Radio frequency identification automotive service systems
First Claim
1. An improved automotive service system having a computer configured with at least one software application to carry out one or more vehicle service procedures, one or more input devices operatively coupled to the computer, one or more display devices operatively coupled to the computer, and one or more vehicle service devices coupled to the computer, the improvement comprising:
- at least one RFID interrogator operatively coupled to the computer, said RFID interrogator including an antenna configured to receive data over a wireless communications link with one or more RFID transponders;
wherein the computer is further configured to control said RFID interrogator; and
wherein the computer is further configured to utilize said RFID interrogator to retrieve stored data from the one or more RFID transponders.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved automotive vehicle service system incorporating an RFID interrogator to exchange data with one or more RFID transponders or tags associated with a vehicle undergoing service, or with a component of a vehicle undergoing service. The automotive vehicle service system is configured to utilize data received through the RFID interrogator from the RFID transponders or tags during a vehicle service procedure. Optionally, the automotive vehicle service system is configured to store data associated with a vehicle service procedure in an RFID transponder or tag associated with a vehicle undergoing service, or with a component of a vehicle undergoing service.
49 Citations
38 Claims
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1. An improved automotive service system having a computer configured with at least one software application to carry out one or more vehicle service procedures, one or more input devices operatively coupled to the computer, one or more display devices operatively coupled to the computer, and one or more vehicle service devices coupled to the computer, the improvement comprising:
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at least one RFID interrogator operatively coupled to the computer, said RFID interrogator including an antenna configured to receive data over a wireless communications link with one or more RFID transponders;
wherein the computer is further configured to control said RFID interrogator; and
wherein the computer is further configured to utilize said RFID interrogator to retrieve stored data from the one or more RFID transponders. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An improved method for servicing an automotive vehicle utilizing an automotive service system having a computer configured with at least one software application to carry out at least one vehicle service procedure, at least one input device operatively coupled to the computer, at least one display device operatively coupled to the computer, at least one vehicle service device coupled to the computer, and at least one RFID interrogator operatively coupled to the computer, the RFID interrogator including an antenna configured to receive data over a wireless communications link with at least one RFID transponders, comprising the steps of:
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utilizing the RFID interrogator to retrieve stored data from at least one RFID transponders in proximity to the automotive service system; and
utilizing the retrieved stored data in at least one automotive service procedure. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An improved automotive service system having a computer, at least one input device operatively coupled to the computer, at least one display device operatively coupled to the computer, and at least one vehicle service device coupled to the computer, the improvement comprising:
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at least one RFID interrogator configured to exchange data with said computer, said RFID interrogator adapted to retrieve, over a wireless communications link, stored data from at least one RFID transponder; and
wherein the computer is configured to utilize stored data from said RFID interrogator to facilitate at least one vehicle service procedure. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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37. An improved method for servicing an automotive vehicle utilizing an automotive service system having a computer, at least one input device operatively coupled to the computer, at least one display device operatively coupled to the computer, at least one vehicle service device coupled to the computer, and at least one RFID interrogator operatively coupled to the computer, the RFID interrogator including an antenna configured to exchange data over a wireless communications link with at least one RFID transponder, comprising the steps of:
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utilizing the RFID interrogator to retrieve data from the at least one RFID transponder;
conveying the retrieved data from the RFID interrogator to the computer; and
utilizing, in the computer, the retrieved data to facilitate at least one automotive service procedure. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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Specification