Patent Grant
11348382
The present invention is directed to vehicle diagnostic systems, and in particular to systems and methods for detecting remote vehicle diagnostic scanning and programming.
Vehicle diagnostic systems employing diagnostic scan devices or tools are used in automotive repair facilities to diagnose and repair electronic computer-based vehicle systems, where vehicles may have differing computer-based systems depending on the configuration and options installed on the vehicle. Vehicle diagnostic scan systems may include or use a diagnostic scan tool device with one or more diagnostic software programs or applications for scanning, diagnosing and/or programing vehicles, such as applications developed by an original equipment automotive manufacturer (“OEM”), or an aftermarket diagnostic company. A repair facility may utilize a local computer device, such as a diagnostic scan tool device, having such diagnostic software applications downloaded to the computer, where the applications may be updated from time-to-time. Alternatively, a repair facility may access an authorized remote diagnostic computer system that includes one or more diagnostic software applications for scanning, diagnosing and/or programing the vehicle via interaction with a local computer system at the repair facility, where the local system may include a diagnostic scan tool device. Such an authorized remote diagnostic computer system may be operated or authorized by, for example, an OEM. In operation, diagnostic software applications are used to initiate the sending of request or programming signals to and receiving of response signals from the electronic system of the vehicle, such as the electronic control units (“ECUs”) of the vehicle for purposes of scanning, diagnosing and/or programming the vehicle's electronic system as needed. The scanning, diagnosing and programming processes take repeated back-and-forth signal communication between the vehicle electronic system and the hardware supporting or using the diagnostic software applications and can take an extended period of time to complete.
A repair facility may be required to obtain access to a wide range of diagnostic software applications in order to service a multitude of vehicles due to the wide range of vehicle make and models available, and varying platforms and system formats used by differing OEMs. One such manner in which repair facilities obtain access to differing diagnostic software applications is via remote diagnostic systems. In a remote diagnostic system a repair facility may access, such as via an Internet connection, a diagnostic scan tool device configured as a remote diagnostic computer device that is not operated by an OEM or authorized by the OEM for use in such manner as an intermediary remote diagnostic system, with the remote diagnostic computer device having thereon diagnostic software applications that may be used remotely for scanning, diagnosing and programing vehicles at the repair facility. Alternatively, the remote diagnostic computer device may in turn access a remote system operated or authorized by an OEM in which the authorized remote diagnostic computer system includes one or more diagnostic software applications for scanning, diagnosing and/or programing the vehicle. In this arrangement, the repair facility thus communicates with the authorized remote computer system via the remote diagnostic system, where the remote diagnostic system thus operates as an intermediary for utilization of the diagnostic software applications for scanning, diagnosing and/or programing a vehicle at the repair facility.
The present invention provides a vehicle diagnostic system and method that detects remote vehicle testing and repair, and in particular detects remote vehicle scanning, diagnosing and/or programming.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method of detecting remote use of a diagnostic scan tool computer device for scanning, diagnosing and/or programing a vehicle at a repair facility includes tracking a time duration for exchange of data signals between a diagnostic scan tool computer device and an electronic system of a vehicle to obtain a tracked time for the operation of exchanging data signals. The method further includes comparing the tracked time to a predetermined expected time threshold for the operation of exchanging data signals between the diagnostic computer device and the electronic system of the vehicle, and providing an alert if the tracked time exceeds the predetermined expected time threshold for the operation indicating that the diagnostic scan tool computer device is being operated remotely from the vehicle.
According to particular embodiments, the diagnostic scan tool is configured to selectively access an authorized diagnostic computer system that is located remotely from the diagnostic scan tool, where the authorized diagnostic computer system includes a computer device on which a monitor application is provided for the method, and includes one or more diagnostic software applications for use in scanning, diagnosing and/or programing a vehicle. The tracking of a time duration may comprise tracking a time duration of multiple exchanges of data signals to obtain a tracked time for the operation of exchanging data signals.
In the case of a diagnostic scan tool being disposed remotely from the vehicle, the diagnostic scan may selectively connect, such as via an Internet connection, with local diagnostic equipment at the repair facility, including for example a vehicle interface tool. The local diagnostic equipment may further include a local computer configured to convert signals to and from an Internet compatible transmission protocol for the exchange of data signals between the diagnostic scan tool and the electronic system of the vehicle. Likewise, a remote interface computer device may be disposed proximate to the diagnostic scan tool to convert signals to and from an Internet compatible transmission protocol for the exchange of data signals between the diagnostic scan tool computer device and the electronic system of the vehicle.
Alternatively and/or additionally, the method may further include detecting with the monitor application an electronic identifier of the diagnostic scan tool and tracking a number of service events on different vehicles conducted by the diagnostic scan tool based on the electronic identifier to obtain a tracked number of service events. The tracked number of service events may then be compared to a predetermined expected threshold of service events and an alert provided when the tracked number of service events exceeds the predetermined expected threshold of service events indicating that the diagnostic scan tool is being operated remotely from the vehicles.
In particular embodiments the electronic identifier of the diagnostic scan tool computer device is an IP address of the diagnostic scan tool. In addition, the tracking of service events on different vehicles conducted by the diagnostic scan tool may be tracked over a preset time period and compared to an expected threshold of service events is based on the same time period.
The vehicle diagnostic system and method of the present invention enables the detection of whether a remote diagnostic system is being used to scan, diagnose and program vehicles. This is beneficial to an OEM or authorized diagnostic software application suppler in instances in which a diagnostic scan tool device is being used in such a manner without authorization, such as to circumvent licensing agreements or intended uses of such equipment. Including, for example, agreements that require the diagnostic scan tool device to be used in a repair facility local to the vehicles on which the system is being used. These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of this invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings.
The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein the numbered elements in the following written description correspond to like-numbered elements in the figures.
With reference to
As also understood from
Likewise, in addition to diagnostic scan tool device 67, remote diagnostic system 65 also includes one or more hardware devices and/or software applications for enabling Internet communication with local diagnostic equipment 31, such as via a remote interface computer device 67a configured to convert between different communication protocols. This includes for example with respect to the illustrated embodiment, converting received TCP/IP or UDP protocol signals from local computer 30 to a protocol for use by the diagnostic scan tool device 67, as well as converting signals from the diagnostic scan tool device 67 to a protocol for transmission of signals over the Internet connection 70a. In the illustrated embodiment remote interface computer device 67a is located proximate to scan tool device 67 and is operably connected with scan tool device 67, such as via a USB, Ethernet or WiFi connection, LAN network, or the like As understood from
Remote diagnostic system 65 may be configured to remotely scan, diagnose and program vehicle electronic systems 23 either by way of diagnostic scan tool device 67 further interfacing with an authorized remote diagnostic computer system 80 that supports the diagnostic applications, or by having diagnostic applications downloaded directly on the diagnostic scan tool device 67.
In the case of the remote diagnostic system 65 interfacing with an authorized remote diagnostic computer system 80, such as may be operated or authorized by an OEM, the communication occurs as shown in the illustrated embodiment over another Internet connection 70b. Authorized remote diagnostic computer system 80 includes one or more computer devices, such as a server or other computer device comprising an authorized remote diagnostic computer 81, supporting one or more diagnostic software applications. In the illustrated embodiment authorized remote diagnostic computer system 80 is shown to include one or more diagnostic software applications 82a, where each diagnostic software application 82a may be used, for example, with different models of vehicles and/or vehicles having different options.
It should be appreciated that repair facility 25, remote diagnostic system 65 and authorized remote diagnostic computer system 80 are in physically separate locations from each other, where they may be separated by great distances, such as each being separated by many miles or even in separate states, with communication occurring there between, for example, via electronic information exchange, such as via the Internet. Accordingly, in accordance with the present invention and in order for the operator of authorized remote diagnostic computer system 80 to detect and determine whether the computer system 80 is communicating with a vehicle 22 via a diagnostic scan tool located directly at repair facility 25 or is communicating with a vehicle 22 through or with an intermediary remote diagnostic system 65, authorized remote diagnostic computer system 80 additionally includes functionality to systematically check the scanning, diagnosing and/or programming processes to enable such detection. This is because the diagnostic scan tool may not be authorized for use to as a remote diagnostic scan tool, such as shown at 67 in
Monitor application 84a may include one or more operations for detecting if diagnostic software applications 82a are interfacing with an intermediary remote diagnostic system 65. For example, in one embodiment monitor application 84a performs detection on a time basis, where monitor application 84a tracks the time durations for one or more information data requests and response exchanges and performance of operations based on the signal exchanges between the vehicle electronic system 23 of vehicle 22 and a diagnostic scan tool such as remote diagnostic scan tool device 67, such as controlled via diagnostic software applications 82a at authorized computer system 80. For example, remote diagnostic scan tool device 67 may be configured as an OEM scan tool that interfaces with OEM diagnostic software application 82a for scanning and reprogramming of one or more ECUs of vehicle 22. In operation, signals are thus exchanged between the diagnostic scan tool device 67 and the vehicle electronic system 23 via the vehicle interface tool 28. Vehicle interface tool 28 converts signals to and from the particular protocol of the vehicle electronic system 23 of the vehicle 22 and the transmission of signals over the Internet may include additional conversion from the vehicle interface tool 28 protocol to and from an Internet compatible transmission format, such as TCP/IP protocol or UDP protocol, such as noted above by and between the local computer 30 and the remote interface computer device 67a.
Accordingly, monitor application 84a is configured to track the time between exchanges of information signals, such as to and from the remote diagnostic scan device 67, as controlled by authorized computer system 80, and the local diagnostic equipment 31 and vehicle 22, which in turn will involve communication over Internet connection 70a. That is, there will be an expected, normal or standard time duration between request signals and response signals when a diagnostic scan tool is being used with a vehicle interface tool 28 within a repair facility proximate a vehicle for scanning, diagnosing and/or programming such a vehicle that is at the repair facility. This includes, for example, a request signal initiated by the authorized remote diagnostic computer system 80 running a diagnostic software application 82a through such a diagnostic scan tool located within a repair facility and connected to a vehicle through a vehicle interface tool 28, and a response signal from the vehicle through the interface device to the diagnostic scan tool located at the repair facility adjacent the vehicle.
In contrast, when an intermediary remote diagnostic system 65 is being used to remotely interface with a vehicle 22 via an internet connection 70a, additional time will occur from when a request signal is initiated via the authorized diagnostic computer system 80 running a diagnostic software application 82a controlling the remote diagnostic scan device 67 and a response is returned from the vehicle 22, such as to the remote diagnostic scan device 67 or to the authorized diagnostic computer system 80. This additional time is a result of the use of the remote diagnostic system 65 and the additional internet bridge established there between with the vehicle 22. This includes, for example, additional time resulting from the conversion of signals to and from Internet compatible protocols, such as for the transmission of signals from the remote diagnostic system 65 to the local diagnostic equipment 31 and vice versa.
Accordingly, authorized remote diagnostic computer system 80 and/or monitor application 84a includes values for expected time durations for exchanges of data signals between a vehicle electronic system 23 and a diagnostic scan tool used at a repair facility with a vehicle interface tool 28. The values may include data for discrete signal exchange operations and/or a series of aggregated signal exchanges, as well as for numerous different makes, models and scanning, diagnosing and/or programming operations. Upon detection of a signal exchange that exceeds a predetermined expected time duration, monitor application 84a is able to raise an alert, such as on authorized remote diagnostic computer system 80 whereby the operator or OEM determines that the data exchange with the diagnostic scan device 67 is an intermediary remote diagnostic system 65 that is being operated remotely from a vehicle 22 at a repair facility 25 and does not represent a diagnostic scan device disposed directly at the repair facility 25. The operator may then determine based on a computer identification of the remote diagnostic computer device 67 whether it is being operated in accordance with a license agreement, stop operation to the remote diagnostic computer device 67 and/or assess penalties to the owner or operator of the remote diagnostic computer device 67.
