System, method and computer program product for remote vehicle diagnostics, monitoring, configuring and reprogramming

A system for a vehicle onboard unit that allows a user to perform remote vehicle diagnostics, vehicle monitoring, vehicle configuration and vehicle reprogramming, comprising:

• (A) a central processing unit (CPU);
• (B) user input/output (I/O) channel ports for receiving communications from the user;
• (C) a first application program interface means, executing on said CPU, for extracting a command from said communications received by said user I/O channel ports, wherein said command includes information specifying a vehicle and at least one vehicle parameter;
• (D) vehicle input/output (I/O) channel ports for receiving and sending communications to a vehicle data bus located on said vehicle;
• (E) a second application program interface means, executing on said CPU, for communicating said command, via said vehicle I/O channel ports, to said vehicle data bus thereby causing said at least one vehicle parameter to be read or changed;
• whereby said system allows the user to perform total fleet logistics by facilitating vehicle parameter changes, vehicle health tracking, and receipt of vehicle maintenance need indications, thus eliminating the need to physically bring said vehicle to a repair, maintenance or configuration facility.

A method for allowing a user to perform remote diagnostics, monitoring configuring, and reprogramming for a fleet of vehicles, comprising the steps of:

• (1) accessing a repository database in order to provide the user with a list of specific vehicles within the fleet of vehicles and a list of associated vehicle parameters;
• (2) receiving, via a graphical user interface (GUI), a command from the user, wherein said command includes information specifying at least one vehicle from said list of vehicles and one vehicle parameter from said list of associated vehicle parameters;
• (3) storing said command in said repository database along with the time and date that said command was received from the user;
• (4) converting said command from a format understandable by the user using said GUI to a format understandable by an onboard unit located on said at least one vehicle;
• (5) sending said command, via a wireless mobile communications system, in said format understandable by said onboard unit located on said at least one vehicle, thereby causing said at least one vehicle parameter to be read or changed;
• (6) receiving an acknowledgment of said command from said onboard unit, via said wireless mobile communications system;
• and
• (7) storing said acknowledgment in said repository database so that the user may later retrieve said acknowledgment using said GUI;
• whereby said method allows the user to perform total fleet logistics by facilitating vehicle parameter changes, vehicle health tracking, and receipt of vehicle maintenance need indications, thus eliminating the need to physically bring vehicles within the fleet to a repair, maintenance, or configuration facility.

A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to provide remote diagnostics, monitoring, configuring and reprogramming for a fleet of vehicles, said control logic comprising:

• first computer readable program code means for causing the computer to access a repository database in order to provide the user with a list of specific vehicles within the fleet of vehicles and a list of associated vehicle parameters;
• second computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive, via a graphical user interface (GUI), a command from the user, wherein said command includes information specifying at least one vehicle from said list of vehicles and one vehicle parameter from said list of associated vehicle parameters;
• third computer readable program code means for causing the computer to store said command in said repository database along with the time and date that said command was received from the user;
• fourth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to convert said command from a format understandable by the user using said GUI to a format understandable by an onboard unit located on said at least one vehicle;
• fifth computer readable program-code means for causing the computer to send said command, via a wireless mobile communications system, in said format understandable by said onboard unit located on said at least one vehicle, thereby causing said at least one vehicle parameter to be read or changed;
• sixth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive an acknowledgment of said command from said onboard unit, via said wireless mobile communications system;
• and
• seventh computer readable program code means for causing the computer to store said acknowledgment in said repository database so that the user may later retrieve said acknowledgment using said GUI;
• whereby said computer program product allows the user to perform total fleet logistics by facilitating vehicle parameter changes, vehicle health tracking, and receipt of vehicle maintenance need indications, thus eliminating the need to physically bring vehicles within the fleet to a repair, maintenance or configuration facility.