Strategy based diagnostic system

• US 6,671,655 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2000
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John A. Moccio
• Original Assignee: John A. Moccio
• Inventors: Moccio, John A
• Primary Examiner(s): ASSOUAD, PATRICK J
• Application Number:
  US09/752,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20020087236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 702/183, 702/182, 702/184, 702/185, 701/29, 706/911, 706/912, 706/913
• US Class Current: 702/183
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0216 Human interface functionality, e.g. monitoring system providing help to the user in the selection of tests or in its configuration

Abstract

A Strategy Based Diagnostic System having a user friendly diagnostic software data base for electrical/hydraulic/vacuum/pneumatic systems. The front end of the software program will be on existing platforms such as but not limited to WINDOWS®, INTERNET EXPLORER®, or NETSCAPE NAVIGATOR®. Upon entering the information of the item or vehicle or circuit or system of interest into the program, it will go to the stored library and bring the schematic of the system up on the screen. It will also bring up a dashboard template of the product one is working on with a showing of the appropriate buttons. One can then click on the appropriate buttons and it will go the appropriate sub libraries and retrieve the requisite information. Another feature of the program is that it shows animated electrical/hydraulic flow which flow will change as one adjusts the button on the dashboard. This program features simulation data derived from a known good unit. One adjusts the buttons on the dashboard to match the product you are working on and compare it with the stated simulation data specifications to help in the diagnostic process. The programmed system can be made available via the Internet as by subscription or fee per use.

Claims

1. A method of diagnosing a malfunction of a machinery system utilizing a video monitor onto which a single technician solely screens pages from solely from a software library comprising the steps of:

(a) withdrawing from a first portion of said library a template onto which the technician can enter information relating to said machinery system;

(b) manually entering said information from the single technician defining a specific machine and a malfunctioning segment onto said template;

(c) withdrawing from a second portion of said library a screen provoked by said manually entered information from the single technician, said screen showing a schematic of the malfunctioning segment with a plurality of buttons; and

,

(d) clicking on at least one of said buttons to show a location and proper functional data whereby the single technician diagnoses the malfunctioning segment solely by interacting with said library.

2. The method according to claim 1 where said machinery system is an automobile.

3. The method according to claim 1 where said machinery system is a hydraulic system.

4. The method according to claim 1 where said machinery system is a vacuum system.

5. The method according to claim 1 where said machinery system is an electrical circuit.

6. The method according to claim 2 wherein said schematic includes the step of:

providing data entry on a simulation dashboard.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

simulating different operating conditions of the machinery system for the diagnosing of the malfunction solely from the software library solely by entering data information by the single technician.

7. A method for diagnosis of an automobile malfunction by a single technician with a monitor utilizing retrieval of stored information from a library having a first portion of data and a second portion of data comprising the steps of:

(a) retrieving a page from said first portion of data onto which one introduces the product information and a problem requiring repair for a malfunction;

(b) retrieving a selected schematic with buttons from the second portion of data from the stored library provoked by the retrieving in step(a); and

,

(c) allowing the single technician to click on various buttons on the monitor, said buttons having links to the stored library for retrieving information to diagnose the malfunction.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said stored library is stored on a CD-ROM.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said stored library is provided by an Internet connection to a computer providing a video connection to the monitor.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said buttons includes the step of:

retrieving at least one of;

a picture, drawing, photo and representation of the location.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein said buttons includes the step of:

retrieving a window with technicians'"'"' tips encountered with various diagnoses.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein said buttons includes the step of:

retrieving a window with a picture of an actual component for an item selected with photo capability and terminal identifications.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein said buttons includes the step of:

retrieving a window with a picture of an electrical connector for the item selected with photo capability and terminal identifications.

14. The method of claim 7 wherein said buttons includes the step of:

retrieving individual and selected a window voltages settings and related points for measurements and current flow.

19. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

simulating different operating conditions of the problem from the product information solely by the single technician for the retrieving of the information solely from the stored library to diagnose the malfunction.

15. A strategy based diagnostic method having a library with a first portion of a stored database and a second portion of a stored database for diagnosing a malfunction comprising the sequential steps of:

(a) retrieving a page from said first portion onto which one introduces product information and a problem requiring repair;

(b) retrieving a repair schematic with buttons from the second portion of the stored library provoked by the introductions in step (a); and

,

(c) allowing only a single user to click on one of the buttons having links to the library for information to diagnose the malfunction solely from the stored database.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the retrieved repair schematic includes the step of:

providing a simulation dashboard for data entry.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

providing a CD-ROM as the stored library.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

simulating different operating conditions solely from the stored library of the product information solely by the single user to determine the problem to diagnose the malfunction.