An exemplary embodiment of the use and operation of monitor application 84a on a time detection basis is illustrated in
Alternatively and/or additionally to operation of monitor application 84a on a time detection basis, monitor application 84a may also detect an electronic identifier of a remote diagnostic scan device 67 and track a frequency of use of the remote diagnostic scan device 67 for detecting if diagnostic software applications 82a are interfacing with an intermediary remote diagnostic system 65. For example, monitor application 84a may track Internet Protocol (“IP”) addresses for computer devices accessing the authorized remote diagnostic computer 81, which would include tracking access by intermediary remote diagnostic computer devices 67. In addition to tracking the IP address identifier, monitor application 84a additionally tracks the frequency of such a remote diagnostic computer devices 67 accessing the diagnostic software applications 82a. It should be appreciated, for example, that there will be a range of normal service procedures on vehicles at a given repair facility 25 for which diagnostic software applications 82a are accessed for scanning, diagnosing and/or programming of the vehicles. In contrast, a remote diagnostic system 65 may be used by an operator to service numerous repair facilities and thus be used with a high number of vehicles beyond what would otherwise be expected, for example over a given time period such as a day, week or month. Accordingly, normal usage access thresholds may be set by the operator of the authorized remote diagnostic computer system 80, whereby an alert may be provided upon when the accessing from a given IP address exceeds that access threshold by a remote diagnostic computer device 67 whereby the operator or OEM determines that the data exchange with the remote diagnostic computer device 67 is an intermediary remote diagnostic system 65 that is being operated remotely from a vehicle 22 at a repair facility 25 and does not represent a diagnostic scan tool disposed directly at the repair facility 25. The operator may then stop operation to the remote diagnostic computer device 67 and/or assess penalties to the owner or operator of the remote diagnostic computer device 67.
An exemplary embodiment of the use and operation of monitor application 84a on an electronic identifier and frequency basis is illustrated in
It should be appreciated that alternative electronic identifiers may be employed including, for example, a subnet mask number, a website IP address, or the like. Still further, a general or specific physical location may be determined based on such an electronic identifier, with the physical location being used to assess whether the data exchange with the remote diagnostic computer device 67 is an intermediary remote diagnostic system 65 that is being operated remotely from a vehicle 22 at a repair facility 25 and does not represent a diagnostic scan tool disposed directly at the repair facility 25.
Monitor application 84a may be computer code integrated with a diagnostic software applications 82a, or may be computer code that is separate from and runs in parallel with the diagnostic software application 82a, or may be computer code through which the diagnostic software application 82a is run, where monitor application 84a may comprise one or more programs that cooperatively operate together. Still further monitor application 84a may be integrated with separate hardware equipment from that supporting diagnostic software application 82a.
As noted above, a diagnostic scan tool device 67 may alternatively and/or additionally include diagnostic applications thereon, such as one or more diagnostic applications 82b as shown in
For example, monitor application 84b may track and record time data for operations as discussed above with regard to monitor application 84a, including data for discrete signal exchange operations and/or a series of aggregated signal exchanges between the vehicle electronic system 23 and the scan tool device 67 for scanning, diagnosing and/or programming operations undertaken using the scan tool device 67. The authorized remote diagnostic computer 81 may then evaluate these operations once they have been downloaded to determine if one or more of the signal exchanges exceed a predetermined expected time duration, whereby the operator or OEM determines that the scan tool device 67 is being used as an intermediary remote diagnostic system 65 that is being operated remotely from a vehicle 22 at a repair facility 25 and does not represent a diagnostic scan tool disposed directly at the repair facility 25.
It should be appreciated that vehicle diagnostic arrangement 20 may be configured to be selectively operable in one of a plurality of different modes, whereby a technician may use the vehicle interface tool 28 for vehicle maintenance, diagnosis, programming and repair as needed. Moreover, in the illustrated embodiment vehicle interface tool 28 and local computer 30 are shown as separate components making up a local computer system 31, that is with local computer 30 being proximate at the repair facility 25 such that it is proximate the vehicle 22. In an alternative arrangement, vehicle interface tool 28 and local computer 30 may be integrated in a single computer device 76 (
Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the principles of the present 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.
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