Patents by Inventor Patrick S. Merg

Patrick S. Merg 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: 12159017
    Abstract: A client computing system (CCS) receives a download including (i) an image representative of at least one circuit in a vehicle, the at least one circuit including a first circuit configured for carrying a first signal within the vehicle, and (ii) symbol data associated with at least one symbol, the at least one symbol including a first symbol. After receiving the download, the CCS displays the image and the at least one symbol. The CCS then receives a first input corresponding to selection of the first symbol. The CCS then responsively receives, from the vehicle, data representing value(s) of the first signal. The CCS then determines a first display-location at which to display the data representing the value(s) of the first signal. While the image and the at least one symbol are displayed, the CCS then displays, at the first display-location, the data representing the value(s) of the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Todd Mercer, Roy Steven Brozovich, David Costantino
  • Publication number: 20240383332
    Abstract: A method includes writing vehicle data parameters (VDPs) into a memory in order of a vehicle outputting the VDPs. The method also includes displaying a first view of a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display. The GUI includes one or more VDP graphs, a graph-axis control, and a first vehicle operating condition (VOC) indicator at the graph-axis control. The method also includes displaying a second view of the GUI on the display in response to a selection of the first VOC indicator. The first and second views include first and second sets of VDP graphs, respectively. The second set of VDP graphs includes VDPs not represented in the first set of VDP graphs. Graph-axis control segments within the graph-axis control in the first and second views cover different portions of the graph-axis control. The graph-axis control segments correspond to different portions of the VDPs written into the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Joseph R. Grammatico, Joshua C. Covington, Roy S. Brozovich, Patrick S. Merg
  • Patent number: 12149862
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, at one or more processors, a content description and a matrix code. The content description includes data describing one or more computer-readable files. The matrix code is encoded with a link to the one or more files. The method includes the one or more processors determining a condition indicative of a first computing device being unable to display the file with at least a minimum quality level. The determination is based, at least in part, on the content description. The method includes the processor outputting the matrix code to a first display operatively coupled to the one or more processors. Outputting the matrix code occurs in response to determining the condition indicative of the first computing device being unable to display the one or more files with at least the minimum quality level. Furthermore, the method includes displaying, on the first display, the matrix code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Roy S. Brozovich
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20240326526
    Abstract: Examples embodiments relate to techniques for automatic condition analysis of vehicle tires. A robotic device may initially obtain air pressure data corresponding to a vehicle tire from a first sensor and perform a first comparison between an air pressure level of the vehicle tire and a threshold air pressure level. Responsive to the air pressure level of the vehicle tire exceeding the threshold air pressure level, the robotic device may use a mechanical manipulator to rotate the vehicle tire and obtain sensor data representing an outer surface of the vehicle tire during rotation from a second sensor. The robotic device may then perform a second comparison between sensor data representing the outer surface of the vehicle tire and a model for the vehicle tire. The robotic device may then use the second comparison to generate a diagnostic output that represents a condition of the vehicle tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Roy S. Brozovich
  • 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: 12077045
    Abstract: A method includes writing vehicle data parameters (VDPs) into a memory in order of a vehicle outputting the VDPs. The method also includes displaying a first view of a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display. The GUI includes one or more VDP graphs, a graph-axis control, and a first vehicle operating condition (VOC) indicator at the graph-axis control. The method also includes displaying a second view of the GUI on the display in response to a selection of the first VOC indicator. The first and second views include first and second sets of VDP graphs, respectively. The second set of VDP graphs includes VDPs not represented in the first set of VDP graphs. Graph-axis control segments within the graph-axis control in the first and second views cover different portions of the graph-axis control. The graph-axis control segments correspond to different portions of the VDPs written into the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph R. Grammatico, Joshua C. Covington, Roy S. Brozovich, Patrick S. Merg
  • 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: 12046068
    Abstract: A method includes transmitting a request for a computer-readable routing diagram, such as a wiring diagram, a pneumatic or hydraulic line diagram, or an optical cable diagram. The method also includes receiving, in response to the request, a routing diagram including a connectable component and at least a portion of a routing set. The connectable component is associated with both a connectable component identifier and the routing set. The routing set contains one or more routable components, such as electrical circuits, pneumatic or hydraulic lines, or optical cables. Further, the method includes displaying, on a display, the routing diagram and at least the portion of the routing set highlighted. Displaying at least the portion of the routing set highlighted occurs in response to an occurrence of the connectable component being selected from the routing diagram displayed on the display or in response to the request including the connectable component identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Michel B. Alberry, Lester B. Johnson, Michael S. Knize, John P. McGraw, Robert Pilz, Thomas A. Southward, Thomas W. Tipps, Eric J. Wade, Patrick S. Merg, Roy Steven Brozovich, Todd Mercer
  • Publication number: 20240192833
    Abstract: A client computing system (CCS) receives a download including (i) an image representative of a vehicle component, (ii) symbol data associated with a first symbol, (iii) a set of one or more selectable identifiers, and (iv) supplemental information associated with the vehicle component. Each selectable identifier can indicate a respective portion of the supplemental information. After receiving the download, the CCS displays the image and the first symbol without displaying the set and the supplemental information. While the image and the first symbol are displayed without the set, the CCS receives a first input corresponding to selection of the first symbol. The CCS then responsively displays the set. While the set is displayed, the CCS receives a second input corresponding to selection of a first selectable identifier from the set. The CCS then responsively displays the respective portion of the supplemental information indicated by the first selectable identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2024
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Todd Mercer, Roy Steven Brozovich, David Costantino
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11977716
    Abstract: A client computing system (CCS) receives a download including (i) an image representative of a vehicle component, (ii) symbol data associated with a first symbol, (iii) a set of one or more selectable identifiers, and (iv) supplemental information associated with the vehicle component. Each selectable identifier can indicate a respective portion of the supplemental information. After receiving the download, the CCS displays the image and the first symbol without displaying the set and the supplemental information. While the image and the first symbol are displayed without the set, the CCS receives a first input corresponding to selection of the first symbol. The CCS then responsively displays the set. While the set is displayed, the CCS receives a second input corresponding to selection of a first selectable identifier from the set. The CCS then responsively displays the respective portion of the supplemental information indicated by the first selectable identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Todd Mercer, Roy Steven Brozovich, David Costantino