Driver`s vehicle diagnostic apparatus and early warning
Contents
1. 2003 mitted from the second communications module 104 are registered IDs step 304 If both the vehicle ID and user ID are registered IDs the connected PC 12 is waken up to enable the electronic control unit diagnostic program 124 installed in the PC 12 to be executed 0068 As an alternative method for driving the electronic control unit diagnostic program 124 the user turns the PC 12 on and then directly drives the vehicle diagnostic program 120 step 306 In this case the user selects whether a vehicle will be diagnosed or a vehicle manual will be simply referred to from a selection menu displayed on the monitor 14 in the PC 12 step 308 If the user selects a manual mode the manual program 122 is executed to then illustrate a vehicle assembling and disassembling method in detail in the form of a moving video signal and a sound signal step 310 If a diagnosis mode is selected from the selection menu the program proceeds to step 314 to enable the electronic control unit diagnostic program installed in the PC 12 to be executed 0069 If the electronic control unit diagnostic program 124 is executed the PC 12 commands the second commu nications module 104 to upload the diagnostic data of the electronic control unit 102 through the first communications module 108 in which the diagnostic data is stored in the second communications module 104 step 314 If the sec ond communications module 104 receives a data transmis sion co2. tively The ring memory 206 stores running speed data for a predetermined time for example for about ten minutes Here running speed data is sequentially input and stored to the ring memory 206 and then the earliest stored running speed data is shifted out sequentially from the ring memory 206 to thus update running speed data all the time 0059 The second communications module 104 transmits the running distance data to the PC 12 When the second communications module 104 has received a reception acknowledgement signal from the PC 12 the second com munications module 104 resets the stored running distance data and then newly accumulates a running distance value from zero during running to then be stored in the memory 212 0060 Also the first communications module 108 has an anti collision and high heat resistant structure to perform a function as a black box so that data can be safely and securely kept by collision and fire due to a vehicle accident 0061 The vehicle diagnostic program 120 executed in the PC 12 includes a manual program 122 and an electronic control unit diagnostic program 124 to be displayed as a menu on a monitor 14 The manual program 122 shows a maintenance method with respect to a maker model and year of the vehicle to thereby allow a user to easily assemble and disassemble the vehicle 10 in the form of a sound signal through a speaker and a moving video signal on a monitor The electronic control unit
3. RESERVATION AVAILABLE DATES AND REPAIR 338 FROM MECHANIC CENTER ESTIMATE RESERVE VEHICLE MAINTENANCE 340 USER S DIRECT MAINTENANCE 334 US 2003 0109972 1 Jun 12 2003 Sheet 5 of 5 Patent Application Publication SONIMVUG NOILOSdSNI 0009 0009 0009 0009 3519384 lt 25 lt lt 2 24 YOSNSS 5532064 29 HOSNAS HOSN3S NOILISOd 3345 941002 SISONOVIC OILYNOLAW 0009 YOSNAS SISONOVIG 352384 yy SISOND VIA 1 3839 121 30 1502 3ONVN3INIVA NV 9934 182 AW 881 19 10035 H3AWNN NAIA YSEWNN 139935 FIOIHSA 30 39NVH9 SNOILVOINAWWOD OILWWOLAY YVOROd Old US 2003 0109972 Al DRIVER S VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND EARLY WARNING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 0001 1 Field of the Invention 0002 The present invention relates to a method system for diagnosing a vehicle equipped with an electronic control unit using the Internet and local area network LAN communications and more particularly to a method and system for diagnosing a basic abnormality of a vehicle equipped with an electronic control unit such as an engine control unit ECU or an automatic brake system ABS at a personal computer PC connected with the vehicle by w
4. a vehicle are input into the second master wireless communications module instead of using a personal pass word 00411 According to yet still another aspect of the present invention there is also provided an input apparatus which can select and input maintenance items from a menu with an arrow direction switch the input apparatus comprising a simple direction indication input and display unit installed in a vehicle slave wireless communications module 0042 According to further still another aspect of the present invention there is also provided a database which is made with a maintenance service manual provided from a vehicle manufacturer based on a cause of an abnormal output value and the corresponding result obtained by com paring a normal value and an abnormal value based on information such as an oxygen sensor output voltage an intake gas pressure sensor an internal air temperature the number of rotations during idling of an engine to thereby inform a vehicle non professional person of parts of a vehicle to be repaired and replaced during diagnosing an engine control unit ECU of the vehicle automatically or manually and information such as procedures of disassem bling and reassembling the vehicle parts for maintenance of the vehicle by the non professional persons for themselves is also provided as a graphic screen in the PC based on a service manual provided for maintenance experts in the vehicle mechanic center from the
5. an analog to digital converter not shown and the converted result is stored in the memory 212 Then the digital signal is transmitted ti the first communications module 108 toward the PC 12 via the wireless transmission and reception unit 216 Each element of FIG 2 is controlled by the microcomputer controller 208 Also if a digital music file such as a MP3 file stored in the PC 12 is transmitted to the second communications module 104 the second com munications module 104 stores the received music file in a memory within a car audio device 106 of FIG 1 to thereby enable a user to enjoy the music file through the car audio device 0066 FIGS 3A a flowchart view for explain ing a diagnostic procedure using the Internet in a vehicle equipped with an electronic control unit shown in FIG 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention 0067 first communications module 108 connected to a USB port not shown in the PC transmits a polling signal in every period and checks whether a registered vehicle approaches within a nearby communications zone for example within 100 meters steps 300 and 302 If the first communications module 108 receives a response signal with respect to a polling signal from the second communications module 104 installed in the vehicle having approached into the communications zone the first communications module 108 checks whether the vehicle ID and the user ID trans Jun 12
6. from the received electronic control unit data the electronic control unit diagnostic program 124 analyzes a failure factor and then guides a failure portion and a maintenance method on the monitor Here in the case that a user has no professional knowledge of maintaining a vehicle by using a basic maintenance guidance and method a mechanic center 18 is selected on the monitor 18 to thereby transmit vehicle condition information to the mechanic center 18 through the Internet 16 step 328 US 2003 0109972 Al 0073 The mechanic center 18 precisely diagnoses a vehicle condition on the basis of the electronic control unit data received through the Internet 16 step 330 For accu rate vehicle diagnosis the mechanic center 18 requests the electronic control unit diagnostic program 124 to diagnose a failure of the vehicle and transmits an estimate price and maintenance reservation available dates to the PC 12 on the basis of the diagnostic result to then be displayed on the monitor 14 step 332 The user selects a date and time which is convenient for maintaining the vehicle among the received maintenance reservation available dates and com pletes a vehicle maintenance reservation step 334 0074 Meanwhile if a user selects a do it yourself DIY mode in step 326 a detailed maintenance procedure with respect to a corresponding failure is guided to the user in the form of a moving video signal and a sound signal at a manual mode
7. local area network LAN communications the vehicle diagnosis sys tem comprising a second communications module installed in the vehicle equipped with the electronic control unit for storing diagnosis data of the electronic control unit and trans mitting the stored diagnosis data according to a control command transmitted from an external source a first communications module connected to a personal computer PC for receiving diagnosis data from the second communications module if it has been checked that a registered vehicle having the second communi cations module approaches within a communications zone and waking up the PC to drive an electronic control unit diagnosis program installed in the PC the PC for analyzing diagnosis data received from the first communications module and displaying the analyzed result on a display and providing a maintenance method with respect to a corresponding failure in the form of a sound signal and a video signal on a monitor according to a user s set mode in the case that the failure can be easily repaired by a user or transmitting the corresponding diagnosis data to a mechanic center through the Internet and supporting to make reserva tions with a corresponding vehicle maintenance in the case that the failure cannot be easily repaired by a user and the mechanic center for receiving vehicle diagnosis data from the PC to thereby make the vehicle diagnosis data into a database providing a
8. person who is not an expert of a vehicle has a difficulty of easily and efficiently performing a diagnosis of the vehicle In general a vehicle diagnoses an abnormality of the vehicle itself and displays a state of the vehicle on an instrumentation panel in front of a driver s seat However a display panel displays nothing but a simple warning due to a limited space of the display panel Thus it is difficult for user to recognize a more specific abnormality through such a warning indication Even minor failure should be checked by a maintenance center 0006 Recently commercialized and available vehicles perform a control of an engine and essential components through an electronic control unit Also control signals of the electronic control unit are not displayed as an indication easily recognized by a user Accordingly a failure cannot be diagnosed without a highly expensive measuring device As a result it is not possible for a user to accurately diagnose a vehicle in the case that an abnormality occurred in the vehicle In this case even a simple maintenance should be performed by a professional maintenance center Also for safe running of a vehicle engine oil or each consumable should be replaced with new one timely according to each running distance of the vehicle For this purpose a user Jun 12 2003 should record a replacement period with respect to each consumable which causes the user to feel burdensome Further in
9. the case that each consumable is not replaced with new one far and away from the replacement period safe running may be impeded SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 0007 solve the above problems it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and system for diagnosing a vehicle equipped with an electronic control unit with which any one who has no professional knowledge with respect to a vehicle can perform a vehicle diagnosis 0008 It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and system for diagnosing a vehicle equipped with an electronic control unit for early warning any one who has no professional knowledge with respect to a vehicle of being capable of recognizing whether or not the vehicle is abnormal 0009 Itis still another object of the present invention to provide a method and system for diagnosing a vehicle equipped with an electronic control unit for enabling any one who has no professional knowledge with respect to a vehicle to perform a vehicle diagnosis and to make reser vations with a vehicle mechanic center for a professional maintenance matter which cannot be repaired by an ordinary person via the Internet and local area network LAN communications 0010 It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a computer readable recording medium storing a program performing a method for diagnosing a vehicle equipped with an electronic control unit 0011 accomplish
10. vehicle approaches in a communications zone through a polling method 0013 Preferably if it is checked through the first com munications module that a registered vehicle approaches US 2003 0109972 1 within communications zone in step b the PC is waken up to then automatically execute an electronic control unit diagnosis program installed in the PC 0014 Preferably it is checked whether not a vehicle is registered vehicle by comparing a vehicle ID set and stored between the first and second communications modules with a received user ID 0015 Preferably the PC step d further comprises the steps of receiving a cumulative running distance value of the vehicle from the second communications module and informing the user of a replacement period of the corre sponding engine oil and consumable parts according to a running distance 0016 Preferably the maintenance method is provided from the PC in the form of a sound signal and a moving video signal 0017 Preferably a communication between the first and second communications modules are secured by an encryp tion key 0018 There is also provided a system for diagnosing a vehicle equipped with an electronic control unit using the Internet and local area network LAN communications the vehicle diagnosis system comprising a second communica tions module installed in the vehicle equipped with the electronic control unit for storing diagnosis dat
11. vehicle manufacturer 0043 According to yet further still another aspect of the present invention there is also provided a system for guiding a driver to determine whether a non professional driver will perform a do it yourself DIY mode or visit a nearby mechanic center to make reservations for repairing a vehicle through a professional expert when a guidance graphic database for guiding a vehicle diagnostic and maintenance method provided in a hard disc in a personal computer PC or a CD ROM guides a method and process of replacing parts or a message of replacing parts according to the running distance is displayed on a PC screen and for enabling a reserved time and expense to be displayed as an e mail when repairing of the vehicle is requested for to the professional expert of the mechanic center whereby a cost consumed for replacement of the parts an average repairing time consumed for repairing the parts and a labor cost and so on are notified of to the driver 0044 Also the present invention provides a service for notifying the driver of market price information for parts of Jun 12 2003 the vehicle on a wholesale or retail sale basis by aid of a self database or Internet parts sellers supporting purchase of the parts and informing the driver who is a non professional person having no professional knowledge of the vehicle of a predicted cost consumed for repairing the parts including replacement information of the par
12. 51 919 US 2003 0109972 1 Jun 12 2003 Sheet 2 of 5 Patent Application Publication Vie AYOWSW LINN LAdNI 391430 divo 01 3311031405 LINN SOVIY3INI 1084409 YALNdWODOYOIN 1 0 JILSONDVIG 9 0319313 OL NOILd35934 NOISSINSNVYL SSI 13 02 202 012 9056 Patent Application Publication Jun 12 2003 Sheet of 5 US 2003 0109972 1 FIG 3A 300 TRANSMIT A POLLING SIGNAL FROM A 1ST COMMUNICATIONS MODULE PC DRIVE VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC PROGRAM 306 308 SELECTED BETWEEN A MANUAL MODE DIAGNOSTIC MODE AND A MANUA MODE 310 YES ILLUSTRATE AN ASSEMBLING 312 WAKE UP PC AND DISASSEMBLING METHOD DIAGNOSTIC MODE 314 DRIVE DIAGNOSTIC PROGRAM TRANSMIT ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT INFORMATION FROM 2ND COMMUNICATIONS MODULE AT THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO PC 318 DIAGNOSE VEHICLE CONDITION 3 320 ve 2 GUIDE A FAILURE PORTION AND MAINTENANCE METHOD YES 31 24 326 NO SER MAINTAIN 322 DISPLAY RESULTS ON A MONITOR YES 328 CONNECT MECHANIC CENTER ON THE INTERNET END A 2 Patent Application Publication Jun 12 2003 Sheet 4 of 5 US 2003 0109972 1 FIG 3B 330 336 PRECISELY DIAGNOSE VEHICLE STATE IN MECHANIC CENTER INFORM A USER OF MAINTENANCE GUIDE DETAILED MAINTENANCE PROCEDURE 332 DIAGNOSTIC RESULT
13. US 20030109972A1 Patent Application Publication Pub No US 2003 0109972 1 United States Tak 43 Pub Date Jun 12 2003 54 DRIVER S VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND EARLY WARNING 75 Inventor Seung Ho Tak Seoul KR Correspondence Address LOWE HAUPTMAN GILMAN AND BERNER LLP 1700 DIAGONAL ROAD SUITE 300 310 ALEXANDRIA VA 22314 US 73 Assignee SHT Co Ltd 21 Appl 10 316 096 22 Filed 11 2002 Related U S Application Data 60 Provisional application No 60 339 293 filed on Dec 12 2001 Publication Classification D NEMO hac G06F 7 00 saq 701 29 705 5 57 ABSTRACT A method for diagnosing a vehicle state by connecting a vehicle equipped with an electronic control unit with a 106 personal computer PC via a local area network LAN communication method and then connecting the PC to a mechanic center on the Internet is provided The vehicle state diagnosing method comprising the steps of a in a first communications module connected to a communications port of the PC checking whether a registered vehicle approaches within a local area network LAN zone b in the PC driving an electronic control unit diagnosing pro gram if a response signal is received from the vehicle having a second communications module c in the second communications module signal converting diagnosis data output from the electronic control uni
14. a in a first communications module connected to a communications port of the PC checking whether a registered vehicle approaches within a local area net work LAN zone b in the PC driving an electronic control unit diagnosing program if a response signal is received from the vehicle having a second communications module c in the second communications module signal con verting diagnosis data output from the electronic con trol unit installed in the vehicle and storing the con version result in a memory and then transmitting the conversion result to the first communications module and d in the case that it is judged that the vehicle is abnormal in the result of analyzing the received diagnosis data in the PC providing a user with a maintenance method and purchase information of parts or in the case that a failure cannot be repaired by the user guiding the user to make reservations with a mechanic center through the Internet
15. a of the electronic control unit and transmitting the stored diagnosis data according to a control command transmitted from an external source a first communications module connected to a personal computer PC for receiving diagnosis data from the second communications module if it has been checked that a registered vehicle having the second communications module approaches within a communications zone and waking up the PC to drive an electronic control unit diag nosis program installed in the PC the PC for analyzing diagnosis data received from the first communications mod ule and displaying the analyzed result on a display and providing a maintenance method with respect to a corre sponding failure in the form of a sound signal and a video signal on a monitor according to a user s set mode in the case that the failure can be easily repaired by a user or transmit ting the corresponding diagnosis data to a mechanic center through the Internet and supporting to make reservations with a corresponding vehicle maintenance in the case that the failure cannot be easily repaired by a user and the mechanic center for receiving vehicle diagnosis data from the PC to thereby make the vehicle diagnosis data into a database providing a guidance for making a maintenance reservation and purchase information of parts to a user and performing a maintenance of the vehicle at a maintenance reservation date set by the user 0019 Preferably the mechani
16. c center makes mainte nance details into a database according to an identification ID of the corresponding vehicle and transmits the main tenance details to the PC 0020 Preferably the PC stores a replacement period of consumable parts of the vehicle according to a running distance of the vehicle and provides the stored replacement period information to a user 0021 Preferably a memory the second communica tions module stores information on a vehicle running speed and a cumulative running distance in real time Jun 12 2003 0022 Preferably the memory storing a vehicle running speed in the second communications module is a ring memory 0023 Preferably the first and second communications modules are a secure access module SAM transmitting and receiving encrypted data respectively 0024 Preferably the second communications module is connected to a car audio system to receive a user s favorite digital music file transmitted from the PC and provide the received digital music file to the car audio system 0025 Preferably the first and second communications modules are set with a vehicle ID and a user ID which are registered in advance 0026 Preferably the first communications module con nected to the communications port of the PC checks whether the vehicle equipped with the second communications mod ule set with the vehicle ID and the user ID approaches in a communications zone through a polling m
17. diagnostic program 124 analyzes the diagnostic data of the electronic control unit 102 received from the first communications module 108 toward the PC 12 so that the analyzed result is displayed on the monitor If a user selects a user maintenance mode the user maintenance program is executed to guide a maintenance method so that the user can maintain the vehicle directly Also if a user judges that he or she cannot maintain the vehicle and selects a mechanic center the PC 12 is con nected to the mechanic center 18 through the Internet to transmit the data obtained by analyzing the data output from the electronic control unit The mechanic center 18 provides the user with information about a maintenance reservation according to a diagnostic result of the data output from the electronic control unit so that the user can make a reserva tion of a user s desired date and time US 2003 0109972 1 0062 mechanic center 18 includes expert sulting server 110 providing a diagnosis with respect to a failure of a vehicle a customer s management system 112 for managing a history of failure details and replacement of parts of a registered vehicle and a vehicle parts database 114 storing information about a maker a model and year of each vehicle The mechanic center 18 provides the user s PC 12 with information about an expert s opinion and an on line prices of each spare part on the basis of the data output from the e
18. e PC to thereby communicate with the vehicle wireless communications module to receive the diagnostic information and running distance informa tion 0039 According to still another aspect of the present invention there is also provided an early warning system characterized in that daily cumulative running distance information transmitted from a vehicle slave wireless com munications module is added in a running distance database installed in a personal computer PC messages of replacing engine oil and parts of the vehicle are displayed on a PC US 2003 0109972 1 screen of user based on the running distance information stored in a maintenance history database and thus informa tion on the maintenance of the vehicle is displayed and predicted to the PC by the home network even though the driver forgets all the things with respect to the vehicle to thereby forecast the following maintenance period of time and contents 0040 According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is also provided a second master commu nications module installed in a vehicle mechanic center characterized in that a maintenance history is recorded in a memory of a vehicle wireless communications module via wireless communications when a payment is settled accord ing to the maintenance result so as to be stored in the memory via the vehicle wireless communications module if a PIN of a vehicle mechanic center administrator and a VIDN of
19. e second communications module is connected to a car audio system to receive a user s favorite digital music file transmitted from the PC and provide the received digital music file to the car audio system 15 The electronic control unit mounted vehicle diagnos tic system of claim 8 wherein the first and second commu nications modules are set with a vehicle ID and a user ID which are registered in advance 16 The electronic control unit mounted vehicle diagnos tic system of claim 8 wherein the first communications module connected to the communications port of the PC checks whether the vehicle equipped with the second com munications module set with the vehicle ID and the user ID approaches in a communications zone through a polling method 17 The electronic control unit mounted vehicle diagnos tic system of claim 8 wherein the first communications module toward the PC performs a diagnosis operation with respect to an electronic control unit of each vehicle having each second communications module by using a window multi trading function simultaneously or sequentially 18 A computer readable recording medium storing a method for diagnosing a vehicle state in which a vehicle equipped with an electronic control unit is connected to a personal computer PC by cable or wirelessly and the PC is connected to a mechanic center through the Internet the computer readable recording medium storing programs comprising the steps of
20. eby transmit a polling signal to the second communications module 104 0058 If the second communications module 104 installed in the vehicle 10 has received a polling signal from the first communications module 108 the vehicle ID and the user s ID are transmitted from the second communications Jun 12 2003 module 108 to the first communications module 104 Accordingly the vehicle is authenticated as being a regis tered vehicle Also the first communications module 108 is connected to a diagnostic connector in an electronic control unit 102 such as an engine control unit ECU or an automatic brake system ABS installed in the vehicle 10 The first communications module 108 receives diagnostic data of the electronic control unit 102 and stores the diag nostic data in an internal memory 212 to then transmit the stored diagnostic data to the PC 12 Also a running speed and a cumulative running distance of the vehicle 10 are stored in a ring memory 206 and a memory 212 on a real time basis during running respectively Thus in the case that the vehicle 10 is in an accident during running the vehicle diagnostic system according to the present invention provides a function as a black box which can estimate a situation where the accident was caused Also the cumula tive running distance data is transmitted to the PC 12 to inform a user of a replacement period of engine oil and consumable parts according to a running distance respec
21. ent inven tion there is also provided a slave wireless communications module connected to a diagnostic port in a vehicle engine control unit ECU for performing functions of transfer error correction and restorage encryption and decryption conversion of a diagnostic command transmitted from a personal computer PC into an ECU diagnostic command protocol characterized in that a microcomputer controlling the slave wireless communications module calculates speed information of a vehicle persistently to calculate the speed information and running distance information when the vehicle is running the running distance information is recorded in a non volatile memory and the speed informa tion is recorded in a ring memory the running distance information is recorded as a cumulative distance in a non volatile memory such as a FeRAM wherein a past cumu lative running distance recorded in the non volatile memory is reset to be zero if the running distance information is transmitted to the PC and then the PC confirms the reception of the running distance information immediately after com munications are performed between the vehicle and the PC 0038 Also when a vehicle where a wireless communi cations module is installed advances within a local area communications allowable area for example a garage the wireless home network module or the PC wireless commu nications module which is connected to a USB port as an ordinary power wakes up th
22. ethod 0027 Preferably the first communications module toward the PC performs a diagnosis operation with respect to an electronic control unit of each vehicle having each second communications module by using a window multi trading function simultaneously or sequentially 0028 There is still also provided a computer readable recording medium storing a method for diagnosing a vehicle state in which a vehicle equipped with an electronic control unit is connected to a personal computer PC by cable or wirelessly and the PC is connected to a mechanic center through the Internet the computer readable recording medium storing programs comprising the steps of a in a first communications module connected to a communica tions port of the PC checking whether a registered vehicle approaches within a local area network LAN zone b in the PC driving an electronic control unit diagnosing pro gram if a response signal is received from the vehicle having a second communications module c in the second communications module signal converting diagnosis data output from the electronic control unit installed in the vehicle and storing the conversion result in a memory and then transmitting the conversion result to the first commu nications module and d in the case that it is judged that the vehicle is abnormal in the result of analyzing the received diagnosis data in the PC providing a user with a mainte nance method and purchase info
23. guidance for making a maintenance reservation and purchase information of parts to a user and performing a maintenance of the vehicle at a maintenance reservation date set by the user 9 The electronic control unit mounted vehicle diagnostic system of claim 8 wherein the mechanic center makes maintenance details into a database according to an identi fication ID of the corresponding vehicle and transmits the maintenance details to the PC 10 The electronic control unit mounted vehicle diagnos tic system of claim 8 wherein the PC stores a replacement period of consumable parts of the vehicle according to a running distance of the vehicle and provides the stored replacement period information to a user 11 The electronic control unit mounted vehicle diagnostic system of claim 8 wherein a memory in the second com munications module stores information on a vehicle running speed and a cumulative running distance in real time 12 The electronic control unit mounted vehicle diagnos tic system of claim 8 wherein the memory storing a vehicle running speed in the second communications module is a ring memory Jun 12 2003 13 The electronic control unit mounted vehicle diagnos tic system of claim 8 wherein the first and second commu nications modules are a secure access module SAM trans mitting and receiving encrypted data respectively 14 The electronic control unit mounted vehicle diagnos tic system of claim 8 wherein th
24. he electronic control unit mounted vehicle diagnostic method of claim 1 wherein if it is checked through the first communications module that registered vehicle approaches within a communications zone in step b the PC is waken up to then automatically execute an electronic control unit diagnosis program installed in the PC 4 The electronic control unit mounted vehicle diagnostic method of claim 1 wherein it is checked whether or not a vehicle is a registered vehicle by comparing a vehicle ID set and stored between the first and second communications modules with a received user ID 5 The electronic control unit mounted vehicle diagnostic method of claim 1 wherein the PC in step d further comprises the steps of receiving a cumulative running distance value of the vehicle from the second communica tions module and informing the user of a replacement period of the corresponding engine oil and consumable parts according to a running distance 6 The electronic control unit mounted vehicle diagnostic method of claim 1 wherein the maintenance method is provided from the PC in the form of a sound signal and a moving video signal US 2003 0109972 1 7 The electronic control unit mounted vehicle diagnostic method of claim 1 wherein a communication between the first and second communications modules are secured by an encryption key 8 A system for diagnosing a vehicle equipped with an electronic control unit using the Internet and
25. ireless communications and reserving a maintenance of a vehicle to a maintenance center connected to the Internet via the PC in the case of a complicated failure which is difficult of a user to maintain it to thereby enable an ordinary person who is not an expert of a vehicle to easily and efficiently perform a diagnosis of the vehicle 0003 2 Description of the Related Art 0004 Warning messages notified of to a driver sitting in a driver s seat through a self diagnostic function of a vehicle are not sufficiently efficient due to a limited display space and restriction of a standard warning display The displayed contents are also difficult for general drivers Thus a service manual for maintenance should be read in order to analyze the displayed contents Particularly warning lamps dis played in front of the driver s seat are turned on after most of problems have occurred Accordingly if the warning lamps are turned on the vehicle should be taken to a vehicle mechanic center for a more careful diagnosis of the vehicle 0005 vehicle is made up of a several tens of thousand of mechanical components and thus designed so that some parts and oils should be replaced with new ones An expert in a vehicle mechanic center who has a professional knowl edge or repair experience with respect to a vehicle finds out whether or not the engine of the vehicle is abnormal through a dedicated ECU diagnostic apparatus However an ordi nary
26. l unit with a personal computer PC by cable or wirelessly and then connecting the PC to a mechanic center on the Internet the vehicle state diagnosing method comprising the steps of a in a first communications module connected to a communications port of the PC checking whether a registered vehicle approaches within a local area net work LAN zone b in the PC driving an electronic control unit diagnosing program if a response signal is received from the vehicle having a second communications module c in the second communications module signal con verting diagnosis data output from the electronic con trol unit installed in the vehicle and storing the con version result in a memory and then transmitting the conversion result to the first communications module and d in the case that it is judged that the vehicle is abnormal in the result of analyzing the received diagnosis data in the PC providing a user with a maintenance method and purchase information of parts or in the case that a failure cannot be repaired by the user guiding the user to make reservations with a mechanic center through the Internet 2 The electronic control unit mounted vehicle diagnostic method of claim 1 wherein in step a the first communi cations module connected to the communications port of the PC checks whether the second communications module in the vehicle approaches in a communications zone through a polling method 3 T
27. lectronic control unit 0063 FIG 2 is a detailed block diagram showing a second communications module installed in the vehicle of FIG 1 0064 The second communications module 104 includes a wireless transmission and reception unit 216 for transmit ting and receiving wireless data to and from the first com munications module 108 connected to the PC 12 a diag nostic connector 202 connected to the electronic control unit 102 for receiving diagnostic data a data interface unit 204 for classifying the diagnostic data received from the diag nostic connector 202 and transmitting the classified diag nostic data to a microcomputer controller 208 a ring memory 206 storing a vehicle running speed together with date and time data for a predetermined time a memory 212 storing a security program and a cumulative running dis tance value and a display 210 and a key input unit 214 for outputting and inputting data of maintenance details directly from the mechanic center 18 respectively The ring memory 206 storing the vehicle running speed stores updated running speed data in which data is automatically deleted and updated in a predetermined time for example in every ten minutes 0065 The electronic control unit data received from the diagnostic connector 202 is classified into various kinds of data through the data interface unit 204 Then if the received data is an analog signal the analog signal is converted into a digital signal in
28. mmand from the PC 12 the diagnostic data from the electronic control unit 102 that is data of an oxygen sensor output voltage an inhale pressure sensor an internal air temperature the number of rotation of an engine during idling of the engine and so on is stored in the memory 212 installed in the second communications module 104 to then be transmitted to the PC 12 step 316 Also the cumulative running distance value of the vehicle stored in the memory 212 is transmitted to the PC 12 0070 The electronic control unit diagnostic program 124 in the PC 12 includes a maintenance manual of each vehicle manufacture in the form of a database Accordingly the received diagnostic data from the electronic control unit 102 is compared with reference data to judge whether or not the vehicle is abnormal Here if the vehicle is judged normal from the received diagnostic data an indication representing that the vehicle is in a normal condition is displayed on the monitor 14 0071 FIG 4 shows an electronic control unit diagnostic program showing an example of a diagnostic procedure screen displayed on a monitor shown in FIG 1 In FIG 4 the diagnostic data output from an electronic control unit is graphically displayed so that all failure portions can be checked all at a time by a user at a sequential analysis process of the diagnostic data output from the electronic control unit 102 0072 In the case that the vehicle is judged abnormal
29. module Jun 12 2003 installed in the PC communications port uses a USB power supplied as an ordinary power to perform a polling at a predetermined period of time in order to check whether the wireless communications module inserted into the vehicle diagnostic port advances within a communications allow able area and if a vehicle whose VIDN has been registered advances within a communications allowable area the diag nostic command is encrypted by the PC diagnostic software program and then the encrypted diagnostic command is transmitted wirelessly to the vehicle communications mod ule and the vehicle diagnostic response is encrypted by the vehicle encryption software program and then the encrypted vehicle diagnostic response is transmitted wirelessly to the PC communications module 0036 Preferably the wireless communications module connected to the vehicle diagnostic port maintains a recep tion state all the time until a polling signal sent from the PC base station communications module periodically is received and a microcomputer in the communications mod ule is activated after completion of the registered VIDN and PIN confirmation process to then perform the diagnostic command and the response process to thereby prevent a third party from operating the driver s vehicle diagnostic apparatus and prevent communicating with an unregistered vehicle and occurrence of mis operation 0037 According to another aspect of the pres
30. nning Also the present invention can make reservations conveniently with a mechanic center with respect to a failure which cannot be repaired by a general user to thereby maintain the vehicle 0078 As described above the present invention provides a vehicle diagnostic system with which any one who has no professional knowledge with respect to a vehicle can per form a vehicle diagnosis easily and efficiently Also the present invention provides an early warning system for warning any one who has no professional knowledge with respect to a vehicle of being capable of recognizing whether or not the vehicle is abnormal Further the present invention provides a system for enabling any one who has no profes sional knowledge with respect to a vehicle to make reser vations for a professional maintenance matter which cannot be repaired by an ordinary person with respect to a vehicle mechanic center 0079 As described above the present invention has been described with respect to the particularly preferred embodi Jun 12 2003 ments but the present invention is not limited in the above described embodiments It is apparent to one who has an ordinary skill in the art that there are many variations and modifications within the scope of the appended claims with departing off from the spirit of the present invention What is claimed is 1 Amethod for diagnosing a vehicle state by connecting a vehicle equipped with an electronic contro
31. nosing vehicle equipped with an electronic control unit such as an engine control unit ECU using the Internet includes a personal computer PC 12 in which a vehicle diagnostic program 120 including a manual program 122 and an electronic control unit diagnostic program 124 is installed a first communications module 108 connected to a universal serial bus USB port in the PC 12 and a mechanic center 18 for maintaining a user s vehicle storing maintenance details as a database and transmitting the stored maintenance details to the PC 12 0057 first communications module 108 connected to the PC 12 communicates with a second communications module 104 installed in the vehicle 10 bidirectionally The first communications module 108 checks whether or not the second communications module 104 approaches within a communications zone through a polling method When the second communications module 104 has approached within the communications zone the first communications module 108 checks whether an identification ID of the vehicle 10 and a 5 ID are registered IDs which were set in advance If both the vehicle ID and the user s ID are the registered IDs the PC 12 is waken up to make the PC 12 execute the maintenance program and the diagnostic program installed in the PC 12 The first communications module 108 is connected to the USB port in the PC 12 to receive power stably even in the case that power is turned off to ther
32. of a royalty service in order to support a wireless diagnostic service at a space in a gas station and then the vehicle is registered into a personal computer PC in the gas station and that if the vehicle whose licence plate number has been registered in a server arrives at the gas station it is ascertained whether the VIDN of the vehicle is that of the registered vehicle down loaded in the gas station PC a diagnostic command is transmitted from a master communications module of the gas station to a slave wireless communications module of the vehicle during filling the vehicle with gas a diagnostic response is processed in the PC of the gas station and items to be maintained for every running distance are notified of to the driver to thereby diagnose the vehicle totally and inform the driver of the diagnostic result 0048 According to a further aspect of the present inven tion there is also provided a method for performing a number of diagnostic operations simultaneously or sequen tially and performing a diagnosis by wireless communica tions using a spread spectral communications system with out causing a mutual interference between a number of master and slave wireless communications modules wherein a window multi trading function is used in order for slave wireless communications modules installed in a num ber of vehicles at a space in a gas station to perform n to n communications with a number of master wireless commu nicati
33. ons modules installed in a personal computer PC in the gas station differently from a system where a master wireless communications module in a PC communicates with a slave wireless communications module in a vehicle on a one to one communications basis US 2003 0109972 Al BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 0049 above objects and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing the preferred embodiment thereof in more detail with ref erence to the accompanying drawings in which 0050 FIG 1 shows a system for diagnosing a vehicle equipped with an electronic control unit using the Internet and local area network LAN communications according to the present invention 0051 FIG 2 is a detailed block diagram showing a second communications module installed in the vehicle of FIG 1 0052 FIGS 3A and a flowchart view for explain ing a diagnostic procedure in the FIG 1 system and 0053 FIG 4 shows an example of a diagnostic proce dure screen displayed on a monitor shown in FIG 1 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 0054 Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying draw ings 0055 FIG 1 shows a system for diagnosing a vehicle equipped with an electronic control unit using the Internet and local area network LAN communications according to the present invention 0056 diagnostic system for diag
34. rmation of parts or in the case that a failure cannot be repaired by the user guiding the user to make reservations with a mechanic center through the Internet 0029 Also the present invention provides a driver s vehicle diagnostic apparatus for use in a system for per forming a diagnosis of a vehicle and an early warning by connecting a personal computer PC and a vehicle on the Internet by use of a local area wireless or wired communi cations network characterized in that a local area wireless communications network is used between a local area wire less communications module such as a home network con nected to a communications port USB in the personal computer PC and a wireless communications module installed in an engine control unit ECU diagnostic port of the vehicle and thus when the vehicle approaches within a communications allowable area of the vehicle diagnostic functions possessed by one or more controller units such as US 2003 0109972 1 a vehicle engine are performed by a diagnostic software program installed in the PC to thereby notify the driver of the diagnosed result and automatically perform a diagnosis and an early warning after having installed the driver s vehicle diagnostic apparatus 0030 Preferably at the process of performing the diag nostic function speed information output to a diagnostic port of the vehicle is recorded running distance information is transmitted to a personal comp
35. step 336 Also purchase information on corresponding parts are obtained through the mechanic center 18 so that the user can directly maintain the vehicle with the purchased parts step 338 0075 Also a cumulative running distance value of a vehicle is received in the PC 12 A replacement period of engine oil and consumable parts according to the running distance with respect to the corresponding vehicle is con structed as a database in the PC 12 Accordingly corre sponding consumable parts to be replaced are displayed on the monitor 14 according to the received cumulative running distance value so that the user can replace the consumable parts in time 0076 The present invention can be applied to a case that a first communications module is installed in a gas station so that a plurality of registered vehicles can be diagnosed during filling of gas Also a user presses a key input unit mounted in a second communications module having a function of transmission of a vehicle ID and a user ID instead of relying upon a polling signal and directly accesses the PC 12 via a LAN communications method to thereby diagnose a vehicle 0077 As described above a vehicle diagnostic system of a vehicle equipped with a electronic control unit according to the present invention enables a user to check an abnor mality of a vehicle in advance and maintain the vehicle to thereby greatly reduce a possibility of accidents which may occur during ru
36. t installed in the vehicle and storing the conversion result in a memory and then transmitting the conversion result to the first commu nications module and d in the case that it is judged that the vehicle is abnormal in the result of analyzing the received diagnosis data in the PC providing a user with a mainte nance method and purchase information of parts or in the case that a failure cannot be repaired by the user guiding the user to make reservations with a mechanic center through the Internet A vehicle diagnostic system of a vehicle equipped with a electronic control unit enables a user to check an abnormality of a vehicle in advance and maintain the vehicle to thereby greatly reduce a possibility of acci dents which may occur during running and to also make reservations conveniently with a mechanic center with respect to a failure which cannot be repaired by a general user so that the vehicle can be maintained 122 124 ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT DIAGNOSTIC PROGRAM VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC PROGRAM 120 US 2003 0109972 1 Jun 12 2003 Sheet 1 of 5 Patent Application Publication 021 215089 10 LINN 1081409 SINOULOTS vel WYA 9 O0Hd ook 4939039 OILSONOVIG FIOIHSA 3598190 1894 JTOIHSA WALSAS 1 YSNOLSNO OLL 1834 3 817 831459 SONVNALNIVIN 90349313 JINON SNOILYOINANNOD 1
37. the above object of the present invention there is provided a method for diagnosing a vehicle state by connecting a vehicle equipped with an electronic control unit with a personal computer PC by cable or wirelessly and then connecting the PC to a mechanic center on the Internet the vehicle state diagnosing method comprising the steps of a in a first communica tions module connected to a communications port of the PC checking whether a registered vehicle approaches within a local area network LAN zone b in the PC driving an electronic control unit diagnosing program if a response signal is received from the vehicle having a second com munications module c in the second communications module signal converting diagnosis data output from the electronic control unit installed in the vehicle and storing the conversion result in a memory and then transmitting the conversion result to the first communications module and d in the case that it is judged that the vehicle is abnormal in the result of analyzing the received diagnosis data in the PC providing a user with a maintenance method and pur chase information of parts or in the case that a failure cannot be repaired by the user guiding the user to make reserva tions with a mechanic center through the Internet 0012 Preferably in step a the first communications module connected to the communications port of the PC checks whether the second communications module in the
38. ts needed according to the diagnostic result in the case that the driver has selected the DIY mode 0045 According to a further aspect of the present inven tion there is also provided a black box system for examining a vehicle accident characterized in that speed and frequency sequentially output from a vehicle is recorded in a ring memory at an interval of a second for ten minutes together with a running date and time on the basis of vehicle speed information recorded in the ring memory 0046 According to a further aspect of the present inven tion there is also provided a wireless communications module characterized in that information such as diagnostic information and running distance information is notified of to a driver via a liquid display device installed in an instrumentation panel board located in front of a driver s seat by wireless communications and maintenance infor mation can also be input with a keypad Music files such as MP3 files are selected and edited in a personal computer PC and then transmitted to the vehicle to thereby enable the driver to listen to the MP3 music in which a wireless communications diagnostic apparatus is connected to a vehicle audio system during production of the vehicle 0047 According to a further aspect of the present inven tion there is also provided a system characterized in that a slave wireless communications module is attached to a diagnostic port of a vehicle as a part
39. uter PC information such as periods of time of replacing parts according to the running distance of the vehicle is notified of to a personal database installed in the PC information such as methods of replacing the parts and prices of the parts is notified of to the driver and making reservations to a vehicle mechanic center is supported through the Internet with respect to the profes sional maintenance items which cannot be treated by general drivers 0031 Preferably an application software program is vided as a CD ROM or can be downloaded from an Internet server on the Internet so that diagnostic functions of an ECU diagnostic apparatus which are used by experts in an existing vehicle mechanic center can be realized as an application software installed in the PC and the wireless communications module is provided to the diagnostic port of the ECU located in the lower end portion of the driver s seat and the local area wireless communications module is provided to the PC communications port or a wireless home network is used 0032 Preferably only if a VIDN Vehicle IDentification Number a PIN Personal IDentification Number should be registered after the wireless communications module has been inserted into the vehicle diagnostic port and the local area wireless communications module has been connected to the USB port of the PC communications are made to be performed between the vehicle and the PC in which onl
40. y both the communications modules can recognize and communicate with each other where a vehicle identifi cation number and a personal secret number are input on a screen provided by the software program of the PC when the communications modules are installed 0033 Preferably in the case that a vehicle approaches within the communications allowable area the driver s vehicle diagnostic apparatus confirms the previously regis tered VIDN and PIN automatically requests the vehicle diagnostic port to send a diagnostic command and running distance information and transfers a vehicle state report as a graphic user circumstance or message which can be recognized by any one who has no professional knowledge where a driver s vehicle maintenance history database installed in the PC is updated 0034 Preferably communications can be performed between only particular wireless communications modules that is communications are performed between only com munications modules where the VIDNs and PINs coincide with each other in which the contents of the communica tions between both the wireless communications modules are encrypted by use of an encryption algorithm imple mented as a secure access module SAM which is a master communications module firmware and then transmitted to thereby prevent an illegal use or an abuse of the third party 0035 Preferably although power is turned off in a PC main board a master wireless communications
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