Formula server for diagnostic systems

• US 20080244312A1
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Liebl, Troy, Chinnadurai, Manokar
• Granted Patent: US 7,912,598 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/25
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23414 Pc as detachable program, debug, monitor device for control system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25064 Update component configuration to optimize program execution

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided and include a formula server having formulas and conversion modules that are separate from a diagnostic application of a diagnostic tool. The diagnostic tool receives the diagnostic data and transmits it to a remote computer, where the data is converted using a formula. The resulting data is then transmitted back to the diagnostic tool for display.

Claims

1. A computer that converts data, comprising:

a processor to process information and operate the computer;

a software stored on a memory of the computer and communicates with the processor;

an input device for entering information into the computer;

a computer readable reader that reads information stored on a computer readable media;

a communication interface that communicates with a remote diagnostic device; and

a system bus that allows communication between the memory, the processor, the input device, the computer readable reader and the communication interface, wherein the software includes a platform module and a data converter module and the software converts a data received from the remote diagnostic device using a conversion formula from the data converter module based on the platform module determination of the data'"'"'s platform.

2. The computer of claim 1, wherein the data converter module further comprises a conversion unit module and a conversion format module.

3. The computer of claim 1, wherein the formula is stored in a conversion formula module of the data converter module.

4. The computer of claim 1, wherein the communication interface communicates with the remove diagnostic device via a wired or wireless connection.

5. The computer of claim of claim 1, wherein the platform module can identify what diagnostic device'"'"'s data is being received by the communication interface so that the appropriate data conversion can be accomplished by the data converter module.

6. The computer of claim 1, where a diagnostic software of the remote diagnostic device is remote from the platform module and the data converter module.

7. The computer of claim 1, wherein multiple diagnostic applications of various remote diagnostic devices can have their respective data converted by one computer.

8. The computer of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic device is a vehicle scan tool.

9. The computer of claim 1, wherein the computer can convert the data into a format that is different from the data received from the remote diagnostic device so that the converted data can be displayed on a different device.

10. The method of converting data using a computer, comprising:

receiving data on a diagnostic device;

transmitting the data from the diagnostic device to a remote computer for data conversion;

converting the data at the remote computer using a conversion formula from a data converter module based on a platform module'"'"'s determination of the data'"'"'s platform; and

transmitting the converted data to the diagnostic device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the transmitting can be done via a wired or wireless connection.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein converting data further include converting the data'"'"'s unit with a conversion unit module and the data'"'"'s format using a conversion format module.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the diagnostic device is a scan tool for a vehicle.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising converting from one data format to a different data format in order to transmit the converted data to a different device.

15. A system for converting diagnostic data in a computer, comprising:

a processing means for processing information and operating the computer;

a software means for providing instructions to the processing means for use on the computer;

a memory means for storing the software means;

an input device means for inputting information into the computer;

a computer readable reader means that reads information stored on a computer readable media;

a communication interface means for communicating with a remote diagnostic device; and

a system bus for communicating between the memory means, the processing means, the input device means, the computer readable reader means and the communication interface means, wherein the software means includes a platform module and a data converter module and the software means converts a data received from the remote diagnostic device using a conversion formula from a data converter module based on the platform module'"'"'s determination of the data'"'"'s platform.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the data converter module further comprises a conversion unit module and a conversion format module.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the formula is stored in a conversion formula module of the data converter module.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the communication interface means communicates with the remove diagnostic device via a wired or wireless connection.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the platform module can identify what diagnostic device'"'"'s data is being received by the communication interface means so that the appropriate data conversion can be accomplished by the data converter.

20. The system of claim 15, where a diagnostic software of the remote diagnostic device is remote from the platform module and the data converter module.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein multiple diagnostic applications of various remove diagnostic devices can have their respective data converted by one computer.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the diagnostic device is a vehicle scan tool.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the computer can convert the data into a format that is different from the data received from the remote diagnostic device so that the converted data can be displayed on a different device.