FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
[39 OF 1970]
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10; rule 13]
Title: "METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING REAL TIME PERFORMANCE PARAMETERS OF VEHICLE ON A PORTABLE DEVICE"
Name and Address of the Applicant: TATA MOTORS LIMITED
Bombay House, 24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk, Mumbai -400001, Maharashtra, India
Nationality: IN
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure relates to real time vehicle monitoring. More particularly, embodiments of the disclosure relate to a method and system for displaying real time performance parameters of a vehicle on a portable device.
BACKGROUND
Vehicle telematics is a term used to define communicatively connected vehicles interchanging electronic data. A company, depending on their particular line of business, may have a fleet of passenger cars, light trucks, vans, heavy trucks or any combination of these types of vehicles. Such companies must typically manage each of the hundreds of vehicle within their fleets. The most critical management operations include to monitor the location and critical performance parameters of the vehicle in real-time. The manufacturers started using electronic means to monitor the critical parameters of vehicle in fleet. Vehicles today typically include several controllers attached to a vehicle data bus that allows monitoring the vehicle parameters.
The conventional vehicle monitoring system uses Frequency Modulation (FM) radio for wireless communication in vehicles with Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) method to receive information from the vehicles in the field. The data is presented to the users using standard desktop or personal computer through internet application. The conventional system also discloses a telematics hardware and software for implementing Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) using client-server architecture for monitoring remote vehicles. Its emphasis is on Hard Real Time control provided on the on-board telematics unit.
On-board vehicle telemetry systems are commonly known in the commercial vehicle industry. In general, vehicle telemetry systems facilitate data or information transfer between a vehicle and a remotely-located user. The user typically receives data from and/or sends data to a vehicle through a personal computer, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), or other electronic device. Various vehicle telemetry systems are used to communicate various types of information, such as vehicle security information, vehicle position/location, driver trip information, information relating to remote diagnostics, such as monitoring the wear and tear of the vehicle etc. In conventional vehicle monitoring system, the telemetry module receives information from and

transmits information to various sensors, monitors, electronic controllers, and other electronic devices on the vehicle, typically through a central vehicle data bus.
From the above description it is known that the major components of a typical vehicle telemetry system, as well as the costs associated with implementing such a system are very high. Using the conventional systems, it is not possible to visualize the monitored parameters of the vehicle in real-time. Moreover, in all of the above systems, global positioning system based vehicle tracking systems are using desktop/laptop computers for accessing the website portal hosted by telematics service provider. These devices are costly and are not easily used by all users. The monitored parameter values may be difficult to understand by the common people.
Hence there exists a need to develop a method and system for displaying real time performance parameters of the vehicle in the portable device.
STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly the present invention provides a method for displaying real time performance parameters of a vehicle on a portable device, comprising acts of accessing a list of registered vehicles stored in a server by the portable device to select a vehicle from the registered vehicle list, sending a request from the portable device to the server for receiving the performance parameters of the selected vehicle, wherein the server sends a request to the device associated with the selected vehicle for transmitting the performance parameters to atleast one of the portable device and the server, receiving the performance parameters from atleast one of the device and the server by the portable device, displaying the performance parameters as instrument cluster image on the portable device, it also provides a system for displaying real time performance parameters of a vehicle on a portable device comprising, a device associated with the vehicle to monitor performance parameters and to transmit the monitored performance parameters to at least one of a server and the portable device, wherein the portable device is authenticated by the server to receive the performance parameters from atleast one of the server and the device, the server and the portable device stores the performance parameters, the portable device display the performance parameters in graphical format, it also provides a device for vehicle monitoring comprising, a communication module configured to communicate with Electronic Control Unit (ECUs) of the vehicle over a Controller Area Network (CAN) to receive

performance parameters of the vehicle, a processing unit configured to process the performance parameters and to send the processed performance parameters to atleast one of a server and a portable device over a communication network; wherein the portable device is authenticated by the server, a storage unit configured to store the performance parameters of the vehicle and a display unit configured to display the performance parameters of the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.
Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered apart of the claimed disclosure.
In one embodiment the present disclosure provides a method for displaying real time performance parameters of a vehicle on a portable device. The portable device access a list of registered vehicles stored in a server and selects one of the vehicles from the list of registered vehicles. After selecting a particular vehicle, the portable device sends a request to the server for receiving the performance parameters of the selected vehicle, wherein the server sends a request to a device associated with the selected vehicle for transmitting the performance parameters to at least one of the portable device and the server. The portable device then receives the performance parameters from the either the device associated with the selected vehicle or the server. The portable device forms instrument cluster image using the performance parameters and displays the instrument cluster image of the vehicle in real time.
In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a system for displaying real time performance parameters of a vehicle on a portable device. The system comprises of a device which is associated with the vehicle, a server and a portable device. The device monitors performance parameters of the vehicle and transmits the monitored performance parameters to either one of the server or the portable device. The portable device is authenticated by the server to receive the monitored performance parameters from the device. The portable device receives

the performance parameters from the device and forms an instrument cluster image using the performance parameters in real time.
In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a device for vehicle monitoring comprising, a communication module, a processing unit, a storage unit and a display unit. The communication module communicates with Electronic Control Unit (ECUs) of the vehicle over a Controller Area Network (CAN) to receive performance parameters of the vehicle. The received performance parameters are provided to the processing unit to process the performance parameters. The processed performance parameters are then sent to either the server 2 or the portable device over a communication network. The device stores the processed performance parameters of the vehicle in the storage unit and displays the processed performance parameters of the vehicle in the display unit.
In one embodiment, the performance parameters of the operating vehicle are vehicle speed, vehicle load, engine speed, air pressure, fuel level, engine coolant temperature, average fuel economy accelerated pedal position, status of seat belt, status of park brake and combinations thereof.
In one embodiment, the server, the device and the portable device are connected to each other through a wireless communication network selected from atleast one of Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA).
In one embodiment, the monitored performance parameters are encoded by the device and are transmitted to either server or the portable device.
In one embodiment, the encoded performance parameters are decoded and configured by at least one of the server and the portable device using the web application to display the performance parameters as instrument cluster image of the vehicle.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The novel features and characteristics of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The embodiments of the disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings and in which:
Fig. 1 is an exemplary block diagram which illustrates a system for displaying real time performance parameters of a vehicle on a portable device.
Fig.2 depicts a device associated with a vehicle.
Fig. 3 shows monitored performance parameters of a vehicle on a portable device.
Fig. 4 shows instrument cluster image of the vehicle on a portable device.
Fig. 5 shows a flowchart illustrating authentication process of a portable device.
Fig.6 shows a flowchart illustrating data processing and response sequence process of the vehicle.
The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description

when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method and system for displaying real time performance parameters of a vehicle on a portable device.
Fig.l illustrates the system for displaying real time performance parameters of a vehicle on a portable device.
The system comprises of a portable device 1, server 2 and a device 3. The device 3 is associated with the vehicle with wireless communication facility. Fig.2 depicts device 3 associated with the vehicle. The device 3 comprises of a communication module, wherein the communication module communicates with Electronic Control Unit (ECUs) of the vehicle over a Controller Area Network (CAN) and receives performance parameters of the vehicle. The received performance parameters are provided to a processing unit configured in the device 3 to process the performance parameters. The processed performance parameters are then sent to either the server 2 or the portable device over a communication network. The device 3 stores the processed performance parameters of the vehicle in a storage unit and displays the processed performance parameters of the vehicle on a display unit of the device 3.
The performance parameters are vehicle speed, vehicle load, engine speed, air pressure, fuel level, engine coolant temperature, average fuel economy, accelerated pedal position, status of seat belt, status of park brake and combinations thereof. However, one can note that any other parameters can also be included in to this list. One should not consider the listed parameters as the only parameter determining the performance.
The portable device 1 is any device with an operating system and internet connectivity. The portable device 1 for example, includes a wireless handheld device, mobile phone, personal digital assistants (PDA) and a portable computer. The server 2 authenticates the portable device 1 to receive the performance parameters from at least one of the device 3 and the server 2. The portable device 1 is provided with a user interface and wireless communication facility to access the performance parameters of the vehicle from either the server 2 or the device 3. The portable

device 1, the device 3 and the server 2 are connected to each other through a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) wireless network 4. A person skilled in the art would understand that any other type of communication network can be used for providing connectivity between the portable device 1, the device 3 and the server 2 for ex. General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA).
When the vehicle is started, the device 3 associated with the vehicle monitors the vehicle location using Global Positioning System (GPS) and sends the updated position to the server 2 using GSM/GPRS wireless network. Simultaneously, the device 3 monitors the performance parameters of the vehicle. The device 3 encodes the monitored performance parameters and transmits to the server 2 in normal mode. The master control program in the server decodes the monitored performance parameters with its values in tabular and graphical format. The server stores the monitored performance in its storage unit. In one embodiment, the master control program calibrates the monitored performance parameters to represent the instrument cluster image of the vehicle in real-time.
The server 2 hosts a web application. The web application will have authentication and log in web pages to provide data access to user of the portable device 1. The portable device 1 downloads the web application hosted by the server 2 to access the instrument cluster representation and performance parameters in real-time.
In one embodiment, user of the portable device 1 login to the web application by entering the user ID and password in the portable device. After logging in, the user will be provided with an access to predefined list of vehicles based on the particular authorized user. The details entered by the user will be verified and stored in the server 2. An on-demand access mode is initiated by the user, when the user selects a vehicle from the predefined vehicle list and by selecting the start command in the web application downloaded by the user. The server 2 encodes the user's portable device 1 number and sends it with an enable message to the device 3 of the selected vehicle through Short Message Service (SMS). The device 3 stores the portable device 1 number, decodes the portable device 1 number and transmits the monitored performance parameters of the vehicle to the portable device 1.

The monitored performance parameters are displayed on the portable device 1 in a tabular and graphical format in real-time. They can also view the instrument cluster image of the vehicle by selecting a dashboard 13 command in the downloaded application. This will then provide the user with real time parameters of the vehicle selected in graphical format. Further, the web application downloaded in the portable device 1 is also provided with an option for selecting continuous mode. By selecting the continuous mode, the monitored performance parameters will be sent to the portable device 1 continuously, which is received and decoded by the web application to display the monitored parameters and instrument cluster image in real-time.
In one embodiment, the user can access the instrument cluster image and the performance parameters of the selected vehicle in real-time by logging in to the web link without downloading the web application hosted by the server 2.
In one embodiment, the user is provided with an option to directly copy the monitored performance parameters of the vehicle by connecting Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive to the device 3.
Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 shows monitored performance parameters and instrument cluster image of a vehicle on the portable device 1.
In an embodiment, the on-demand mode is initiated by the portable device 1 by selecting one of the vehicles from the predefined vehicle list 8 and the start command 11 in the web application downloaded from the server 2.
In the on-demand mode the portable device number with an enable message is sent to the onboard unit 3 by the server 2. The device 3 stores the portable device number and sends the encoded list of performance parameters being monitored by the device 3 to the portable device 1.
Additionally, there are options like view map 10, start 11 stop 12 and dashboard 13 commands provided on the portable device 1. The geographical location of the vehicle is obtained by selecting the view map 10 commands. The request to access the location and performance parameters of the vehicle is placed by pressing the start command 11. In addition the user can view the dash board of the vehicle to be monitored in real-time by selecting the dash board 13 tag displayed on the portable device 1. The portable device 1 forms instrument cluster image of

the vehicle using the web application downloaded from the server 2 as shown in FIG. 3. The portable device 1 is also provided with a zooming option. The images are zoomed by clicking on the respective image on the portable device 1.
Fig. 5 shows a flowchart illustrating authentication process of a portable device. At 15, the server 2 monitors if there is any new command from the portable device 1 requesting to view instrument cluster image and the performance parameters of the vehicle. If the new command is received the server 2 extracts the command at 16 and stores the portable device number at 17. At 21, the server 2 performs the normal vehicle tracking function if the new command is not received and the device 3 transmits the monitored parameters to the server 2. If an on-demand access command is received from the server 2 at 18, the server 2 extracts the portable device number and the password at 19. If the portable device number and the password are correct, the device will have the access to the predefined list of vehicles. User of the portable device 1 has to enter the intended vehicle registration number to access the list of parameters monitored or select from the list provided.
At 20, the server 2 compares the portable device number and vehicle registration number. If the data entered is matched at 22, the server 2 gets the vehicle Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)/Removable User Identity Module (RUIM) number at 23, constructs an enable "on-demand access" command at 24 and sends the message to the vehicle at 25. The server 2 constructs an authentication failed message at 27 if the data entered by the user of the portable device 1 is not matched. At 28, the server 2 sends an authentication failed message to the portable device number and performs normal vehicle tracking function. Once the on-demand access command is sent to the vehicle, an On Off timer will be started at 26 and the server 2 waits for the response from the vehicle at 29. If the response is received from the vehicle at 30, the server 2 resets the timer at 31 and extracts the message at 32. The server 2 constructs the authentication pass message at 33 and sends the extracted message to the portable device number at 34. If the response from the vehicle is not received and if the timer is greater than or equal to the predefined time at 35, the server 2 will reset the timer at 37 and construct the vehicle OFF message at 38 and send message to the portable device number at 39 and performs normal vehicle tracking function. If the response from the vehicle is not received and if the timer is not

