Method and system for computer network implemented vehicle diagnostics
First Claim
1. A method of diagnosing a vehicle having an onboard computer for generating diagnostic trouble code signals, the diagnostic trouble code signals being related to a passed or problem status of the vehicle, the method comprising:
- (a) connecting a handheld code reader to the onboard computer;
(b) downloading diagnostic trouble code signals from the onboard computer to the code reader;
(c) generating an visual output signal in the handheld code reader, the visual output signal being representative of passed/failed/inconclusive status of the vehicle as determined from the diagnostic trouble code signals by the code reader, independent of re sources external to the handheld code reader;
(d) disconnecting the code reader from the on-board computer and uploading the diagnostic trouble code signals from the code reader to a personal computer configured to correlate the diagnostic trouble code signals to problem description data for diagnosing the vehicle;
(e) uploading the diagnostic trouble code signals from the personal computer to a remote computer, the remote computer being configured to correlate the diagnostic trouble code signals to problem description data for diagnosing the vehicle;
(f) wherein the steps of connecting, downloading and generating an visual output signal proceed independent of user interaction with a code reader visual interface.
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Abstract
A method of diagnosing a status of a vehicle. The vehicle has an on-board computer for generating a diagnostic trouble code signal related to a passed or problem status of the vehicle. A portable code reader is connected to the on-board computer. Diagnostic trouble code signals are communicated from the on-board computer to the code reader. The code reader communicates to a personal computer respective ones of the diagnostic trouble code signals related to a problem status of the vehicle. The personal computer communicates the respective ones of the diagnostic trouble code signals from the personal computer to a remote computer. The remote computer is configured to correlate the diagnostic trouble code signals to problem description data for diagnosing the vehicle. Problem description data correlated to the respective ones of the diagnostic trouble code signals are communicated from the remote computer to the personal computer.
61 Citations
70 Claims
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1. A method of diagnosing a vehicle having an onboard computer for generating diagnostic trouble code signals, the diagnostic trouble code signals being related to a passed or problem status of the vehicle, the method comprising:
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(a) connecting a handheld code reader to the onboard computer;
(b) downloading diagnostic trouble code signals from the onboard computer to the code reader;
(c) generating an visual output signal in the handheld code reader, the visual output signal being representative of passed/failed/inconclusive status of the vehicle as determined from the diagnostic trouble code signals by the code reader, independent of re sources external to the handheld code reader;
(d) disconnecting the code reader from the on-board computer and uploading the diagnostic trouble code signals from the code reader to a personal computer configured to correlate the diagnostic trouble code signals to problem description data for diagnosing the vehicle;
(e) uploading the diagnostic trouble code signals from the personal computer to a remote computer, the remote computer being configured to correlate the diagnostic trouble code signals to problem description data for diagnosing the vehicle;
(f) wherein the steps of connecting, downloading and generating an visual output signal proceed independent of user interaction with a code reader visual interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 70)
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21. A method of diagnosing a vehicle having an onboard computer for generating diagnostic trouble code signals, the diagnostic trouble code signals being related to a passed or problem status of the vehicle, the method comprising:
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(a) connecting a handheld code reader to the onboard computer;
(b) downloading diagnostic trouble code signals from the on-board computer to the code reader;
(c) generating a visual output signal in the handheld code reader, the visual output signal being representative of passed/failed/inconclusive status of the vehicle as determined from the diagnostic trouble code signals by the code reader, independent of resources external to the handheld code reader;
(d) uploading the diagnostic trouble code signals from the code reader to a computer configured to index the diagnostic trouble code signals to problem description data for diagnosing the vehicle;
(e) indexing part/service provider information to the diagnostic trouble code signals, the part/service provider information being representative of the cost of product and labor to effect repairs indicated by the diagnostic trouble code signals; and
(f) downloading the problem description data and part/service provider information indexed to the diagnostic trouble codes;
(g) wherein the steps of connecting the code reader, downloading diagnostic trouble code signals and generating a visual output signal proceed independent of user interaction with a code reader visual interface. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of diagnosing a vehicle having an onboard computer for generating diagnostic trouble code signals, the diagnostic trouble code signals being related to a passed or problem status of the vehicle, the method comprising:
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(a) connecting a handheld code reader to the onboard computer;
(b) downloading diagnostic trouble code signals from the onboard computer to the code reader; and
(c) generating a visual output signal in the handheld code reader, the visual output signal being representative of passed/failed/inconclusive status of the vehicle as determined from the diagnostic trouble code signals by the code reader, independent of resources external to the handheld code reader;
(d) wherein the steps of connecting, downloading and generating a visual output signal proceed independent of user interaction with a code reader visual interface; and
(e) wherein the step of generating a visual output signal in the code reader comprises selectively illuminating one of a plurality of visual indicia, each visual indicia being representative of a different status of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method of diagnosing a vehicle having an onboard computer for generating diagnostic trouble code signals, the diagnostic trouble code signals being related to a passed or problem status of the vehicle, the method comprising:
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(a) connecting a handheld code reader to the onboard computer;
(b) downloading diagnostic trouble code signals from the onboard computer to the code reader; and
(c) generating a visual output signal in the handheld code reader, the visual output signal being representative of passed/failed/inconclusive status of the vehicle as determined from the diagnostic trouble code signals by the code reader, independent of resources external to the handheld code reader;
(d) wherein the steps of connecting, downloading and generating a visual output signal proceed independent of user interaction with a code reader visual interface; and
(e) wherein the steps of connecting, downloading and generating a visual output signal in the code reader proceed independent of any vehicle specific identification by a user. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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Specification