Patent Publication Number: US-7596435-B1

Title: Vehicle communication system and method with mobile data collection

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/704,983, filed on Aug. 3, 2005, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a system and method for communicating data from a vehicle and, in particular, to a system which communicates vehicle data from an onboard vehicle diagnostic system. The invention may be used for vehicle diagnosis, vehicle performance monitoring and/or environmental regulatory compliance. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,636,790 B1 issued to Lightner et al. is directed to a METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOTELY CHARACTERIZING A VEHICLE&#39;S PERFORMANCE. Data representative of the vehicle&#39;s performance is generated within the vehicle and transferred through an OBD, OBD-2 or equivalent electrical connector to a data collector or a router including an electrically connected wireless transmitter. A data packet representing the data is transmitted with the wireless transmitter over an air link to a wireless communication system and then to a host computer. The air link is made up of a conventional wireless telephone or paging system. 
   U.S. Patent Application Publication US 2003/0130774 A1 issued to Tripathi et al. discloses a vehicle unit including a vehicle wireless communication transceiver for controlling the wireless communication transceiver. The control includes memory for storing vehicle data including exhaust emission parameters from a vehicle diagnostic system. A communication network is provided for two-way wireless communication with the vehicle unit. The communication network is made up of a plurality of geographically dispersed wireless communication transceivers. When the vehicle approaches one of the geographically dispersed wireless communication transceivers, that geographically dispersed wireless communication transceiver activates the vehicle wireless communication transceiver to communicate vehicle data in the memory to that geographically dispersed wireless communication transceiver. Thus, as vehicles pass a geographically dispersed wireless communication transceiver, the data is transferred. This is particularly useful for environmental regulatory compliance verification. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a system and method of communicating data from a vehicle that provides enhanced geographic coverage for transferring the data. This may be accomplished at a significant reduction in cost, thereby facilitating operation of the systems even in sparsely populated areas. Moreover, interactions between the vehicle wireless communication transceiver and the communication system are more likely to occur, thereby enhancing the utility of the system. The invention may also provide convenience to the vehicle owner and be easy to set up. 
   A vehicle inspection system and method of inspecting a vehicle, according to an aspect of the invention, includes providing a plurality of vehicle units, each including a vehicle wireless communication transceiver and a memory. Data, such as from an onboard vehicle diagnostic system, is stored in the memory. A communication system is provided for two-way wireless communication with the vehicle units. The communication system is made up of at least one wireless communication transceiver. Data is communicated from the memory to the at least one mobile wireless communication transceiver when the mobile wireless communication transceiver is in the vicinity of that vehicle unit. 
   The transporting of the mobile wireless communication transceiver increases interaction between the communication system and the vehicle unit. The mobile wireless communication transceiver may be positioned in another vehicle, such as another car, a delivery van, a truck, a bus, a train, an aircraft, or the like. The other vehicle may be a commercial vehicle, a public vehicle or a private vehicle that makes frequent trips within a geographic area. The vehicle unit may include an adapter that is configured to connect with a vehicle diagnostic port of a vehicle diagnostic system. The communication system may be made up of a communication network, wherein the communication network includes a host computer and at least one relay unit. The relay unit transfers vehicle data from the mobile wireless communication transceiver to the host computer. The communication system may further include one or more generally stationary wireless communication transceivers that are located adjacent to a roadway traveled by vehicles. This is particularly useful in heavily traveled areas. 
   The communication system may include a communication network and a host computer on the network. The host computer operates to receive data from the geographically dispersed wireless communication transceivers and includes a database for storing vehicle data from the vehicle unit. Regulatory authority may be provided access to the vehicle data for vehicle environmental regulatory compliance verification. The vehicle owner may be provided access to the vehicle data for vehicle performance monitoring, vehicle diagnostics, or the like. 
