Handheld Automotive Diagnostic Tool with VIN Decoder and Communication System

• US 20090276115A1
• Filed: 07/13/2009
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innova Electronics Corporation (Innova Telematics Solutions)
• Original Assignee: Innova Electronics Corporation (Innova Telematics Solutions)
• Inventors: Chen, Ieon C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,117,319 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/32
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• 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

Abstract

Provided is a method of receiving data from a vehicle onboard computer. The onboard computer is configured to transmit vehicle identification data in response to receipt of an identification request, which is transmitted in a basic communication protocol. The onboard computer is further configured to transmit private operational data in response to receipt of a private data request. The private data request is transmitted in a diagnostic protocol. The method includes connecting a scan tool to the onboard computer, and polling the onboard computer to identify the basic communication protocol. The identification request is then transmitted to the onboard computer. Vehicle identification data is subsequently received from the onboard computer. A protocol database having a plurality of diagnostic protocols is then accessed. Each diagnostic protocol is associated with respective vehicle identification data. The diagnostic protocol is then determined based on the received vehicle identification data.

Claims

1. A method of diagnosing a vehicle having an onboard computer and a vehicle identification number, the onboard computer configured to transmit the vehicle identification number in response to receipt of an identification request, the identification request being transmitted in a basic communication protocol, the onboard computer including diagnostic data being retrievable in response to receipt of a diagnostic request in a diagnostic protocol, the method comprising the steps of:

a. connecting a scan tool to the onboard computer;

b. retrieving the vehicle identification number from the onboard computer;

c. matching the vehicle identification number with a protocol database including diagnostic protocols associated with vehicle identification numbers to determine the diagnostic protocol for the onboard computer;

d. re-configuring the scan tool to communicate in the diagnostic protocol;

e. transmitting a diagnostic request in the diagnostic protocol from the scan tool to the onboard computer;

f. receiving diagnostic data from the onboard computer;

g. transmitting the diagnostic data from the scan tool to a cell phone via a local connectivity circuit;

h. transmitting the diagnostic data from the cell phone to a main server via a cellular telephone network, the main server having a diagnostic database being arranged to map vehicle diagnostic data to a possible vehicle fix(es);

i. soliciting a bid from a repair shop to perform the possible vehicle fix; and

j. communicating the bid to the cell phone via the cellular telephone network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cell phone includes a destination address, the main server having a work address associated with the cell phone destination address, wherein step (i) includes soliciting a bid from a repair shop within a search area based on the work address.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the cell phone includes a destination address, the main server having a home address associated with the cell phone destination address, wherein step (i) includes soliciting a bid from a repair shop within a search area based on the home address.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the cell phone includes a GPS device configured to generate position data associated with the position of the cell phone, wherein step (h) further includes transmitting the position data from the cell phone to the main server, and wherein step (i) includes soliciting a bid from a repair shop within a search area based on the position data.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein step (i) includes soliciting a bid from a plurality of repair shops.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of:

receiving bids from the plurality of repair shops;

comparing the bids from the plurality of repair shops; and

selecting one of the bids.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein step (j) includes routing the bid from the repair shop to the cell phone via the main server.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein step (h) includes transmitting the diagnostic data from the cell phone to the main server automatically upon receipt of the diagnostic data by the cell phone.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein step (g) includes storing the diagnostic data in the cell phone, and wherein step (h) includes transmitting the diagnostic data from the cell phone to the main server in response to input by a user.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

k. prioritizing the possible vehicle fix(es) in accordance with ranked matches of the received diagnostic data to combinations of diagnostic data stored in a prior experience database, the prior experience database having an identified fix associated with each stored combination of diagnostic data, the fix associated with the highest ranked combination of private operational data being identified as the most likely fix; and

l. mapping the most likely fix to a vehicle repair procedure database, the most likely fix being directly mapped to an associated repair procedure.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein step (i) includes comparing combinations of diagnostic data received from the onboard computer with stored combinations of diagnostic data in the prior experience database, each stored combination of diagnostic data having an identified fix associated therewith and identifying the stored combination of diagnostic data ranked highest in relation to the diagnostic data received from the vehicle onboard computer.

