Patents by Inventor Carl Krzystofczyk

Carl Krzystofczyk has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20120046824
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for transmitting obtained vehicle diagnostic data to a separate display device. The method includes a first vehicle diagnostic device obtaining vehicle diagnostic data via a vehicle interface to a diagnostic port of a vehicle, determining whether a direct wireless connection with one or more display devices is available, and determining whether an indirect wireless connection with the one or more display devices is available via a second separate vehicle diagnostic device. Responsive to a further determination, the vehicle diagnostic device may transmit the obtained diagnostic data to the one or more display devices via the second separate vehicle diagnostic device. The further determination may be based on one or more of wireless connectivity status, power level status, transmission power requirements, or other facts or determinations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: SNAP-ON INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Timothy G. Ruther, Carl Krzystofczyk
  • Publication number: 20120046807
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for detecting and responding to a potential theft of a display device and/or vehicle diagnostic device in a modular vehicle diagnostic system. Display devices and/or vehicle diagnostic devices may monitor a status of a wireless communications link between them and, responsive to detecting a break in the link, execute one or more anti-theft responses. Furthermore, a display device may maintain a whitelist and/or be in communications with an authentication and anti-theft server, and may determine whether to execute an anti-theft response and/or accept a connection request from a new vehicle diagnostic device based on the whitelist contents and/or based on a response from the server. Anti-theft responses may include sounding an alarm, ceasing function and/or locking up, reporting a potential theft, transmitting a location of the potentially stolen device, or other responses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: SNAP-ON INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Timothy G. Ruther, Carl Krzystofczyk
  • Publication number: 20120046825
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for retrieving and transmitting vehicle diagnostic data from a vehicle to a display device. The method includes receiving vehicle diagnostic data via a vehicle interface to a diagnostic port of a vehicle and monitoring a status of a wireless interface for transmitting the vehicle diagnostic data to a display device. Responsive to detecting a break in wireless connectivity with the display device via the wireless interface, stopping routing of the vehicle diagnostic data from the vehicle interface to the wireless interface and instead beginning routing of the vehicle diagnostic data to a local storage. An external indication of a break in connectivity may also be provided. Once wireless connectivity is restored, incoming vehicle diagnostic data may be stored in the local storage while simultaneously reading stored vehicle diagnostic data from the local storage and transmitting it via the wireless interface to the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: SNAP-ON INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Timothy G. Ruther, Carl Krzystofczyk
  • Patent number: 7957860
    Abstract: A method and system for optimizing vehicle diagnostic trees using similar templates is provided. Diagnostic trees may be modified to include diagnostic code tips or further suggestions or instructions indicating what tool to use or how to use the tool. The diagnostic tree cab be modified or customized by comparing the diagnostic tree to previously modified diagnostic trees corresponding to similar vehicles, and suggestions within the previously modified tree that are referenced within a library can be linked to the diagnostic trees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeff Grier, Sunil Reddy, Carl Krzystofczyk, Bradley Lewis
  • Patent number: 7551993
    Abstract: A system and method for identifying and substituting procedures in an OEM diagnostic tree with alternate procedures analyzed by highly experienced technicians to eliminate the use of potentially unavailable equipment and make the diagnostic tree more accessible to a greater number of technicians. The system includes a diagnostic tree editor and a library.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Jim Cancilla, Sunil Reddy, Jeff Grier, Brad Lewis, Dale Trsar, Carl Krzystofczyk
  • Publication number: 20080183351
    Abstract: A method and system for optimizing vehicle diagnostic trees using similar templates is provided. Diagnostic trees may be modified to include diagnostic code tips or further suggestions or instructions indicating what tool to use or how to use the tool. The diagnostic tree cab be modified or customized by comparing the diagnostic tree to previously modified diagnostic trees corresponding to similar vehicles, and suggestions within the previously modified tree that are referenced within a library can be linked to the diagnostic trees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Jeff Grier, Sunil Reddy, Carl Krzystofczyk, Bradley Lewis
  • Patent number: 7373225
    Abstract: A method and system for optimizing vehicle diagnostic trees using similar templates is provided. Diagnostic trees may be modified to include diagnostic code tips or further suggestions or instructions indicating what tool to use or how to use the tool. The diagnostic tree cab be modified or customized by comparing the diagnostic tree to previously modified diagnostic trees corresponding to similar vehicles, and suggestions within the previously modified tree that are referenced within a library can be linked to the diagnostic trees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeff Grier, Sunil Reddy, Carl Krzystofczyk, Brad Lewis
  • Publication number: 20070055420
    Abstract: A method and system for adaptively modifying diagnostic vehicle information is provided. A system can automatically optimize default OEM diagnostic vehicle information by recognizing when to make text and non-text modifications within the information. Manual changes that are made once can be learned and used over and over again. Modifications may be made based on a desired use of the diagnostic vehicle information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Inventors: Carl Krzystofczyk, Sunil Reddy, Brad Lewis
  • Publication number: 20070043487
    Abstract: A method and system for providing vehicle-service alerts to a vehicle technician is disclosed. A technician alert system receives from a vehicle technician information identifying a given type of vehicle scheduled for service. Based on the received information, the technician alarm system determines one or more vehicle-service alerts, if any, for the given type of vehicle. The system then provides the one or more vehicle service alerts to the vehicle technician.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Inventors: Carl Krzystofczyk, Jeff Grier, Jim Cancilla, Sunil Reddy, Brad Lewis
  • Publication number: 20060142972
    Abstract: A system and method for diagnosing an assembly is provided. The system and method facilitates assembly diagnosis by (i) sensing sensory-inputs coming from the assembly, (ii) capturing data representative of the sensory-inputs and responsively producing sensor patterns indicative of the sensory-inputs, (iii) searching a data base of historical patterns that are related to the sensor patterns, and (iv) presenting the sensor patterns and related historical patterns at a user interface. An assembly diagnosis can be made based on sensor patterns, related historical patterns, and other diagnostic information presented at the user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Applicant: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: James Cancilla, Sunil Reddy, Carl Krzystofczyk
  • Publication number: 20060101074
    Abstract: A diagnostic device receives a first set of search criteria related to a problem with a vehicle, and the diagnostic device stores the first set of search criteria. In response to receiving a second set of search criteria, the diagnostic device can compare it with the first set of search criteria in order to identify a pattern between the two sets of search criteria. The diagnostic device can then alter the second set of search criteria based on the pattern between the two sets of search criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Inventors: Jim Cancilla, Jeff Grier, Carl Krzystofczyk, Brad Lewis