Multi-stage diagnostic system and method

• US 9,014,908 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2014
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innova Electronics Corporation (Innova Telematics Solutions)
• Original Assignee: Innova Electronics Corporation (Innova Telematics Solutions)
• Inventors: Chen, Ieon C., Madison, Robert, Nguyen, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): FREJD, RUSSELL WARREN
• Application Number:
  US14/163,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20140195101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29.1, 701/29.6
• US Class Current: 701/29.6
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/00 Testing or monitoring of control systems or parts thereof monitoring of programme-control systems G05B19/048, G05B19/406
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0272 Presentation of monitored results, e.g. selection of status reports to be displayed; Filtering information to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0278 Qualitative, e.g. if-then rules; Fuzzy logic; Lookup tables; Symptomatic search; FMEA
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2425 Iterative querying; Query formulation based on the results of a preceding query
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/243 Natural language query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24564 Applying rules; Deductive queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2457 with adaptation to user needs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• 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 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/082 to be used in vehicles H04B1/086 takes precedence; holding or mounting accessories B60R11/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A multi-stage diagnostic system and related method which seeks diagnostic information from a secondary information source when a first information source does not yield sufficient data for producing a diagnostic result. In particular, diagnostic process includes a first stage of communicating with an onboard vehicle computer to retrieve diagnostic trouble codes therefrom. If diagnostic trouble codes are received from the onboard computer, the diagnostic trouble codes are used to produce a diagnostic result. On the other hand, if no diagnostic trouble codes are retrieved from the onboard computer, the diagnostic process proceeds to a second stage wherein symptomatic diagnostic information is solicited from the user. A series of symptomatic questions may be presented to the user on a smartphone.

Claims

1. A system for providing diagnostics for a vehicle having an onboard computer using a hand held electronic device, the system comprising:

a scan tool disposable in operative communication with the onboard computer for retrieving diagnostic trouble codes therefrom;

a diagnostic database having diagnostic solutions matched with symptomatic data; and

a set of computer executable instructions downloadable onto a hand held electronic device for configuring the hand held electronic device to;

establish communication between the hand held electronic device and the scan tool;

display a symptomatic question sequence for the user when no diagnostic trouble code is received from the onboard computer;

store symptomatic data received from the user; and

communicate the symptomatic data to the diagnostic database;

the diagnostic database being configured to match symptomatic data received from the hand held electronic device with a diagnostic solution.

2. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the computer executable instructions further configure the hand held electronic device to display a symptomatic question sequence that is customized in accordance with vehicle identification information associated with the vehicle.

3. The system recited in claim 2, wherein the scan tool is configured to retrieve vehicle identification information from the onboard computer.

4. The system recited in claim 2, wherein the hand held electronic device is configured to retrieve vehicle identification information from the vehicle.

5. The system recited in claim 4, wherein the hand held electronic device includes a camera configured to capture an image of at least one of a vehicle identification number (VIN) and a vehicle license plate, and wherein the hand held electronic device is loaded with a set of executable instructions operative to derive the vehicle identification information from the captured image.

6. The system recited in claim 4, wherein the hand held electronic device is a smart phone.

7. The system recited in claim 2, wherein the vehicle identification information includes a vehicle identification number.

8. The system recited in claim 2, wherein the vehicle identification information includes license plate information.

9. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the diagnostic database is disposed in the hand held electronic device.

10. The system recited in claim 1, further comprising a computer server, wherein the diagnostic database is located on the computer server.

11. The system recited in claim 1 wherein the symptomatic question sequence includes a first question and a second question, the content of the second question depending on user input received in response to the first question.

12. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the computer executable instructions further configures the smart phone to:

receive information associated with the diagnostic solution from the diagnostic database; and

display the information associated with the diagnostic solution.

13. The system recited in claim 12, wherein the information associated with the diagnostic solution includes a cost of repair statement.

14. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the computer executable instructions configure the hand held electronic device to establish wireless communication with the scan tool.

15. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the computer executable instructions configure the hand held electronic device to display the symptomatic question sequence for the user when diagnostic trouble codes are received from the onboard computer, the diagnostic database being configured determine the diagnostic solution based on an evaluation of diagnostic trouble codes and symptomatic data.

16. A system for providing diagnostics for a vehicle, the vehicle having an onboard computer capable of generating diagnostic trouble codes associated with various diagnostic conditions and retrievable from the vehicle, the system comprising:

a diagnostic database having diagnostic solutions matched with symptomatic data; and

a set of computer executable instructions downloadable onto a hand held electronic device for configuring the hand held electronic device to;

display a symptomatic question sequence for the user in response to an indication that there is no diagnostic trouble code have been identified as present in the onboard computer;

store symptomatic data received from the user; and

communicate the symptomatic data to the diagnostic database;

the diagnostic database being configured to match symptomatic data received from the hand held electronic device with a diagnostic solution.

17. The system recited in claim 16, wherein the computer executable instructions further configure the hand held electronic device to display a symptomatic question sequence that is customized in accordance with vehicle identification information associated with the vehicle.

18. The system recited in claim 16, further comprising a computer server, the diagnostic database being located on the computer server.

19. The system recited in claim 16 wherein the symptomatic question sequence includes a first question and a second question, the content of the second question depending on user input received in response to the first question.

20. The system recited in claim 16, wherein the computer executable instructions further configures the hand held electronic device to:

receive information associated with the diagnostic solution from the diagnostic database; and

display the information associated with the diagnostic solution.