Method and system for determining the likely operating cost for a particular type of vehicle over a defined period
First Claim
1. A method for determining the cost of operating a vehicle over a defined period comprising:
- a) establishing, on a database, diagnostic data thresholds for establishing a reliable pattern of vehicle failures and an anticipated repairs schedule for a plurality of vehicle types, the anticipated repairs schedule including the approximate mileage at which anticipated future repairs are each expected to become necessary and a repair cost schedule of the anticipated future repairs for the plurality of vehicle types;
b) configuring a data acquisition and transfer device for establishing a communication link with a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU);
c) receiving at the data acquisition and transfer device information from the ECU identifying a vehicle type, a present mileage associated with the vehicle and current vehicle condition data;
d) communicating the retrieved information from the vehicle data acquisition and transfer device to an internet communicable device, and communicating the retrieved information from the internet communicable device to a processor;
e) using the information received from the ECU identifying the vehicle type, the present mileage associated with the vehicle and the anticipated repair schedule to derive, in the processor, a baseline estimate of anticipated repairs associated with operating the vehicle over the defined future period; and
f) adjusting the baseline estimate of anticipated repairs based on a comparison of the current vehicle condition data generated by the ECU to the diagnostic data thresholds; and
g) displaying the adjusted estimate of anticipated repairs on the internet communicable device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is disclosed for determining the cost of operating a vehicle over a defined period of time. The method proceeds by establishing, on a database, a schedule of anticipated future repairs for a plurality of vehicle types, the repair schedule including the cost of the repairs and the approximate mileage at which the anticipated future repair(s) are expected to become necessary. A processor, in communication with the database, receives information identifying a particular of vehicle, and the present mileage associated with that particular vehicle. Using the vehicle type information, the vehicle'"'"'s present mileage information and the repair schedule, the processor then computes the approximate total future repair costs for maintaining the vehicle over a defined period of time.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for determining the cost of operating a vehicle over a defined period comprising:
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a) establishing, on a database, diagnostic data thresholds for establishing a reliable pattern of vehicle failures and an anticipated repairs schedule for a plurality of vehicle types, the anticipated repairs schedule including the approximate mileage at which anticipated future repairs are each expected to become necessary and a repair cost schedule of the anticipated future repairs for the plurality of vehicle types; b) configuring a data acquisition and transfer device for establishing a communication link with a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU); c) receiving at the data acquisition and transfer device information from the ECU identifying a vehicle type, a present mileage associated with the vehicle and current vehicle condition data; d) communicating the retrieved information from the vehicle data acquisition and transfer device to an internet communicable device, and communicating the retrieved information from the internet communicable device to a processor; e) using the information received from the ECU identifying the vehicle type, the present mileage associated with the vehicle and the anticipated repair schedule to derive, in the processor, a baseline estimate of anticipated repairs associated with operating the vehicle over the defined future period; and f) adjusting the baseline estimate of anticipated repairs based on a comparison of the current vehicle condition data generated by the ECU to the diagnostic data thresholds; and
g) displaying the adjusted estimate of anticipated repairs on the internet communicable device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification