Method and Apparatus for Indicating an Automotive Diagnostic Urgency

• US 20110224866A1
• Filed: 03/10/2010
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innova Electronics Corporation (Innova Telematics Solutions)
• Original Assignee: Innova Electronics Corporation (Innova Telematics Solutions)
• Inventors: Chen, Ieon
• Granted Patent: US 8,825,270 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction

Abstract

Provided is a method for determining the urgency for repairing a diagnostic condition in a vehicle. Upon determining the repair urgency, a driver may decide to continue driving (in the case of a “low” urgency determination), or cease driving (in the case of a “high” urgency determination). The urgency status may also enable a driver to shop around for the repair (in the event of a “low” urgency status), or to seek immediate assistance (in the event of a “high” urgency status).

Claims

1. A method of identifying an urgency of treating a diagnostic condition of a vehicle, the vehicle including an on-board computer having a plurality of diagnostic trouble codes stored thereon, the method comprising the steps of:

a) forming a first urgency database listing a plurality of diagnostic trouble codes, wherein each diagnostic trouble code is associated with a respective first urgency status, the first urgency status being one of a low urgency and a high urgency;

b) forming a second urgency database listing a plurality of combinations of diagnostic trouble codes, wherein each combination of diagnostic trouble codes is associated with a respective second urgency status, the second urgency status being one of a low urgency and a high urgency;

c) receiving the diagnostic trouble codes;

d) comparing the diagnostic trouble codes to information stored in the first urgency database to determine a first urgency status;

e) comparing the diagnostic trouble codes to information stored in the second urgency database to determine a second urgency status; and

f) generating a high urgency indicator signal in response to high urgency status resulting from comparison of the diagnostic trouble codes to the first diagnostic database and the second diagnostic database.

2. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of providing an urgency indicator configured to emit a high urgency alert signal in response to generation of the high urgency indicator signal.

3. The method recited in claim 2, wherein the high urgency alert signal includes a red light.

4. The method recited in claim 3, wherein the red light blinks multiple times in response to generation of a high urgency indicator signal.

5. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of generating a low urgency indicator signal in response to low urgency status resulting from comparison of the diagnostic trouble codes to the first diagnostic database and the second diagnostic database.

6. The method recited in claim 5, further comprising the step of generating a medium urgency indicator signal in response to medium urgency status resulting from comparison of the diagnostic trouble codes to the first diagnostic database and the second diagnostic database.

7. The method recited in claim 5, further comprising the step of providing an urgency indicator configured to emit a low urgency alert signal in response to generation of the low urgency indicator signal.

8. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the first urgency status is dependent upon a vehicle characteristic defined by the vehicle.

9. The method recited in claim 8, wherein the vehicle characteristic includes the vehicle model.

10. The method recited in claim 8, wherein the vehicle characteristic includes the vehicle identification number.

11. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the second urgency status is dependent upon a vehicle characteristic defined by the vehicle.

12. A method of identifying an urgency of treating a diagnostic condition of a vehicle, the vehicle including an on-board computer having at least one diagnostic trouble code stored thereon, the method comprising the steps of:

a) forming a first urgency database listing a plurality of diagnostic trouble codes, wherein each diagnostic trouble code is associated with a respective first urgency status, the first urgency status being one of a low urgency and a high urgency;

b) receiving the diagnostic trouble codes;

c) comparing the diagnostic trouble codes to information stored in the first urgency database to determine a first urgency status; and

d) generating a high urgency indicator signal in response to high urgency status resulting from comparison of the diagnostic trouble codes to the first diagnostic database.

13. The method recited in claim 12, further comprising the step of providing an urgency indicator configured to emit a high urgency alert signal in response to generation of the high urgency indicator signal.

14. The method recited in claim 13, wherein the high urgency alert signal includes a red light.

15. The method recited in claim 12, wherein the first urgency status is dependent upon a vehicle characteristic defined by the vehicle.

16. The method recited in claim 15, wherein the vehicle characteristic includes the vehicle model.

17. The method recited in claim 15, wherein the vehicle characteristic includes the vehicle identification number.

18. A diagnostic urgency tool for determining an urgency associated with a diagnostic condition of a vehicle, the vehicle having an onboard computer for storing diagnostic trouble codes, the diagnostic urgency system comprising:

a tool connector connectable with the onboard computer to download the diagnostic trouble codes from the onboard computer;

a first urgency database in operative communication with the tool connector, the first urgency database listing diagnostic trouble codes associated with a high urgency status; and

an urgency indicator in communication with the first urgency database, the urgency indicator being configured to activate a high urgency signal in response to matching diagnostic trouble codes received from the onboard computer with diagnostic trouble codes listed in the first urgency database.

19. The diagnostic urgency tool recited in claim 18, wherein the urgency indicator is configured to activate a low urgency signal when all of the diagnostic trouble codes received from the onboard computer differ from the diagnostic trouble codes listed in the first urgency database.

20. The diagnostic urgency tool recited in claim 18, wherein the high urgency signal is a sound.