# US 2014/0195099 A1 · Smart phone app-based vin decoding and symptomatic diagnostic system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0195099 A1 - Document ID: US20140195099A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/734,254 - Filed: 2013-01-04 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-04 - Assignees: Innova Electronics Corporation - Applicants: Innova Electronics, Inc. - Inventors: Ieon C. Chen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140195099A1 ## 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) - G05B 23/0272: {Presentation of monitored results, e.g. selection of status reports to be displayed; Filtering information to the user} - G05B 23/0278: {Qualitative, e.g. if-then rules; Fuzzy logic; Lookup tables; Symptomatic search; FMEA} - G06F 16/2425: {Iterative querying; Query formulation based on the results of a preceding query} - G06F 16/2428: {Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms (G06F16/2423 takes precedence)} - G06F 16/243: {Natural language query formulation} - G06F 16/2448: {for particular applications; for extensibility, e.g. user defined types} - G06F 16/24564: {Applying rules; Deductive queries} - G06F 16/2457: with adaptation to user needs - G06F 16/248: Presentation of query results - G06Q 10/20: Administration of product repair or maintenance - G07C 5/006: {Indicating maintenance} - G07C 5/008: {communicating information to a remotely located station (transmission systems for measured values G08C)} - G07C 5/0808: {Diagnosing performance data (testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005)} - G07C 5/0841: {Registering performance data (recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B)} - H04L 67/04: specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability - G07C 2205/02: using a vehicle scan tool - H04B 1/082: {to be used in vehicles (H04B1/086 takes precedence; holding or mounting accessories B60R11/02)} - H04W 88/02: Terminal devices - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - 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 - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A system and method of diagnosing a vehicle using a smart phone to collect symptomatic data from the user/driver. The symptomatic data is received by the user in response to symptomatic questions displayed on the user's smart phone. The symptomatic questions are generated in response to deriving vehicle characteristic information (i.e., year, make, model, engine) from vehicle identification information (i.e., the vehicle identification number (VIN) or license plate information). In this regard, vehicle-specific symptomatic questions may be presented to the user so as to ask pertinent questions based on a history of diagnoses of vehicles sharing similar vehicle characteristics. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for providing vehicle specific diagnostics for a vehicle using a smart phone, the system comprising: a vehicle decoder disposable in communication with the smart phone and configured to determine vehicle characteristic information based on vehicle identification information received from the smart phone, the vehicle characteristic information including the vehicle year, make and model; a diagnostic database having diagnostic solutions matched with symptomatic data, the diagnostic database being organized according to vehicle characteristic information; and a computer readable medium downloadable onto the smart phone for configuring the smart phone to: display a symptomatic question sequence for the user; store symptomatic data received from the user; and communicate the symptomatic data to the diagnostic database; the diagnostic database being configured to match symptomatic data received from the smart phone with a diagnostic solution corresponding to the vehicle characteristic information of the vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system recited in claim 1, further comprising a smart phone, the vehicle decoder being located on the smart phone. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system recited in claim 1, wherein the vehicle decoder is located remotely from the smart phone. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system recited in claim 3, further comprising a computer server, the vehicle decoder being located on the computer server. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The system recited in claim 3, further comprising a personal computer, the vehicle decoder being located on the personal computer ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system recited in claim 1, further comprising a smart phone, the diagnostic database located on the smart phone. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system recited in claim 1, wherein the diagnostic database is located remotely from the smart phone. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system recited in claim 7, further comprising a computer server, the diagnostic database being located on the computer server. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The system recited in claim 7, further comprising a personal computer, the diagnostic database being located on the personal computer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system recited in claim 1, wherein the vehicle identification information includes the vehicle identification number. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system recited in claim 1, wherein the vehicle identification information includes license plate information. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of the vehicle decoder and the computer readable medium is configured to extract the vehicle identification information from a photograph received from the smart phone. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system recited in claim 1 wherein the vehicle characteristic information further includes engine type. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system recited in claim 1 wherein the symptomatic question sequence includes a first question and a second question, the content of the second question depending on user input received in relation to the first question. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system recited in claim 1, wherein the computer readable medium further configures the smart phone to: receive information associated with the diagnostic solution from the diagnostic database; and display the information associated with the diagnostic solution. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system recited in claim 11, wherein the information associated with the diagnostic solution includes the cost of repair. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The system recited in claim 1, wherein: the computer readable medium further configures the smart phone to: receive vehicle diagnostic data; and upload the vehicle diagnostic data to the diagnostic database; and the diagnostic database is configured to receive the diagnostic data and make a diagnostic determination based on the vehicle diagnostic data and the symptomatic data. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The system recited in claim 1, further comprising: a defect database having information related to defects that have occurred in different vehicles and the reference mileage at which such defects occurred; and a defect predictor in communication with the vehicle decoder and the defect database and configured to identify defects listed in the defect database corresponding to vehicles having similar characteristic information to the vehicle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system recited in claim 18, wherein the defect database includes the reference mileage associated with each identified associated defect. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system recited in claim 19, wherein the computer readable medium further configures the smart phone to prompt the user to enter the mileage of the vehicle and communicate the entered mileage to the defect predictor. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The system recited in claim 20, wherein the defect predictor is further configured to restrict the identified defects to defects that have occurred within a mileage bracket that substantially corresponds to the current mileage communicated in the first signal. ### Claim 22 A system for providing vehicle specific diagnostics for a vehicle using a smart phone, the vehicle having vehicle characteristic information, including the vehicle year, make and model, the system comprising: a diagnostic database in communication with the smart phone, the diagnostic database having diagnostic solutions matched with symptomatic data, the diagnostic database being organized according to vehicle characteristic information; and a computer readable medium downloadable onto the smart phone for configuring the smart phone to: display a symptomatic question sequence for the user, the symptomatic question sequence being associated with the vehicle characteristic information; store symptomatic data received from the user; and communicate the symptomatic data to the diagnostic database; the diagnostic database being configured to match symptomatic data received from the smart phone with a diagnostic solution corresponding to the vehicle characteristic information of the vehicle. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The system recited in claim 22, further comprising a code reader configured to receive diagnostic data from the vehicle, the code reader being disposable in communication with the smart phone to communicate diagnostic data thereto. ### Claim 24 A computer readable medium downloadable onto a smart phone for providing vehicle specific diagnostics, the computer readable medium comprising: a vehicle decoder configured to determine vehicle characteristic information based on vehicle identification information received by the smart phone, the vehicle characteristic information including the vehicle year, make and model; a diagnostic database having diagnostic solutions matched with symptomatic data, the diagnostic database being organized according to vehicle characteristic information; and a display module configured to display a symptomatic question sequence for the user, the symptomatic question sequence being associated with the vehicle characteristic information; the diagnostic database being configured to match symptomatic data received from the smart phone with a diagnostic solution corresponding to the vehicle characteristic information of the vehicle. ### Claim 25 A method of diagnosing a vehicle using a smart phone, the method comprising the steps of: receiving vehicle identification information from a smart phone; determining vehicle characteristic information from the vehicle identification information, the vehicle characteristic information including year, make, and model of the vehicle; generating a symptomatic question sequence associated with the vehicle characteristic information; receiving symptomatic data from the user, wherein the symptomatic data corresponds to the symptomatic questions sequence; communicating the symptomatic data to a diagnostic database having diagnostic solutions matched with symptomatic data, the diagnostic database being organized according to vehicle characteristic information; and matching the symptomatic data with diagnostic solutions corresponding to vehicle characteristic information of the vehicle. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method recited in claim 25, wherein the receiving vehicle identification information step includes receiving a digital file from the smart phone, the digital file corresponding to a photograph including vehicle identification information. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The method recited in claim 25, wherein the receiving vehicle identification information step includes receiving information related to the vehicle identification number. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The method recited in claim 25, wherein the receiving vehicle identification information step includes receiving information related to a license plate of the vehicle. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The method recited in claim 25, wherein the displaying step includes displaying a first question and a second question, the content of the second question depending on user input received in relation to the first question. ### Claim 30 (depends on 25) The method recited in claim 25, further comprising the steps of: communicating the diagnostic solution from the diagnostic database to the smart phone; and displaying the diagnostic solution on the smart phone.