Diagnostic system and method
First Claim
1. A diagnostic system for identifying a component that has failed, the diagnostic system comprising:
- an interface for receiving input relating to observed symptoms indicative of a failed component;
a processing element for correlating the input relating to the observed symptoms with a plurality of suspect components that are each capable of causing the observed symptoms upon failure, said processing element capable of prioritizing the plurality of suspect components based upon a relative likelihood that the respective suspect components caused the observed symptoms, said processing element also capable of identifying a plurality of tests to be performed in order to refine the prioritization of the plurality of suspect components, said processing element further capable of prioritizing the plurality of tests based upon at least one predetermined criteria; and
a display for presenting a prioritized listing of the plurality of suspect components and an indication of at least one of the tests to be performed in order to refine the prioritization of the plurality of suspect components, wherein said interface is capable of receiving input to define the at least one predetermined criteria according to which the plurality of tests are prioritized.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A diagnostic system and method are provided that include an interface for receiving input relating to observed symptoms indicative of one or more failed components, a processing element for correlating the input relating to the observed symptoms with at least one suspect component that is capable of causing the observed symptoms upon failure, and a display for presenting information relating to the suspect components. The processing element correlates the input relating to the observed symptoms with the suspect components in accordance with a diagnostic model constructed based upon systemic information, experiential information and factual information. The processing element generally presents the suspect components in a listing prioritized based upon the relative likelihood that the respective suspect components caused the observed symptoms. Additionally, the processing element can present a prioritized listing of tests that can be conducted to refine the identification and prioritization of the suspect components.
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Citations
62 Claims
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1. A diagnostic system for identifying a component that has failed, the diagnostic system comprising:
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an interface for receiving input relating to observed symptoms indicative of a failed component;
a processing element for correlating the input relating to the observed symptoms with a plurality of suspect components that are each capable of causing the observed symptoms upon failure, said processing element capable of prioritizing the plurality of suspect components based upon a relative likelihood that the respective suspect components caused the observed symptoms, said processing element also capable of identifying a plurality of tests to be performed in order to refine the prioritization of the plurality of suspect components, said processing element further capable of prioritizing the plurality of tests based upon at least one predetermined criteria; and
a display for presenting a prioritized listing of the plurality of suspect components and an indication of at least one of the tests to be performed in order to refine the prioritization of the plurality of suspect components, wherein said interface is capable of receiving input to define the at least one predetermined criteria according to which the plurality of tests are prioritized. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for identifying a component that has failed, the method comprising:
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receiving input relating to observed symptoms indicative of a failed component;
correlating the input relating to the observed symptoms with a plurality of suspect components that are each capable of causing the observed symptoms upon failure;
prioritizing the plurality of suspect components based upon a relative likelihood that the respective suspect components caused the observed symptoms;
identifying a plurality of tests to be performed in order to refine the prioritization of the plurality of suspect components;
receiving input to define at least one predetermined criteria relating to the plurality of tests;
prioritizing the plurality of tests based upon the at least one predetermined criteria; and
displaying a prioritized listing of the plurality of suspect components and an indication of at least one of the tests to be performed in order to refine the prioritization of the plurality of suspect components. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
receiving input to redefine the at least one predetermined criteria; and
reprioritizing the plurality of tests based upon the redefined criteria.
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10. A method according to claim 8 further comprising displaying data related to at least one of the plurality of suspect components, the at least one test to be performed and the correlation between the observed symptoms and the plurality of suspect components.
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11. A method according to claim 8 further comprising:
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receiving input relating to an outcome of a test; and
reprioritizing the plurality of suspect components based upon a relative likelihood that the respective suspect components caused the observed symptoms in light of the outcome of the test.
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12. A method according to claim 8 further comprising:
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determining a plurality of suspect subsystems that contain components capable of causing the observed symptoms upon failure;
listing the plurality of suspect subsystems; and
receiving input indicative of the respective suspect subsystem to be further analyzed while correlating the input relating to the observed symptoms with the plurality of suspect components.
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13. A method according to claim 8 further comprising:
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receiving data relating to remedial actions undertaken with respect at least one suspect component; and
creating a summary log of the observed symptoms, the at least one suspect component and the remedial actions.
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14. A method according to claim 8 wherein correlating the input relating to the observed symptoms with the at least one suspect component comprises correlating the input relating to the observed symptoms with the at least one suspect component in accordance with a diagnostic model constructed based upon systemic information relating to the components and input-output relationships of the components, experiential information relating to direct relationships between component failures and the observed symptoms, and factual information relating to component reliability.
