Vehicle Information Collection System and Module Therefor

Abstract

A method for managing vehicle check in at an automotive service center comprising the steps of connecting a device to the diagnostic port of an unknown vehicle and, without user input to the device, automatically downloading vehicle identification data and odometer data from the vehicle, transferring the vehicle identification data and odometer data from the device to work station at the service center, wherein the work station include a database, programmatically populating the vehicle identification data and odometer data into the database, the work station retrieving information based on one or both of the vehicle identification data and the odometer; and displaying the retrieved data on one or both of a computer and a paper printout.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for managing vehicle check in at an automotive service center comprising the steps of:
 connecting a device to the diagnostic port of an unknown vehicle and, without user input to the device, automatically downloading vehicle identification data and odometer data from the vehicle;   transferring the vehicle identification data and odometer data from the device to work station at the service center, wherein the work station include a database;   programmatically populating the vehicle identification data and odometer data into the database;   the work station retrieving information based on one or both of the vehicle identification data and the odometer; and   displaying the retrieved data on one or both of a computer and a paper printout.   
     
     
         2 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the retrieved information contains dealer specific pricing for marketing or maintenance items. 
     
     
         3 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein retrieving information further comprises:
 the work station obtaining data representing one, some or all of warranty information, recommended maintenance information and service contract, or marketing information for the vehicle from a remote computer.   
     
     
         4 . A method as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein retrieving information further comprises:
 communicating between the work station and the system over the World Wide Web.   
     
     
         5 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 updating the service records for the vehicle.   
     
     
         6 . A method for managing vehicle check in at an automotive service center comprising the steps of:
 connecting a device to the diagnostic port of an unknown vehicle;   automatically downloading vehicle identification data and odometer data;   transferring the vehicle identification data and the odometer data from the device to a programmed computer at the service center; and   programmatically entering one or both of the vehicle identification information and the odometer into the service center business software on said programmed computer.   
     
     
         7 . A method for managing vehicle check in at an automotive service center for one or more vehicles having a diagnostic port, vehicle identification data and odometer data, the method comprising:
 connecting a device to the diagnostic port of a vehicle;   automatically, and without user input, determining a protocol to retrieve the vehicle odometer information;   downloading the vehicle identification data and the odometer data to the device;   transferring the vehicle identification data and the odometer data to a computer for processing.   
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the computer includes service center software, the method further comprising:
 programmatically populating the vehicle identification data and the odometer data into appropriate fields in the service center software.   
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 the service center computer retrieving vehicle-specific information based on the vehicle identification data and the odometer data from one or both of a local database or a remote computer;   
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 outputting the data in human readable format.   
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 outputting the retrieved vehicle-specific information in human readable format.   
     
     
         12 . A system for managing a fleet of automotive vehicles, wherein on or more of the vehicles include a diagnostic port connected to an OEM computer, the system comprising:
 a programmed control circuit including means for electrically and automatically acquiring information from the OEM computer of a vehicle, wherein the information is selected from the group consisting of an odometer report, a fuel level report and a combination thereof, and wherein the information acquiring means includes a database that includes a plurality of predetermined protocols and an information collection means for electrically and automatically identifying a protocol from the predetermined protocols that handshakes with a protocol specific to the vehicle such that the information collector can automatically obtain the information without manual input.   
     
     
         13 . The system as defined in  claim 12  further comprising:
 a GPS receiver having a location output signal connected as an input signal to said control circuit, said control circuit programmed to transmit said location output signal a radio transmitter. 
 
     
     
         14 . The system as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said control circuit comprises an RFID receiver which provides an output signal to said control circuit indicative of the absence or presence of a preset RFID tag, said control circuit selectively activates said radio transmitter to transmit a signal to the remote station. 
     
     
         15 . The system as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said control circuit comprises a processor. 
     
     
         16 . An information collection module for acquiring information from a vehicle, the tool comprising: a connector for connecting the tool to a vehicle;
 means for electrically and automatically acquiring without user input information from the vehicle, wherein the information is selected from the group consisting of a an odometer report, a fuel level report and a combination thereof.   
     
     
         17 . The information collection module as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the information acquiring means includes a database having a plurality of predetermined protocols and the information acquiring means further includes means for identifying a protocol from the predetermined protocols that handshakes with a protocol specific to the vehicle such that the information collection module can automatically obtain the information without manual input. 
     
     
         18 . A scan tool for collecting data from a vehicle having an odometer and where the scan tool receives no user input for configuring the scan tool to the unknown vehicle, comprising:
 a connector that interfaces with a vehicle's data link connector;   a signal translator coupled to the connector that communicates with the vehicle in at least one protocol;   a processor that communicates with the vehicle via the signal translator;   a software controlled by the processor that is programmed with an iterative algorithm to automatically determine the odometer without manual input; and   a second processor that communicates with the first processor to process the odometer.