METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INDICATING AN AUTOMOTIVE DIAGNOSTIC URGENCY

• US 20160055684A1
• Filed: 08/20/2014
• Published: 02/25/2016
• 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 C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,761,062 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 diagnostic data and vehicle identification information stored thereon, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying at least one most likely solution based on the diagnostic data retrieved from a vehicle, wherein the most likely solution is identified in relation to retrieved data considered separately and retrieved data considered in combinations;

identifying a repair part associated with each identified most likely solution, the identified repair part being associated with a universal part number;

providing an urgency database having a plurality of universal part numbers, wherein each universal part number is associated with a one of a low urgency and a high urgency;

comparing the universal part number associated with the repair part to information stored in the first urgency database to determine an urgency status associated with the repair part; and

generating a high urgency indicator signal in response to a high urgency status resulting from comparison of the universal part number to the urgency database.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the providing step includes providing an urgency database having a plurality of Aftermarket Catalog Enhanced Standard (ACES) part numbers associated with one of the low urgency and the high urgency.

3. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of identifying a repair part includes an assessment of the vehicle identification information.

4. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of automatically searching an electronic part catalog system for the repair part when the repair part is associated with a prescribed urgency.

5. The method recited in claim 4, wherein the prescribed urgency is a high urgency.

6. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of scheduling a repair when the repair part is associated with a prescribed urgency.

7. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of generating a sale of the repair part when the repair part is associated with a prescribed urgency.

8. 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.

9. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of generating a low urgency indicator signal in response to a low urgency status resulting from comparison of the universal part number to the urgency database.

10. A method of identifying an urgency of treating a diagnostic condition of a vehicle, the vehicle including an on-board computer having diagnostic data and vehicle identification information stored thereon, the method comprising the steps of:

forming a first urgency database listing a plurality of universal part numbers, wherein each part number is associated with a respective first urgency status, the first urgency status being one of a low urgency and a high urgency;

identifying a repair part having a part number, the repair part being associated with a most likely diagnostic solution;

comparing the part number to information stored in the first urgency database to determine a first urgency status; and

generating a high urgency indicator signal in response to high urgency status resulting from comparison of the part number to the first diagnostic database.

11. The method recited in claim 10, wherein the forming step includes forming a first urgency database having a plurality of Aftermarket Catalog Enhanced Standard (ACES) part numbers associated with a respective first urgency status.

12. The method recited in claim 10, wherein the step of identifying a repair part includes an assessment of the vehicle identification information.

13. The method recited in claim 10, further comprising the step of automatically searching an electronic part catalog system for the repair part when the repair part is associated with a prescribed urgency.

14. The method recited in claim 13, wherein the prescribed urgency is a high urgency.

15. The method recited in claim 10, further comprising the step of scheduling a repair when the repair part is associated with a prescribed urgency.

16. The method recited in claim 10, 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.

17. A diagnostic urgency system for determining an urgency associated with a diagnostic condition of a vehicle, the vehicle having an onboard computer for storing diagnostic data and vehicle identification information, the diagnostic urgency system comprising:

a tool connectable with the onboard computer to download the diagnostic data and vehicle identification information from the onboard computer;

a solution database in operative communication with the tool, the solution database having most likely solutions associated with diagnostic data considered separately and diagnostic data considered in combinations, at least one most likely solution being associated with a repair part;

a repair parts database in operative communication with the solution database, the repair parts database having repair parts associated with universal part numbers and vehicle identification information;

a first urgency database in operative communication with the repair parts database, the first urgency database listing universal part numbers 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 universal part numbers with diagnostic trouble codes listed in the first urgency database.

18. The diagnostic urgency system recited in claim 17, wherein

the universal part numbers in the repair parts database are Aftermarket Catalog Enhanced Standard (ACES) part numbers

19. The diagnostic urgency system recited in claim 17, 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 system recited in claim 17, wherein the high urgency signal is a sound.

21. (canceled)