Automatic vehicle recognition and customer automobile diagnostic system

• US 5,557,268 A
• Filed: 02/24/1995
• Issued: 09/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Inventors: Hughes, Gerard J., Duncan, Leonard J., Goshorn, David P., Stokes, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Application Number:
  US08/393,629
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 340/933, 340/938, 340/943, 364/424.03, 364/424.04, 345/825.34, 345/825.54, 345/439
• US Class Current: 340/933
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 17/005 using a sensor contacting the exterior surface, e.g. for measuring deformation
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/007 Wheeled or endless-tracked vehicles G01M17/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

The present invention is a system and method for identifying a vehicle for the purpose of displaying diagnostic information to the driver. Each vehicle includes a transponder that transmits an encoded character sequence that is unique to that vehicle. In this way vehicle diagnostic measurements made at the establishment entrance can be associated with the vehicle, and displayed to the customer when the vehicle is recognized again at a service area.

Claims

1. A service station method for recognizing a vehicle and displaying remotely taken diagnostic information comprising:

(a) recognizing a vehicle that enters said service station;

(b) making a diagnostic measurement of said vehicle;

(c) associating said diagnostic measurement with said recognized vehicle;

(d) re-recognizing said vehicle as it moves to and stops at a service area, which is at a different position from where said diagnostic measurement is made, of said service station;

(e) associating said diagnostic measurement with said re-recognized vehicle; and

(f) presenting said diagnostic measurement at said service area in view of said vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of tracking said vehicle from service area to service area.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step for recognizing said vehicle of step (a) and step of re-recognizing said vehicle of step of (d) includes one or more antennas and one controller at each of the service areas and the diagnostic area.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said step (a) and step (d) includes one controller for all service areas and diagnostic area.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said diagnostic measurement is tire pressure.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of associating and displaying personalized information to the driver of said vehicle.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said information includes personal names.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein said tracking step is performed by monitoring said vehicle'"'"'s identification at positions of the pumps and determining where said vehicle comes to a stop.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said step for displaying includes a video display tube.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said step for displaying includes a video projection system.

11. A service station system for recognizing a vehicle and displaying remotely taken diagnostic information comprising:

(a) means for recognizing a vehicle that enters said service station;

(b) means for making a diagnostic measurement of said vehicle;

(c) means for associating said diagnostic measurement with said recognized vehicle;

(d) means for re-recognizing said vehicle as it moves to and stops at a service area, which is at a different position from where said diagnostic measurement is made, of said service station;

(e) means for associating said diagnostic measurement with said re-recognized vehicle; and

(f) means for presenting said diagnostic measurement at said service area in view of said vehicle.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising the step of tracking said vehicle from service area to service area.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein said means for recognizing said vehicle of step (a) and means for re-recognizing said vehicle of step (d) includes one or more antennas and one controller at each of the service areas and the diagnostic area.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said means of step (a) and step (d) includes one controller for all services areas and diagnostic area.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein said diagnostic measurement is tire pressure.

16. The system of claim 11 further comprising a means for associating and displaying personalized information for the driver of said vehicle.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said information includes personal names.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein said vehicles is tracked by monitoring said vehicle'"'"'s identification at pump positions and determining where said vehicle comes to a stop.

19. The system of claim 11 wherein said means for displaying includes a video display tube.

20. The system of claim 11 wherein said means for displaying includes a video projection system.