Internet-based emissions test for vehicles

US6928348B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• THE REYNOLDS AND REYNOLDS COMPANY

Inventors

• Bruce D. Lightner · Village of La Jolla, US
• Matthew Banet · Del Mar, US
• Diego Borrego · San Diego, US
• Larkin Hill Lowrey · Village of La Jolla, US
• Chuck Myers · Village of La Jolla, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 8, 2003
• Grant date: Aug 9, 2005
• Expiry date: Jul 8, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G07C5/008
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention provides a method and device for characterizing a vehicle's emissions. These systems feature the steps of generating a data set from the vehicle that includes at least one of the following: diagnostic trouble codes, status of a MIL, and data relating to I/M readiness flags; and then transferring the data set to a wireless appliance that features a microprocessor and a wireless transmitter in electrical contact with the microprocessor. The wireless appliance then transmits a data packet comprising the data set (or a version of the data set) with the wireless transmitter over an airlink to a wireless communication system. Here, ‘a version of the data set’ means a representation (e.g., a binary representation) of data in the data set, or data calculated or related to data in the data set.