greater than or equal to the predefined time at 35, then the server 2 updates the timer at 36 and waits for response from the vehicle.
Fig. 6 shows a flowchart illustrating data processing and response sequence process of the vehicle. At 40, the device 3 monitors if any new command is received from the server 2. At 41, the device 3 extracts the command if the command is received and stores the portable device number at 42. If the new command is not received then the device 3 performs a normal tracking task at 43 and transmits the monitored parameters to the server 2. If on-demand access command is started at 44, the vehicle gets the data at 45, constructs a response message at 46 and sends the message to the portable device number at 47. Simultaneously, as the new command is received at the vehicle side, the device 3 extracts the command and stores the portable device number. If the on-demand access start command is received by the on-board unit 3, it gets the vehicle data and constructs the response message. The response message will be directly sent to the portable device 1. The location of the vehicle is tracked by using a GPS device mounted on the vehicle. As a result the location and the vehicle parameters are monitored in real-time.
A continuous mode button is provided in the application accessed by the portable device 1. At 48 if on-demand access continuous command is selected, then the device 3 executes enable continue mode at 49, gets the vehicle data at 50, constructs the response message at 51 and send the message to portable device number at 52. At 53, the device waits for 5 seconds; if the new command is received at 54 it extracts the command at 55. If the new command is not received it starts collecting the vehicle data. Once the new command is extracted, the on-board unit 3 checks whether the new command received is an "on-demand access stop command" at 56, if yes it disables the continuous mode at 57. If the new command received is not on-demand access stop command, it continues providing vehicle data to the portable device 1.
Finally, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and it may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by any claims that issue on an application based here on. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments of the invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.

We claim:
1. A method of displaying real time performance parameters of a vehicle on a portable
device 1, comprising acts of:
accessing a list of registered vehicles stored in a server 2 by the portable device 1 to select a vehicle from the registered vehicle list;
sending a request from the portable device 1 to the server 2 for receiving the performance parameters of the selected vehicle, wherein the server 2 sends a request to a device 3 associated with the selected vehicle for transmitting the performance parameters to at least one of the portable device 1 and the server 2;
receiving the performance parameters from at least one of the device 3 and the' server 2 by the portable device 1; and
displaying the performance parameters as instrument cluster image on the portable device 1.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portable device 1 is authenticated by the server 2 to receive the list of registered vehicles stored in the server 2.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the performance parameters of the vehicle are at least one of vehicle speed, vehicle load, engine speed, air pressure, fuel level, engine coolant temperature, average fuel economy, accelerated pedal position, status of seat belt, status of park brake and combinations thereof.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the performance parameters are encoded by the device 3 and are transmitted to at least one of the server 2 and the portable device 1.
5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the encoded performance parameters are decoded by at least one of the server 2 and the portable device 1 to configure instrument cluster image of the selected vehicle using encoded performance parameters.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the performance parameters sent by the server 2 to the portable device 1 are the instrument cluster image formed using the performance parameters received from the device 3.
7. A system for displaying real time performance parameters of a vehicle on a portable device 1, comprising:
a device 3 associated with the vehicle to monitor performance parameters and to transmit the monitored performance parameters to at least one of a server 2 and the portable device 1, wherein the portable device 1 is authenticated by the server 2 to receive the performance parameters from atleast one of the server 2 and the device 3, the portable device 1 stores the performance parameters and display the performance parameters in graphical format.
8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein a web application hosted in the server 2 configures an instrument cluster image of the vehicle in real time using the performance parameters.
9. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the web application is downloaded from the server 2 to the portable device 1 to access the performance parameters of the vehicle from the device 3 or the server 2 and to configure an instrument cluster image of the vehicle in real time using the performance parameters.
10. The system as claimed in claim 7. wherein the server 2, the device 3 and the portable device 1 are connected to each other through a wireless communication network selected from at least one of Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA).
11. A device 3 for vehicle monitoring comprising:
a communication module configured to communicate with Electronic Control Unit (ECUs) of the vehicle over a Controller Area Network (CAN) to receive performance parameters of the vehicle;

a processing unit configured to process the performance parameters and to send the processed performance parameters to at least one of a server 2 and a portable device 1 over a communication network, wherein the portable device is authenticated by the server;
a storage unit configured to store the performance parameters of the vehicle; and a display unit configured to display the performance parameters of the vehicle.
12. The device 3 as claimed in claim 11, wherein the processing unit encodes the performance parameters before sending it to at least one of the server 2 and the portable device 1.
13. The device 3 as claimed in claim 11, wherein the communication module is configured with Global Positioning System (GPS) to send the vehicle position to the server 2.
14. A system to display real time performance parameters of a vehicle, a method of displaying real time performance parameters of a vehicle as described above in the accompanying drawings.