Patents by Inventor Joshua C. Covington

Joshua C. Covington 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: 11584321
    Abstract: A method and computing system for determining whether a DTC set in a vehicle involved in a collision is collision-related or non-collision-related. The method can include determining a vehicle model associated with the vehicle, determining a DTC set within an ECU in the vehicle, determining a damaged portion in the vehicle, determining the DTC is collision-related, and outputting a collision report that indicates the DTC is collision-related. The determined damaged portion indicates where the vehicle was damaged by the collision. Determining the DTC is collision-related can include determining the damaged portion in the vehicle matches a reference vehicle portion associated with both a component attributable to setting the DTC and the vehicle model associated with the damaged vehicle. The collision report can indicate that a different DTC set by the same or a different ECU in the vehicle is non-collision-related.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Roy S. Brozovich, Patrick S. Merg, Joshua C. Covington, Joshua D. Williamson, Oswaldo Neri
  • Patent number: 11586640
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for repairing vehicles. A computing device having first and second software executables can determine vehicle identification information (VII) that identifies a vehicle. The computing device can store first and second vehicle identifiers that are based on the VII and are respectively associated with the first and second software executables, where the first vehicle identifier differs from the second vehicle identifier. The computing device can be used to repair the vehicle by at least: receiving a request to activate the first software executable, and activating the first software executable at least by providing the stored first vehicle identifier to the first software executable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Joshua C. Covington, Roy Steven Brozovich
  • Patent number: 11527110
    Abstract: An example method involves receiving, at a computing system, vehicle diagnostic information from a vehicle. The vehicle diagnostic information may include one or more sets of parameters corresponding to parameter identifiers (PIDs). The method further involves identifying a first set of parameters corresponding to a PID representing a state of a particular system of the vehicle and determining, using the first set of parameters, a current value of the PID. The method may also involve performing a comparison between the current value and a predetermined value for the PID and determining a health of the particular system of the vehicle such that the health reflects a difference between the current value and the predetermined value for the PID. The method may also involve displaying, by the computing system at a graphical interface, a vehicle health record representing the health of the particular system of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Joshua C. Covington, Ozzy Neri, Patrick S. Merg, Joshua D. Williamson, Bradley R. Lewis, Brett A. Kelley, Roy S. Brozovich, Joseph R. Grammatico, Jacob G. Foreman
  • Patent number: 11520303
    Abstract: A method includes determining a test drive script (TDS) to perform while a tool monitors an electronic system in a mobile machine during a test drive of the mobile machine. The TDS includes an ordered sequence of drive cycle procedures (DCPs). The ordered sequence of DCPs begins with an initial DCP and ends with a final DCP. Each DCP is indicative of a respective mobile machine state. The TDS includes a first particular DCP associated with both a first particular mobile machine state and a first condition pertaining to the first particular mobile machine state. The method also includes outputting a representation of at least a portion of the TDS. Additionally, the method includes determining and outputting one or more of: status information corresponding to achieving the first particular mobile machine state or status information corresponding to achieving the first condition pertaining to the first particular mobile machine state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Roy S. Brozovich, Jacob G. Foreman, Kahlil H. Cacabelos, Joseph R. Grammatico, Brett A. Kelley, Joshua C. Covington
  • Publication number: 20220358471
    Abstract: A method and system for generating a displayable page with a display card is described. A computer server receives data indicating a vehicle symptom and searches a computer-readable database to determine a most-likely cause of the vehicle symptom, a most-probable component associated with the most-likely cause, a component-type identifier associated with the most-probable component, a subset of information categories from among a set of information categories associated with at least one component-type identifier, and data to populate the display card. The server generates the displayable page including the display card and the data to populate in the display card. The server transmits the displayable page to a display device for displaying the displayable page on a display screen. The server receives data indicating selection of an action trigger in the display card occurred and responsively provides the display device with data to update the display card or another displayable page.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Todd Mercer, Joshua C. Covington, Kahlil H. Cacabelos, Thomas Southward
  • Patent number: 11450154
    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 and second STF for first and second systems of the vehicle. Additional stored instructions are executable to display: a first user-interface screen (UIS) including a first user-selectable control (USC) for a first scanner job performable on the vehicle, and a second UIS in response to selection of the USC of the first UIS. The second UIS includes a first USC including an indicator of the first STF, and a second USC including an indicator of the second STF. In response to a selection of the first USC, a first message addressed to a component of the first system is transmitted. In response to a selection of the second USC, a second message addressed to a component of the second system is transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Roy S. Brozovich, Joseph R. Grammatico, Joshua C. Covington
  • Patent number: 11429936
    Abstract: A method and system for generating a displayable page with a display card is described. A computer server receives data indicating a vehicle symptom and searches a computer-readable database to determine a most-likely cause of the vehicle symptom, a most-probable component associated with the most-likely cause, a component-type identifier associated with the most-probable component, a subset of information categories from among a set of information categories associated with at least one component-type identifier, and data to populate the display card. The server generates the displayable page including the display card and the data to populate in the display card. The server transmits the displayable page to a display device for displaying the displayable page on a display screen. The server receives data indicating selection of an action trigger in the display card occurred and responsively provides the display device with data to update the display card or another displayable page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Todd Mercer, Joshua C. Covington, Kahlil H. Cacabelos, Thomas Southward
