Vehicle diagnostic system

• US 20080177438A1
• Filed: 03/21/2008
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innova Electronics Corporation (Innova Telematics Solutions)
• Original Assignee: Innova Electronics Corporation (Innova Telematics Solutions)
• Inventors: Andreasen, Keith, Madison, Robert, Pham, Phuong, Chen, Ieon C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,068,951 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33
• 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 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

There is provided a method of providing vehicle support. The method includes receiving diagnostic data from the onboard vehicle computer. The diagnostic data is received by an automotive diagnostic tool and is then communicated to a prior experience database having information related to diagnostic solutions associated with combinations of diagnostic data. The prior experience database is arranged to match the received diagnostic data to possible diagnostic solutions. The diagnostic solutions are then prioritized in accordance with ranked matches of the received diagnostic data to the previous combinations of diagnostic data stored in the prior experience database. The possible diagnostic solution associated with the highest ranked combination of diagnostic data is identified as the most likely solution. Vehicle components associated with the most likely solution are then identified. The diagnostic tool is subsequently configured to log diagnostic data related to the vehicle components associated with the most likely solution.

Claims

1. A method of providing vehicle support through analysis of data received from an onboard vehicle computer, the method comprising the steps of:

a. receiving vehicle diagnostic data from the onboard vehicle computer, the vehicle diagnostic data being received by a handheld automotive diagnostic tool;

b. communicating the vehicle diagnostic data from the automotive diagnostic tool to a prior experience database having information related to diagnostic solutions associated with combinations of diagnostic data, the prior experience database being arranged to match the received vehicle diagnostic data to possible diagnostic solutions;

c. prioritizing the possible diagnostic solutions in accordance with ranked matches of the received diagnostic data to the previous combinations of diagnostic data stored in the prior experience database, the possible diagnostic solution associated with the highest ranked combination of diagnostic data being identified as the most likely solution;

d. identifying vehicle components associated with the most likely solution; and

e. configuring the automotive diagnostic tool to log diagnostic data related to the vehicle components associated with the most likely solution.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein step (b) includes wirelessly communicating the vehicle diagnostic data from the diagnostic tool to a personal communication device.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein step (b) includes communicating the vehicle diagnostic data to the prior experience database via a cellular telephone network.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 further including the step of logging the data related to the vehicle components associated with the most likely solution.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 further including the step of wirelessly communicating the logged data from the automotive diagnostic tool to a personal communication device.

6. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the diagnostic tool is configured to log diagnostic data for a selectable period of time.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 further including the step of logging the data related to the vehicle components associated with the most likely solution.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 further including the step of wirelessly communicating the logged data from the automotive diagnostic tool to a personal communication device.

9. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein the diagnostic tool is configured to log diagnostic data for a selectable period of time.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 further including the step of communicating the most likely solution to a personal communication device.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 furthering including the step of communicating the logged diagnostic data to a customer support center.

12. A method of providing vehicle support based on data received from an onboard vehicle computer, the method comprising the steps of:

a. programming a handheld automotive diagnostic tool to log vehicle operation data in response to detection of a specified diagnostic trouble code(s);

b. connecting the tool to the onboard vehicle computer to receive diagnostic data therefrom, the diagnostic data including diagnostic trouble code(s) and the vehicle operation data;

c. buffering the diagnostic data for a selectable period of time;

d. analyzing the diagnostic data to detect the occurrence of the specified diagnostic trouble code(s);

e. logging the vehicle operation data in the automotive diagnostic tool in response to detection of the specified diagnostic trouble code(s); and

f. interfacing the automotive diagnostic tool with a wireless communication link to communicate the diagnostic data and the logged vehicle operation data to a remote location.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein step (d) includes logging diagnostic data for a selectable period of time.

14. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein step (e) includes interfacing the automotive diagnostic tool with a cellphone to communicate the logged vehicle operation data to the remote location via a cellular telephone network.

15. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the remote location is a customer service center.

16. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the remote location is a prior experience database having information related to diagnostic solutions associated with combinations of diagnostic data, the prior experience database being arranged to match the received vehicle diagnostic data to possible diagnostic solutions.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 further including the step of prioritizing the possible diagnostic solutions in accordance with ranked matches of the received diagnostic data to the previous combinations of diagnostic data stored in the prior experience database, the possible diagnostic solution associated with the highest ranked combination of diagnostic data being identified as the most likely solution.

18. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein step (d) includes logging diagnostic data for a selectable period of time.

19. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein step (e) includes interfacing the automotive diagnostic tool with a cellphone to communicate the logged vehicle operation data to the remote location via a cellular telephone network.

20. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein the remote location is a customer service center.