Granted Patent B2

US 7,899,610 · App. 11/860,594 · Granted Mar 1, 2011

Abstract

Claims (58)

1. A system for modifying the operation of an engine, comprising:

an engine control unit coupled to the engine;

a geolocation device;

a command module coupled to the engine control unit; and

one or more accelerometers coupled to the command module;

wherein the command module is operable to modify operating characteristics of the engine using the engine control unit based upon a location of the vehicle determined using the geolocation device;

wherein the command module reconfigures the function of the engine control unit based upon data from the one or more accelerometers.

2. A system for modifying the operation of an engine, comprising:

an engine control unit coupled to the engine;

a geolocation device;

a command module coupled to the engine control unit; and

wherein the command module is operable to modify operating characteristics of the engine using the engine control unit based upon a location of the vehicle determined using the geolocation device;

wherein the function of the engine control unit is adapted to be reconfigured by a tuning chip that replaces an existing erasable programmable, read-only memory (EPROM) chip.

3. A method for controlling the operation of an engine, comprising:

determining a location of a vehicle;

receiving an engine operation command at a command module in a the vehicle, the engine operation command based on the determined location of the vehicle, and

reconfiguring an engine control device of the vehicle in response to the engine operation command;

wherein the engine control device is adapted to be reconfigured by a tuning chip that replaces an existing erasable programmable, read-only memory (EPROM) chip.

4. A method for controlling the operation of an engine, comprising:

receiving, at a command module, vehicle operation data from a vehicle monitoring system in a vehicle, the vehicle monitoring system including two or more accelerometers; and

reconfiguring an engine control device in response to the vehicle operation data, the vehicle operation data including data from one or more accelerometers.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the engine operation is modified to maximize fuel economy.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

reconfiguring a function of the engine control device based upon data from an on-board diagnostic system for the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the command module reconfigures the function of the engine control device via the on-board diagnostic system.

8. A system for modifying the operation of an engine, comprising:

an engine control unit coupled to the engine;

a geolocation device;

a command module coupled to the engine control unit; and

wherein the command module is operable to modify operating characteristics of the engine using the engine control unit based upon a location of the vehicle determined using the geolocation device.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the engine control unit further comprises software; and wherein the command module reconfigures the function of the engine control unit by altering the software.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the engine control unit further comprises firmware; and wherein the command module reconfigures the function of the engine control unit by altering the firmware.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the command module modifies the engine operation based upon environmental conditions.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the command module modifies the engine operation based upon topographic conditions.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the command module modifies the engine operation based upon traffic conditions.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the engine operation is modified to maximize fuel economy.

15. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a remote base station in communication with the command module; and

wherein the command module is adapted to receive engine configuration commands transmitted from the remote base station.

16. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

an on-board diagnostic system for the engine coupled to the command module.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the command module receives vehicle performance data from the on-board diagnostic system; and

wherein the command module reconfigures the function of the engine control unit based upon data from the on-board diagnostic system.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the command module reconfigures the function of the engine control unit via the on-board diagnostic system or other conduit to an engine control module.

19. A method for controlling the operation of an engine, comprising:

determining a location of a vehicle;

receiving an engine operation command at a command module in a the vehicle, the engine operation command based on the determined location of the vehicle; and

reconfiguring an engine control device of the vehicle in response to the engine operation command.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the command module receives the engine operation command via a wireless link to a base station.

21. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

reconfiguring a function of the engine control device by altering software in the engine control device.

22. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

reconfiguring a function of the engine control device by altering firmware in the engine control device.

23. The method of claim 19 , wherein the reconfiguring modifies an engine operation based upon environmental conditions.

24. The method of claim 19 , wherein the reconfiguring modifies an engine operation based upon topographic conditions.

25. The method of claim 19 , wherein the reconfiguring modifies an engine operation based upon traffic conditions.

26. The method of claim 19 , wherein the command module is coupled to the engine control device via an on-board diagnostic system for the vehicle.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the command module reconfigures a function of the engine control device via the on-board diagnostic system.

Assignments (10)