Patents by Inventor Jacob G. Foreman

Jacob G. Foreman 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).

  • Patent number: 12141761
    Abstract: Methods and systems for using natural language processing and machine-learning algorithms to process vehicle-service data to generate metadata regarding the vehicle-service data are described herein. A processor can discover vehicle-service data that can be clustered together based on the vehicle-service data having common characteristics. The clustered vehicle-service data can be classified (e.g., categorized) into any one of a plurality of categories. One of the categories can be for clustered vehicle-service data that is tip-worthy (e.g., determined to include data worthy of generating vehicle-service content (e.g., a repair hint). Another category can track instances of vehicle-service data that are considered to be common to an instance of vehicle-service data classified into the tip-worthy category. The vehicle-service data can be collected from repair orders from a plurality of repair shops. The vehicle-service content generated by the systems can be provided to those or other repair shops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Bradley R. Lewis, Patrick S. Merg, Brett A. Kelley, Jacob G. Foreman
  • Publication number: 20240354717
    Abstract: A method and system for generating and outputting a real-fix tip (RFT) augmented with a pointer to additional content. The additional content may be relevant to any of a complaint, vehicle, cause of complaint, how the cause for complaint was discovered, and service-operation performed on the vehicle to resolve the complaint. The RFT may include a complaint, cause, and correction, and may be stored within a database containing repair orders that include complaints, causes, and corrections regarding various vehicles. A processor may generate the RFT after determining a threshold number of RO with a common complaint, vehicle, cause, and correction. A processor may search the database for the RFT based on a complaint and vehicle, display a list of RFT located during the search, display an RFT selected from the list, obtain additional content pointed to by a pointer in the RFT, and output the additional content to a display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2024
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Joshua C. Covington
  • Patent number: 12112589
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a vehicle scan tool, a request for automated vehicle scan tool initialization, the request comprising a function identifier for a vehicle scan tool function and a vehicle identifier for a vehicle, where the vehicle scan tool is configured to display at least one navigable menu. The method additionally includes determining a current operating state of the vehicle scan tool. Based on the current operating state of the vehicle scan tool, the method further includes making a determination to initialize the vehicle scan tool according to the request for automated vehicle scan tool initialization. In response to making the determination, the method also includes using the function identifier and the vehicle identifier to initialize the vehicle scan tool to perform the vehicle scan tool function on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Roy S. Brozovich, Jacob G. Foreman, Brett A. Kelley
  • Publication number: 20240331463
    Abstract: A diagnostic tool includes a processor, display, and memory storing instructions to perform scan tool functions (STF) including transmitting a message to a vehicle. The STF include first STF for a first system of the vehicle. Additional stored instructions are executable to display a first user-interface screen (UIS) including a first user-selectable control (USC) including an indicator of a first scanner job performable on the vehicle, and to display a second UIS instead of the first UIS in response to a selection of the first USC. The second UIS incudes: a second USC including an indicator of the first STF for the first system of the vehicle, and guidance for performing a procedure of the first scanner job. The stored instructions are executable to transmit a first vehicle data message to a component of the first system in response to a selection of the second USC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Roy S. Brozovich, Joseph R. Grammatico, Joshua C. Covington
  • Patent number: 12106615
    Abstract: An example method for outputting a PID filter list (PFL) includes: receiving RO data from one or more ROs that indicate particular vehicle identifying information (PVII), at least one symptom identifier, and a particular vehicle component; determining, symptom-to-parameter-identifier (PID) mapping data (MD) based on the received RO data and component-to-PID MD; determining, based on the set of available PIDs for the SOV and the symptom-to-PID MD, a PFL, wherein the PFL is associated with the PVII and the at least one symptom identifier, and wherein the PFL indicates a symptom-based subset of PIDs from the set of available PIDs for the SOV; receiving, a request sent over a communication network from a display device, wherein the request comprises the PVII and the at least one symptom identifier; and transmitting, over the communication network to the display device, a response to the request, the response comprising the PFL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Bradley R. Lewis, Patrick S. Merg, Roy S. Brozovich, Jacob G. Foreman, Joshua C. Covington, Brett A. Kelley, Steven E. Miskovic
  • Publication number: 20240311715
    Abstract: An example method includes receiving a first service procedure for servicing a vehicle, determining an expected pace of performance of the first service procedure, receiving at least one input signal during performance of the first service procedure, determining, based on the at least one input signal, a current pace of performance of the first service procedure, and providing for display of a first pace indicator on a display interface of the computing device, where the first pace indicator is representative of the current pace of performance of the first service procedure relative to the expected pace of performance of the first service procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2024
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Todd Mercer, Roy Steven Brozovich
  • Patent number: 12062021
    Abstract: A method and system for generating and outputting a real-fix tip (RFT) augmented with a pointer to additional content. The additional content may be relevant to any of a complaint, vehicle, cause of complaint, how the cause for complaint was discovered, and service-operation performed on the vehicle to resolve the complaint. The RFT may include a complaint, cause, and correction, and may be stored within a database containing repair orders that include complaints, causes, and corrections regarding various vehicles. A processor may generate the RFT after determining a threshold number of RO with a common complaint, vehicle, cause, and correction. A processor may search the database for the RFT based on a complaint and vehicle, display a list of RFT located during the search, display an RFT selected from the list, obtain additional content pointed to by a pointer in the RFT, and output the additional content to a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Joshua C. Covington
  • Publication number: 20240265746
    Abstract: An example method includes receiving, at a computing system, a first user input from a user interface during operation of a vehicle and responsive to receiving the first user input, determining a time of reception for the first user input. The method further includes receiving a first set of parameters from the vehicle that correspond to a first parameter identifier (PID). The method also includes determining a time of reception for each parameter, and based on the time of reception for the first user input and the time of reception for each parameter of the first set of parameters, determining a first temporal position for an indicator configured to represent the first user input on a graph of the parameters corresponding to the first PID. The method further includes displaying, on a display interface, the graph of the parameters corresponding to the first PID with the indicator in the first temporal position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2024
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Joshua C. Covington, Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman
  • Publication number: 20240257070
    Abstract: A method comprising outputting, for transmission to a server, a request including an identifier of a service session record (SSR) corresponding to a vehicle. The SSR includes a timeline for tracking event(s) corresponding to the SSR. The method includes receiving, in response to the request, a graphical user interface (GUI) corresponding to the SSR, and displaying the GUI in a first display mode. Displaying the GUI in the first display mode includes displaying an event summary of the timeline. The event summary corresponds to a first event of the SSR and includes a user-selectable control selectable to trigger changing a display mode of the GUI. Furthermore, the method includes displaying, in response to a selection of the user-selectable control, the GUI in a second display mode. Displaying the GUI in the second display mode includes displaying a particular detail regarding the first event not shown in the first display mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2023
    Publication date: August 1, 2024
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Joshua C. Covington, Joseph R. Grammatico, Brett A. Kelley
  • Patent number: 12051286
    Abstract: A diagnostic tool includes a processor, display, and memory storing instructions to perform scan tool functions (STF) including transmitting a message to a vehicle. The STF include first STF for a first system of the vehicle. Additional stored instructions are executable to display a first user-interface screen (UIS) including a first user-selectable control (USC) including an indicator of a first scanner job performable on the vehicle, and to display a second UIS instead of the first UIS in response to a selection of the first USC. The second UIS incudes: a second USC including an indicator of the first STF for the first system of the vehicle, and guidance for performing a procedure of the first scanner job. The stored instructions are executable to transmit a first vehicle data message to a component of the first system in response to a selection of the second USC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Roy S. Brozovich, Joseph R. Grammatico, Joshua C. Covington
  • Patent number: 11995583
    Abstract: An example method includes receiving a first service procedure for servicing a vehicle, determining an expected pace of performance of the first service procedure, receiving at least one input signal during performance of the first service procedure, determining, based on the at least one input signal, a current pace of performance of the first service procedure, and providing for display of a first pace indicator on a display interface of the computing device, where the first pace indicator is representative of the current pace of performance of the first service procedure relative to the expected pace of performance of the first service procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Todd Mercer, Roy Steven Brozovich
  • Patent number: 11989980
    Abstract: An example method includes receiving, at a computing system, a first user input from a user interface during operation of a vehicle and responsive to receiving the first user input, determining a time of reception for the first user input. The method further includes receiving a first set of parameters from the vehicle that correspond to a first parameter identifier (PID). The method also includes determining a time of reception for each parameter, and based on the time of reception for the first user input and the time of reception for each parameter of the first set of parameters, determining a first temporal position for an indicator configured to represent the first user input on a graph of the parameters corresponding to the first PID. The method further includes displaying, on a display interface, the graph of the parameters corresponding to the first PID with the indicator in the first temporal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Joshua C. Covington, Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman
  • Publication number: 20240127641
    Abstract: An example method includes determining identifying information for a vehicle to be serviced. The method further includes receiving at least one symptom identifier for the vehicle. The method further includes sending a request over a communication network to a remote server for a PID filter list for the vehicle, the request comprising the identifying information for the vehicle and the at least one symptom identifier for the vehicle. The method additionally includes receiving a response to the request over the communication network from the remote server, the response comprising the PID filter list for the vehicle. The method further includes determining, based on the PID filter list for the vehicle, a symptom-based subset of PIDs for the vehicle from a set of available PIDs. The method additionally includes displaying, on a display interface, the symptom-based subset of PIDs for the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Bradley R. Lewis, Patrick S. Merg, Roy S. Brozovich, Jacob G. Foreman, Joshua C. Covington, Brett A. Kelley, Steven E. Miskovic
  • Patent number: 11915206