12. The method as recited in claim 10 further comprising the step of determining whether the most likely fix requires access to an additional diagnostic protocol.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) includes:

polling the onboard computer to identify the basic communication protocol;

transmitting the identification request to the onboard computer in the basic communication protocol; and

receiving the vehicle identification number from the onboard computer.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the onboard computer is further configured to transmit private operational data in response to receipt of a private data request, the private data request being transmitted in a diagnostic protocol, wherein step (f) further includes:

accessing a protocol database having a plurality of diagnostic protocols, each diagnostic protocol being associated with respective vehicle identification data; and

determining the diagnostic protocol based on the received vehicle identification data.

15. A method of diagnosing a vehicle having an onboard computer and a vehicle identification number, the onboard computer configured to transmit the vehicle identification number in response to receipt of an identification request, the identification request being transmitted in a basic communication protocol, the onboard computer including diagnostic data being retrievable in response to receipt of a diagnostic request in a diagnostic protocol, the method comprising the steps of:

a. connecting a scan tool to the onboard computer;

b. retrieving the vehicle identification number from the onboard computer;

c. matching the vehicle identification number with a protocol database including diagnostic protocols associated with vehicle identification numbers to determine the diagnostic protocol for the onboard computer;

d. re-configuring the scan tool to communicate in the diagnostic protocol;

e. transmitting a diagnostic request in the diagnostic protocol from the scan tool to the onboard computer;

f. receiving diagnostic data from the onboard computer;

g. transmitting the diagnostic data from the scan tool to a cell phone via a local connectivity circuit; and

h. transmitting the diagnostic data from the cell phone to a main server via a cellular telephone network.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

i. analyzing the diagnostic data to determine a possible vehicle fix(es)

j. prioritizing the possible vehicle fix(es) in accordance with ranked matches of the received diagnostic data to combinations of diagnostic data stored in a prior experience database, the prior experience database having an identified fix associated with each stored combination of diagnostic data, the fix associated with the highest ranked combination of private operational data being identified as the most likely fix; and

k. mapping the most likely fix to a vehicle repair procedure database, the most likely fix being directly mapped to an associated repair procedure.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein step (i) includes comparing combinations of diagnostic data received from the onboard computer with stored combinations of diagnostic data in the prior experience database, each stored combination of diagnostic data having an identified fix associated therewith and identifying the stored combination of diagnostic data ranked highest in relation to the diagnostic data received from the vehicle onboard computer.

18. A method of receiving data from an onboard computer located on a vehicle, the onboard computer configured to transmit vehicle identification data in response to receipt of an identification request, the identification request being transmitted in a basic communication protocol, the onboard computer further being configured to transmit private operational data in response to receipt of a private data request, the private data request being transmitted in a diagnostic protocol, the method comprising the steps of:

a. connecting a scan tool to the onboard computer;

b. polling the onboard computer to identify the basic communication protocol;

c. transmitting the identification request to the onboard computer in the basic communication protocol;

d. receiving the vehicle identification data from the onboard computer;

e. accessing a protocol database having a plurality of diagnostic protocols, each diagnostic protocol being associated with respective vehicle identification data; and

f. determining the diagnostic protocol based on the received vehicle identification data.

19. The method as recited in claim 18 further comprising the step of determining whether the diagnostic protocol for a particular vehicle is stored in the protocol database.

20. The method as recited in claim 19 further comprising the step of providing a user with the option of licensing the diagnostic protocol for the particular vehicle.

21. The method as recited in claim 18 wherein step (c) includes transmitting the identification request in response to identification of the basic communication protocol.

22. The method as recited in claim 18 wherein the vehicle includes a barcode including vehicle identification data, the method further comprising the step of obtaining vehicle identification data by scanning the barcode on the vehicle with a barcode scanner located on the scan tool.