US6330499B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System and method for vehicle diagnostics and health monitoring
Assignee: Carrum Technologies LLC
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Filing: 1999-07-21
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Granted: 2001-12-11
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Expires: 2019-07-21
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for vehicle diagnostic and health monitoring includes a client computer device within the vehicle, coupled to the vehicle's monitoring systems, for data management, remote session management and user interaction, a communication system, coupled to the client computer device, for providing remote communication of data including data derived from internal monitoring systems of the vehicle, and a remote service center including a vehicle data store, a server computer, a diagnostic engine, and a communicator for communicating the results of analysis of vehicle information to the client computer device via the communication system.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Bao-Luo Chou
- 👤 Bhavani S. Iyer
- 👤 Jennifer Lai
- 👤 Anthony Levas
- 👤 Lawrence Isaac Lieberman
- 👤 Te-Kai Liu
- 👤 Paul Andrew Moskowitz
- 👤 Jung-Mu Tang
- 👤 Rose Marie Williams
- 👤 Danny Chan-Yong Wong
- 👤 Alan Chakra
- 👤 Euiyoung Kim
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:22
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07C; G07C5/00; G07C5/008; G07C5/08; H; H04; H04L; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/02; H04L67/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
An information system for a vehicle, comprising: a client computer device within the vehicle, coupled to the vehicle's monitoring systems, for data management, remote session management and user interaction; a communication system, coupled to said client computer device, for providing remote communication of data including data derived from said monitoring systems of the vehicle; and a remote service center including a vehicle data store, a server computer, a diagnostic engine, and a communicator for communicating the results of analysis of vehicle information to said client computer device via said communication system, wherein said data communicated comprises vehicle identification information, and wherein said communication system provides for voice communications.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
An information system for a vehicle, comprising: a client computer device within the vehicle, coupled to the vehicle's monitoring systems, for data management, remote session management and user interaction; a communication system, coupled to said client computer device, for providing remote communication of data including data derived from said monitoring systems of the vehicle; and a remote service center including a vehicle data store, a server computer, a diagnostic engine, and a communicator for communicating the results of analysis of vehicle information to said client computer device via said communication system, wherein said data communicated comprises vehicle identification information, and wherein said communication system provides for voice communications.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein said data further comprises at least one of vehicle location data and diagnostic data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein said client computer device comprises a processor system including a processor, a memory coupled to said processor, input/output (I/O) ports, a user interface, and a communication device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system according to claim 3 , wherein said user interface includes an input device comprising at least one of speech recognition, speaker identification, voice recording, touch screen display, and actuator buttons.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system according to claim 3 , wherein said user interface includes an output device comprising at least one of text-to-speech, voice playback, auditory signals, display screen, and indicator lights.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein said client computer device comprises at least one of an embedded computer, a laptop computer and a personal data assistant (PDA).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein the client computer device is coupled to a vehicle bus through a vehicle bus interface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system according to claim 7 , wherein said vehicle bus interface uses one of an RS-232 interface, a universal serial bus (USB), an ITS Data Bus (IDB), and Ethernet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system according to claim 7 , wherein said vehicle bus comprises one of a controller area network (CAN) and Society of Automotive Engineers' SAE J1850 data communication network interface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein said client computer device is integrated with a telephone to provide establishment of at least one of a data connection and a voice connection with said remote service center.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein said remote service center includes a call center which is automated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
103 words
An information system for a vehicle, comprising: a client computer device within the vehicle, coupled to the vehicle's monitoring systems, for data management, remote session management and user interaction; a communication system, coupled to said client computer device, for providing remote communication of data including data derived from said monitoring systems of the vehicle; and a remote service center including a vehicle data store, a server computer, a diagnostic engine, and a communicator for communicating the results of analysis of vehicle information to said client computer device via said communication system, wherein said remote service center includes a call center including help-desk personnel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
103 words
An information system for a vehicle, comprising: a client computer device within the vehicle, coupled to the vehicle's monitoring systems, for data management, remote session management and user interaction; a communication system, coupled to said client computer device, for providing remote communication of data including data derived from said monitoring systems of the vehicle; and a remote service center including a vehicle data store, a server computer, a diagnostic engine, and a communicator for communicating the results of analysis of vehicle information to said client computer device via said communication system, wherein said remote service center includes a call center including help-desk personnel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system according to claim 12 , wherein the call center performs at least one of diagnostic analysis, provides recommendations, schedules services, orders parts, and dispatches assistance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system according to claim 12 , wherein said client computer device is integrated with a telephone to provide establishment of at least one of a data connection and a voice connection with said remote service center.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system according to claim 12 , wherein said call center help-desk personnel access data related to the vehicle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system according to claim 12 , wherein said call center includes a service representative user interface, a job queue management unit, and a service data management unit linked to a data repository of the service center.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 12 , wherein said communication system provides for voice communications.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 12 , wherein said remote service center includes a call center including help-desk personnel.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of remote diagnostics of a vehicle, comprising: detecting, by a fault monitor, one or more fault codes generated by an electronic control unit of said vehicle; notifying a diagnostic client of said fault codes; checking, by said diagnostic client, the codes against a stored list to distinguish warning codes from a severe malfunction; based on said checking, advising a user whether a warning code or a severe malfunction is present; based on said advising, initiating a call to a remote service center using a data link; forwarding data containing malfunction codes, vehicle parameter values, and vehicle identification information to a diagnostic server of said remote service center; and receiving, by the diagnostic server, said data, and fetching stored vehicle information from a data repository, and displaying said data and the stored vehicle information for a service representative, while simultaneously placing a call to the vehicle.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of remote diagnostics of a vehicle, comprising: detecting, by a fault monitor, one or more fault codes generated by an electronic control unit of said vehicle; notifying a diagnostic client of said fault codes; checking, by said diagnostic client, the codes against a stored list to distinguish warning codes from a severe malfunction; based on said checking, advising a user whether a warning code or a severe malfunction is present; based on said advising, initiating a call to a remote service center using a data link; forwarding data containing malfunction codes, vehicle parameter values, and vehicle identification information to a diagnostic server of said remote service center; and receiving, by the diagnostic server, said data, and fetching stored vehicle information from a data repository, and displaying said data and the stored vehicle information for a service representative, while simultaneously placing a call to the vehicle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 19 , wherein for a predetermined malfunction, said service representative communicates with a service facility to dispatch assistance.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 19 , wherein said detecting, notifying, and checking is performed more than one time.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 19 , wherein said call to said remote service center is initiated by the user.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 19 , wherein said call from said remote service center to said vehicle connects said service representative to the vehicle user.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 19 , wherein said call to said vehicle connects said diagnostic server to said diagnostic client within the vehicle.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-12-10 | 2005-06-11 | 2005-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-12-10 | 2009-06-11 | 2009-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-12-10 | 2013-06-11 | 2013-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |