# US 2013/0158779 A1 · Method for operating a fault diagnosis system of a vehicle and vehicle

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2013/0158779 A1
- Document ID: US20130158779A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/714,084
- Filed: 2012-12-13
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-16
- Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Inventors: Michael Gloos; Philipp Peti
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130158779A1

## CPC

- 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)
- G07C 5/0808: {Diagnosing performance data (testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005)}
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE

## Abstract

A method for operating a fault diagnosis system of a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a plurality of electronic components and a plurality of vehicle systems. At least one of the plurality of vehicle systems can be operated by means of at least two of the plurality of electronic components. The method includes determining if at least one of the plurality of electronic components comprises a fault condition, and if it is determined that at least one of the plurality of electronic components comprises a fault condition, a determining as to which of the vehicle systems that is operable by means of the electronic component comprising the fault condition, has caused the fault condition. In addition, a determining of an identification code that is assigned to the vehicle system causing the fault condition, takes place. Furthermore, a storing of a fault entry that includes the identification code takes place.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for operating a fault diagnosis system of a vehicle, the vehicle including a plurality of electronic components and a plurality of vehicle systems, with at least one of the plurality of vehicle systems operable by means of at least two of the plurality of electronic components, the method comprising:
determining if at least one of the plurality of electronic components comprises a fault condition;
if it is determined that at least one of the plurality of electronic components comprises a fault condition, determining as to which of the vehicle systems operable by means of the electronic component comprising the fault condition, has caused the fault condition;
determining an identification code that is assigned to the vehicle system causing the fault condition; and
storing a fault entry that includes the identification code.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the fault entry additionally includes a code characterizing the fault condition.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein in addition a point of time is determined at which the fault condition commenced and wherein the fault entry additionally includes a parameter characterizing the point of time of the commencement of the fault condition.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method according to claim 3, wherein the parameter characterizing the point of time of the commencement of the fault condition includes a time duration characterizing the operating duration of the vehicle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein, if on the electronic component comprising the fault condition a plurality of software-based programs is operable, the method further comprises:
determining which program has caused the fault condition, and
wherein the fault entry additionally includes an identification code assigned to the program causing the fault condition.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the fault entry is stored in a storage unit with a non-volatile memory.

### Claim 7

A vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of electronic components;
a plurality of vehicle systems, at least one of the plurality of vehicle systems operable by means of at least two of the plurality of electronic components and the vehicle systems are each assigned at least one identification code characterizing the individual vehicle system; and
a fault diagnosis system with at least one storage unit,
wherein the fault diagnosis system determines if at least one of the plurality of electronic components comprises a fault condition and, if it is determined that at least one of the plurality of electronic components comprises a fault condition, determines which of the vehicle systems operable by means of the electronic component comprising the fault condition, has caused the fault condition, stores a fault entry in the at least one storage unit, and the fault entry includes an identification code assigned to the vehicle system causing the fault condition.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the at least one storage unit is part of the electronic component comprising the fault condition.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the at least one storage unit comprises a non-volatile memory.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the fault diagnosis system stores the fault entry in the storage unit, and the fault entry additionally includes a code characterizing the fault condition.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the fault diagnosis system determines a point of time at which the fault condition commenced and stores the fault entry in the storage unit, wherein the fault entry additionally includes a parameter characterizing the point of time of the commencement of the fault condition.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the fault diagnosis system determines which program has caused the fault condition, and if on the electronic component comprising the fault condition a plurality of software-based programs is operable, stores the fault entry in the storage unit, with the fault entry including an identification code assigned to the program causing the fault condition.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the at least one of the plurality of vehicle systems is selected from the group comprising: a driving dynamics control system, a drive control system, an energy management system, an occupant comfort control system, a navigation system, an information and entertainment system, a telematic system and a driver assistance system.

### Claim 14

A computer program product, comprising:
a storage medium readable by a computer unit of a fault diagnosis system of a vehicle, the vehicle including a plurality of electronic components and a plurality of vehicle systems, with at least one of the plurality of vehicle systems operable by means of at least two of the plurality of electronic components, the storage medium storing instructions for execution by the computer unit for performing a method comprising:
determining if at least one of the plurality of electronic components comprises a fault condition;
if it is determined that at least one of the plurality of electronic components comprises a fault condition, determining which of the vehicle systems operable by means of the electronic component comprising the fault condition, has caused the fault condition;
determining an identification code that is assigned to the vehicle system causing the fault condition; and
storing a fault entry that includes the identification code.
