Method and system for adaptively modifying diagnostic vehicle information

• US 20070055420A1
• Filed: 08/24/2005
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: Reddy, Sunil, Krzystofczyk, Carl, Lewis, Brad
• Granted Patent: US 7,706,936 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

A method and system for adaptively modifying diagnostic vehicle information is provided. A system can automatically optimize default OEM diagnostic vehicle information by recognizing when to make text and non-text modifications within the information. Manual changes that are made once can be learned and used over and over again. Modifications may be made based on a desired use of the diagnostic vehicle information.

Claims

1. A method for generating a library of diagnostic vehicle information comprising:

receiving diagnostic vehicle information including at least one procedure for diagnosing a cause of a fault that can be experienced by an apparatus under diagnosis;

identifying modifications that have been made to the diagnostic vehicle information;

storing in a library of transformations the modifications made to the diagnostic vehicle information;

for each modification, identifying a reason for making the modification within the diagnostic vehicle information; and

storing in the library of transformations an identifier for each modification indicating the reason for making the modification.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the reason for making the modification within the diagnostic vehicle information comprises identifying an intended output type of the diagnostic vehicle information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the reasoning includes abbreviating text in the diagnostic vehicle information, expanding an abbreviation of text in the diagnostic vehicle information, removing a picture from the diagnostic vehicle information, or inserting a picture into the diagnostic vehicle information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising a user reviewing the diagnostic information and making the modifications.

5. A method comprising:

receiving diagnostic vehicle information including at least one procedure for diagnosing a cause of a fault that can be experienced by an apparatus under diagnosis;

identifying an intended output type for which the diagnostic vehicle information will be used;

searching within a library for modifications to make to the diagnostic vehicle information; and

presenting a user with suggested modifications to make to the diagnostic vehicle information.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising adaptively learning to automatically modify the diagnostic vehicle information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein adaptively learning to automatically modify the diagnostic vehicle information comprises creating transformation statistics indicating when the user agrees with the suggested modifications.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein creating the transformation statistics indicating when the user agrees with the suggested modifications comprises recording whether the user accepts the suggested modifications.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein if the transformation statistics for a given modification exceed a predetermined threshold, automatically modifying the diagnostic vehicle information using the suggested modification.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the intended output type for which the diagnostic vehicle information will be used includes a handheld diagnostic device, a computer program and a printed manual.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein identifying the intended output type for which the diagnostic vehicle information will be used comprises receiving user input indicating the intended output type.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein searching within the library for modifications to make to the diagnostic vehicle information comprises comparing text within the diagnostic vehicle information with modifications in the library.

13. A method comprising:

receiving diagnostic vehicle information including at least one procedure for diagnosing a cause of a fault that can be experienced by an apparatus under diagnosis;

identifying an intended output type for which the diagnostic vehicle information will be used;

identifying within a library modifications to make to the diagnostic vehicle information;

for identified modifications, determining modification statistics, the modification statistics indicating whether a modification should be accepted based on past experience; and

based on the modification statistics, modifying the diagnostic vehicle information according to the identified modifications.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising accepting the modifications if the modification statistics are above a predetermined threshold.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising rejecting the modifications if the modification statistics are below a predetermined threshold.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

presenting the identified modifications to a user; and

the user determining whether to accept the identified modifications.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the modification statistics indicate whether a modification is always accepted, is only accepted for specific outputs, or is never accepted based on past experience.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein a modifying the diagnostic vehicle information includes abbreviating text in the diagnostic vehicle information, adding pictures or animations to the diagnostic vehicle information, adding hypertext links in the diagnostic vehicle information, or expanding a word in the diagnostic vehicle information.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising creating the modification statistics.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein creating the modification statistics comprises recording whether a user accepts suggested modifications.