System and method for facilitating diagnosis and maintenance of a mobile conveyance
First Claim
1. A method for facilitating diagnosis and maintenance of a vehicle system of a vehicle, comprising:
- initiating, in response to a user request, a real-time monitoring procedure using a portable, wireless handheld diagnostic device configured to wirelessly communicate with the vehicle and adapted to be manually carried in or about a vehicle by an operator of the portable, wireless handheld device, said portable, wireless handheld diagnostic device comprising a display screen and an interactive user input mechanism;
receiving, via the interactive user input mechanism, a user selection of a system output of the vehicle to be tested;
in response to the user selection, wirelessly transmitting one or more commands automatically from the portable, wireless handheld diagnostic device to the vehicle system to force activation of all necessary switches or components to cause operation of the system output of the vehicle to be tested;
wirelessly transmitting a status check request command from the portable, wireless handheld diagnostic device to the vehicle system;
wirelessly receiving, at the portable wireless handheld device, a status response from the vehicle system indicating whether the system output of the vehicle has been activated or else is malfunctioning;
durably storing the status response information in a memory of the portable, wireless handheld diagnostic device; and
wirelessly transmitting the status response information from the portable, wireless handheld diagnostic device to a remote vehicle database of a local area computer network, where the status response information is associated with the specific vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for facilitating diagnosis and maintenance of a control networks on a mobile conveyance comprises one or more wireless ground stations configured to communicate over a wireless communication channel with the control network. A local area computer network receives and responds to messages to or from the control network via the wireless ground stations. The local area computer network may have user terminals, a server computer, a database comprising diagnostic information relating to said control network, and a replacement parts database and/or job auction database. The local area network may also include a wide area network interface, allowing diagnostic information for the control network to be retrieved or parts to be ordered from remote vendor sites. The system may also include wireless handheld, portable equipment for allowing service personnel to perform diagnostic analysis, maintenance, and testing of the mobile conveyance control network.
66 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for facilitating diagnosis and maintenance of a vehicle system of a vehicle, comprising:
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initiating, in response to a user request, a real-time monitoring procedure using a portable, wireless handheld diagnostic device configured to wirelessly communicate with the vehicle and adapted to be manually carried in or about a vehicle by an operator of the portable, wireless handheld device, said portable, wireless handheld diagnostic device comprising a display screen and an interactive user input mechanism; receiving, via the interactive user input mechanism, a user selection of a system output of the vehicle to be tested; in response to the user selection, wirelessly transmitting one or more commands automatically from the portable, wireless handheld diagnostic device to the vehicle system to force activation of all necessary switches or components to cause operation of the system output of the vehicle to be tested; wirelessly transmitting a status check request command from the portable, wireless handheld diagnostic device to the vehicle system; wirelessly receiving, at the portable wireless handheld device, a status response from the vehicle system indicating whether the system output of the vehicle has been activated or else is malfunctioning; durably storing the status response information in a memory of the portable, wireless handheld diagnostic device; and wirelessly transmitting the status response information from the portable, wireless handheld diagnostic device to a remote vehicle database of a local area computer network, where the status response information is associated with the specific vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for facilitating diagnosis, test or maintenance of a vehicle system that includes a control network, the method comprising:
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initiating, in response to a user request, a real-time monitoring procedure using a portable wireless handheld device adapted to be manually carried in or about a vehicle by an operator, said wireless handheld device comprising a display screen and an interactive user input mechanism; receiving, via the interactive user input mechanism, a user selection of a system output of the vehicle to be tested; in response to the user selection, wirelessly transmitting one or more commands automatically from the portable wireless handheld device to the vehicle'"'"'s control network to force activation of all necessary switches or components to cause operation of the system output of the vehicle to be tested; wirelessly transmitting a status check request command from the portable wireless handheld device to the vehicle'"'"'s control network; wirelessly receiving, at the portable wireless handheld device, a status response from the vehicle'"'"'s control network indicating whether the system output of the vehicle has been activated or else is malfunctioning; and displaying on the display screen of the portable wireless handheld device an indication of whether the system output of the vehicle has been activated or else is malfunctioning. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A wireless portable device for use in diagnosis, test or maintenance of a vehicle system that includes a control network, the wireless portable device comprising:
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a housing containing a processor; a transmitter and receiver within said housing for communicating over a wireless communication link to the vehicle'"'"'s control network; an antenna coupled to said transmitter and receiver; a graphical screen display; and an interactive user input mechanism; wherein said processor is configured to (i) initiating, in response to a user request, a real-time monitoring procedure;
(ii) receive, via the interactive user input mechanism, a user selection of a system output of the vehicle to be tested;
(iii) in response to the user selection, automatically wirelessly transmit via the communication link one or more commands to the vehicle'"'"'s control network to force activation of all necessary switches or components to cause operation of the system output of the vehicle to be tested;
(iv) wirelessly transmit via the wireless communication link a status check request command from the portable wireless handheld device to the vehicle'"'"'s control network;
(v) wirelessly receive a status response from the vehicle'"'"'s control network indicating whether the system output of the vehicle has been activated or else is malfunctioning; and
(vi) display on the graphical screen display an indication of whether the system output of the vehicle has been activated or else is malfunctioning. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification