U.S. UTILITY Patent Applicati n
`
`111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
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`PATENT NUMBER and
`&a88!TE
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`**r,QNTINLIING DATA VERIF~I) //))
`iod~9/2002
`liTh is application i3 a CIP of 10/
`vvhich is a CIP of 09/753,186 0 I
`--·······
`/2001
`w!·lich is a CIP of 09/137,918 08/2U/199H PAT 6,175,787
`wi·tir.h is a Cl:' ofOS/476,077 06/07/1995 PAT 5,809,437
`{f~1is applicati~n _1 0/1 ~3,~73 U,C~1-~/200?.
`II'- 3 CIP of 10,0t9,06o 02/"h.'/:Zuu:Z
`•i'·v:;icil is a CIP of 0~/76!'i,5Fi'3 011'19/2001
`J v;hi::h claims L .:nefit of 60/269,415 o2i 15/2001
`1 and cl:..irns be;1efit of 60/291,511 05/1l.'/2001
`and cl;:;im::- benefit of 60/30L~,013 07/09/2001
`'JGnd claims ~)cnefit of 60/231,378 09/08/2000
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`; 3'J USC 119 conditions met
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`RESCIND 0
`l :=orcigr. pricrity claimed
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`US DePT OF COMtkiPAT & TM-PTOA36L(RG; 12 9-lil
`
`NOTICE OF ALLOWANCE MAILED
`I
`I
`
`Amount Due
`
`D TERMINAL
`
`DISCLAMER
`
`WARNING: The information disclosed herein may be restricted.
`Unauthorized disclosure may be prohibited by the United States Code Title 35,
`Sections 122, 181 and 368, Possession outside the U.S. Patent & Trademark
`0
`e is restricted to authorized e
`lo ees and contractors onl .
`FILED WITH: D DISK (CRF}
`
`D CD-ROM
`
`(Attached in pocket on right inside flap)
`
`

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`I \\l\\1 \\J\1 1!1~\ 1\i\\ \\\\1\\11\\1\\\1\\\\\\\\1\\\
`10188673
`
`jc996 U.S. PTO
`10/188673
`llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
`07/03/02
`
`CONTENTS
`Date
`Received
`(Incl. C. of M.)
`or
`Date Mailed
`
`INITIALS __ ~
`
`Date
`Received
`(Incl. C. of M.)
`or
`Date Mailed
`
`Application
`
`·. papers.
`.
`\
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`
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`
`Honda Exhibit 1002
`Page 2
`
`

`

`Page 1 of 2
`
`COM~-11SSIONt.R FOR PATC:NT:o
`UNITED STATE:S P.t,TE:NT .liND TRADE:M!>.RK OFFICE:
`WASHINGTON, D.C. 202:31
`www.uspto.gov
`
`CO~FIRMATION NO. 4201
`
`CLASS
`701
`
`GROUP ART UNIT
`3661
`
`ATTORI\leY
`DOCKET NO.
`ATI-296
`
`lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll:llllllllllllllllll
`
`Bib Data Sheet
`
`FILING DATE
`07/03/2002
`
`RULE
`
`SERIAL NUMBER
`10/'188,673
`
`APPLICANTS
`
`DavidS. Breed, Boonton Township, f\!J;
`
`** CONTI NUl NG DATA *************************
`- This application is a Cl P of 1 0/17 4,709 06/19/2002
`which is a CIP of 09/753,186 01/02/2001 PAT 6,484,080
`which is a CIP of 09/137,918 08/20/1998 PAT 6,175,787
`which is a CIP of 08/476,077 06/07/1995 PAT 5,809,437
`This application 10/188,673
`is a CIP of 10/079,065 02/19/2002 PAT 6,662,642
`which is a Cl P of 09/765,558 01/19/2001 ABN
`-which claims benefit of60/269,415 02/16/2001
`and claims benefit of 60/291 ,511 05/16/2001
`and claims benefit of 60/304,013 07/09/2001
`and claims benefit of 60/231 ,378 09/08/2000
`
`**FOREIGN APPLICATIONS********************
`
`IF REQUIRED, FOREIGN FILING LICENSE GRANTED** SMALL ENTITY**
`** 09/11/2002
`
`Dyes 0 no
`Foreign Pnority claimed
`35 USC 119 (a-d) conclitions D yes D no D Met after
`met
`Allowance
`Verified and
`lt\cknowledged
`
`Examiner's Signature
`
`Initials
`
`STATE OR
`
`SHEETS
`
`TOTAL
`
`INDEPENDENT
`
`COUNTRY
`NJ
`
`DRAWING
`38
`
`CLAIMS
`56
`
`CLAIMS
`3
`
`ADDRESS
`22846
`BRIAN ROFFE, ESQ
`11 SUNRISE PLAZA, SUITE 303
`'!j ALLEY STREAM , NY
`11580-6170
`
`TITLE
`TELEMATICS SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE DIAGNOSTICS
`I
`
`II
`
`http:/ /neo: 8000/preexam/J avaProxy (j sp/bi bdata/transform .j sp
`
`I
`
`2/l 0/04
`
`Honda Exhibit 1002
`Page 3
`
`

`

`FILING FEE FEES: Authority has been given in Paper
`No.
`to charge/credit DEPOSIT ACCOUNT
`RECEIVED No.
`for following:
`834
`
`Page 2 oC 2
`
`ID All Fees
`I
`ID 1.16 Fees (Filing)
`I
`D 1.17 Fees (Processing Ext of]
`time)
`[D ~Fee_?~sue ) _____ ~
`[o other
`[CJ Credit
`
`.,
`
`I
`
`http :1/neo: 8000/preexam/J avaProxy/j sp/bibdata/transform.j sp
`
`2/10/04
`
`Honda Exhibit 1002
`Page 4
`
`

`

`DR5
`
`PATENT APPLICATION SERIAL NO. ------------------
`
`U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`FEE RECORD SHEET
`
`07/15/2002 MBIZUNES 00000020 5002&&
`370.00 CH
`01 FC:201
`324.00 CH
`02 FC:203
`
`10188&73
`
`PT0-1556
`(5/87)
`
`·u.s. Government Printing Office: 2001- 481-697/59173
`
`Honda Exhibit 1002
`Page 5
`
`

`

`Reduction Act of 1
`
`rsons are required to
`
`UTILITY
`PATENT APPLICATION
`TRANSMITTAL
`
`PTO/SB/05 (03-01)
`•r use through 10/31/2002. OMB 0651-0032
`Appr
`.Jffice; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`U.S. Patent and Tradert,,
`to a collection of information unless it
`a valid OMB control
`ber.
`
`fW~;: ii ... H:i ..
`
`Attorne Docket No. ATI-296
`David S
`
`First Inventor
`Telematics
`
`· sunder 37 CFR 1.
`
`Mail Label No. EV04 7 22 7 55 OUS
`
`APPLICATION ELEMENTS
`
`Assistant Commissioner for Patents
`ADDRESS TO: Box Patent Application
`Washi
`DC 20231
`
`contents.
`
`Fee Transmittal Form (e.g., PTO/SB/17)
`(Suhmit 011 onginal and a dupfica!r.!forfee processmg)
`Applicant claims small entity status.
`See 37 CFR 1.27.
`[Total Pages
`Specification
`(pmferred arrangement set forth below)
`- Descriptive title of the invention
`- Cross Reference to Related Applications
`- Statement Regarding Fed sponsored R & D
`- Reference to sequence listing, a table,
`or a computer program listing appendix
`- Background of the Invention
`- Brief Summary of the Invention
`- Brief Description of the Drawings (if filed)
`- Detailed Description
`- Claim(s)
`-Abstract of the Disclosure
`4. QJ Drawing(s) (35 U.S. C. 113)
`5. Oath or Declaration
`
`[Total Sheets
`
`[ Total Pages
`
`I~
`
`38
`
`2
`
`a.
`
`b.
`
`(for continuation/divisional with Box 18 completed)
`
`7.
`
`CD-ROM or CD-R in duplicate, large table or
`Computer Program (Appendix)
`8. Nucleotide and/or Amino Acid Sequence Submission
`(if applicable, all necessary)
`
`D Computer Readable Fom1 (CRF)
`a.
`b. Specification Sequence Listing on:
`i. 0
`i i. 0
`c. 0 Statements verifying identity of above copies
`
`CD-ROM or CD-R (2 copies); or
`
`paper
`
`9.
`
`10.0
`
`11.0
`
`12.Q9
`
`13.0
`
`14.Q9
`
`15.0
`
`16.0
`
`17.o
`
`Assignment Papers (cover sheet & document(s))
`
`37 CFR 3.73(b) Statement D Power of
`
`(when there is an assignee)
`
`Attorney
`
`English Translation Document (if applicable)
`Information Disclosure
`[XI Copies of IDS
`Statement (IDS)/PT0-1449
`L:_j Citations
`Preliminary Amendment
`Return Receipt Postcard (MPEP 503)
`(Should be specifically itemized)
`Certified Copy of Priority Document(s)
`(if foreign priority is claimed)
`Nonpublication Request under 35 U.S.C. 122
`(b)(2)(B)(i). Applicant must attach form PTO/SB/35
`or its equivalent
`Other:
`················································
`
`[ZJ Newly executed (original or copy)
`D Copy from a prior application (37 CFR 1.63 (d))
`i. D DELETION OF INVENTOR(S)
`
`Signed statement attached deleting inventor(s)
`named in the prior application, see 37 CFR
`1.63(d)(2) and 1.33(b).
`
`6.0
`
`Application Data Sheet. See 37 CFR 1.76
`
`18. If a COi'JTINUING APPLICATION, check appropriate box, and supply the requisite information below and in a preliminary amendment,
`or in an Application Data Sheet under 37 CFR 1. 76:
`D Continuation D
`Divrsional ~ Continuation-in-part (CIP)
`
`174709
`10
`of prior appticatron No.: _____ /_~----~------
`
`Group Art Unit: ______ _
`Exammer _ ----------------------------- ______
`Pnor application information:
`For CONTINUATION OR DIVISIONAL APPS only: The entire disclosure of the prior application, from which an oath or declaration is supplied under
`Box Sb, is considered a part of the disclosure of the accompanying continuation or divisional application and is hereby incorporated by reference.
`I be relied
`when a portion has been inadverte
`omitted from the submitted
`The incorporation
`
`IJS.J Customer Number or Bar Code Label
`
`or D
`
`Correspondence address below
`
`Name
`
`City
`
`Country
`
`Zip Code
`
`Fax
`
`Brian Roffe
`
`Name (PrinUType)
`
`Signature
`
`Registration No. (Attorney/Agent) 3 5, 3 3 6
`Date 7 I 3 I 2 0 0 2
`Burden Hour Statement: This form is estima1ed to take 0.2 hours to compiete. Time will vary depending upon the needs of U1e individual case. Any comments on
`the amount of time you are required to complete this form should be sent to the Chief Information Officer, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Washington, DC
`20231. DO NOT SEND FEES OR COMPLETED FORMS TO THIS ADDRESS. SEND TO: Assistant Commissioner for Patents, Box Patent Application,
`Washington, DC 20231.
`
`Honda Exhibit 1002
`Page 6
`
`

