Authoring diagnostic test sequences apparatus and method
First Claim
1. An authoring tool executable by a computer with memory, comprising:
- a flowchart module to create or modify a diagnostic test sequence, the flowchart module including a first display image with a plurality of selectable fields to facilitate creating or modifying the diagnostic test sequence;
a panel editor module to create or modify a display panel that displays an instruction associated with the diagnostic test sequence during diagnostic testing, the panel editor module including a second display image with a plurality of selectable fields to facilitate creating or modifying the display panel; and
an expression editor module to create or modify a logical expression associated with the diagnostic test sequence, the expression editor module including a third display image with a plurality of selectable fields to facilitate creating or modifying the logical expression;
wherein the flowchart module incorporates the display panel and the logical expression into the diagnostic test sequence.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle diagnostic test sequence authoring module includes a flowchart display screen, an add node display screen, an expression builder display screen, a panel editor display screen, a phrase editor display screen, and a meter editor display screen. Each of the author module display screens include a combination of selectable fields, including editable text fields, dropdown menu fields, checkbox fields, selectable bullet fields, logical display buttons, and logical links, that facilitate development of diagnostic test sequences, represented by hierarchical flowcharts, by vehicle diagnostics experts who do not have substantial knowledge of a computer programming language. A flowchart includes multiple nodes, representing individual test steps, and branches that connect the nodes. Logical expressions based on vehicle test conditions determine the flow of the test sequence.
34 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An authoring tool executable by a computer with memory, comprising:
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a flowchart module to create or modify a diagnostic test sequence, the flowchart module including a first display image with a plurality of selectable fields to facilitate creating or modifying the diagnostic test sequence; a panel editor module to create or modify a display panel that displays an instruction associated with the diagnostic test sequence during diagnostic testing, the panel editor module including a second display image with a plurality of selectable fields to facilitate creating or modifying the display panel; and an expression editor module to create or modify a logical expression associated with the diagnostic test sequence, the expression editor module including a third display image with a plurality of selectable fields to facilitate creating or modifying the logical expression;
wherein the flowchart module incorporates the display panel and the logical expression into the diagnostic test sequence. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An authoring tool on a computer readable media and executable on a processor, comprising:
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a flowchart module to create or modify a diagnostic test sequence, the flowchart module including a first display image with a plurality of selectable fields to facilitate creating or modifying the diagnostic test sequence, wherein the diagnostic test sequence is represented by a hierarchical flowchart including a test step represented by a node and a flow path from the node to a next node represented by a branch; a panel editor module to create or modify a display panel associated with the node that displays an instruction associated with the diagnostic test sequence during diagnostic testing, the panel editor module including a second display image with a plurality of selectable fields to facilitate creating or modifying the display panel; a phrase editor module to create or modify a text on the display panel, the phrase editor module including a third display image with a plurality of selectable fields to facilitate creating or modifying the text; a meter editor module to create or modify a meter on the display panel, the meter editor module including a fourth display image with a plurality of selectable fields to facilitate creating or modifying the meter; and an expression editor module to create or modify a logical expression associated with the flowchart to evaluate data, including a plurality of data types from a plurality of data sources, in order to determine a test action or make a test sequence decision based on the data, the expression editor module evaluating a syntax of the logical expression in order to produce a valid computer program code to execute the logical expression, the expression editor module including a fifth display image with a plurality of selectable fields to facilitate creating or modifying the logical expression; wherein the first, second, third, fourth and fifth display images comprise a graphical user interface (GUI) whereby the diagnostic test sequence, the display panel, the text, the meter and the logical expression are created or modified through direct manipulation of displayed graphical representations of objects and symbols by way of an alphanumeric keyboard and a pointing device; and
the panel editor module incorporates the text and the meter into the display panel, and the flowchart module incorporates the display panel and the logical expression into the flowchart; and
diagnostic test sequence data is stored to at least one database in a memory device. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of providing diagnostic test sequence authoring capability, comprising the steps of:
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displaying a first display image with a plurality of selectable fields to facilitate creating or modifying a diagnostic test sequence; displaying a second display image with a plurality of selectable fields to facilitate creating or modifying a display panel to display an instruction associated with the diagnostic test sequence during diagnostic testing; displaying a third display image with a plurality of selectable fields to facilitate creating or modifying a text on the display panel; displaying a fourth display image with a plurality of selectable fields to facilitate creating or modifying a logical expression associated with the diagnostic test sequence to evaluate data, including a plurality of data types from a plurality of data sources, in order to determine a test action or make a test sequence decision based on the data; evaluating a syntax of the logical expression in order to produce a valid computer program code to execute the logical expression; receiving user input through direct manipulation of a graphical user interface (GUI) by way of an alphanumeric keyboard and a pointing device, including input to modify the text or input to select one of the plurality of selectable fields; and creating a diagnostic test sequence incorporating the display panel and the logical expression. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. An authoring tool in a computer with memory, comprising:
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means for creating or modifying a diagnostic test sequence, including means for displaying a first display image with a plurality of selectable fields to facilitate creating or modifying the diagnostic test sequence; means for creating or modifying a display panel that displays an instruction associated with the diagnostic test sequence during diagnostic testing, including means for displaying a second display image with a plurality of selectable fields to facilitate creating or modifying the display panel; means for creating or modifying a text on the display panel, including means for displaying a third display image with a plurality of selectable fields to facilitate creating or modifying the text; and means for creating or modifying a logical expression associated with the diagnostic test sequence to evaluate data, including a plurality of data types from a plurality of data sources, in order to determine a test action or make a test sequence decision based on the data, including means for evaluating a syntax of the logical expression in order to produce a valid computer program code to execute the logical expression and means for displaying a fourth display image with a plurality of selectable fields to facilitate creating or modifying the logical expression; wherein the first, second, third and fourth display images comprise a graphical user interface (GUI) whereby the diagnostic test sequence, the display panel, the text and the logical expression are created or modified through direct manipulation of displayed graphical representations of objects and symbols by way of an alphanumeric keyboard and a pointing device; and
the means for creating or modifying a diagnostic test sequence incorporates the display panel and the logical expression into the diagnostic test sequence. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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Specification