Mobile communication interface, system having a mobile communication interface, and method for identifying, diagnosing, maintaining, and repairing a vehicle

• US 9,317,977 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2012
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Amirpour, Ramon, Nobis, Guenter, Malmsheimer, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAIGE, TYLER D
• Application Number:
  US14/124,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20140188331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,427 Days
• Field of Search: 701/31.4, 705/400
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

A method for identifying and diagnosing a vehicle includes: storing customer, vehicle, and repair shop order data of the vehicle in a work data memory device of a mobile communication interface; connecting the mobile communication interface to the vehicle and connecting a first vehicle inspection device at least to the mobile communication interface at a first work station; carrying out a first set of inspections on the vehicle using the first vehicle inspection device and/or the mobile communication interface; carrying out a second set of inspections on the vehicle using a second vehicle inspection device and/or the mobile communication interface on the basis of the first inspection results; and storing the customer, vehicle, and repair shop order data as well as the first and second inspection results of the vehicle into the central customer database.

Claims

1. A method for identifying and diagnosing a vehicle in a repair shop, comprising:

downloading customer, vehicle, and repair shop order data of the vehicle from a central customer database into a work data memory device of a mobile communication interface;

connecting the mobile communication interface to the vehicle and connecting a first vehicle inspection device at least to the mobile communication interface at a first work station;

reading out the customer, vehicle, and repair shop order data from the work data memory device of the mobile communication interface in a control computer of the first vehicle inspection device;

carrying out a first set of inspections on the vehicle using at least one of the first vehicle inspection device and the mobile communication interface;

storing the first inspection results in the work data memory device of the mobile communication interface by the first vehicle inspection device;

disconnecting the first vehicle inspection device from the vehicle;

connecting a second vehicle inspection device to the vehicle and reading out the customer, vehicle, and repair shop order data as well as the first inspection results from the work data memory device of the mobile communication interface into the second vehicle inspection device at a second work station;

carrying out a second set of inspections of the vehicle using at least one of the second vehicle inspection device and the mobile communication interface connected to the vehicle on the basis of the first inspection results;

storing the second inspection results in the work data memory device of the mobile communication interface by the second vehicle inspection device; and

reading out the customer, vehicle, and repair shop order data as well as the first and the second inspection results of the vehicle from the work data memory device of the mobile communication interface into the central customer database.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

connecting a universal operating and display device to the vehicle and reading out the customer, vehicle, and repair shop order data as well as the first and the second inspection results from the mobile communication interface into the universal operating and display device;

carrying out a third inspection of the vehicle using the universal operating and display device and the mobile communication interface connected to the vehicle at a third work station; and

storing the third inspection results in the work data memory device of the mobile communication interface by the universal operating and display device.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein at least one of the first vehicle inspection device, the second vehicle inspection device, and the universal operating and display device has a standardized diagnostic server device for establishing communication (i) with the mobile communication interface and (ii) with electronic control units installed in the vehicle, via the mobile communication interface.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein at the first work station, the second work station, and the third work station, identification data stored in the mobile communication interface of the vehicle present in the repair shop are displayed on the first vehicle inspection device, the second vehicle inspection device, and the universal operating and display device, respectively.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the display of identification data at the first work station, the second work station, and the third work station takes place as a function of the proximity of the vehicle to the respective work station, the mobile communication interface being connected to the vehicle.

6. A mobile communication interface for identifying a vehicle and for communicating with electronic control units installed in the vehicle in a repair shop, comprising:

a connecting device configured to connect the vehicle in the repair shop to the mobile communication interface;

a work data memory device configured to store (i) customer, vehicle, and repair shop order data of the vehicle from a central customer database, (ii) at least one of inspection, diagnostic, and maintenance result data from at least one of corresponding inspection, diagnostic, and maintenance steps carried out on the vehicle in the repair shop; and

a communication device configured to relay the customer, vehicle, and repair shop order data as well as the at least one of inspection, diagnostic, and maintenance result data to vehicle inspection devices and to exchange information between electronic control units installed in the vehicle and the vehicle inspection devices at different work stations in the repair shop.

7. The mobile communication interface as recited in claim 6, wherein the mobile communication interface is configured to be moved along with the vehicle to be connected in the repair shop.

8. A system for identifying and diagnosing a vehicle in a repair shop, comprising:

a mobile communication interface for identifying the vehicle and for communicating with electronic control units installed in the vehicle in a repair shop, the mobile communication interface including;

a connecting device configured to connect the vehicle in the repair shop to the mobile communication interface;

a work data memory device configured to store (i) customer, vehicle, and repair shop order data of the vehicle from a central customer database, (ii) at least one of inspection, diagnostic, and maintenance result data from at least one of corresponding inspection, diagnostic, and maintenance steps carried out on the vehicle in the repair shop; and

a communication device configured to relay the customer, vehicle, and repair shop order data as well as the at least one of inspection, diagnostic, and maintenance result data to vehicle inspection devices and to exchange information between electronic control units installed in the vehicle and the vehicle inspection devices at different work stations in the repair shop; and

multiple vehicle inspection devices each including;

a diagnostic server device for establishing communication with the mobile communication interface, and also with electronic control units installed in the vehicle, via the mobile communication interface;

an operating and display unit for controlling the vehicle inspection devices and the mobile communication interface; and

multiple vehicle inspection modules configured to carry out vehicle-inspection-device specific vehicle inspections of the vehicle on the basis of the at least one of inspection, diagnostic, and maintenance result data.