Method and System for Communicating Vehicle Diagnostic Data to Internet Server Via Bluetooth Enabled Cell Phone for Subsequent Retrieval
First Claim
1. A vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle bus;
a plurality of sensors for monitoring the operational status or condition of components of the vehicle, each sensor generating a sensor signal indicative of the monitored vehicle component and providing the sensor signal to the vehicle bus;
a diagnostics module connected to the vehicle bus to receive the sensor signals, wherein the diagnostics module generates diagnostic data of the vehicle based on the sensor signals; and
a hands-free phone system having a communications module connected to the vehicle bus and operable for wirelessly communicating with a Bluetooth enabled cell phone in the vehicle using Bluetooth communications;
wherein the diagnostics module transfers the diagnostic data to the communications module and the communications module wirelessly transmits the diagnostic data to the cell phone using Bluetooth communications for the cell phone to communicate to an Internet server.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for communicating vehicle diagnostic data to a vehicle service provider employs sensors for generating sensor signals indicative of the status or condition of vehicle components. A diagnostics module in the vehicle generates diagnostic data based on the sensor signals and transfers the diagnostic data to a communications module of a hands-free phone system in the vehicle. The communications module wirelessly communicates the diagnostic data to a Bluetooth enabled cell phone in the vehicle using Bluetooth communications. The cell phone communicates the diagnostic data to an Internet server via the Internet. The provider accesses the diagnostic data from the Internet server using a computer connected to the Internet to determine if any of the vehicle components are in need of repair or maintenance. The provider notifies a user of the vehicle of any vehicle component that is in need of repair or maintenance.
62 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle comprising:
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a vehicle bus; a plurality of sensors for monitoring the operational status or condition of components of the vehicle, each sensor generating a sensor signal indicative of the monitored vehicle component and providing the sensor signal to the vehicle bus; a diagnostics module connected to the vehicle bus to receive the sensor signals, wherein the diagnostics module generates diagnostic data of the vehicle based on the sensor signals; and a hands-free phone system having a communications module connected to the vehicle bus and operable for wirelessly communicating with a Bluetooth enabled cell phone in the vehicle using Bluetooth communications; wherein the diagnostics module transfers the diagnostic data to the communications module and the communications module wirelessly transmits the diagnostic data to the cell phone using Bluetooth communications for the cell phone to communicate to an Internet server. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system for communicating diagnostic data of a vehicle from the vehicle to a vehicle service provider, the system comprising:
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a plurality of sensors for monitoring the operational status or condition of components of the vehicle, each sensor generating a sensor signal indicative of the monitored vehicle component; a diagnostics module operable for receiving the sensor signals from the sensors, wherein the diagnostics module generates diagnostic data based on the sensor signals; a Bluetooth enabled cell phone in the vehicle; a hands-free phone system in the vehicle, the hands-free phone system having a communications module operable for wirelessly communicating with the cell phone using Bluetooth communications; an Internet server; and a computer of a vehicle service provider having access to the Internet server via the Internet; wherein the diagnostics module transfers the diagnostic data to the communications module, wherein the communications module wirelessly transmits the diagnostic data to the cell phone using Bluetooth communications, wherein the cell phone communicates the diagnostic data to the Internet server via the Internet, wherein the computer of the vehicle service provider accesses the diagnostic data stored on the Internet server for the vehicle service provider to analyze the diagnostic data to determine if any of the vehicle components are in need of repair or maintenance. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for communicating diagnostic data of a vehicle to a vehicle service provider, the method comprising:
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monitoring components of a vehicle using sensors; generating sensor signals indicative of the monitored vehicle components; generating diagnostic data based on the sensor signals; transferring the diagnostic data to a hands-free phone system of the vehicle; wirelessly communicating the diagnostic data from the hands-free phone system to a Bluetooth enabled cell phone in the vehicle using Bluetooth communications; communicating over a communications line having at least one wireless segment the diagnostic data from the cell phone to an Internet server via the Internet; accessing the diagnostic data from the Internet server using a computer of a vehicle service provider; analyzing the diagnostic data by the vehicle service provider to determine if any of the vehicle components are in need of repair or maintenance; and notifying a user of the vehicle by the vehicle service provider of any vehicle component that is in need of repair or maintenance. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification