Method for communicating data between an NFC-enabled device on a vehicle and a driver indentification device

• US 9,604,508 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2015
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iTire, LLC
• Original Assignee: iTire, LLC
• Inventors: Lesesky, Alan C., Drinkard, Samuel Duke
• Primary Examiner(s): St Cyr, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US14/963,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20160343178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/382, 235/384, 235/385, 235/462.46, 235/472.02
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/00 Tyre parts or constructions not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 2019/004 Tyre sensors other than for detecting tyre pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00 Devices for measuring, signalling, controlling, or distributing tyre pressure or temperature, specially adapted for mounting on vehicles; Arrangement of tyre inflating devices on vehicles, e.g. of pumps or of tanks; Tyre cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0447 Wheel or tyre mounted circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0493 for attachment on the tyre
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0494 Valve stem attachments positioned inside the tyre chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/20 Devices for measuring or signalling tyre temperature only
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07722 the record carrier being multilayered, e.g. laminated sheets flat articles in general, see B32B37/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07764 the adhering arrangement making the record carrier attachable to a tire tire temperature or pressur control arrangements, see B60C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

A method for communicating data between a vehicle and a mobile computing device includes locating at least one NFC-enabled device on the vehicle. Vehicle user data is wirelessly transferred between the NFC-enabled device and the mobile computing device. Using the vehicle user data, the NFC-enabled device on the vehicle and the mobile computing device are paired.

Claims

1. A method for communicating data between a vehicle, a handheld tire data collection and communication tool, and a user identification device, comprising:

locating at least one nearfield communication (NFC)-enabled device on the vehicle, the NFC-enabled device comprising an NFC tag affixed to a tire of the vehicle;

wirelessly communicating vehicle user data between at least two of the NFC-enabled device, the handheld tire data collection and communication tool, and the user identification device, the vehicle user data being selected from a group consisting of user ID, fleet ID, name, electronic mail address, telephone number, password, and user status;

when the vehicle user data matches stored vehicle user data on at least two of the NFC-enabled device, the handheld tire data collection and communication tool, and the user identification device, enabling operation the handheld tire data collection and communication tool; and

locating the handheld tire data collection and communication tool in sufficiently close proximity to the NFC-enabled device on the vehicle to wirelessly collect and communicate data to and from the NFC-enabled device.

2. The method according to claim 1, and comprising transferring the vehicle user data between the NFC-enabled device and a mobile computing device using a telematics system of the vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 2, and comprising date-stamping the vehicle user data upon transfer between the NFC-enabled device and the mobile computing device.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the mobile computing device comprises a mobile telephone.

5. The method according to claim 1, and comprising transferring the vehicle user data between the NFC-enabled device and a mobile computing device via bump file transfer.

6. The method according to claim 1, and comprising wirelessly transferring vehicle identification data between the NFC-enabled device and a mobile computing device, the vehicle identification data being selected from a group consisting of vehicle ID, vehicle type, vehicle VIN number, and DOT number.

7. The method according to claim 1, and comprising wirelessly transferring vehicle fleet data between the NFC-enabled device and a mobile computing device, the vehicle fleet data being selected from a group consisting of fleet name and fleet status.

8. The method according to claim 1, and comprising wirelessly transferring vehicle tire data between the NFC-enabled device and a mobile computing device, the vehicle tire data being selected from a group consisting of tire ID, tire brand, tire model, recommended tire pressure, tire location on vehicle, name of tire installer, name of tire inspector, tire temperature, tread depth, tire photographs, VRMS code, maximum temperature reading, minimum pressure reading, time and distance traveled readings while above a threshold high temperature value, time and distance traveled readings while below a threshold low pressure value.

9. The method according to claim 1, and comprising wirelessly transferring vehicle event data between the NFC-enabled device and a mobile computing device, the vehicle event data being selected from a group consisting of event ID, event date, event time, and event type.

10. The method according to claim 1, and comprising wirelessly transferring instructional data between the NFC-enabled device and a mobile computing device, the instructional data comprising instructional videos, photographs, and computer renderings.