monitoring sensor of a vehicle wheel unit, wherein the first identification information of the vehicle is in an electronic form; automatically retrieving a second identification information from the database of identification codes, wherein the second identification information is in an electronic form; automatically comparing the first identification information of the vehicle with the second identification information to determine, from the database of identification codes, one or more of a make, a model, or a year of the vehicle; selecting and obtaining a selected one of the plurality of program software modules associated with one or more of the make, the model, or the year of the vehicle from the database of program software using the reference; and automatically programming the tire pressure monitoring sensor of the vehicle wheel unit with the selected one of the plurality of program software modules via a communication link that exists between the hand-held programming tool and the tire pressure monitoring sensor of the vehicle wheel unit. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification