VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC AND PROGNOSTIC SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20150094903A1
• Filed: 09/30/2013
• Published: 04/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Bell, Christopher W.
• Application Number:
  US14/041,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20150094903A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/31.4
• 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

Abstract

A diagnostic device having a computer processor in communication with a wireless transceiver, the wireless transceiver capable of communication with a remote computer located remotely from the processor. The computer processor may be configured to enable the diagnostic device to select one or more variables from a database in communication with the remote computer. The computer processor may generate a diagnostic instruction for a vehicle based on the one or more variables, the diagnostic instruction including data from memory of one or more modules that is not available on a vehicle network. The diagnostic device may transmit the custom diagnostic instruction to a vehicle in communication with the remote computer. The diagnostic device may receive at least a portion of the data in response to the diagnostic instruction from the vehicle.

Claims

1. A diagnostic device comprising:

a computer processor in communication with a wireless transceiver, the wireless transceiver capable of communication with a remote computer located remotely from the processor, the computer processor configured to;

select one or more variables from the remote computer in communication with a database;

generate a diagnostic instruction for a vehicle based on the one or more variables, the diagnostic instruction including a request for data from memory of one or more modules that is not available on a vehicle network;

transmit the diagnostic instruction to the vehicle in communication with the remote computer; and

receive from the vehicle at least a portion of the data in response to the diagnostic instruction.

2. The diagnostic device of claim 1, wherein the one or more variables are based on module identification and a variable addresses.

3. The diagnostic device of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic instruction includes one or more triggers of a vehicle event defining when to start collecting the data.

4. The diagnostic device of claim 3 wherein the vehicle event is a battery charging status.

5. The diagnostic device of claim 1, further comprising an output of the at least a portion of the data.

6. The diagnostic device of claim 5, wherein the output is a portable cellular phone.

7. The diagnostic device of claim 5, wherein the output is on a computer terminal.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, configure the processor to:

select one or more variables from a database in communication with the processor;

generate a diagnostic instruction for a vehicle based on the one or more variables, the diagnostic instruction including a request for data from memory of one or more modules that is not available on a vehicle network;

transmit the diagnostic instruction to the vehicle in communication with the processor; and

receive from the vehicle at least a portion of the data in response to the diagnostic instruction.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 storing additional instructions, when executed, causes a processor to output the at least a portion of the data.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 wherein the output is on a laptop.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein the database in communication with the processor using WiFi technology.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein the vehicle in communication with the processor using an on-board diagnostic connecter.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein the vehicle in communication with the processor using cellular technology.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein the diagnostic instructions includes one or more triggers to start collecting the data.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the one or more triggers is a timer.

16. A method comprising:

selecting a variable from a database, the variable representing a memory location;

generating an instruction for a vehicle based on the variable, wherein the instruction includes a trigger and a request for data from memory of one or more modules that is not available on a vehicle network;

transmitting the instruction to the vehicle; and

receiving from the vehicle at least a portion of the data in response to the instruction.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising outputting the at least a portion of the data to a device.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the device is a service technician tool.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the device is a computer terminal.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the trigger includes a vehicle event.