Method and apparatus for indicating an automotive diagnostic urgency

• US 8,825,270 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2010
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• 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, Leon
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, John R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Do, Truc M
• Application Number:
  US12/721,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20110224866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,637 Days
• Field of Search: 701/33, 701/29.6, 701/31.4, 701/31.5, 701/183, 340/438, 340/439, 340/459, 340/461, 702/183, 702/119, 702/120, 702/123, 702/182, 702/188
• US Class Current: 701/29.6
• 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 at least one diagnostic trouble code stored thereon, the method comprising the steps of:

a) forming a first urgency database listing a plurality of diagnostic trouble codes, wherein each diagnostic trouble code is associated with a respective first urgency status, the first urgency status being one of a low urgency and a high urgency;

b) wherein the first urgency database is a vehicle specific characteristic database such that the determination of the first urgency status is based on a vehicle characteristic specific evaluation of urgency status of the at least one diagnostic trouble code individually;

c) forming a second urgency database listing a plurality of combinations of diagnostic trouble codes, wherein each combination of diagnostic trouble codes is collectively associated with a respective second urgency status, the second urgency status being one of a low urgency and a high urgency;

d) receiving, in a tool, the at least one diagnostic trouble code;

e) comparing, in a comparing device, the at least one diagnostic trouble code received in the tool to information stored in the first urgency database to determine a first urgency status, based upon consideration of the digital trouble codes individually;

f) when the tool receives a plurality of trouble codes, comparing, in the comparing device, the diagnostic trouble codes received in the tool to information stored in the second urgency database to determine a second urgency status, based upon consideration of a combination of digital trouble codes; and

g) generating, in the comparing device, a high urgency indicator signal in response to high urgency status resulting from comparison of the diagnostic trouble codes to the first diagnostic database and the second diagnostic database.

2. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of providing an urgency indicator in communication with the comparing device, the urgency indicator being configured to emit a high urgency alert signal in response to generation of the high urgency indicator signal.

3. The method recited in claim 2, wherein the high urgency alert signal includes a red light.

4. The method recited in claim 3, wherein the red light blinks multiple times in response to generation of the high urgency indicator signal.

5. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of generating a low urgency indicator signal in response to low urgency status resulting from comparison of the diagnostic trouble codes to the first diagnostic database and the second diagnostic database.

6. The method recited in claim 5, further comprising the step of generating a medium urgency indicator signal in response to medium urgency status resulting from comparison of the diagnostic trouble codes to the first diagnostic database and the second diagnostic database, medium urgency status occurring when the comparison of the diagnostic trouble codes to the first diagnostic database and the second diagnostic database does not result in the high urgency status or the low urgency status.

7. The method recited in claim 5, further comprising the step of providing an urgency indicator in communication with the comparing device, the urgency indicator being configured to emit a low urgency alert signal in response to generation of the low urgency indicator signal.

8. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the vehicle characteristic specific evaluation is based upon a consideration of the vehicle model.

9. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the vehicle characteristic specification evaluation is based upon a consideration of the vehicle identification number.

10. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the second urgency database is a vehicle characteristic database such that the determination of the second urgency status is based on a vehicle characteristic specific evaluation of urgency status of the combination of diagnostic trouble codes.

20. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the high urgency indicator signal is generated when any of the received diagnostic trouble codes are individually associated with high urgency status in the first urgency database, or when the combination of received diagnostic trouble codes is collectively associated with a high urgency status in the second urgency database.

21. The method as recited in claim 20 further comprising the step of receiving information identifying vehicle characteristic data, wherein the first urgency database further associates a high urgency status with select individual digital trouble codes only when received from vehicles identified by specific vehicle characteristics.

22. The method as recited in claim 21 further including the step of determining the first urgency status proceeds by evaluating the urgency status of each received diagnostic trouble code in the combination with evaluating characteristic data received from the vehicle.

23. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the comparing device is a scan tool.

24. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the comparing device is a cellphone.

11. A method of identifying an urgency of treating a diagnostic condition of a vehicle under test, the vehicle including an on-board computer having at least one diagnostic trouble code stored thereon, the method comprising the steps of:

a) forming a first urgency database listing a plurality of diagnostic trouble codes, wherein each diagnostic trouble code is associated with a respective first urgency status, the first urgency status being one of a low urgency and a high urgency;

b) receiving, in a tool, the diagnostic trouble codes and vehicle characteristic data associated with the vehicle under test;

c) comparing, in a comparing device, the diagnostic trouble codes received in the tool to information stored in the first urgency database to determine a first urgency status;

d) generating a high urgency indicator signal where a first high urgency status results from comparison of the received trouble codes to the first diagnostic database;

e) forming a second urgency database listing a plurality of vehicle specific diagnostic trouble codes, wherein the vehicle specific diagnostic trouble codes are associated with stored vehicle characteristic data and vehicle specific second urgency status, the second urgency status being one of a low urgency and a high urgency; and

f) generating a high urgency indicator signal where a second high urgency status results from comparison of the received diagnostic trouble codes and vehicle characteristic data associated with the vehicle under test to the second diagnostic database.

12. The method recited in claim 11, 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.

13. The method recited in claim 12, wherein the high urgency alert signal includes a red light.

14. The method recited in claim 11, wherein the second urgency status is variable in response to vehicle characteristics defined by the vehicle.

15. The method recited in claim 14, wherein the vehicle characteristics includes the vehicle model.

16. The method recited in claim 14, wherein the vehicle characteristics are derivable from a vehicle identification number.

17. A diagnostic urgency tool for determining an urgency associated with a diagnostic condition of a vehicle under test, the vehicle having an onboard computer for storing diagnostic trouble codes, and vehicle characteristic information, the diagnostic urgency system comprising:

a tool connector connectable with the onboard computer to download the diagnostic trouble codes and vehicle characteristic data from the onboard computer of the vehicle under test;

a first urgency database in operative communication with the tool connector, the first urgency database listing diagnostic trouble codes normally associated with a high urgency status and trouble codes associated with a high urgency status only when received from a vehicle identified by specific vehicle characteristic data; and

an urgency indicator in communication with the first urgency database, the urgency indicator being configured to activate a high urgency signal where any of the diagnostic trouble codes downloaded from the onboard computer conform to any of the diagnostic trouble codes listed in the first urgency database that are normally associated with a high urgency status, or where any of the downloaded diagnostic trouble codes are associated with a high urgency status for the vehicle under test.

18. The diagnostic urgency tool recited in claim 17, wherein the urgency indicator is configured to activate a low urgency signal when none of the downloaded diagnostic trouble codes conform to any of the diagnostic trouble codes listed in the first urgency database that are associated with a high urgency status.

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