Module for monitoring vehicle operation through onboard diagnostic port

Abstract

An onboard diagnostic memory module is configured to plug into the OBD II port and has a real-time clock and power supply, a microprocessor powered from a standard OBD II port, microprocessor operating firmware, and an attached memory (7 MB). In operation, the onboard diagnostic memory module is preprogrammed with data collection parameters through microprocessor firmware by connection to a PC having programming software for the module firmware. Thereafter, the onboard diagnostic memory module is moved into pin connection with the OBD II port of a vehicle. Data is recorded on a “trip” basis, preferably using starting of the engine to define the beginning of the trip and stopping of the engine to define the end of the trip. Intelligent interrogation occurs by interpretive software from an interrogating PC to retrieve a trip-based and organized data set including hard and extreme acceleration and deceleration, velocity (in discrete bands), distance traveled, as well as the required SAE-mandated operating parameters.

1 . An onboard diagnostic memory module for an onboard diagnostic port of a vehicle comprising: 
 a connection to an onboard diagnostic port output of a vehicle;    a memory for receiving and emitting recorded data from the connection to the onboard diagnostic port output of the vehicle;    a clock and clock power supply for time stamping the recorded data in the memory for receiving and emitting recorded data;    a microprocessor responsive to operational firmware for manipulating data to and from the memory through the connection to the onboard diagnostic port output of the vehicle;    memory operationally connected to the microprocessor for receiving the operational firmware;    the operational firmware including; 
 data receiving and recording parameters for the memory during the connection to the onboard diagnostic port output of the vehicle; and,  
 discharge parameters for discharging the recorded data responsive to intelligent interrogation of a PC having a connection to the onboard diagnostic memory module.  
   
   
   
       2 . The onboard diagnostic memory module of  claim 1  in wherein the connection to the onboard diagnostic port output of the vehicle includes: 
 a plugged connection to the onboard diagnostic port of the vehicle.    
   
   
       3 . The onboard diagnostic memory module of  claim 1  in wherein the connection to the onboard diagnostic port output of the vehicle includes: 
 a wired connection to the onboard diagnostic port of the vehicle.    
   
   
       4 - 10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . The process of recording and analyzing data from the combination of an onboard diagnostic memory module, a vehicle having an onboard diagnostic port, and a PC having intelligent programming for the onboard diagnostic memory module comprising: 
 providing a vehicle having an onboard diagnostic port for emitting data;    providing an onboard diagnostic memory module including: 
 a connection to an onboard diagnostic port output of a vehicle;  
 a memory for receiving and emitting recorded data from the connection to the onboard diagnostic port output of the vehicle;  
 a clock and clock power supply for time correlation to the recorded data in the memory for receiving and emitting recorded data;  
 a microprocessor responsive to operational firmware for manipulating data to and from the memory through the connection to the onboard diagnostic port output of the vehicle;  
 memory operationally connected to the microprocessor for receiving the operational firmware;  
 the operational firmware including; 
 data receiving and recording parameters for the memory during the connection to the onboard diagnostic port output of the vehicle; and,  
 discharge parameters for discharging the recorded data responsive to intelligent interrogation of a PC having a connection to the onboard diagnostic memory module;  
 
   providing a PC having; 
 interrogation parameters for the onboard diagnostic memory module; and,  
 emitting data receiving and recording parameters to the onboard diagnostic port memory module;  
   connecting the onboard diagnostic memory module to the PC to receive the data receiving and recording parameters;    sending from the PC to the onboard diagnostic memory module the data receiving and recording parameters;    connecting the onboard diagnostic memory module to the vehicle at the onboard diagnostic port;    recording data during operation of the vehicle at the onboard diagnostic port;    connecting the onboard diagnostic memory module to the PC; and,    interrogating the onboard diagnostic memory module recover the recorded data sending at least some of the recorded data over the Internet for diagnosis.    
   
   
       12 . The process of recording and analyzing data from the combination of an onboard diagnostic memory module, a vehicle having an onboard diagnostic port, and a PC having intelligent programming for the onboard diagnostic memory module comprising: 
 providing a vehicle having an onboard diagnostic port for emitting data;    providing an onboard diagnostic memory module including: 
 a connection to an onboard diagnostic port output of a vehicle;  
 a memory for receiving and emitting recorded data from the connection to the onboard diagnostic port output of the vehicle;  
 a clock and clock power supply for time correlation to the recorded data in the memory for receiving and emitting recorded data;  
 a microprocessor responsive to operational firmware for manipulating data to and from the memory through the connection to the onboard diagnostic port output of the vehicle;  
 memory operationally connected to the microprocessor for receiving the operational firmware;  
 the operational firmware including; 
 data receiving and recording parameters for the memory during the connection to the onboard diagnostic port output of the vehicle; and,  
 discharge parameters for discharging the recorded data responsive to intelligent interrogation of a PC having a connection to the onboard diagnostic memory module;  
 
   providing a PC having; 
 interrogation parameters for the onboard diagnostic memory module; and,  
 emitting data receiving and recording parameters to the onboard diagnostic port memory module;  
   connecting the onboard diagnostic memory module to the PC to receive the data receiving and recording parameters;    sending from the PC to the onboard diagnostic memory module the data receiving and recording parameters;    connecting the onboard diagnostic memory module to the vehicle at the onboard diagnostic port;    recording data during operation of the vehicle at the onboard diagnostic port;    connecting the onboard diagnostic memory module to the PC; and,    interrogating the onboard diagnostic memory module recover the recorded data recording speed data; and,    time stamping the recorded speed data with time from the clock.    
   