`

`~-'
`
`~---·
`
`PTO/SB/17 (10-01)
`Approved for use through 10/31/2002. OMB 0651-0032
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no oersons are reouirerl to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control numb~
`Complete if Known
`
`/
`
`TRANSMITTAL
`FEE
`for FY 2002
`
`Patent fees are subject to annual revision.
`
`\,.. TOTAL AMOUNT OF PAYMENT
`
`-1 ($)
`
`734
`
`~·
`Application Number
`
`July 3, 2002
`Filing Date
`First Named Inventor David s. Breed
`Examiner Name
`
`Group Art Unit
`
`Attorney Docket No. ATI-296
`
`~
`
`FEE CALCULATION (continued)
`
`METHOD OF PAYMENT
`
`indicated fees and credit any overpayments to:
`
`1. rn The Commissioner is hereby authorized to charge
`Deposit I 50-0266
`Deposit I Automotive Tech.
`~ Charge Any Additional Fee Required
`Under 37 CFR 1.16 and 1.17
`~ Applicant claims small entity status.
`See 37 CFR 1.27
`2. 0 Payment Enclosed:
`D Credit card 0 Money D
`D
`Order
`FEE CALCULATION
`
`Account
`Number
`
`Account
`Name
`
`Check
`
`I t
`
`I
`1 11
`
`3. ADDITIONAL FEES
`Large
`Small
`Entity
`Entity
`Fee Fee
`Fee
`($) Code
`($)
`
`Fee
`Code
`
`Fee Description
`
`Fee Paid
`
`105 130 205
`
`65 Surcharge - late filing fee or oath
`
`127
`
`50 227
`
`25
`
`Surcharge - late provisional filing fee or
`cover sheet
`
`139 130 139 130 Non-English specification
`
`Other
`
`147 2,520 147 2,520 For filing a request for ex parte reexamination
`112 920* 112 920* Requesting publication of SIR prior to
`Examiner action
`113 1,840* 113 1 ,840* Requesting publication of SIR after
`Examiner action
`Extension for reply within first month
`
`115 110 215
`
`55
`
`1. BASIC FILING FEE
`Large Entity Small Entity
`Fee Fee Fee Fee
`Code ($} Code ($)
`101 740
`
`Fee Description
`
`Fee Paid
`
`201 370 Utility filing fee §
`
`106 330
`
`107 510
`
`108 740
`
`114 160
`
`206 165 Design ti.ling fee
`
`207 255 Plant filing fee
`
`208 370 Reissue filing fee
`
`214
`
`80 Provisional filing fee
`
`116 400 216 200
`
`Extension for reply within second month
`
`117 920 217 460
`
`Extension for reply within third month
`
`118 1,440 218 720
`
`Extension for reply within fourth month
`
`128 1,960 228 980
`
`Extension for reply within fifth month
`
`119 320 219 160
`
`Notice of Appeal
`
`120 320 220 160
`
`Filing a brief in support of an appeal
`
`SUBTOTAL (1) I($) 310
`2. EXTRA CLAIM FEES
`
`Fee from
`t!elo¥J!
`
`121 280 221 140 Request for oral hearing
`138 1,510 138 1,510 Petition to institute a public use proceeding
`
`I
`
`140 110 240
`
`55
`
`Petition to revive- unavoidable
`
`141 1,280 241 640
`
`Petition to revive- unintentional
`
`1--------
`
`142 1,280 242 640
`
`Utility issue fee (or reissue)
`
`Extra Claims
`
`Independent
`
`Multiple Dependent
`
`Fee Paid
`Total Claims ~ -20**=~xl9 I ~324 I 143 460 243 230 Design issue fee
`Claims DJ -3**= [JD xi
`-:1
`I~
`Plant issue fee
`144 620 244 310
`19
`I
`I 122 130 122 130 Petitions to the Commissioner
`123
`50 123
`50
`Processing fee under 3"1 CFR 1.17(q)
`
`Large Entity Small Entity
`Fee Fee Fee Fee
`Code ($) Code ($)
`103
`18
`203
`9
`
`Fee Description
`
`Claims in excess of 20
`
`102
`
`84
`
`202 42
`
`Independent claims in excess of 3
`
`104 280
`
`204 140
`
`Multiple dependent claim, if not paid
`
`109
`
`84
`
`209 42
`
`110
`
`18
`
`210
`
`9
`
`** Reissue independent claims
`over original patent
`
`** Reissue claims in excess of 20
`and over original patent
`
`SUBTOTAL (2)
`
`1($)324
`
`I
`
`126 180 126 180 Submission of Information Disclosure Stmt
`
`581
`
`40 581
`
`40 Recording each patent assignment per
`property (times number of properties)
`
`1!0
`
`146 740 246 370 Filing a submission after final rejection
`(37 CFR § 1.129(a))
`
`149 740 249 370
`
`For each additional invention to be
`examined (37 CFR § 1.129(b))
`
`179 740 279 370 Request for Continued Examination (RCE)
`
`169 900 169 900 Request for expedited examination
`of a design application
`Other fee (specify)_·-----·
`
`SUBTOTAL (3)
`
`1{$)
`
`40
`
`I
`
`**or number previously paid, if greater; For Reissues, see above
`
`*Reduced by Basic Filing Fee Paid
`
`SUBMITTED BY
`
`Name (Printflype)
`
`Signature
`
`Registration No.I
`· {AIIornev/Aoentl
`
`3 5 , 3 3 6
`
`Brian Ro~fe
`ff--r~~ A b
`'l>"
`WARNING: Information on this form may become public. Credit card information should not
`be included on this form. Provide credit card information and authorization on PT0-2038.
`Burden Hour Statement: This form is estimated to take 0.2 hours to complete. Time will vary depending upon the needs of the individual case. Any comments on
`the amount of time you are required to complete this form should be sent to the Chief Information Officer, U.S. Patent and TradBmark Office, Washington, DC
`20231. DO NOT SEND FEES OR COMPLETED FORMS TO THIS ADDRESS. "~· ·~ T<>· Assistant Commissioner for Patents, Washington, DC 20231.
`
`Complete (if applicable)
`Telephone 51 6 295-1394
`
`Date
`
`7/3/2002
`
`Honda Exhibit 1002
`Page 7
`
`

`

`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`Attorney Docket No. A TI-296
`
`Re:
`
`Application of:
`
`Serial No.:
`
`Filed:
`
`For:
`
`DavidS. Breed
`
`Not yet known
`
`July 3, 2002
`
`Telematics System with Vehicle Diagnostics
`
`EXPRESS MAIL CERTIFICATION
`
`Assistant Commissioner for Patents
`Washington, D.C. 20231
`
`Dear Sir:
`
`July 3, 2002
`
`Express Mail Label Number
`
`EV 047 227 550 US
`
`Date of Deposit:
`
`July 3, 2002
`
`I hereby certify that the following attached paper(s) or fees(s)
`
`New U.S. Patent application of 114 pages with 37 pages of drawings; utility patent application
`
`transmittal, fee transmittal (in duplicate), Declaration/Power of Att.omey (2 pages); Information Disclosure
`
`Statement; PT0-1449 (2 pages), 9 References Assignment and Recordation Cover Sheet,
`
`is being deposited with the United States Postal Service "Express Mail Post Office to Addressee"
`
`service under 37 C.F.R. § 1.10 on the date indicated above and is addressed to the "Assistant Commissioner
`
`for Patents, Washington, D.C. 20231"
`
`~r:~~1Jl'
`Brian R:le¥1
`
`Honda Exhibit 1002
`Page 8
`
`

`

`ABSTRACT
`
`Vehicle diagnostic system which diagnoses the state of the vehicle or the state of a component of
`
`the vehicle and generates an output indicative or representative thereof. A communications device transmits
`
`the output of the diagnostic system to a remote location, possibly via a satellite or the Internet. The
`
`5
`
`diagnostic system can include sensors mounted on the vehicle, each providing a measurement related to a
`
`state of the sensor or a measurement related to a state of the mounting location, and a processor coupled to
`
`the sensors and arranged to receive data from the sensors and process the data to generate the output
`
`indicative or representative of the state of the vehicle or its component. The processor may embody a
`
`pattern recognition algorithm trained to generate the output from the data received from the sensors and be
`
`1 0
`
`arranged to control parts of the vehicle based on the output.
`
`114
`
`Honda Exhibit 1002
`Page 9
`
`

`

`TELEMATICS SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE DIAGNOSTICS
`
`Attorney Docket No. ATI-296
`
`5
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
`. /Li '··-··-·This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent a_.pplication Ser. No. 09/753,186 file~
`I
`.
`<~ "''
`~~It,' A/"
`~L
`2, 2001 which in tum is_a_co~tintl~ti()I1-iq-p~rt~fU.S .. p~.C~plic~ti6i~ S~r. No. 09/137,918 file~ A~g.
`20, 1998, now U.S: Pat. No. 6,17'J,787, wh1ch m tum IS a contmuat10n-m-part of U.S. patent applicatiOn
`
`, Scr:No. 08/476,077 filed Jun. 7, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,437.
`
`10
`
`This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/079,065 filed Feb.
`
`19, 2002 which in tum is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/765,558 filed
`
`January 19, 2001, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application
`
`Ser. No. 60/231,378 filed Sep. 8, 2000.
`
`This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application
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`Ser. No. 60/269,415 filed Feb. 16, 2001, U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/291,511 filed
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`May 16, 2001 and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/304,013 filed Jul. 9, 2001 through U.S.
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`patent application Ser. No. 10/079,065 filed Feb. 19, 2002.
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`This ~pplication is a continuation-in-part of U.S. pate.nt application Ser. ro. 10/174,709 file( \.~ln.
`19, 2002h ,,j Cv-'- ;~~L/ ·;v.,cl\h:/~~-.;L r·i~ts~~··ct>\ ")e-ttlt(l\:~<..w~ ~){, f.h h~; '· ( 'i z1-1 s fJ" \. •t ~)1~<· l-·v1 .
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`All of the above-mentioned patents and applications are incorporated by reference herein in their
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`entirety as if they had each been set forth herein in full.
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`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
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`The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for diagnosing components in a vehicle and
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`transmitting data relating to the diagnosis of the components in the vehicle and other information relating to
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`the operating conditions of the vehicle to one or more remote locations distant from the vehicle, i.e., via a
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`telematics link.
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`The present invention also relates to systems and method for diagnosing the state or condition of a
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`vehicle, e.g., whether the vehicle is about to rollover or is experiencing a crash and whether the vehicle has
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`a component which is operating abnormally and could possibly fail resulting in a crash or severe handicap
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`for the operator, and transmitting data relating to the diagnosis of the components in the vehicle and
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`optionally other infom1ation relating to the operating conditions of the vehicle to one or more remote
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`locations, i.e., via a tclematics link.
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`Honda Exhibit 1002
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`The present invention further relates to methods and apparatus for diagnosing components in a
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`vehicle and determining the status of occupants in a vehicle and transmitting data relating to the diagnosis
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`of the components in the vehicle, and optionally other information relating to the operating conditions of the
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`vehicle, and data relating to the occupants to one or more remote facilities such as a repair facility and an
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`emergency response station.
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`It is now generally recognized that it is important to monitor the occupancy of a passenger
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`compartment of a vehicle. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,782 (Breed et al.) describes a vehicle interior
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`I 0 monitoring system that utilizes pattern recognition techniques and wave-receiving sensors to obtain
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`information about the occupancy of the passenger compartment and uses this information to affect the
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`operation of one or more systems in the vehicle, including an occupant restraint device, an entertainment
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`system, a heating and air-conditioning system, a vehicle communication system, a distress notification
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`system, a light filtering system and a security system.
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`Of particular interest, Breed et al. mentions that the presence of a child in a rear facing child seat
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`placed on the right front passenger scat may be detected as this has become an industry-wide concern to
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`prevent deployment of an occupant restraint device in these situations. The U.S. automobile industry is
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`continually searching for an easy, economical solution, which will prevent the deployment of the passenger
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`side airbag if a rear facing child seat is present.
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`Another important aspect disclosed in Breed et al. relates to the operation of the cellular
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`conmmnications system in conjunction with the vehicle interior monitoring system. Vehicles can be
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`provided with a standard cellular phone as well as the Global Positioning System (GPS), an automobile
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`navigation or location system with an optional connection to a manned assistance facility. In the event of
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`an accident, the phone may automatically call 911 for emergency assistance and report the exact position of
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`the vehicle.
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`If the vehicle also has a system as described below for monitoring each seat location, the
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`number and perhaps the condition of the occupants could also be reported. In that way, the emergency
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`service (EMS) would know what equipment and how many ambulances to send to the accident site.
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`Moreover, a communication channel can be opened between
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`the vehicle and a monitoring
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`facility/emergency response facility or personnel to detennine how badly people are injured, the number of
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`occupants in the vehicle, and to enable directions to be provided to the occupant(s) of the vehicle to assist in
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`any necessary first aid prior to arrival of the emergency assistance personnel.
