Web-enabled engine reprogramming
OwnerBrett Augsburger, Nagaraj Ejantkar +1inventors
InventorsBrett Augsburger, Nagaraj Ejantkar, Michael Heckenbach
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Program instructions and/or data used in vehicle computers can be downloaded into the vehicle from a personal computer, which obtains the information from a web server. Different types of programmed modifications can be readily downloaded into a vehicle simply by downloading the appropriate program. Once the program instructions and/or data are downloaded, they can be copied into a vehicle computer using available interfaces, such as the onboard diagnostic system connector (OBD-2) available on many vehicles.
Claims33
A system for programming a computer in a vehicle via the Internet, said system being comprised of:
- a server computer, operatively coupled to the Internet, said server computer comprised of:
- a first memory device, storing computer program instructions, which when executed, cause the server computer to send to at least one client computer via the Internet, at least one of:
- data and instructions, which are to be loaded into the computer in a vehicle;
- at least one client computer, operatively coupled to the server computer via the Internet, said client computer comprised of:
- a second memory device, storing computer program instructions, which when executed, cause the client computer to receive from said server computer via the Internet, at least one of:
- data and instructions, for a computer in a vehicle, said at least one client computer including an interface device that couples the client computer to said computer in a vehicle and which enables at least one of the, data and instructions received from the server computer to be copied into said computer in the vehicle;
- and
- an interface device for coupling the at least one client computer to an interface of said computer in a vehicle.
A server computer, for remotely programming a computer in a motor vehicle comprised of:
- a first processor, operatively coupled to the Internet;
- at least one memory device, operatively coupled to said first processor, said at least one memory device storing:
- at least one of:
- data and instructions, for an engine controller of at least one make and model of a motor vehicle;
- computer program instructions, which when executed, enable the first processor to send to a second processor via the Internet, at least one of:
- data and instructions for a computer of a vehicle, said data and instructions to be downloaded by said second processor into a computer in a motor vehicle.
A client computer for re-programming a computer in a motor vehicle, said client computer comprised of:
- a processor, capable of being coupled to the Internet and to a computer in a motor vehicle;
- a vehicle interface device, operatively coupled to the processor, enabling the processor to be operatively coupled a computer in a motor vehicle;
- a memory device operatively coupled to said processor, said memory device storing computer program instructions, which when executed, cause the processor to receive via the Internet, at least one of:
- data and instructions, for the computer in a motor vehicle.
A method of remotely re-programming an engine control unit of a motor vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving at a server computer from a client computer via the Internet, data that identifies an engine control unit of a motor vehicle;
- said server computer:
- accessing a data base wherein data for a plurality of engine control units is stored;
- selecting from the data base, data for the engine control unit identified by said data;
- and
- sending said data to said client computer via the Internet.
A method of re-programming an engine control unit of a motor vehicle via the Internet, said method comprising the steps of:
- sending a first data via the Internet from a first computer to a server computer, said first data identifying an engine control unit of a motor vehicle;
- receiving from said remotely located server via the Internet, a second data to be loaded into the engine control unit for said motor vehicle;
- downloading the second data received from the server computer, into the engine control unit for said motor vehicle.
A system for remotely programming a computer in a vehicle via the Internet comprised of:
- a server means for distributing vehicle processor control information;
- a client computer means for obtaining processor control information, said client computer means being operatively coupled to said server means via the Internet;
- and
- an interface means, operatively coupled to the client computer means, said interface means for allowing access to programming data and/or instructions.
A device for remotely programming a computer in a vehicle via the Internet comprised of:
- a server means for distributing vehicle processor control information;
- and
- a data link, operatively coupling the server means to the Internet.
A device for remotely programming a computer in a vehicle via the Internet comprised of:
- a client computer means for obtaining processor control information, said client computer means being operatively coupled to said server means via the Internet;
- and
- an interface means, operatively coupled to the client computer means, said interface means for allowing access to programming data and/or instructions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.