Having Particular Communication Link (e.g., Internet, Satellite, Etc.) With External Site Patents (Class 701/31.5)
  • Publication number: 20120209470
    Abstract: A diagnostic tool that includes a smart camera. The smart camera can be used to capture an image of the part that needs to be replaced. The image can also include the bar code that may be attached to the part. The image can be used to search a parts information database for additional parts information such as part number, manuals, pictures, etc. A further search of a parts supplier's database can be conducted using a location of the diagnostic tool to determine the nearest parts supplier that has the part available and the best price.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: SPX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Harry Gilbert, Thomas Bertosa
  • Patent number: 8244414
    Abstract: An avionic aviation system, and a corresponding method, with an earth station for automatically eliminating operating malfunctions occurring in airplanes. The avionic aviation system is connected to a plurality of airplanes via a wireless interface of the avionics. If, by sensor, an operating malfunction is detected on an airplane, a dedicated operating malfunction usage device is selected to automatically eliminate the malfunction by a filter module, and a switching device of the earth station is specifically enabled to activate the operating malfunction usage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Marcel Fok, Shinji Shirai
  • Patent number: 8224518
    Abstract: In a method for creating a record of crane inspection activity, a wireless inspection communication between a component monitor and a component information unit is initiated in response to a crane inspection activity. The component information unit is mechanically coupled with a crane component. An inspection record related to the crane component is automatically storing within the component monitor. The inspection record includes a geostamp and a timestamp associated with the inspection communication. The geostamp and timestamp are stored in the inspection record in conjunction with a component identification that is associated the crane component and that is received from the component information unit as part of the wireless inspection communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: John F. Cameron
  • Patent number: 8224523
    Abstract: A method of language provisioning includes receiving a language designation as part of a packet sent from a communication point. The method also includes setting a local language emergency database (LLED) as a basis for a spoken language when placing emergency calls. According to this method, if an emergency call is originated by a vehicle computing system, outgoing communication from the vehicle computing system is performed at least substantially based on words and/or phrases stored in the LLED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: David Anthony Hatton
  • Publication number: 20120173074
    Abstract: A method for providing remote notification of an electric vehicle status to a user is provided. The method includes receiving at least one input from the user of the electric vehicle. A charging status of a battery being charged is determined. A remote notification of the charging status is then provided to the user based on the input received by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Christopher Charles Yasko, Aleksandar Vukojevic
  • Patent number: 8200376
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring vehicle performance including multi-level caching. The system includes a vehicle portion with sensors, a vehicle caching data server, and a wireless transceiver and a monitoring station portion with monitoring workstations, a monitoring caching data server, and a wireless transceiver. The monitoring caching data server receives and aggregates requests for vehicle performance data from the monitoring workstations based on request priority and available bandwidth. The vehicle caching data server stores vehicle performance data from the sensors and selectively transmits a subset of the vehicle performance data to the monitoring caching data server in response to aggregate requests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Symvionics, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Mattingly, James Bretz, Michael Burt
  • Patent number: 8190322
    Abstract: A system and method for providing autonomous and remote vehicle maintenance and repair. The system employs an on-board diagnosis and prognosis module that monitors one or more vehicle buses to identify trouble codes and other information indicating a vehicle problem. The on-board module causes a telematic device on the vehicle to broadcast a message including a problem code that identifies the problem the vehicle is having. A remote repair center may receive the message and may identify a software upgrade patch associated with the problem that can be transmitted to the vehicle to upgrade its software to correct the problem. Also, the message may be received by another vehicle that is part of a broadcast network that has previously received the software upgrade patch to fix a problem on that vehicle, where the receiving vehicle may transmit the software upgrade patch to the vehicle having the problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: William C. Lin, Bakhtiar Brian Litkouhi, Ansaf I. Alrabady, Balarama V. Murty, Xiaodong Zhang, Steven W. Holland, Mutasim A. Salman, Rami I. Debouk, Yuen-Kwok W Chin
  • Publication number: 20120130584
    Abstract: A system and/or method for quantifying the presence of one or more components in vehicle exhaust, and more particularly to a non-contact, sampling system and method for quantifying the presence of one or more components in exhaust emissions of commercial and/or heavy-duty vehicles that emit exhaust at an elevated level, under actual operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventor: Donald H. Stedman
  • Publication number: 20120123631
    Abstract: Provided is a method for transportation asset monitoring. In one example embodiment, the method comprises collecting data related to operation and location of a transportation asset, comparing the collected data with values of one or more predetermined parameter thresholds, and generating an alarm signal whenever the one or more predetermined parameter thresholds have been exceeded. The method may further comprise generating a report related to the transportation asset's operational characteristics and performance output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventor: Andrey Schurov
  • Patent number: 8180524
