Remote diagnostic system for vehicles
Diagnosing vehicle anomalies efficiently is dependent upon the expertise of the repair technician, but also the availability of resources. As vehicles have become increasingly computerized, repair technicians have become increasingly specialized in a smaller number of vehicle models. Dealerships and large repair shops have an advantage in that they can more easily afford to obtain specialized electronic tools. However, repair technicians in smaller repair shops often are more skilled, but are unable to afford access to advanced electronic tools and software. A system for using remotely located resources to improve the diagnosis and resolution of vehicle anomalies, including the use of expert technicians and vehicle-specific databases, is disclosed.
1. A method for remotely reprogramming an automobile onboard computer involving
(i) an automobile disposed at a repair shop, the automobile including the automobile onboard computer,
(ii) a first computing device disposed at the repair shop,
(iii) a J2534-compliant reprogramming tool that is
(A) connected via a first cable terminating in an OBD-II connector to the automobile onboard computer, and
(B) connected via a second cable terminating in a USB connector to the first computing device, and
(iv) a second computing device disposed at a location remote from the repair shop, the second computing device including diagnostic software loaded thereon providing functionality to reprogram a vehicle onboard computer via a USB cable connection to a J2534-compliant pass-thru device which is itself connected to a vehicle onboard computer;
the method comprising:
(a) receiving, at the second computing device from an automobile diagnostic technician via one or more input devices associated with the second computing device, input corresponding to interaction with a user interface of the diagnostic software, and
(b) remotely reprogramming, by the diagnostic software based on the received input, the automobile onboard computer by communicating data back and forth between the diagnostic software and the vehicle onboard computer, the remote reprogramming comprising
(I) mimicking, at the second computing device, a USB cable connection to the J2534-compliant reprogramming tool by
(A) communicating, by link software loaded on the first computing device to link software loaded on the second computing device, data received at a USB port of the first computing device from the J2534-compliant reprograming tool over the second cable,
(B) communicating, by the link software loaded on the second computing device to the diagnostic software, data received from the link software loaded on the first computing device,
(C) communicating, by the link software loaded on the second computing device to the link software loaded on the first computing device, data received from the diagnostic software,
(D) communicating, by the link software loaded on the first device to the J2534-compliant reprogramming tool via the USB port over the second cable, data received from the link software loaded on the second computing device,
(II) wherein such mimicking allows the diagnostic software to function as if it was directly connected via a USB cable to the J2534-compliant reprogramming tool even though it is not.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first computing device is a laptop.
3. A method for remotely reprogramming an automobile onboard computer involving
(i) an automobile disposed at a repair shop, the automobile including the automobile onboard computer,
(ii) a first computing device disposed at the repair shop,
(iii) a reprogramming tool that is
(A) connected via a first cable to the automobile onboard computer, and
(B) connected via a second cable to the first computing device, and
(iv) a second computing device disposed at a location remote from the repair shop, the second computing device including diagnostic software loaded thereon providing functionality to reprogram a vehicle onboard computer via a cable connection to a pass-thru device which is itself connected to a vehicle onboard computer;
the method comprising:
(a) receiving, at the second computing device from an automobile diagnostic technician via one or more input devices associated with the second computing device, input corresponding to interaction with a user interface of the diagnostic software, and
(b) remotely reprogramming, by the diagnostic software based on the received input, the automobile onboard computer by communicating data back and forth between the diagnostic software and the automobile onboard computer, the remote reprogramming comprising
(I) mimicking, at the second computing device, a cable connection to the reprogramming tool by
(A) communicating, by link software loaded on the first computing device to link software loaded on the second computing device, data received at a port of the first computing device from the reprograming tool over the second cable,
(B) communicating, by the link software loaded on the second computing device to the diagnostic software, data received from the link software loaded on the first computing device,
(C) communicating, by the link software loaded on the second computing device to the link software loaded on the first computing device, data received from the diagnostic software,
(D) communicating, by the link software loaded on the first device to the reprogramming tool via the port over the second cable, data received from the link software loaded on the second computing device,
(II) wherein such mimicking allows the diagnostic software to function as if it was directly connected via a cable to the reprogramming tool even though it is not.
4. A method for remotely reprogramming an automobile onboard computer involving
(i) an automobile disposed at a repair shop, the automobile including the automobile onboard computer,
(ii) a first electronic device disposed at the repair shop that is connected via a first USB cable to the automobile onboard computer, and
(iii) a second electronic device disposed at a location remote from the repair shop, the second electronic device including diagnostic software loaded thereon providing functionality to reprogram a vehicle onboard computer via a USB cable connection;
the method comprising:
(a) mimicking, at the second electronic device, a USB cable connection to the automobile onboard computer such that it appears to the diagnostic software that the second electronic device is connected via a USB cable to the automobile onboard computer so as to allow the diagnostic software to function as if it was connected via a USB cable to the automobile onboard computer,
(b) receiving, at the second electronic device from an automobile diagnostic technician via one or more input devices associated with the second electronic device, input corresponding to interaction with a user interface of the diagnostic software, and
(c) remotely reprogramming, by the diagnostic software based on the received input, the automobile onboard computer by communicating data back and forth between the diagnostic software and the automobile onboard computer over
(1) a communications link established between the first and second electronic devices, and
(2) the first USB cable.