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`Communications between a vehicle and a remote assistance facility are also imp01tant for the
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`purpose of diagnosing problems with the vehicle and forecasting problems with the vehicle, called
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`prognostics. Motor vehicles contain complex mechanical systems that are monitored and regulated by
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`computer systems such as electronic control units (ECUs) and the like. Such ECUs monitor various
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`components of the vehicle
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`including engine perfommnce, carburation, speed/acceleration control,
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`transmission, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), braking systems, etc. However, vehicles perfonn such
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`monitoring typically only for the vehicle driver and without communication of any impending results,
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`problems and/or vehicle malfunction to a remote site for trouble-shooting, diagnosis or tracking for data
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`mmmg.
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`In the past, systems that provide for remote monitoring did not provide for automated analysis and
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`communication of problems or potential problems and recommendations to the driver. As a result, the
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`vehicle driver or user is often left stranded, or irreparable damage occurs to the vehicle as a result of
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`neglect or driving the vehicle without the user knowing the vehicle is malfunctioning until it is too late, such
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`as low oil level and a malfunctioning waming light, fan belt about to fail, failing radiator hose etc.
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`ln this regard, U.S. Pat. No. 5,400,018 (Scholl et al.) describes a system for relaying raw sensor
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`output from an off road work site relating to the status of a vehicle to a remote location over a
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`communications data link. The information consists of fault codes generated by sensors and electronic
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`control modules indicating that a failure has occurred rather than forecasting a failure. The vehicle does not
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`include a system for performing diagnosis. Rather, the raw sensor data is processed at an off-vehicle
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`location in order to arrive at a diagnosis of the vehicle's operating condition. Bi-directional communications
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`are described in that a request for additional information can be sent to the vehicle from the remote location
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`with the vehicle responding and providing the requested infonnation but no such communication takes place
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`with the vehicle operator and not of an operator of a vehicle traveling on a road. Also, Scholl et al. does
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`not teach the diagnostics of the problem or potential problem on the vehicle itself nor does it teach the
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`automatic diagnostics or any prognostics. In Scholl et al. the determination of the problem occurs at the
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`remote site by human technicians.
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`U.S. Pat. No. 5,754,965 (Hagenbuch) describes an apparatus for diagnosing the state of health of a
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`vehicle and providing the operator of the vehicle with a substantially real-time indication of the efficiency
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`of the vehicle in perfom1ing as assigned task with respect to a predetermined goal. A processor in the
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`vehicle monitors sensors that provide information regarding the state of health of the vehicle and the
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`amount of work the vehicle has done. The processor records information that describes events leading up to
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`the occurrence of an anomaly for later analysis. The sensors are also used to prompt the operator to operate
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`the vehicle at optimum efficiency.
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`U.S. Pat. No. 5,955,942 (Siifkin et al.) describes a method for monitoring events in vehicles in
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`which electrical outputs representative of events in the vehicle are produced, the characteristics of one event
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`are compared with the characteristics of other events accumulated over a given period of time and
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`departures or variations of a given extent from the other characteristics are determined as an indication of a
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`significant event. A waming is sent in response to the indication, including the position of the vehicle as
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`detennined by a global positioning system on the vehicle. For example, for use with a railroad car, a
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`microprocessor responds to outputs of an accelerometer by comparing acceleration characteristics of one
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`impact with accumulated acceleration characteristics of other impacts and determines departures of a given
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`magnitude from the other characteristics as a failure indication which gives rise of a waming.
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`Every automobile driver fears that his or her vehicle will breakdown at some unfortunate time, e.g.,
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`when he or she is traveling at night, during msh hour, or on a long trip away from home. To help alleviate
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`that fear, certain luxury automobile manufacturers provide roadside service in the event of a breakdown.
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`Nevertheless, unless the vehicle is equipped with OnStar® or an equivalent service, the vehicle driver must
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`still be able to get to a telephone to call for service. It is also a fact that many people purchase a new
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`automobile out of fear of a breakdown with their current vehicle. This invention is primarily concerned
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`with preventing breakdowns and with minimizing maintenance costs by predicting component failure that
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`would lead to such a breakdown before it occurs.
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`When a vehicle component begins to fail, the repair cost is frequently minimal if the impending
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`failure of the component is caught early, but increases as the repair is delayed. Sometimes if a component
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`in need of repair is not caught in a timely manner, the component, and particularly the impending failure