    Abstract: A processor may determine that a particular computer-readable vehicle repair order (RO) (e.g., including first and second RO portions) corresponds to an existing cluster of ROs due to the particular RO including RO data that refers to a particular vehicle symptom. The processor may determine that the first RO portion includes first data representative of a non-specific vehicle component and may then responsively also determine that the second RO portion includes second data that the at least one processor can use to determine a specific vehicle component associated with the particular RO. Responsively, the processor may determine the specific vehicle component based on the first and second data and may then add the particular RO to a different cluster of ROs that is arranged to contain ROs that correspond to the particular vehicle symptom and to the specific vehicle component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Bradley R. Lewis, Brett A. Kelley
  • Patent number: 11887413
    Abstract: An example method includes determining identifying information for a vehicle to be serviced. The method further includes receiving at least one symptom identifier for the vehicle. The method further includes sending a request over a communication network to a remote server for a PID filter list for the vehicle, the request comprising the identifying information for the vehicle and the at least one symptom identifier for the vehicle. The method additionally includes receiving a response to the request over the communication network from the remote server, the response comprising the PID filter list for the vehicle. The method further includes determining, based on the PID filter list for the vehicle, a symptom-based subset of PIDs for the vehicle from a set of available PIDs. The method additionally includes displaying, on a display interface, the symptom-based subset of PIDs for the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Bradley R. Lewis, Patrick S. Merg, Roy S. Brozovich, Jacob G. Foreman, Joshua C. Covington, Brett A. Kelley, Steven E. Miskovic
  • Publication number: 20230398963
    Abstract: Systems and methods for augmenting measurements with automotive repair information are described herein. A method may include a server storing a plurality of service scenarios defined for at least one display device. Each stored service scenario includes at least one setup instruction, and each setup instruction is based on at least one capability of at least one CVST. The method may further include the server receiving data indicating an operating condition of a vehicle from a first display device of the at least one display device. Based on the stored plurality of service scenarios and the received data, the server may determine that a first stored service scenario of the plurality of service scenarios matches the operating condition. The server may then determine a first CVST having a first capability that is associated with the first display device, and transmitting the first stored service scenario to the first display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Roy S. Brozovich, Joshua C. Covington, Kahlil H. Cacabelos
  • Publication number: 20230385290
    Abstract: An example method includes receiving a first service procedure including a plurality of procedural steps for servicing a vehicle, identifying at least one procedural step of the plurality of procedural steps to supplement with supplemental service information, receiving information about vehicles sharing one or more attributes with the vehicle, determining at least one piece of supplemental service information to supplement the at least one identified procedural step, and providing a supplemented service procedure comprising the first service procedure with the at least one piece of supplemental service information included with the at least one identified procedural step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Todd Mercer
  • Publication number: 20230343152
    Abstract: A method performed by a first computing system includes receiving, from a second computing system, a message identifying a symptom of a first vehicle; and sending a repair tip to the second computing system. The repair tip includes a first phrase describing a first procedure performed on a second vehicle that exhibited the symptom, wherein the first procedure performed on the second vehicle yielded a result insufficient to determine that a component of the second vehicle associated with the symptom is defective. The repair tip also includes a second phrase describing a second procedure performed on a given vehicle, wherein the given vehicle is either (i) the second vehicle or (ii) a third vehicle that also exhibited the symptom, wherein the second procedure performed on the given vehicle yielded a result sufficient to determine that a component of the given vehicle associated with the symptom is defective.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman
  • Publication number: 20230334439
    Abstract: Methods and systems for using natural language processing and machine-learning algorithms to process vehicle-service data to generate metadata regarding the vehicle-service data are described herein. A processor can discover vehicle-service data that can be clustered together based on the vehicle-service data having common characteristics. The clustered vehicle-service data can be classified (e.g., categorized) into any one of a plurality of categories. One of the categories can be for clustered vehicle-service data that is tip-worthy (e.g., determined to include data worthy of generating vehicle-service content (e.g., a repair hint). Another category can track instances of vehicle-service data that are considered to be common to an instance of vehicle-service data classified into the tip-worthy category. The vehicle-service data can be collected from repair orders from a plurality of repair shops. The vehicle-service content generated by the systems can be provided to those or other repair shops.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Bradley R. Lewis, Patrick S. Merg, Brett A. Kelley, Jacob G. Foreman
  • Patent number: 11787371
    Abstract: Systems and methods for augmenting measurements with automotive repair information are described herein. A method may include a server storing a plurality of service scenarios defined for at least one display device. Each stored service scenario includes at least one setup instruction, and each setup instruction is based on at least one capability of at least one CVST. The method may further include the server receiving data indicating an operating condition of a vehicle from a first display device of the at least one display device. Based on the stored plurality of service scenarios and the received data, the server may determine that a first stored service scenario of the plurality of service scenarios matches the operating condition. The server may then determine a first CVST having a first capability that is associated with the first display device, and transmitting the first stored service scenario to the first display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Roy S. Brozovich, Joshua C. Covington, Kahlil H. Cacabelos