US 9,002,554 B2Granted

Smart phone app-based remote vehicle diagnostic system and method

AssigneeInnova Electronics Corporation

InventorIeon C. Chen

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

Provided is a remote vehicle diagnostic system which utilizes a smart phone as a centralized communication hub between a vehicle and several remote resources. The system includes a program downloadable onto the smart phone to program the phone to perform desired functionality. The smart phone app may allow the smart phone to operate in a diagnostic mode and an emergency mode. In the diagnostic mode, the smart phone may relay vehicle data from the vehicle to a remote diagnostic center. The smart phone may also query the user to obtain symptomatic diagnostic information, which may be uploaded to the remote diagnostic center. In the emergency mode, the smart phone may be configured to upload critical information to a remote diagnostic center, or an emergency response center. The emergency mode may be triggered automatically in response to the vehicle being in an accident, or by user actuation.

Claims26

Dependent claims

An automotive diagnostic system for use with a remote diagnostic center, a smart phone, and a vehicle, wherein the smart phone is capable of operating independent of the vehicle, the vehicle having an onboard vehicle computer which generates and stores vehicle data including at least one diagnostic trouble code (DTC) generated in response to a problematic operating condition and an accident indicator generated in response to a vehicle accident event, the automotive diagnostic system comprising:

a data storage unit plug connectable with the vehicle to communicate with the onboard vehicle computer for retrieving vehicle data from the onboard vehicle computer and storing the vehicle data, the data storage unit being configured to analyze the retrieved vehicle data on the data storage unit and generate a first emergency initiation signal in response to receipt of the accident indicator;
and
computer readable instructions downloadable onto the smart phone for configuring the smart phone to:
communicate with the data storage unit;
receive a second emergency initiation signal from the user;
operate in a diagnostic mode and an emergency mode;
in the diagnostic mode, the smart phone uploads vehicle data to the remote diagnostic center in response to the vehicle data including at least one DTC, and initiates a symptomatic question sequence for the user in response to the vehicle data not including at least one DTC;
in the emergency mode, the smart phone uploads vehicle data to the remote diagnostic center automatically in response to receipt of one of the first and second emergency initiation signals;
assign a diagnostic mode button and an emergency mode button, such that when the diagnostic mode button is activated by the user, the smart phone enters the diagnostic mode, and when the emergency mode button is activated by the user, the second initiation signal is generated;
and
wherein the symptomatic question sequence for the user in the diagnostic mode comprises a plurality of closed-ended questions presented in a multiple choice format, and wherein the multiple choice answers further include follow up questions, and wherein the questions are selected from at least three questions to formulate a diagnostic of the group consisting of:
1. what appears to be the nature of the problem?
a) mechanical;
or
b) electrical
2. what type of symptom(s) are you experiencing?
a) irregular smell;
b) irregular sound;
c) irregular sight, smoke;
or
d) irregular feel, vibration
3. where is the irregular sound coming from?
a) front-driver's side;
b) front-passenger's side;
c) rear-driver's side or
d) rear-passenger's side
4. When do you hear the sound?
a) when the car is parked;
or
b) when the car is moving and
5. Does the sound occur when you press the brake?
a) yes;
or
b) no.

31 more elements

An automotive diagnostic system for use with a remote diagnostic center, a smart phone, and a vehicle, the smart phone being capable of operating independent of the vehicle, the vehicle having an onboard vehicle computer which generates and stores vehicle data including at least one diagnostic trouble code (DTC) generated in response to a problematic operating condition and an accident indicator generated in response to an vehicle accident event, the automotive diagnostic system comprising:

computer readable instructions downloadable onto the smart phone for configuring the smart phone to:
communicate with the onboard vehicle computer;
receive a second emergency initiation signal from the user;
and
operate in a diagnostic mode and an emergency mode;
in the diagnostic mode, the smart phone automatically uploads vehicle data to the remote diagnostic center in response to the vehicle data including at least one DTC, and automatically accesses a symptomatic question database remote from the vehicle computer for initiating a symptomatic question sequence for the user in response to the vehicle data not including at least one DTC;
in the emergency mode, the smart phone uploads vehicle data to the remote diagnostic center automatically in response to receipt of one of the first and second emergency initiation signals;
and
wherein the symptomatic question sequence for the user in the diagnostic mode comprises a plurality of closed-ended questions presented in a multiple choice format, and wherein the multiple choice answers further include follow up questions, and wherein the questions are selected from at least three questions to formulate a diagnostic of the group consisting of:
1. what appears to be the nature of the problem?
a) mechanical;
or
b) electrical
2. what type of symptom(s) are you experiencing?
a) irregular smell;
b) irregular sound;
c) irregular sight, smoke;
or
d) irregular feel, vibration
3. where is the irregular sound coming from?
a) front-driver's side;
b) front-passenger's side;
c) rear-driver's side or
d) rear-passenger's side
4. When do you hear the sound?
a) when the car is parked;
or
b) when the car is moving and
5. Does the sound occur when you press the brake?
a) yes;
or
b) no.

29 more elements

An automotive diagnostic system for use with a remote diagnostic center, a smart phone and a vehicle, the smart phone being capable of operating independent of the vehicle, the vehicle having an onboard computer which generates and stores vehicle data including at least one diagnostic trouble code (DTC) generated in response to a problematic operating condition and an accident indicator generated in response to a vehicle accident event, the automotive diagnostic system comprising:

a data storage unit plug connectable with the onboard vehicle computer for retrieving vehicle data from the onboard vehicle computer and storing the vehicle data, the data storage unit being configured to analyze the retrieved vehicle data on the data storage unit and generate a first emergency initiation signal in response to receipt of the accident indicator;
a communications module disposable in operable communication with the smart phone to configure the smart phone to communicate with the data storage unit, and the remote diagnostic center;
a user input module disposable in operable communication with the smart phone to configure the smart phone to receive a second emergency initiation signal from the user;
a symptomatic questioning module disposable in operable communication with the smart phone to configure the smart phone to display a symptomatic question sequence;
and
an operations module disposable in operable communication with the smart phone to configure the smart phone to operate in a diagnostic mode and an emergency mode;
in the diagnostic mode, the smart phone uploads vehicle data to the remote diagnostic center in response to the vehicle data including at least one DTC, and initiates the symptomatic question sequence for the user in response to the vehicle data not including at least one DTC;
in the emergency mode, the smart phone uploads vehicle data to the remote diagnostic center automatically in response to receipt of one of the first and second emergency initiation signals;
and
wherein the symptomatic question sequence for the user in the diagnostic mode comprises a plurality of closed-ended questions presented in a multiple choice format, and wherein the multiple choice answers further include follow up questions, and wherein the questions are selected from at least three questions to formulate a diagnostic of the group consisting of:
1. what appears to be the nature of the problem?
a) mechanical;
or
b) electrical
2. what type of symptom(s) are you experiencing?
a) irregular smell;
b) irregular sound;
c) irregular sight, smoke;
or
d) irregular feel, vibration
3. where is the irregular sound coming from?
a) front-driver's side;
b) front-passenger's side;
c) rear-driver's side or
d) rear-passenger's side
4. When do you hear the sound?
a) when the car is parked;
or
b) when the car is moving and
5. Does the sound occur when you press the brake?
a) yes;
or
b) no.

30 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.