Method and system for monitoring, controlling, and locating portable devices performing remote diagnostic analysis of control network
First Claim
1. A system for facilitating diagnosis and maintenance of electronic control networks, comprising:
- a wireless diagnostic device, said wireless diagnostic device comprising a transmitter and receiver for communicating over a wireless communication channel with a vehicle control network to be diagnosed, via a control network wireless interface; and
at least one wireless ground station, said at least one wireless ground station comprising a ground station receiver attuned to said wireless communication channel, whereby transmitted messages between said wireless diagnostic device and the vehicle control network over said wireless communication channel are monitored, and further comprising a user terminal; and
and wherein the wireless diagnostic device and wireless ground station are configured to provide interactive communication between a first user of the wireless diagnostic device and a second user at the user terminal of the wireless ground station.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for monitoring, controlling, and locating portable computerized devices performing remote diagnostic analysis of control networks. The portable, wireless equipment includes computerized display device connected to a wireless intermediary device for allowing a wireless connection to be made to a control network. The computerized diagnostic device may be embodied as a personal digital assistant (PDA) having a graphical screen display, on which may be displayed the network nodes and connections of the control network presented against a backdrop of a transit vehicle or other facility shown in three-dimensional, rotatable images. The wireless equipment may allow the operator to force individual system components to output states, and provide for real time monitoring. The portable, wireless equipment is programmed with information pertaining to the connections and locations of the components in the control network, thereby simplifying diagnosis or testing by the operator. The portable, wireless equipment may be operated within a network of wireless communication cells, whereby transmitted messages between the portable, wireless equipment and the control networks may be monitored and the position of each device determined. Graphical images of the control networks may be displayed or rotated based upon the operator'"'"'s relative position and orientation within respect to the control network.
70 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A system for facilitating diagnosis and maintenance of electronic control networks, comprising:
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a wireless diagnostic device, said wireless diagnostic device comprising a transmitter and receiver for communicating over a wireless communication channel with a vehicle control network to be diagnosed, via a control network wireless interface; and at least one wireless ground station, said at least one wireless ground station comprising a ground station receiver attuned to said wireless communication channel, whereby transmitted messages between said wireless diagnostic device and the vehicle control network over said wireless communication channel are monitored, and further comprising a user terminal; and and wherein the wireless diagnostic device and wireless ground station are configured to provide interactive communication between a first user of the wireless diagnostic device and a second user at the user terminal of the wireless ground station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system for facilitating diagnosis and maintenance of electronic control networks, comprising:
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a wireless diagnostic device, said wireless diagnostic device comprising a transmitter and receiver for communicating over a wireless communication channel with a control network to be diagnosed, via a control network wireless interface; and at least one wireless ground station, said at least one wireless ground station comprising a ground station receiver attuned to said wireless communication channel, whereby transmitted messages between said wireless diagnostic device and the control network over said wireless communication channel are monitored; wherein said wireless diagnostic device is portable and adapted to be manually carried; wherein said control network is disposed on a motorized vehicle and controls or monitors functions of the motorized vehicle; and wherein said wireless diagnostic device is configured to transmit a command to the vehicle control network, via said control network wireless interface, causing said vehicle control network to switch between a normal operating mode and a test mode having reduced operational functionality.
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6. A system for facilitating diagnosis and maintenance of electronic control networks, comprising:
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a wireless diagnostic device, said wireless diagnostic device comprising a transmitter and receiver for communicating over a wireless communication channel with a control network to be diagnosed, via a control network wireless interface; and at least one wireless ground station, said at least one wireless ground station comprising a ground station receiver attuned to said wireless communication channel, whereby transmitted messages between said wireless diagnostic device and the control network over said wireless communication channel are monitored; wherein said wireless diagnostic device is portable and adapted to be manually carried; and wherein said control network is disposed on a motorized vehicle and controls or monitors functions of the motorized vehicle and wherein said at least one wireless ground station is configured to automatically monitor the transmitted messages between said wireless diagnostic device and the control network over said wireless communication channel and track the identity of said wireless diagnostic device and its associated operator. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for facilitating diagnosis and maintenance of electronic control networks, comprising the steps of:
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wirelessly communicating between a portable wireless diagnostic device and a control network to be diagnosed, said portable wireless diagnostic device comprising a transmitter and receiver for communicating over a wireless communication channel with the control network via a control network wireless interface; monitoring, at a wireless ground station, messages transmitted between said portable wireless diagnostic device and the control network over said wireless communication channel; and displaying information derived from the monitored messages at a user terminal of the wireless ground station; transmitting interactive communications over said wireless communication channel between respective users at the wireless ground station and the portable wireless diagnostic device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for facilitating diagnosis and maintenance of electronic control networks, comprising the steps of:
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wirelessly communicating between a portable wireless diagnostic device and a control network to be diagnosed, said portable wireless diagnostic device comprising a transmitter and receiver for communicating over a wireless communication channel with the control network via a control network wireless interface; monitoring, at a wireless ground station, messages transmitted between said portable wireless diagnostic device and the control network over said wireless communication channel; and displaying information derived from the monitored messages at a user terminal of the wireless ground station; wherein said portable wireless diagnostic device is adapted to be manually carried; wherein said control network is disposed on a motorized vehicle and controls or monitors functions of the motorized vehicle; further comprising the step of transmitting a test mode command form said portable wireless diagnostic device to the control network of the motorized vehicle via said control network wireless interface, thereby causing said control network to switch between a normal operating mode and a test mode having reduced operational functionality.
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21. A method for facilitating diagnosis and maintenance of electronic control networks, comprising the steps of:
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wirelessly communicating between a portable wireless diagnostic device and a control network to be diagnosed, said portable wireless diagnostic device comprising a transmitter and receiver for communicating over a wireless communication channel with the control network via a control network wireless interface; monitoring, at a wireless ground station, messages transmitted between said portable wireless diagnostic device and the control network over said wireless communication channel; displaying information derived from the monitored messages at a user terminal of the wireless ground station; wherein said portable wireless diagnostic device is adapted to be manually carried; wherein said control network is disposed on a motorized vehicle and controls or monitors functions of the motorized vehicle; and further comprising the step of automatically monitoring, at the wireless ground station, the transmitted messages between said portable wireless diagnostic device and the control network over said wireless communication channel, and to thereby track the identity of said portable wireless diagnostic device and its associated operator. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A system for facilitating diagnosis and maintenance of electronic control networks, comprising the steps of:
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wirelessly communicating between a portable wireless diagnostic device and a control network to be diagnosed, said portable wireless diagnostic device comprising a transmitter and receiver for communicating over a wireless communication channel with the control network via a control network wireless interface; monitoring, at a wireless ground station, messages transmitted between said portable wireless diagnostic device and the control network over said wireless communication channel; and displaying information derived from the monitored messages at a user terminal of the wireless ground station, further comprising the step of wirelessly transmitting a termination command in response to an instruction manually entered at the user terminal of said wireless ground station, whereby access to the control network by said portable wireless diagnostic device is terminated. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification