US Patent No: 6,587,768
Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000
Vehicle inspection and maintenance system
Stats
-
Jul 1, 2003
Issued date -
Aug 8, 2001
filing date -
09/924,435
serial no -
Expired
status
Importance
Loading Importance Indicators...
Abstract
A method and system is provided for inspecting and maintaining a vehicle. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of capturing vehicle data including the steps of servicing a vehicle at a location corresponding to service data. Service data is input into a portable handheld computing device and transferred from the portable handheld computing device to a vehicle onboard computer. Vehicle warranty data is provided on the vehicle onboard computer. The service data and the vehicle warranty data are retrieved from the vehicle onboard computer. In another embodiment of the present invention, a method of inspecting a vehicle includes communicating with the vehicle systems using a portable handheld computing device to automatically inspect the vehicle systems. Prompts are displayed on the portable handheld computing device to guide a vehicle inspector to inspect additional vehicle systems. A help option is displayed on the portable handheld computing device associated with one of the additional vehicle systems. Selecting the help option displays instructions related to the vehicle system, such as how to inspect the system and how to fix the system if any problems are encountered.
Loading the Abstract Image...
First Claim
Related Publications
Loading Related Publications...
International Classification(s)
- [Classification Symbol]
- [Patents Count]
Cited Art
| Patent Info | (Count) | # Cites | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| 4,975,847 Diagnosis system for a motor vehicle | 35 | 1989 | |
| 5,758,300 Diagnosis system for motor vehicles and the method thereof | 151 | 1997 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,926,331 Truck operation monitoring system | 108 | 1988 | |
| 5,365,436 Electronic management system for heavy-duty trucks | 74 | 1993 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,477,874 Card-operated control system for vehicle components | 71 | 1981 | |
| 5,479,347 Vehicle diagnosis system | 24 | 1994 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,441,359 Method and apparatus for inspecting vehicles | 61 | 1982 | |
| 5,964,813 Vehicle diagnostic data storing system | 54 | 1997 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,731,769 Central servicing and information controller for vehicle auxiliary equipment | 84 | 1986 | |
| 6,104,971 Controller, in particular motor vehicle controller | 15 | 1997 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,046,007 Motor vehicle data collection device | 73 | 1989 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,094,609 Modular wireless diagnostic, test, and information | 60 | 1999 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,778,381 Computer aided maintenance and repair information system for equipment subject to regulatory compliance | 85 | 1995 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,801,767 Image screen automatic adjustment apparatus for video monitor | 23 | 1996 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,533,900 Service-interval display for motor vehicles | 76 | 1982 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,812,399 Vehicle seat adjustment device with programmed relationships | 43 | 1995 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,933,125 Method and apparatus for reducing instability in the display of a virtual environment | 51 | 1995 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,400,018 Method of relaying information relating to the status of a vehicle | 207 | 1992 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,939,652 Trip recorder | 118 | 1988 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,541,840 Hand held automotive diagnostic service tool | 192 | 1993 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,848,365 Diagnostic method and system for electrical system in a truck | 79 | 1996 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,787,373 Travel expense tracking system | 21 | 1997 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,073,063 Automotive data recording device | 32 | 1997 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,084,567 Image displaying method and apparatus | 12 | 1996 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,948,026 Automotive data recorder | 49 | 1996 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,091,856 Control apparatus for automobiles | 99 | 1990 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,961,561 Method and apparatus for remote maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of a motorized wheelchair | 181 | 1997 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,660,140 Control arrangement for a vehicle seat adjusting mechanism having a self checking, reduced terminal, microcomputer | 15 | 1984 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,253,052 Apparatus for detecting relative motion between contents of successive fields of a video signal | 12 | 1992 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,555,171 Data collection system for driving machine | 62 | 1994 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,990,800 Remote engine starting and stopping device for construction machine | 19 | 1997 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,204,255 Apparatus for adjusting a vehicle seat | 71 | 1978 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,773,011 Method of surveying, selecting, evaluating, or servicing the tires of vehicles | 55 | 1986 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,404,641 Maintenance monitor | 61 | 1981 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,052,631 Method and system for facilitating vehicle inspection to detect previous damage and repairs | 75 | 1997 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,009,363 Vehicle computer system with high speed data buffer and serial interconnect | 144 | 1996 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,931,878 Computerized prompting systems | 107 | 1996 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,182,006 Navigation system remote control unit with data caddy functionality | 143 | 1999 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,707,788 Automatic adjuster for automobile driver equipment | 94 | 1985 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,859,628 Apparatus and method for a personal onboard information system | 170 | 1995 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,003,808 Maintenance and warranty control system for aircraft | 67 | 1997 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,917,408 Maintenance alert cluster with memory | 33 | 1997 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,055,468 Vehicle system analyzer and tutorial unit | 132 | 1995 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,680,328 Computer assisted driver vehicle inspection reporting system | 87 | 1995 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,995,898 RFID system in communication with vehicle on-board computer | 137 | 1996 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,006,147 Translator and voltage check module for hand-held vehicle tester | 17 | 1997 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,245,324 Digital engine analyzer | 27 | 1991 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,787,041 Data control system for digital automatic flight control system channel with plural dissimilar data processing | 29 | 1985 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,916,286 Portable automobile diagnostic tool | 69 | 1995 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,006,148 Automated vehicle return system | 75 | 1997 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,739,482 Motor vehicle maintenance interval monitor | 30 | 1986 | |
| 5,475,399 Portable hand held reading unit with reading aid feature | 138 | 1993 | |
| 5,797,107 Equipment utilization detector | 9 | 1996 | |
Patent Citation Ranking
Maintenance Fees
| Fee | Large entity fee | small entity fee | micro entity fee | due date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11.5 Year Payment | $7400.00 | $3700.00 | $1850.00 | Jan 1, 2015 |
| Fee | Large entity fee | small entity fee | micro entity fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surcharge - 11.5 year - Late payment within 6 months | $160.00 | $80.00 | $40.00 |
| Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unavoidable | $700.00 | $350.00 | $175.00 |
| Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unintentional | $1,640.00 | $820.00 | $410.00 |