System and method for data collection and messaging

• US 9,613,472 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2009
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc. (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc. (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Heine, Gary Herbert, Tsai, David, Mutter, Bruce Andrew, Trisdale, Thomas Fallow
• Primary Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US12/562,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20110071724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,755 Days
• Field of Search: 701 32, 701 2, 701 36, 701 29, 701207, 701213, 701208, 701 30, 701 33, 701 291, 701 296, 701 323, 701 324, 4554141, 707 6, 7071041
• 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

A system for diagnosing vehicle problems that may include a client device and central device. The client device may include a connector to connect to a vehicle and a vehicle interface to send and receive information from the vehicle. The client may also include an input/output system, a processor, and a communication system to communicate with the central device. The client device may capture a vehicle identification number (VIN) and may transmit the captured VIN along with geographic information to the central device. In response to received instructions from the central device, the client device may passively capture diagnostic information from the vehicle and transmit the diagnostic information to the central device. In response to the diagnostic information, the central device may transmit further instructions to the client device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a client device comprising;

a connector to selectively connect to a vehicle,

a vehicle interface to send and receive information from the vehicle,

a communication system,

an input/output system, and

a processor; and

a central device communicatively connected to the client device,

wherein after the client device is selectively connected to the vehicle, the client device detects the connection to the vehicle, receives the vehicle'"'"'s VIN from the vehicle based on detecting the connection, and transmits the vehicle'"'"'s VIN and geographic information to the central device,

wherein the client device passively captures diagnostic information from the vehicle in response to receiving instructions from the central device and transmits the diagnostic information to the central device, and

wherein the central device transmits further instructions to the client device in response to the received diagnostic information.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprises a help source communicatively connected to the central device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication system is a wireless communication system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic information includes an electronic control unit check.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic information includes diagnostic trouble codes.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the further instructions include updating calibration data on the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the further instructions include a halt message.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the further instructions include a market monitor message instructing the client device to collect selected data from the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the central devices comprises at least one database.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the central device further instructs the client device to passively collect quality investigative data from the service vehicle and to transmit the quality investigative data to the central device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic information relates to warranty claims.

30. The system of claim 1, wherein the further instructions initiate a multi-tier diagnostic operations where each tier includes an exchange of information between the client device and the central device.

12. A method, comprising:

detecting a selective connection between a client device and a vehicle;

based on detecting the selective connection, capturing identification information from the vehicle, wherein the identification information includes VIN;

transmitting the captured identification information and geographic information to a central device;

receiving configuration data from the central device, wherein the configuration data is responsive to the identification information and includes instructions;

passively capturing diagnostic information from the vehicle in response to the instructions;

transmitting the captured diagnostic information to the central device;

receiving further instructions from the client device in response to the diagnostic information; and

displaying the further instructions on a display.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprises contacting a help source that is communicatively connected to the central device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the diagnostic information includes an electronic control unit check.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the diagnostic information includes diagnostic trouble codes.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the further instructions include updating calibration data on the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the further instructions include a halt message.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the further instructions include a market monitor message instructing the client device to collect selected data from the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

passively collecting quality investigative data from the service vehicle responsive to central device quality investigation instructions;

transmitting the quality investigative data to the central device.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the diagnostic information relates to warranty claims.

31. The method of claim 12, wherein the further instructions initiate a multi-tier diagnostic operations where each tier includes an exchange of information between the client device and the central device.

21. A client device comprising:

a connector to selectively connect to a vehicle;

a vehicle interface to send and receive information from the vehicle;

a communication system to communicate with a central device;

an input/output system; and

a processor,

wherein the client device is to selectively connect to the vehicle, to detect the connection to the vehicle, to receive the vehicle'"'"'s VIN from the vehicle based on the detection of the connection, and to transmit the vehicle'"'"'s VIN and geographic information to the central device,

wherein the client device is to passively capture diagnostic information from the vehicle in response to receiving instructions from the central device and to transmit the diagnostic information to the central device, and

wherein the client device is to receive further instructions from the central device in response to the transmitted diagnostic information.

22. The client device of claim 21, wherein the communication system is a wireless communication system.

23. The client device of claim 21, wherein the diagnostic information includes an electronic control unit check.

24. The client device of claim 21, wherein the diagnostic information includes diagnostic trouble codes.

25. The client device of claim 21, wherein the further instructions include updating calibration data on the vehicle.

26. The client device of claim 21, wherein the further instructions include a halt message.

27. The client device of claim 21, wherein the further instructions include a market monitor message instructing the client device to collect selected data from the vehicle.

28. The client device of claim 21, wherein the client device is to passively collect quality investigative data from the service vehicle responsive to central device quality investigation instructions and to transmit the quality investigative data to the central device.

29. The client device of claim 21, wherein the diagnostic information relates to warranty claims.

32. The client device of claim 21, wherein the further instructions initiate a multi-tier diagnostic operations where each tier includes an exchange of information between the client device and the central device.