Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-16
2001-11-20
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
C701S036000, C701S029000, C701S024000, C340S870030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321142
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to systems for programming a vehicle control computer, and more specifically to systems for automatically generating a set of vehicle/engine feature and/or trim values based on customer input for downloading into the vehicle control computer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Systems for calibrating embedded vehicle control computers are known and widely used in the automotive and trucking industries. It is commonplace for vehicle control computers to be programmed by the engine manufacturer with a so-called base calibration, wherein certain features thereof may be enabled or disabled via appropriate computer control. As one example, the base calibration may include one or more software algorithms for executing a vehicle speed signal tampering feature, wherein this feature may be selectively enabled or disabled as desired by an appropriate programming tool. Additionally, the base calibration typically includes a number of operational parameters that may be adjusted or trimmed within a range of permissible values via the programming tool. For example, the base calibration may include a maximum road speed parameter that may be adjustable in one or more mph increments.
In any case, vehicle owners and others typically do not have access to calibration databases, nor do they typically have the training necessary to change feature and/or trimmable parameter values. Consequently, sales personnel of vehicles carrying such vehicle control computers are usually called upon by the vehicle owner-operators to change features and/or trim values when desired. Unfortunately, this service provided by such sales personnel consumes a great deal of their time, wherein such time could be better spent concentrating on sales activities and the like.
What is therefore needed is an easy-to-use system that allows owners, sales persons and others to easily change or update features and/or trim values forming part of a vehicle control computer calibration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing shortcomings of the prior art are addressed by the present invention. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method of programming a vehicle control computer, comprises the steps of accessing a web site containing vehicle control computer calibration information, generating a set of vehicle control computer data based on user input to the web site, and loading the set of vehicle control computer data into a vehicle control computer carried by a vehicle.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of programming a vehicle control computer comprises the steps of providing a web site containing vehicle control computer calibration information, creating a file of vehicle control computer data based on at least some of the vehicle control computer calibration information contained in the web site, and loading the file of vehicle control computer data into a vehicle control computer carried by a vehicle.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a system for programming a vehicle control computer comprises a web site containing vehicle control computer information, a first computer including means for accessing the web site, a medium for storing vehicle control computer data, wherein the first computer is operable to access the web site and download a set of the vehicle control computer data from the web site to the medium, the set of vehicle control computer data based on at least some of the vehicle control computer information contained in the web site and on user information provided thereto, and means for loading the set of vehicle control computer data from the medium to a vehicle control computer.
One object of the present invention is to provide a system for allowing owners, sales personnel and others to easily change or update features and/or trim values forming part of a vehicle control computer calibration.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a system wherein changes to features and/or trim values are generated automatically in response to user input of information.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide such a system wherein the generated sets of feature and/or trim values are provided to the user along with a loading program, whereby the user may easily load such information into the vehicle control computer.
These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments.
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Barnes & Thornburg
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
Hernandez Olga
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