Dynamic decision sequencing method and apparatus for optimizing a diagnostic test plan

• US 20070294001A1
• Filed: 06/14/2006
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Service Solutions US LLC
• Original Assignee: Service Solutions US LLC
• Inventors: Underdal, Olav M., Portyanko, Oleksiy, Mayes, Randy L., Gilbert, Harry M., Fountain, Gregory J., Wittliff, William W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,423,226 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 7/01 Probabilistic graphical models, e.g. probabilistic networks

Abstract

A dynamic diagnostic plan generator arranges diagnostic test procedures related to a vehicle symptom or operational problem in a sequence based on a probabilistic Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA). The diagnostic plan generator also tracks a vehicle state, and provides instructions for test preparation steps and instructions for performing the diagnostic test procedures. The plan generator further generates schematic illustrations of the diagnostic test procedures, and creates a diagnostic data structure containing information related to the diagnostic test procedures. In addition, the diagnostic plan generator sends and receives information regarding actual failure mode occurrences, for example, to and from a central database. Furthermore, the diagnostic plan generator facilitates the creation of failure mode tests by an expert diagnostics author.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of dynamically producing a diagnostic test sequence to diagnose a failure mode of a vehicle, comprising:

optimizing an order of a plurality of diagnostic test procedures based at least in part on a probabilistic failure mode analysis; and

formatting at least a step of a first diagnostic test procedure from among the plurality of diagnostic test procedures for display on a display device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the step of formatting comprises preparing a graphical user interface whereby a user performs direct manipulation of displayed graphical representations of objects and symbols by way of an input device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising tracking a state of the vehicle.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising formatting a test preparation step required for the first diagnostic test procedure based on the tracked vehicle state for display on the display device.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising generating an interactive diagnostic schematic to illustrate the first diagnostic test procedure.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising producing an information object based on the diagnostic test sequence.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an input indicating that the failure mode has been diagnosed; and

sending a failure mode identifier representing the failure mode over a communication network to a central database.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving failure mode historical data over a communication network from a central database; and

updating the failure mode analysis based on the historical data.

9. A computer program product for dynamically producing a diagnostic test sequence to diagnose a failure mode of a vehicle, including a computer-readable medium encoded with instructions configured to be executed by a processor in order to perform predetermined operations comprising:

optimizing an order of a plurality of diagnostic test procedures based at least in part on a probabilistic failure mode analysis; and

formatting at least a step of a first diagnostic test procedure from among the plurality of diagnostic test procedures for display on a display device.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the step of formatting comprises preparing a graphical user interface whereby a user performs direct manipulation of displayed graphical representations of objects and symbols by way of an alphanumeric keyboard and a pointing device.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the predetermined operations further comprise tracking a state of the vehicle.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the predetermined operations further comprise formatting a test preparation step required for the first diagnostic test procedure based on the tracked vehicle state for display on the display device.

13. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the predetermined operations further comprise generating an interactive diagnostic schematic to illustrate the first diagnostic test procedure.

14. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the predetermined operations further comprise producing an information object based on the diagnostic test sequence.

15. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the predetermined operations further comprise:

receiving an input indicating that the failure mode has been diagnosed; and

sending a failure mode identifier representing the failure mode over a communication network to a central database.

16. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the predetermined operations further comprise:

receiving failure mode historical data over a communication network from a central database; and

updating the failure mode analysis based on the historical data.

17. A diagnostic tool for dynamically producing a diagnostic test sequence to diagnose a failure mode of a vehicle, comprising:

means for optimizing an order of a plurality of diagnostic test procedures based at least in part on a probabilistic failure mode analysis; and

means for formatting at least a step of a first diagnostic test procedure from among the plurality of diagnostic test procedures for display on a display device.

18. The diagnostic tool of claim 17, further comprising:

means for tracking a state of the vehicle; and

means for formatting a test preparation step required for the first diagnostic test procedure based on the tracked vehicle state for display on the display device.

19. The diagnostic tool of claim 17, further comprising means for generating an interactive diagnostic schematic to illustrate the first diagnostic test procedure.

20. The diagnostic tool of claim 17, further comprising means for producing an information object based on the diagnostic test sequence.

21. The diagnostic tool of claim 17, further comprising:

means for receiving an input indicating that the failure mode has been diagnosed; and

means for sending a failure mode identifier representing the failure mode over a communication network to a central database.

22. The diagnostic tool of claim 17, further comprising:

means for receiving failure mode historical data over a communication network from a central database; and

means for updating the failure mode analysis based on the historical data.

23. A diagnostic tool for dynamically producing a diagnostic test sequence to diagnose a failure mode of a vehicle, comprising:

a sequencing module configured to optimize an order of a plurality of diagnostic test procedures based at least in part on a probabilistic failure mode analysis; and

a display module configured to format at least a step of a first diagnostic test procedure from among the plurality of diagnostic test procedures for display on a display device.

24. The diagnostic tool of claim 23, further comprising a state module configured to track a state of the vehicle, wherein the display module further formats a test preparation step required for the first diagnostic test procedure based on the tracked vehicle state for display on the display device.

25. The diagnostic tool of claim 23, further comprising a schematic module configured to generate an interactive diagnostic schematic to illustrate the first diagnostic test procedure.

26. The diagnostic tool of claim 23, further comprising an object module configured to produce an information object based on the diagnostic test sequence.

27. The diagnostic tool of claim 23, further comprising:

an input module configured to receive an input indicating that the failure mode has been diagnosed; and

a communication module configured to send a failure mode identifier representing the failure mode over a communication network to a central database.

28. The diagnostic tool of claim 23, further comprising:

a history module configured to receive failure mode historical data over a communication network from a central database; and

an update module configured to update the failure mode analysis based on the historical data.