Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Vehicle diagnosis or maintenance indication
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-07
2001-01-30
Zanelli, Michael J. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Vehicle diagnosis or maintenance indication
C701S031000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06181994
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention involves the ability to deliver diagnostic information from a vehicle to a diagnostics service center upon request, as well as the ability to download more advanced diagnostic routines into the vehicle, based on need determined by the vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF RELATED ART
When a vehicle is experiencing operational problems, or there is a need for information in general about operating conditions within the vehicle, it is a common practice to drive the vehicle (i.e. car, truck, RV, van or construction vehicle) to a “vehicle diagnosis center”. These centers are equipped with the necessary advanced computer technology to allow the vehicle's onboard computer sensors to interact with the center's advanced diagnostic programs to access and pin-point the exact problem, thus facilitating the correction of the problem or providing the needed information on the status of the operation of the vehicle.
Currently, network connected vehicle devices only allow simple local upgrading of diagnostic information. The cost constraints of the device do not allow for sophisticated diagnostic programs. The sophisticated programs to do diagnostics must currently be run at a diagnostic center location. This, as noted above, requires the user to drive to a diagnostic center in order to get this form of sophisticated diagnostic program service.
The present invention overcomes these deficiencies and allows advanced diagnostics to be loaded on demand with results being sent back to the diagnostic center; possibly requiring a more refined selection of diagnostics based on the results of the previous tests.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention involves the ability (method and system) to deliver diagnostic information from a vehicle to a diagnostic service center upon request, as well as the ability to download more advanced diagnostic routines into the vehicle from the diagnostic center, based on need determined by the vehicle. The vehicle does not have to be physically present at the diagnostic service center.
The present invention allows advanced diagnostics to be loaded on demand with the results being sent back to the diagnostic center, possibly requiring the more refined selection of diagnostics based on the results of the previous tests.
As noted, the present invention exhibits the ability to deliver diagnostic information from the vehicle to the service center upon request and the ability to download more advanced diagnostic routines into the vehicle based on the need as determined by the vehicle. Based on this, the network delivery of some applications will be important to cost effectiveness. This invention covers the specific case of enabling the vehicle to perform advanced diagnostics routines “on-demand” without the need to continually store them inboard the vehicle. This has the advantage of more efficient storage while targeting more advanced diagnostics based on previous diagnostic results.
The vehicle's computer/microprocessors interact with the diagnostic service center via the network, either by WAN, LAN or wireless network communication techniques. This can be accomplished by microprocessors built into the vehicle's diagnostics system or computer (i.e. portable, laptop or notebook commuter via a docking station) within the vehicle communicating via the network with the diagnostics center.
While a vehicle diagnostic microprocessor can be linked to the diagnostic center's diagnostic computer via the network. (LAN, WAN and wireless networks) a computer docking station within the vehicle is another means by which the vehicle's microprocessors or computers can communicate with the distant diagnostic center. If a docking station in the vehicle is used, it can house a portable, laptop or notebook computer that contains a power connection, expansion slots and connections to peripherals, such as a monitor, printer, full-sized keyboard and a mouse. The purpose of a docking station is to turn the laptop or notebook computer into a desktop PC machine and allow users the convenience of using such peripherals as a monitor and a full sized keyboard. Thus, the current docking stations can be considered as a cabinet containing a disk drive, video circuits and special receptacles designed to house a portable computer. When the portable or laptop computer is inserted into the space provided in the docking station, the portable or laptop computer, can use devices attached to the docking station for communication and interaction with the diagnostic center's computers.
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Alewine Neal
Colson James Campbell
International Business Machines - Corporation
Kraft Paul
Leeuwen Leslie A. Van
Zanelli Michael J.
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