   The vehicle unit may include a control for controlling the wireless communication transceiver. The control may store vehicle data from a vehicle diagnostic system in the memory in response to occurrence of a particular event, such as generation of a diagnostic code, vehicle throttle position, vehicle speed, or the like. The communication system may track the geographic location of the mobile geographically dispersed wireless communication transceiver. This information may be provided to vehicles equipped with a vehicle unit. This may allow the vehicle owner to seek out a mobile geographically dispersed wireless communication transceiver in order to transfer data to the communication system, such as for vehicle environmental regulatory compliance verification. Also, a feedback mechanism may be provided based upon the vehicles from which vehicle data was collected. This may allow the route of the mobile wireless communication transceiver to be controlled to increase contact with vehicles that have not yet transferred data. 
   These and other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a vehicle inspection system and method of inspecting the vehicle, according to the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating operation of a mobile geographically dispersed wireless communication transceiver; and 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a vehicle unit useful with the invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now specifically to the drawings, and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, a vehicle inspection system and method  10  includes a plurality of vehicle units  12  (only one of which is shown) and at least one mobile wireless communication transceiver, or mobile data collection unit,  14  ( FIG. 1 ). Vehicle unit  12  is adapted to be connected with a vehicle  16  (which does not form any part of the invention) and, in particular, is adapted to connect with an onboard vehicle diagnostic system. Vehicle unit  12  may connect with a vehicle diagnostic port of a vehicle diagnostic system although the invention may be used with other vehicle electronic systems. Examples of such vehicle diagnostic systems include an OBD that is conventional on recently produced vehicles. 
   Mobile wireless communication transceiver  14  is mobile and is transported by a transport mechanism  18 . Transport mechanism  18  may be another automobile, a truck, a bus, a train, an aircraft, or the like. The transport vehicle may be a commercial vehicle, such as a package delivery truck. It may also be a public vehicle, such as a mail delivery van. The transport vehicle may also be a private vehicle, such as a personal automobile that is outfitted to transport mobile data collection unit  14 . Mobile wireless communication transceiver  14  is part of a communication system  20  that provides two-way communication with vehicle unit  12 . Communication system  20  may include additional mobile wireless communication transceivers  14 . It may additionally include a plurality of generally stationary geographically dispersed communication transceivers (not shown) that are located adjacent to roadways traveled by vehicles, as disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Patent Application Publication 2003/013074 A1 entitled VEHICLE INSPECTION ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD OFFERING MULTIPLE DATA TRANSMISSIONS ON THE ROAD, published by Tripathi et al., the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Communication system  20  may additionally include one or more relay units  22 , a network  24  and a database system  26 . Network  24  may be a private, or public, wide area network, such as an Internet or Intranet. Relay unit  22  may be a fixed or mobile unit that provides an Internet connection  28  with network  24  and a wireless link  30  with mobile wireless transceiver  14 . Wireless link  30  may be a wireless fidelity (WiFi) network link or other Bluetooth alternative. Instead of connecting through relay unit  22  with network  24 , mobile wireless communication transceiver  14  may communicate directly with central database system  26  with a wireless link  32 . Wireless link  32  may be a WiFi network connection, Bluetooth alternative, or the like. 
   A two-way wireless communication link  34  is provided between vehicle  12  and mobile wireless communication transceiver  14  when vehicle  12  is in the vicinity of mobile wireless communication transceiver  14 . Wireless communication link  34  is between a radio frequency wireless communication transceiver antenna  36  in vehicle unit  12  and wireless communication transceiver antenna  38  in mobile unit  14 . In the illustrative embodiment, transceiver  38  in the mobile unit activates wireless transceiver  36  of the vehicle unit when the vehicle unit is in the vicinity of mobile unit  14 . This may be accomplished utilizing the communication algorithm disclosed in the Tripathi et al. &#39;774 patent application publication. 