  • Publication number: 20220270417
    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: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Bradley R. Lewis, Patrick S. Merg, Roy S. Brozovich, Jacob G. Foreman, Joshua C. Covington, Brett A. Kelley, Steven E. Miskovic
  • Patent number: 11409947
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a web-page with a search bar and a first set of card(s) including file(s) of a first set of content files. The method includes transmitting an indication the search bar was selected and receiving tag array(s) associated with a second set of content files. The method includes displaying, within an expanded search bar, tag array(s) including a first tag array associated with file(s) among the second set of files, and transmitting an indication the first tag array was selected from within the search bar, and receiving a third set of content files for populating card(s) on a modified web-page. Each file of the third set of files includes a file most-recently downloaded to a server and associated with the first tag array. The method includes displaying the modified web-page, including a second set of one or more cards including file(s) of the third set of files.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Bradley R. Lewis, James J. Morris, Oswaldo Neri, Joshua C. Covington
  • Publication number: 20220242351
    Abstract: A method and computing system for determining whether a DTC set in a vehicle involved in a collision is collision-related or non-collision-related. The method can include determining a vehicle model associated with the vehicle, determining a DTC set within an ECU in the vehicle, determining a damaged portion in the vehicle, determining the DTC is collision-related, and outputting a collision report that indicates the DTC is collision-related. The determined damaged portion indicates where the vehicle was damaged by the collision. Determining the DTC is collision-related can include determining the damaged portion in the vehicle matches a reference vehicle portion associated with both a component attributable to setting the DTC and the vehicle model associated with the damaged vehicle. The collision report can indicate that a different DTC set by the same or a different ECU in the vehicle is non-collision-related.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Roy S. Brozovich, Patrick S. Merg, Joshua C. Covington, Joshua D. Williamson, Oswaldo Neri
  • Patent number: 11403893
    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 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    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
  • Patent number: 11403895
    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: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    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: 20220230477
    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 5, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Joshua C. Covington, Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman
  • Publication number: 20220188313
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for repairing vehicles. A computing device having first and second software executables can determine vehicle identification information (VII) that identifies a vehicle. The computing device can store first and second vehicle identifiers that are based on the VII and are respectively associated with the first and second software executables, where the first vehicle identifier differs from the second vehicle identifier. The computing device can be used to repair the vehicle by at least: receiving a request to activate the first software executable, and activating the first software executable at least by providing the stored first vehicle identifier to the first software executable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Joshua C. Covington, Roy Steven Brozovich
  • Patent number: 11338750
    Abstract: A method and computing system for determining whether a DTC set in a vehicle involved in a collision is collision-related or non-collision-related. The method can include determining a vehicle model associated with the vehicle, determining a DTC set within an ECU in the vehicle, determining a damaged portion in the vehicle, determining the DTC is collision-related, and outputting a collision report that indicates the DTC is collision-related. The determined damaged portion indicates where the vehicle was damaged by the collision. Determining the DTC is collision-related can include determining the damaged portion in the vehicle matches a reference vehicle portion associated with both a component attributable to setting the DTC and the vehicle model associated with the damaged vehicle. The collision report can indicate that a different DTC set by the same or a different ECU in the vehicle is non-collision-related.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Roy S. Brozovich, Patrick S. Merg, Joshua C. Covington, Joshua D. Williamson, Oswaldo Neri
  • Patent number: 11328538
    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: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Joshua C. Covington, Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman
  • Patent number: 11314755
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for repairing vehicles. A computing device having first and second software executables can determine vehicle identification information (VII) that identifies a vehicle. The computing device can store first and second vehicle identifiers that are based on the VII and are respectively associated with the first and second software executables, where the first vehicle identifier differs from the second vehicle identifier. The computing device can be used to repair the vehicle by at least: receiving a request to activate the first software executable, and activating the first software executable at least by providing the stored first vehicle identifier to the first software executable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Joshua C. Covington, Roy Steven Brozovich
  • Publication number: 20210390517
    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: August 26, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Joshua C. Covington
  • Patent number: 11144888
    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: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Joshua C. Covington
  • Publication number: 20210312728
    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 21, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Roy S. Brozovich, Joseph R. Grammatico, Joshua C. Covington