WO2005008603A1

WO2005008603A1 - A vehicle remote diagnostic system and method

Info

Publication number: WO2005008603A1
Application number: PCT/NL2003/000527
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nicolaas Maria Jozef Stoffels
Original assignee: Snap-On Technologies, Inc.
Priority date: 2003-07-17
Filing date: 2003-07-17
Publication date: 2005-01-27
Also published as: TW200509656A; AU2003256148A1

Abstract

A system for remote diagnostics of a vehicle comprises a diagnostic unit for processing diagnostic information from the vehicle, the diagnostic unit comprising a network connection for exchanging diagnostic information via a communication network, and a mobile device adapted to exchange the diagnostic information via the communication network with the diagnostic unit, the mobile device being further adapted to exchange the diagnostic information with a control unit of the vehicle via a data connection between the mobile device and the vehicle. The system further comprises a download unit for downloading a program via the communication network into the mobile device. The program, when running on the mobile device, enables the mobile device to set up the data connection between the mobile device and the control unit of the vehicle for exchanging the diagnostic information.

Description

Title: A vehicle remote diagnostic system and method.

The invention relates to a system for remote diagnostics of a vehicle, the system comprising a diagnostic unit for processing diagnostic information from the vehicle, the diagnostic unit comprising a network connection for exchanging diagnostic information via a communication network, a mobile device adapted to exchange the diagnostic information via the communication network with the diagnostic unit, the mobile device being further adapted to exchange the diagnostic information with a control unit of the vehicle via a data connection between the mobile device and the vehicle. Further, the invention relates to a method for remote diagnostics of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of a) establishing a data connection between a mobile device and a diagnostic unit, b) establishing a data connection between the mobile device and a control unit of the vehicle, and c) transferring diagnostic information between the diagnostic unit and the control unit via the mobile device. Still further, the invention relates to a download unit for downloading such program. For remote diagnostics, it is known to connect a mobile telephone with a cable to a vehicle. The cable is in particular connected to an on board diagnostics (OBD) system of the vehicle. The mobile telephone is JAVA compatible and is provided with a JAVA program which, when running on the mobile telephone, provides for the communication with the OBD system of the vehicle. A problem with the setup described above is that the user of a telephone must have downloaded the JAVA program before a problem has occurred. The program must have been downloaded by the user from a website, which is accomplished by downloading the program by means of a personal computer or other workstation connected to the internet and then downloading the program from the personal computer or other workstation into the mobile telephone making use of known download tools. Thus, when the user has not downloaded the program at a moment before a problem with the vehicle occurs, is not possible to make use of remote diagnostics via the mobile telephone. A second problem associated with the remote diagnostics described above is that the user must have purchased a special cable for connecting the telephone to the car before being able to make use of the remote diagnostic capability. Thus, any person who is seeking to have access to remote diagnostic capabilities via the mobile telephone described above is required to have the appropriate program downloaded into his mobile telephone as well as have an appropriate cable which fits the particular type of vehicle as well as the particular type of mobile telephone available at the moment when a problem with the vehicle occurs. A goal of the invention is to take away one or more of the above problems. This goal is achieved by the system according to the invention in that the system further comprises a download unit for downloading a program via the communication network into the mobile device, the program, when running on the mobile device, enabling the mobile device to set up the data connection between the mobile device and the control unit of the vehicle for exchanging the diagnostic information. Thus, it is not required to download the program into the mobile device on beforehand, as, at a moment when a problem with the vehicle occurs, the user by means of the mobile device establishes a contact with the download unit for downloading the program via the communication network into the mobile device. Then, the program is brought into operation thus enabling the mobile device to set up the data connection with the control unit of the vehicle. Also, it is possible that the mobile device of the user first establishes a contact with the diagnostic unit, and that the diagnostic unit refers the mobile device (or the user of the mobile device) to the download unit for downloading the program. The mobile device can comprise a mobile telephone, a mobile organizer, a telephone built in into the vehicle, or any other mobile communication device. The communication network can comprise a cellular or other wireless communication network, public or private, multi-point or point-to-point, etc. The download unit and the diagnostic unit can each comprise a computer system, such as a server or any other electronic processing unit which is able to establish a data communication for transfer of data with the mobile device. The diagnostic information can comprise any type of information related to a state of operation of the vehicle, such as for example error messages, status messages, problem reports, log files, however the diagnostic information can also comprise requests for the transmittal of certain types of information, updates of program files in the vehicle or any other type of suitable information. Also it is possible that the diagnostic information comprises information directed to the user of the vehicle and/or the communication device, e.g. providing information to the user or to other service personnel, informing such persons on matters such as how to act, which parts are needed, what the cause of the problem might be, or any other suitable information. The control unit of the vehicle can comprise an on board diagnostic system, an external communication control unit or any other type of control unit which might be connected to a bus structure in the vehicle or might be a stand-alone control unit. Advantageously, the program comprises one or more of a group comprising a JAVA program, a C program, C++ program, and a program written in any other programming language suitable for mobile devices such as mobile telephones. An advantage of JAVA is that it is largely hardware independent, thus requires little or no modifications to adapt the program to specific types of mobile devices. Advantageously, the data connection is established via a wireless connection between the mobile device and a wireless interface device of the vehicle. As a result, it is not required to connect the mobile device to the vehicle making use of a cable. It will be appreciated by the skilled person that the wireless interface can be applied in any system for remote diagnostics, thus not necessarily in combination with the program according to the present invention as specified above. Instead of or in addition to a wireless connection, it is however also possible that the data connection is established via a wired connection, such as an electrical connection, optical connection, etc. Such wired connection can for example comprise the wired connection via a charger of the mobile device, when the mobile telephone would be connected to a supply voltage of the vehicle by means of the charger of the mobile device, it would be possible for the mobile device to transmit electrical pulses via the charger onto a supply terminal of the vehicle, and which could be detected in the vehicle by means of suitable detection circuitry. In this manner, also data could be sent from the vehicle via the charging device to the mobile device. The wireless connection can comprise one or more of a group comprising a connection via a bluetooth network, a connection via a DECT network, a connection via a wireless LAN local area network, and an optical connection. The optical connection can for example comprise an infrared connection. The wireless interface device can comprise a remote control unit, a mobile telephone interface, a wireless local vehicle network etc. The wireless interface device can be an interface device or be present in the vehicle, such as for example for mobile telephony, or the remote control, however it is also possible that the wireless interface device in the vehicle is purely for remote diagnostic purposes. The download unit can be comprised in the diagnostic unit, however it is also possible that the diagnostic unit is remote from the diagnostic unit, for example in case the program or programs which are downloadable from the diagnostic units are from a different supplier or provider than the diagnostic services provided via the diagnostic unit. The download unit can comprise a plurality of programs and can comprise selection means for selecting the program from the plurality of programs, based on an identification message sent to the download unit. Thus, when a plurality of programs is available in the download unit, e.g. programs each for a specific type of mobile device or vehicle, it is possible for the download unit to select an appropriate program based on the identification message. The identification message can originate from the mobile device, however it is also possible that the identification message is sent from the diagnostic unit, the diagnostic unit determining the identification message, and thus the program to be selected from the plurality of programs, based on information available to the diagnostic unit, such as in a manner similar to the above example. The method according to the invention is characterized in that step b) comprises the step of bl) downloading a program from a download unit via the communication network to the mobile device, the program, when running in the mobile device, enabling the mobile device to set up the data connection between the mobile device and the control unit of the vehicle for exchanging the diagnostic information. The same or similar advantageous embodiments as described with regard to the system according to the invention are also applicable to the method according to the invention. Advantageously, step c) of the method comprises the steps of: cl) transferring diagnostic information from the control unit of the vehicle to the mobile device, c2) creating, in the mobile device, a diagnostic report from the diagnostic information, and c3) transferring the diagnostic report from the mobile device to the diagnostic unit. With the diagnostic report, it is possible to provide adequate conformation such as the information requested by the diagnostic unit, and/or to convert the diagnostic information provided by the vehicle into diagnostic information in the form of a format (the diagnostic report) which is readable or interpretable by the diagnostic unit. This could be particularly advantageous in case that the system would be compatible with several types of vehicles (different models, different manufacturers, etc.) and wherein one or more of these types of vehicles would each provide a different format of diagnostic information to the mobile device, a diagnostic report comprising useful and desired information and/or readable by the diagnostic unit could be sent from the mobile device to the diagnostic unit. The invention further comprises a download unit for downloading a program for remote diagnostics of a vehicle via a communication network into a mobile device, the program, when running on the mobile device, enabling the mobile device to set up a data connection between the mobile device and the control unit of the vehicle for exchanging diagnostic information. Further features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the appended drawings, in which a non-limiting embodiment is shown, in which: fig. 1 shows a highly schematic block diagram of the system according to the invention; and fig. 2 shows a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method according to the invention. Fig. 1 shows a network 1, in this example a mobile, cellular telecommunication network, and a mobile device, in this example a mobile telephone 2 that is able to operate in the network 1. Fig. 1 further shows a vehicle, in this example a car 3. The car 3, and in particular a control unit thereof (not shown) is able to exchange information with the mobile telephone 2 via, in this example, a wireless connection 3a. The wireless connection 3a can comprise an optical connection, such as an infrared connection, any kind of wireless connection such as by means of a wireless network, a cellular network, a point-to-point network, etc., exampled of which are a bluetooth network, a DECT network, a wireless LAN network, etc. Also, other types of interconnections are imaginable, such as by means of a cable, etc. Via de connection 3a, diagnostic information can be exchanged as will be explained in more detail below. Further, fig. 1 shows a diagnostic unit, such as in this example a road assistance center 4, which is also connected to the network 1. The road assistance center 4 comprises a database 4a in which a vehicle information, such as technical information, subscriber information, etc. can be stored. Further, the road assistance center in this example comprises an operator terminal 4b, however other ways of data entry are also possible, such as a voice response system which prompts the user 2 of the mobile telephone to enter certain, requested data via the mobile telephone 2. Still further, fig. 1 shows a download unit 5, such as a server, the download unit 5 being connected to the network 1. The download unit 5 also includes a data base 5a in which a program or a library of programs for use in the mobile telephone 2 can be stored. The download unit 5 is able to, on request, provide data, in this example comprising one or more program files, on request. It is possible that the download unit 5 provides the program on request, however it is also possible that the download unit 5 is provided with an access mechanism (which might be known as such) for providing access to the program or one of the programs if a certain criteria is fulfilled, such as that the mobile telephone 2 has been registrated, that an authorization message is provided by the road assistance center 4, or that a payment has been initiated by a user of the mobile telephone 2. The download unit 5 as well as the road assistance center 4 can each be implemented by means of a personal computer, server or any other suitable processing means. Fig. 1 further shows road assistance 6 having communication means, such as a mobile telephone or mobile data terminal, for communication by means of the network 1. The operation of the example of the system according to the invention as described above with reference to fig. 1, will now be described with reference to fig. 2. Assume that at a certain moment a problem with a car occurs and that the "check engine" indicator lights up. The driver of the car has no idea of the cause and the exact problem is also not displayed. The driver stops the vehicle 3 and in step 10 the driver calls the road assistance center 4 with the mobile telephone 2. Thus, a connection between the mobile telephone 2 and the road assistance center 4 is established. The driver of the car is requested to enter the type of car as well as the type of phone model. This can be done by a human operator of the road assistance center 4 which enters the data with the operator terminal 4b, however other types of data-entry are also possible, such as entry by means of a short message such as a SMS (Short Message Service) message, a EMS (Extended Message Service) message, or any other type of message, or the user of the mobile telephone 2 is prompted to enter the data via a voice response system. When the data has been entered into the road assistance center 4, the road assistance center 4 checks which type of program the driver of the car needs for his specific phone and car combination and in step 13 a message is sent to the mobile telephone 2 where the diagnostic program can be downloaded. Then, in step 14, the driver downloads the program from the download unit 5 into the mobile telephone 2. Once downloaded has been completed, the driver in step 15 starts the program. Now, in step 16, a data connection between the control unit of the car 3 and the mobile telephone 2 is established. Now, information about the status of the car 3 is exchanged between the car, and in particular the control unit thereof, and the mobile telephone 2. Then, in step 17 the program prepares a message for the road assistance center 4, the message containing a diagnostic report of the car. This message is sent over the mobile network 1 to the road assistance center 4. At the road assistance center the information in the report is interpreted automatically or by a service-technician and the problem with the car is identified. If the problem can be solved by the driver himself, information about the problem is translated to the mobile telephone 2 of the driver, for example as a text message or as a voice message, or if the problem can not be solved by the driver himself, information about the program is transmitted to the road assistance center for solving the problem with the car 3. The program can for example comprise a JAVA program, however also other programs are possible, such as a C program, a C++ program or a program written in any other programming language suitable for mobile devices such as mobile telephones . For communicating with the mobile telephone 2, the car 3 is equipped with a wireless interface device, such as a mobile telephone interface, a cellular telephone interface, etc. The download unit 5 can be at a location remote from the road assistance center 4, however it is also possible that the download unit 5 is comprised in the road assistance center .

Claims

C I M S

1. A system for remote diagnostics of a vehicle, the system comprising:

- a diagnostic unit for processing diagnostic information from the vehicle, the diagnostic unit comprising a network connection for exchanging diagnostic information via a communication network,

- a mobile device adapted to exchange the diagnostic information via the communication network with the diagnostic unit, the mobile device being further adapted to exchange the diagnostic information with a control unit of the vehicle via a data connection between the mobile device and the vehicle, characterized in that the system further comprises a download unit for downloading a program via the communication network into the mobile device, the program, when running on the mobile device, enabling the mobile device to set up the data connection between the mobile device and the control unit of the vehicle for exchanging the diagnostic information.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the program comprises one or more of a group comprising a JAVA program, a C program and a C++ program.

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the data connection is established via a wireless connection between the mobile device and a wireless interface device of the vehicle.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the wireless connection comprises one or more of a group comprising a connection via a bluetooth network, a connection via a DECT network, a connection via a wireless LAN local area network, and an optical connection.

5. The system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the wireless interface device comprises a remote control unit, a mobile telephone interface, a wireless local vehicle network etc.

6. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the download unit is comprised in the diagnostic unit.

7. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the download unit comprises a plurality of programs and comprises selection means for selecting the program from the plurality of programs, based on an identification message sent to the download unit.

8. A method for remote diagnostics of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: a) establishing a data connection between a mobile device and a diagnostic unit; b) establishing a data connection between the mobile device and a control unit of the vehicle; c) transferring diagnostic information between the diagnostic unit and the control unit via the mobile device, characterized in that step b) comprises the step of: bl) downloading a program from a download unit via the communication network to the mobile device, the program, when running in the mobile device, enabling the mobile device to set up the data connection between the mobile device and the control unit of the vehicle for exchanging the diagnostic information.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein step c) comprises the steps of: cl) transferring diagnostic information from the control unit of the vehicle to the mobile device; c2) creating, in the mobile device, a diagnostic report from the diagnostic information; and c3) transferring the diagnostic report from the mobile device to the diagnostic unit.

10. A download unit for downloading a program for remote diagnostics of a vehicle via a communication network into a mobile device, the program, when running on the mobile device, enabling the mobile device to set up a data connection between the mobile device and the control unit of the vehicle for exchanging diagnostic information.