   Vehicle unit  12  further includes a microprocessor-based control  40  and an OBD connector  42  ( FIG. 3 ). Control  40  and connector  42  define an OBD interface  44  between the vehicle diagnostic system and transceiver  36 . Interface  44  further includes a cable  46  that connects connector  42  with electronic control unit  40 . Control  40  includes both OBD and radio frequency communication circuitry and connects to external antenna  36  that may be affixed to an inside part of the vehicle&#39;s windshield, or the like. The vehicle&#39;s OBD DCL connector provides power to vehicle unit  12 . In the illustrative embodiment, each vehicle unit has a unique address ID which uniquely identifies the unit and the vehicle when transmitting vehicle data. This may include transmitting of a unique vehicle number with the vehicle data. The unique vehicle number may be a vehicle VIN number or unique numbers associated with major vehicle assemblies. 
   Wireless communication link  34 , in the illustrative embodiment, utilizes a single-chip radio transceiver in the 2.4-2.5 GHz band. An encrypted ASCII binary protocol may be utilized for data security. In the illustrative embodiment, the communication range of wireless communication link  34  with a vehicle traveling at approximately 50 miles per hour with respect to mobile unit  14  may be up to approximately 300 feet. Control  40  may update readings from the OBD diagnostic port at a regular interval, such as every two minutes, and storing the latest valid reading in memory. Alternatively, control  40  may cause vehicle data to be stored in memory only upon the occurrence of a specific event. A specific event may be the generation of a particular diagnostic code by the vehicle diagnostic system. The diagnostic code may be generated upon a parameter of the vehicle being out of specification. Likewise, the particular event may be one or more other parameters of the vehicle, such as vehicle throttle position, vehicle speed, and the like. Other examples of particular events will be apparent to the skilled artisan. 
   Mobile unit  14  includes a data storage unit  48  and support hardware and software for storing vehicle data from multiple vehicle units  12 . Mobile unit  14  may further include a network wireless transceiver for wireless network communications with database system  26  and/or with a relay unit  22 . Mobile unit  14  may further include a receiver  52  for a satellite-positioning system, such as a global positioning system (GPS), in order to identify the location of mobile unit  14 . Data storage unit  48  is a programmed computer unit having data organization and storage capability. It may also provide overall control for the various subsystems of mobile unit  14 . 
   Operation of vehicle inspection system  10  may be better understood by reference to  FIG. 2 . As mobile unit  14  is transported by transport mechanism  18 , which is illustrated as a road vehicle, transceiver  38  activates the vehicle unit  12  of each vehicle  16  in the vicinity of mobile unit  14  that receives a signal from mobile unit  14  over a wireless communication link  34 . In turn, a vehicle unit  12  in the vicinity of mobile unit  14  transmits data in its memory over wireless communication link  34 . Because transport mechanism  18  is transporting transceiver  38 , it provides the ability to collect vehicle data from vehicles that may not otherwise come into contact with a generally stationary geographically distributed wireless communication transceiver, such as one adjacent to a roadway traveled by vehicles. It is known that drivers tend to travel generally in a given pattern on the same roads. Therefore, if the drivers&#39; normal traveling habits do not bring it within the vicinity of a wireless communication transceiver adjacent to a roadway traveled by the vehicle, the vehicle data may not be transmitted to communication system  20 . Because mobile unit  14  may travel in a more or less random pattern, it is more likely that any given vehicle unit  12  will come within the vicinity of mobile unit  14  and thereby transfer vehicle data to the communication system. Moreover, mobile unit  14  does not require a dedicated communication connection, such as a network connection utilized in the Tripathi et al. &#39;774 patent application publication. All that is required is to provide electrical energy to the mobile unit. 
   Mobile unit  14  collects vehicle data from vehicle units  12  utilizing a wireless communication link without reoccurring communication charges between vehicle unit  12  and mobile unit  14 . Mobile unit  14  may communicate the accumulated vehicle data with database system  26 , such as by utilizing a wireless link  32  provided that the mobile unit  14  is within transmission range of the database system. One or more relay units  22  may be utilized to transfer the vehicle data from mobile unit  14  to network  24 . Relay unit  22  may be a generally stationary geographically dispersed wireless communication transceiver that is located adjacent to a roadway traveled by vehicles, as disclosed in the Tripathi et al. &#39;774 patent application publication. Alternatively, relay unit  22  may be located at the depot of buses, commercial trucks, or the like, that are transporting mobile unit  14 , such that vehicle data is transferred to network  24  when the vehicle returns to its depot. It individual personal automobiles are used to transport mobile data collection unit  14 , the relay unit could be a data modem connected with the personal computer of the automobile&#39;s owner. Other combinations for transferring vehicle data from mobile unit  14  to database system  26 , either directly or via network  24 , will be apparent to the skilled artisan. 
   Database system  26  may be made available to regulatory agencies  54 , such as environmental protection agencies, the Department of Motor Vehicles, police departments, and the like, in order to perform regulatory functions, such as vehicle environmental regulatory compliance verification, also known as “emission inspections.” Access may be provided to database system  26  by the motorists  56  in order to monitor vehicle performance data and/or obtain diagnostic data on the vehicle. Also, access may be provided to network  24  by a commercial establishment  58 , such as a bank, or the like, in order to facilitate transfer of credit to an EZ-pass system or otherwise carry out routine bank transactions from vehicle  16 . Access to database  26  may be provided to various governmental systems  60 , such as the Department of Motor Vehicles, various police agencies, and the like, in order to carry out other regulatory and police functions. 
   Vehicle inspection system  10  is especially useful for low density populations. Low density populations may be insufficient to support permanently installed geographically dispersed wireless communication transceivers located adjacent to roadways traveled by vehicles. Thus, mobile unit  14  may travel to a small town or even a rural area from time to time in order to collect vehicle data in that area. A motorist may be able to monitor the location of vehicle  18  bearing mobile unit  14 , such as over an Internet connection. This may be made possible by providing the mobile unit with a GPS receiver  52 , which can be displayed over the Internet. This may allow the motorist, who is in need of obtaining an emission inspection, or the like, to travel to the mobile unit in order to have its vehicle data transferred to communication system  20 . Also, data may be collected from a vehicle even when parked, such as at home or at work. A small power supply, such as a battery or capacitor, may keep the vehicle unit  12  powered in a sleep mode even when the ignition is off. Upon being poled by mobile wireless communication transceiver  14 , the vehicle unit can wake up to transmit vehicle data. A feedback mechanism may be provided for communication system  20  to establish, or modify, a route to be taken by the vehicle transporting mobile unit  14 . This may allow data to be collected from vehicles that have not yet transmitted data. 
   Thus, it is seen that the present invention provides a truly flexible and efficient technique for transferring vehicle data to a database system for regulatory compliance, such as vehicle environmental regulatory compliance verification as accessed by a regulatory agency or for vehicle performance monitoring or vehicle diagnosis as accessed by the motorist or a monitoring facility. The flexibility is achieved by allowing the vehicle having the vehicle unit to come into the vicinity of a geographically dispersed wireless communication transceiver by the motion of the vehicle, the motion of the geographically dispersed wireless communication transceiver, or both. Moreover, by combination with a more permanently installed geographically dispersed wireless communication transceiver located adjacent to a roadway, an optimal system may be achieved that maximizes communication bandwidth while minimizing cost. Moreover, recurrent communication charges can be kept to a minimum. They may be eliminated altogether between the vehicle unit and the geographically dispersed wireless communication transceivers and at least reduced between the geographically dispersed wireless communication transceivers and the central database system. 
   The present invention requires minimal installed system cost and, therefore, reduces cost of use. For example, the communication system can be established without the usual permits and fees associated with installed systems and in large part without recurrent communication charges associated with using an existing installed communication system. 
   Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the principles of the invention which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.