    Abstract: In diagnosis apparatus and method for diagnosing a vehicle antenna, the vehicle antenna performing transmission and reception of electric waves to and from a portable unit, the vehicle antenna is driven to perform communications with the portable unit when a first condition is satisfied and the vehicle antenna is driven to perform a diagnosis of a connection state of the vehicle antenna when a second condition is satisfied. The first condition is different from the second condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Eguchi
  • Patent number: 8155823
    Abstract: A failure information system that transmits various kinds of failure information of a vehicle to an outside diagnosis service center is disclosed. The failure information system includes a signal receiving unit that receives a signal indicating a failure of a vehicle-mounted system, a vehicle-run judging unit that judges that the vehicle is running, a run-distance calculation unit that calculates a run-distance of the vehicle since the signal indicating a failure is received, a reliability judging unit that judges that the signal indicating a failure is reliable if the signal receiving unit continuously receives the signal indicating a failure until the run-distance exceeds a preset distance level, and an over-vehicle communication unit that transmits the failure information that includes the signal indicating a failure when the reliability judging means judges that the signal indicating a failure is reliable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Masaya Itoh
  • Patent number: 8145378
    Abstract: A communication system for exchanging data between data recipients and data generators provides the data exchange between stationary and/or mobile units and/or within a stationary or mobile unit, and has a communication network via which the data exchange takes place connects various communication media to one another, and at least one communication manager assigned to the communication network, so that the at least one communication manager identifies the communication route of a data record between the particular data generator and the associated data recipient independently of the communication medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Schlingmann, Reinhard Laing
  • Publication number: 20120053759
    Abstract: A telematics method and system includes, and uses, a telematics device with a controller in communication with a diagnostic system configured to receive diagnostic information from a host vehicle; a position-locating system configured to determine location information of the host vehicle; a wireless transceiver configured to transmit and receive information through a wireless network to and from at least one Internet-accessible website; and, a communication interface including at least a short range wireless interface link. The telematics device may be embodied in an access device, which may include the position-locating system. The access device may be a smartphone, or similar device, that retrieves/transmits diagnostic data/information, and other data/information to/from the vehicle via the short range wireless link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Larkin H. Lowrey, Diego A. Borrego, Alan Wettig, Bruce Davis Lightner, Matthew J. Banet, Paul Washicko, Eric C. Berkobin, Charles M. Link, II
  • Publication number: 20120053781
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a cellular phone that connects to an existing vehicle data link to perform the functions of an off-board device, such as a scan tool, for displaying diagnostic information relating to vehicles. In addition, the cellular phone connects to a starter/charger system and/or a battery to perform the functions of a starter/charger/battery testing device. Such a device allows a user to connect the cellular phone to a data link connector located in a vehicle, download software to either an adaptor or the cellular phone, retrieve information relating to diagnostic tests on the vehicle and view the results on the cellular phone display, and/or communicate the results to another person or device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: SPX Corporation
    Inventor: Hamid Namaky
  • 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
  • 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: 20120041637
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for a vehicle that provides vehicle operational data during a fault code occurrence is disclosed. The diagnostic system includes an onboard diagnostics system and an engine control module. The onboard diagnostics system is configured for generating vehicle diagnostics codes when the vehicle operates outside predetermined operating parameters. The engine control module is operatively configured to monitor vehicle operational data for a plurality of vehicle subsystems. The onboard diagnostic system is configured to wirelessly transmit a vehicle diagnostic code when the vehicle operates outside of the predetermined operating parameters to a remote data storage location. The vehicle operational data is configured to be wirelessly transmitted from the engine control module to the remote data storage location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Detroit Diesel Corporation
    Inventor: Dale C. Allemang
  • Publication number: 20120010775
    Abstract: A vehicular diagnostic communications system, and components thereof, are provided for an apparatus and technique for communicating vehicular diagnostic information over a cellphone network. The system includes a code reader having a vehicle diagnostic port connector for receiving vehicle diagnostic information from the vehicle diagnostic port. The code reader also has a local connectivity network circuit for communicating vehicle diagnostic information between the vehicle diagnostic port connector and a local connectivity circuit. A cellphone is arranged in communication with the local connectivity network for communicating vehicle diagnostic information between the code reader and a cellular telephone network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventor: Ieon C. Chenn
  • Publication number: 20120010776
    Abstract: The tyre includes a tyre tread configured so that, beyond a predetermined radial wear threshold, the tyre tread has a set of at least one wear indicator, including a so-called “sound” cavity arranged in a circumferential groove of the tyre tread. During the monitoring method, an acoustic signal that is able to include an acoustic footprint noise produced by the set during the running of the tyre on a ground beyond the predetermined threshold is detected by an acoustic sensor mounted on the vehicle, and information relating to the acoustic signal is emitted to a remote server not mounted on the motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicants: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A., SOCIETE DE TECHNOLOGIE MICHELIN
    Inventor: Antoine Paturle