   
       13 . The process of recording data from the onboard diagnostic port of an operating vehicle according to  claim 12  and wherein: 
 downloading the onboard diagnostic port of the vehicle to a PC; and,    plotting the speed data versus time on a PC.    
   
   
       14 . The process of recording data from the onboard diagnostic port of an operating vehicle according to  claim 13  and wherein the step of plotting the speed data versus time on a PC includes: 
 displaying a graph of speed versus time from the PC.    
   
   
       15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . The process of recording and analyzing data from the combination of an onboard diagnostic memory module, a vehicle having an onboard diagnostic port, and a PC having intelligent programming for the onboard diagnostic memory module comprising: 
 providing a vehicle having an onboard diagnostic port for emitting data;    providing an onboard diagnostic memory module including: 
 a connection to an onboard diagnostic port output of a vehicle;  
 a memory for receiving and emitting recorded data from the connection to the onboard diagnostic port output of the vehicle;  
 a clock and clock power supply for time correlation to the recorded data in the memory for receiving and emitting recorded data;  
 a microprocessor responsive to operational firmware for manipulating data to and from the memory through the connection to the onboard diagnostic port output of the vehicle;  
 memory operationally connected to the microprocessor for receiving the operational firmware;  
 the operational firmware including; 
 data receiving and recording parameters for the memory during the connection to the onboard diagnostic port output of the vehicle; and,  
 discharge parameters for discharging the recorded data responsive to intelligent interrogation of a PC having a connection to the onboard diagnostic memory module;  
 
   providing a PC having; 
 interrogation parameters for the onboard diagnostic memory module; and,  
 emitting data receiving and recording parameters to the onboard diagnostic port memory module;  
   connecting the onboard diagnostic memory module to the PC to receive the data receiving and recording parameters;    sending from the PC to the onboard diagnostic memory module the data receiving and recording parameters;    connecting the onboard diagnostic memory module to the vehicle at the onboard diagnostic port;    recording data during operation of the vehicle at the onboard diagnostic port;    connecting the onboard diagnostic memory module to the PC; and,    interrogating the onboard diagnostic memory module recover the recorded data sending of at least some of the recorded data over the Internet for diagnosis includes:    downloading the onboard diagnostic port of the vehicle to a PC; and,    sending the data to the Internet from a PC.    
   
   
       17 . The process of recording data from the onboard diagnostic port of an operating vehicle according to  claim 11  including the step of: 
 permanent attachment of the onboard diagnostic memory module to the vehicle.    
   
   
       18 . The process of recording data from the onboard diagnostic port of an operating vehicle according to  claim 11  including the step of: 
 permanent attachment of the onboard diagnostic memory module to the onboard diagnostic port of the vehicle.    
   
   
       19 . The process of recording data from the onboard diagnostic port of an operating vehicle according to  claim 11  and wherein designating operational parameters for the recordation of recorded data in the memory of the onboard diagnostic port memory module includes the steps of: 
 connecting the onboard diagnostic port memory module to a PC;    altering the operational firmware at the PC to impart data collection parameters to the onboard diagnostic port memory module; and,    connecting the onboard diagnostic port memory module to the operating vehicle.    
   
   
       20 . A process for recording to an onboard diagnostic port memory module for an onboard diagnostic port of a vehicle, the process comprising: 
 providing an onboard diagnostic port memory module having    a connection to an onboard diagnostic port output of a vehicle;    a memory for receiving and emitting recorded data from the connection to the onboard diagnostic port output of the vehicle;    a clock and clock power supply for time stamping the recorded data in the memory for receiving and emitting recorded data;    a microprocessor responsive to operational firmware for manipulating data to and from the memory through the connection to the onboard diagnostic port output of the vehicle;    memory operationally connected to the microprocessor for receiving the operational firmware;    the operational firmware including; 
 data receiving and recording parameters for the memory during the connection to the onboard diagnostic port output of the vehicle; and,  
 discharge parameters for discharging the recorded data responsive to intelligent interrogation of a PC having a connection to the onboard diagnostic port memory module;  
   monitoring the engine for engine operation;    recording data for a trip upon starting of engine operation;    ceasing recording of data for a trip upon ceasing the engine operation;    maintaining vehicle operational parameters between the starting of the engine and the stopping of the engine as a block of data indicating a trip.