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15. A processing element for identifying a component that has failed, the processing element comprising:
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a first processing portion for correlating input relating to at least one observed symptom with a plurality of suspect components that are each capable of causing the at least one observed symptom upon failure, said first processing portion capable of prioritizing the plurality of suspect components based upon a relative likelihood that the respective suspect components caused the at least one observed symptom; and
a second processing portion for identifying a plurality of tests to be performed in order to refine the prioritization of the plurality of suspect components, said second processing portion capable of prioritizing the plurality of tests based upon at least one predetermined criteria, said second processing portion further capable of driving a display of the plurality of prioritized tests. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for identifying a component that has failed, the method comprising:
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correlating input relating to at least one observed symptom with a plurality of suspect components that are each capable of causing the at least one observed symptom upon failure;
prioritizing the plurality of suspect components based upon a relative likelihood that the respective suspect components caused the at least one observed symptom;
identifying a plurality of tests to be performed in order to refine the prioritization of the plurality of suspect components;
prioritizing the plurality of tests based upon at least one predetermined criteria; and
displaying the plurality of prioritized tests. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
altering the at least one predetermined criteria; and
reprioritizing the plurality of tests based upon the altered criteria.
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23. A method according to claim 21 further comprising:
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receiving input representative of an outcome of a test; and
reprioritizing the plurality of suspect components based upon the outcome of the test and the relative likelihood that the respective suspect components caused the observed symptoms.
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24. A method according to claim 21 further comprising:
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determining a plurality of suspect subsystems that contain components capable of causing the observed symptoms upon failure; and
receiving input identifying at least one of the suspect subsystems for further analysis, wherein the correlation comprises correlating input relating to at least one observed symptom with a plurality of components of the at least one suspect subsystems that has been identified.
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25. A method according to claim 21 further comprising:
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receiving data relating to remedial actions undertaken with respect at least one suspect component; and
creating a summary log of the observed symptoms, the at least one suspect component and the remedial actions.
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26. A method according to claim 21 wherein correlating the input relating to the observed symptoms with the plurality of suspect components comprises correlating the input relating to the observed symptoms with the at least one suspect component in accordance with a diagnostic model constructed based upon systemic information relating to the components and input-output relationships of the components, experiential information relating to direct relationships between component failures and the observed symptoms, and factual information relating to component reliability.
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27. A diagnostic system for identifying a component that has failed, the diagnostic system comprising:
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an interface for receiving input relating to observed symptoms indicative of a failed component;
a processing element for correlating the input relating to the observed symptoms with at least one suspect component that is capable of causing the observed symptoms upon failure, said processing element also capable of identifying additional information relating to the at least one suspect component and including at least one item selected from the group consisting of component availability, time to repair the suspect component, cost to repair the suspect component, time to replace the suspect component and cost to replace the suspect component; and
a display for presenting the at least one suspect component and the additional information relating to the at least one suspect component. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method for identifying a component that has failed, the method comprising:
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receiving input relating to observed symptoms indicative of a failed component;
correlating the input relating to the observed symptoms with at least one suspect component that is capable of causing the observed symptoms upon failure;
identifying additional information relating to the at least one suspect component including at least one item selected from the group consisting of component availability, time to repair the suspect component, cost to repair the suspect component, time to replace the suspect component and cost to replace the suspect component; and
displaying the at least one suspect component and the additional information relating to the at least one suspect component. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
receiving input relating to an outcome of a test; and
reprioritizing the at least one suspect component based upon the outcome of the test and the relative likelihood that the respective suspect components caused the observed symptoms.
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47. A method according to claim 41 wherein identifying additional information comprises identifying schematic images of the plurality of suspect components, and wherein displaying the at least one suspect component and the additional information comprises presenting the schematic image of a suspect component.
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48. A method according to claim 47 presenting the schematic image of a suspect component comprises indicating the relative likelihood that the suspect component has failed.
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49. A method according to claim 41 wherein identifying additional information comprises identifying a minimum equipment list, and wherein displaying the at least one suspect component and the additional information comprises indicating the respective suspect components that are on the minimum equipment list.
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50. A method according to claim 41 wherein identifying additional information comprises identifying an inventory of components, and wherein displaying the at least one suspect component and the additional information comprises indicating the respective suspect components that are in inventory.
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51. A method according to claim 41 wherein identifying additional information comprises identifying textual data describing each suspect component, and wherein displaying the at least one suspect component and the additional information comprises presenting the textual data.
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52. A method according to claim 41 wherein the correlation comprises correlating the input relating to the observed symptoms with the at least one suspect component in accordance with a diagnostic model constructed based upon systemic information relating to the components and input-output relationships of the components, experiential information relating to direct relationships between component failures and the observed symptoms, and factual information relating to component reliability.
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53. A diagnostic system for identifying a component that has failed, the diagnostic system comprising:
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an interface for receiving input relating to observed symptoms indicative of a failed component;
a processing element for correlating the input relating to the observed symptoms with at least one suspect components that is capable of causing the observed symptoms upon failure, said processing element correlating the input relating to the observed symptoms with the at least one suspect component in accordance with a diagnostic model constructed based upon systemic information relating to the components and input-output relationships of the components, experiential information relating to direct relationships between component failures and the observed symptoms, and factual information relating to component reliability; and
a display for presenting the at least one suspect component. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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Specification