System and method for providing an interactive vehicle diagnostic display

• US 10,430,021 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2016
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: Merg, Patrick S., Mercer, Todd, Brozovich, Roy Steven, Costantino, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jason T
• Application Number:
  US15/286,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20180095638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 715763
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0216 Human interface functionality, e.g. monitoring system providing help to the user in the selection of tests or in its configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]

Abstract

A client computing system (CCS) receives a download including (i) an image representative of at least one circuit in a vehicle, the at least one circuit including a first circuit configured for carrying a first signal within the vehicle, and (ii) symbol data associated with at least one symbol, the at least one symbol including a first symbol. After receiving the download, the CCS displays the image and the at least one symbol. The CCS then receives a first input corresponding to selection of the first symbol. The CCS then responsively receives, from the vehicle, data representing value(s) of the first signal. The CCS then determines a first display-location at which to display the data representing the value(s) of the first signal. While the image and the at least one symbol are displayed, the CCS then displays, at the first display-location, the data representing the value(s) of the first signal.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by one or more processors of a computing device, a download including (i) an image representative of at least one circuit connected to or part of a vehicle component in a vehicle, the at least one circuit including a first circuit configured for carrying a first signal within the vehicle, and (ii) symbol data associated with at least one symbol, the at least one symbol including a first symbol for the first circuit configured for carrying the first signal within the vehicle, and the symbol data including at least one coordinate point indicating where on the image to display the first symbol;

displaying, on a display after receiving the download, the image and the at least one symbol on the image according to the at least one coordinate point indicating where on the image to display the first symbol;

receiving, by the one or more processors while the image and the at least one symbol are displayed on the display, a first input corresponding to selection of the first symbol for the first circuit configured for carrying the first signal within the vehicle;

receiving, by the one or more processors, a baseline value of the first signal, wherein receiving the baseline value of the first signal includes receiving the baseline value as part of the download or after receiving the first input corresponding to selection of the first symbol for the first circuit, wherein the baseline value is based, at least in part, on a measurement of one or more comparable signals produced within one or more other vehicles having a same year, make, and model of the vehicle, and wherein the comparable signals and the first signal are output by a common type of vehicle component;

receiving, by the one or more processors from the vehicle in response to receiving the first input corresponding to selection of the first symbol for the first circuit configured for carrying the first signal within the vehicle, data representing at least one value of the first signal within the vehicle;

determining, by the one or more processors, a first display-location on the display at which to display the data representing the at least one value of the first signal within the vehicle and a second display-location on the display at which to display the baseline value; and

displaying, on the display while the image and the at least one symbol are displayed on the display, the data representing the at least one value of the first signal within the vehicle at the first display location and the baseline value at the second display-location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first display-location on the display is within a threshold number of pixels to a location at which the first circuit is being displayed on the display.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the download further includes a first identifier, and

wherein the first identifier identifies at least one of the first circuit and the first signal, the method further comprising:

in response to receiving the first input, transmitting, by a transceiver of the computing device, over a network to which the computing device is connected, a first request for the data representing the at least one value of the first signal,

wherein the first request includes the first identifier, and

wherein receiving the data representing at least one value of the first signal occurs in response to transmitting the first request.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first identifier comprises a parameter identifier (PID).

5. The method of claim 3, wherein receiving the data representing at least one value of the first signal comprises receiving the data over the network from an electronic control unit within the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the data representing at least one value of the first signal comprises receiving the data from an electrical measurement input of the computing device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second display-location is distinct from the first display-location.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the download further includes (i) at least one minimum code setting value of the first signal and (ii) at least one maximum code setting value of the first signal, and

wherein displaying the data at the first display-location comprises displaying simultaneously, at the first display-location, the data and the minimum and maximum code setting values.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one value of the first signal comprises multiple values of the first signal,

wherein the multiple values of the first signal comprise a most-recent value of the first signal, a minimum value of the first signal, and a maximum value of the first signal, and

wherein displaying the data at the first display-location comprises displaying simultaneously, at the first display-location, the most-recent value of the first signal, the minimum value of the first signal, and the maximum value of the first signal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one circuit further includes, in addition to the first circuit, a second circuit related to the first circuit, the second circuit configured for carrying a second signal within the vehicle,

wherein the image includes a first portion representative of the first circuit and a second portion representative of the second circuit,

wherein displaying the image comprises displaying both the first and second portions of the image, and

wherein the method further comprises:

displaying, on the display at the first display-location with the data representing the at least one value of the first signal, a selection graphic associated with the second circuit;

receiving, by the one or more processors, a second input corresponding to selection of the selection graphic associated with the second circuit;

receiving, by the one or more processors from the vehicle in response to receiving the second input, data representing at least one value of the second signal;

determining, by the one or more processors, a second display-location on the display at which to display the data representing the at least one value of the second signal; and

displaying, on the display at the second display-location while the image, the at least one symbol, and the data representing the at least one value of the first signal are displayed on the display, the data representing the at least one value of the second signal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second display-location is distinct from the first display-location.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one circuit further includes, in addition to the first circuit, a second circuit related to the first circuit, the second circuit configured for carrying a second signal within the vehicle,

wherein the image includes a first portion representative of the first circuit and a second portion representative of the second circuit,

wherein displaying the image comprises displaying the first portion of the image without displaying the second portion of the image, and

wherein the method further comprises:

displaying, on the display at the first display-location with the data representing the at least one value of the first signal, a selection graphic associated with the second circuit;

receiving, by the one or more processors, a second input corresponding to selection of the selection graphic associated with the second circuit;

in response to receiving the second input, (i) receiving, by the one or more processors from the vehicle, data representing at least one value of the second signal and (ii) displaying, on the display, the second portion of the image;

determining, by the one or more processors, a second display-location on the display at which to display the data representing the at least one value of the second signal; and

displaying, on the display at the second display-location while the image, the at least one symbol, and the data representing the at least one value of the first signal are displayed on the display, the data representing the at least one value of the second signal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein displaying the second portion of the image comprises displaying the second portion of the image while displaying the first portion of the image.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein displaying the second portion of the image comprises displaying the second portion of the image without displaying the first portion of the image.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the second display-location is distinct from the first display-location.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one coordinate point includes a default set of coordinate points for a default size of the image.

17. The method of claim 1,

wherein the at least one coordinate point include a set of pixel coordinate points identifying a region within a predetermined threshold distance from the first symbol,

the method further comprising:

determining, by the one or more processors, when a user interface selector enters the region within the predetermined threshold distance from the first symbol; and

performing an action in response to determining when the user interface selector enters the region within the predetermined threshold distance from the first symbol.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the action includes an action including at least one of:

(i) requesting information not included within the download, (ii) displaying a pop-up window, or (iii) displaying a pop-up menu.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the first signal includes an electrical signal or an optical signal.

20. A system comprising:

a display;

one or more processors; and

non-transitory computer-readable data storage comprising instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the system to perform operations comprising;

receiving, by the one or more processors, a download including (i) an image representative of at least one circuit connected to or part of a vehicle component in a vehicle, the at least one circuit including a first circuit configured for carrying a first signal within the vehicle, and (ii) symbol data associated with at least one symbol, the at least one symbol including a first symbol for the first circuit configured for carrying the first signal within the vehicle, and the symbol data including at least one coordinate point indicating where on the image to display the first symbol;

displaying, on the display after receiving the download, the image and the at least one symbol on the image according to the at least one coordinate point indicating where on the image to display the first symbol;

receiving, by the one or more processors while the image and the at least one symbol are displayed on the display, a first input corresponding to selection of the first symbol for the first circuit configured for carrying the first signal within the vehicle;

receiving, by the one or more processors, a baseline value of the first signal, wherein receiving the baseline value of the first signal includes receiving the baseline value as part of the download or after receiving the first input corresponding to selection of the first symbol for the first circuit, wherein the baseline value is based, at least in part, on a measurement of one or more comparable signals produced within one or more other vehicles having a same year, make, and model of the vehicle, and wherein the comparable signals and the first signal are output by a common type of vehicle component;

receiving, by the one or more processors from the vehicle in response to receiving the first input corresponding to selection of the first symbol for the first circuit configured for carrying the first signal within the vehicle, data representing at least one value of the first signal within the vehicle;

determining, by the one or more processors, a first display-location on the display at which to display the data representing the at least one value of the first signal within the vehicle and a second display-location on the display at which to display the baseline value; and

displaying, on the display while the image and the at least one symbol are displayed on the display, the data representing the at least one value of the first signal within the vehicle at the first display location and the baseline value at the second display-location.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the first signal includes an electrical signal or an optical signal.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, upon execution by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:

receiving, by one or more processors of the computing system, a download including (i) an image representative of at least one circuit connected to or part of a vehicle component in a vehicle, the at least one circuit including a first circuit configured for carrying a first signal within the vehicle, and (ii) symbol data associated with at least one symbol, the at least one symbol including a first symbol for the first circuit configured for carrying the first signal within the vehicle, and the symbol data including at least one coordinate point indicating where on the image to display the first symbol;

displaying, on a display after receiving the download, the image and the at least one symbol on the image according to the at least one coordinate point indicating where on the image to display the first symbol;

receiving, by the one or more processors while the image and the at least one symbol are displayed on the display, a first input corresponding to selection of the first symbol for the first circuit configured for carrying the first signal within the vehicle;

receiving, by the one or more processors, a baseline value of the first signal, wherein receiving the baseline value of the first signal includes receiving the baseline value as part of the download or after receiving the first input corresponding to selection of the first symbol for the first circuit, wherein the baseline value is based, at least in part, on a measurement of one or more comparable signals produced within one or more other vehicles having a same year, make, and model of the vehicle, and wherein the comparable signals and the first signal are output by a common type of vehicle component;

receiving, by the one or more processors from the vehicle in response to receiving the first input corresponding to selection of the first symbol for the first circuit configured for carrying the first signal within the vehicle, data representing at least one value of the first signal within the vehicle;

determining, by the one or more processors, a first display-location on the display at which to display the data representing the at least one value of the first signal within the vehicle and a second display-location on the display at which to display the baseline value; and

displaying, on the display while the image and the at least one symbol are displayed on the display, the data representing the at least one value of the first signal within the vehicle at the first display location and the baseline value at the second display-location.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the first signal includes an electrical signal or an optical signal.