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`thereof. can cause other components of the vehicle to deteriorate. One example is where the water pump
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`fails gradually until the vehicle overheats and blows a head gasket. It is desirable, therefore, to detennine
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`that a vehicle component is about to fail as early as possible so as to minimize the probability of a
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`breakdown and the resulting repair costs.
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`There are various gages on an automobile which alert the driver to various vehicle problems. For
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`example, if the oil pressure drops below some predetermined level, the driver is warned to stop his vehicle
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`immediately. Similarly, if the coolant temperature exceeds some predetermined value, the driver is also
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`warned to take immediate corrective action.
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`In these cases, the warning often comes too late as most
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`vehicle gages alert the driver after he or she can conveniently solve the problem. Thus, what is needed is a
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`Honda Exhibit 1002
`Page 13
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`component failure warning system that alerts the driver to the impending failure of a component sufficiently
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`in advance of the time when the problem gets to a catastrophic point.
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`Some astute drivers can sense changes in the performance of their vehicle and correctly diagnose
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`that a problem with a component is about to occur. Other drivers can sense that their vehicle is performing
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`differently but they don't know why or when a component will fail or how serious that failure will be, or
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`possibly even what specific component is the cause of the difference in performance. The invention
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`disclosed herein will, in most cases, solve this problem by predicting component failures in time to permit
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`maintenance and thus prevent vehicle breakdowns.
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`Presently, automobile sensors in use are based on specific predetermined or set levels, such as the
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`coolant temperature or oil pressure, whereby an increase above the set level or a decrease below the set
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`level will activate the sensor, rather than being based on changes in this level over time. The rate at which
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`coolant heats up, for example, can be an important clue that some component in the cooling system is about
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`to fail. There are no systems currently on automobiles to monitor the numerous vehicle components over
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`time and to compare component performance with nonnal perfonnance. Nowhere in the vehicle is the
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`vibration signal of a nonnally operating front wheel stored, for example, or for that matter, any normal
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`signal from any other vehicle component. Additionally, there is no system currently existing on a vehicle to
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`look for erratic behavior of a vehicle component and to warn the driver or the dealer that a component is
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`misbehaving and is therefore likely to fail in the very near future.
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`Sometimes, when a component fails, a catastrophic accident results. In the Firestone tire case, for
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`example, over 100 people were killed when a tire of a Ford Explorer blew out which caused the Ford
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`Explorer to rollover. Similarly, other component failures can lead to loss of control of the vehicle and a
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`subsequent accident. It is thus very important to accurately forecast that such an event will take place but
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`furthennore, for those cases where the event takes place suddenly without warning, it is also important to
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`diagnose the state of the entire vehicle, which in some cases can lead to automatic corrective action to
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`prevent unstable vehicle motion or rollovers resulting in an accident. Finally, an accurate diagnostic
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`system for the entire vehicle can determine much more accurately the severity of an automobile crash once
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`it has begun by knowing where the accident is taking place on the vehicle (e.g., the part of or location on
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`the vehicle which is being impacted by an object) and what is colliding with the vehicle based on a
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`knowledge of the force deflection characteristics of the vehicle at that location. Therefore, in addition to a
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`component diagnostic, the teachings of this invention also provide a diagnostic system for the entire vehicle
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`prior to and during accidents. In particular, this invention is concerned with the simultaneous monitoring of
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`multiple sensors on the vehicle so that the best possible determination of the state of the vehicle can be
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`Honda Exhibit 1002
`Page 14
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`determined. Current crash sensors operate independently or at most one sensor may influence the threshold
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`at which another sensor triggers a deployable restraint.
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`In the teachings of this invention, two or more
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`sensors, frequently accelerometers, are monitored simultaneously and the combination of the outputs of
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`these multiple sensors are combined continuously in making the crash severity analysis.
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`Marko et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,976) is directed to a diagnostic system using pattern recognition
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`for electronic automotive control systems and particularly for diagnosing faults in the engine of a motor
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`vehicle after they have occurred. For example, Marko et al. is interested in detennining cylinder specific
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`faults after the cylinder is operating abnorn1ally. More specifically, Marko et al. is directed to detecting a
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`fault in a vehicular electromechanical system indirectly, i.e., by means of the measurement of parameters of
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`sensors which are affected by that system, and after that fault ha