# US 2014/0195101 A1 · Multi-Stage 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 2014/0195101 A1 - Document ID: US20140195101A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/163,691 - Filed: 2014-01-24 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-04 - Assignees: Innova Electronics Corporation - Applicants: Innova Electronics, Inc. - Inventors: Ieon C. Chen; Robert Madison; Michael Nguyen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140195101A1 ## CPC - G07C 5/008: {communicating information to a remotely located station (transmission systems for measured values G08C)} - 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 16/24564: {Applying rules; Deductive queries} - G06F 16/2457: with adaptation to user needs - 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 5/006: {Indicating maintenance} - 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 - G05B 23/00: Testing or monitoring of control systems or parts thereof (monitoring of program-control systems G05B19/048, G05B19/406) - G07C 5/0808: {Diagnosing performance data (testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005)} - 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 - 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 - 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) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - 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 multi-stage diagnostic system and related method which seeks diagnostic information from a secondary information source when a first information source does not yield sufficient data for producing a diagnostic result. In particular, diagnostic process includes a first stage of communicating with an onboard vehicle computer to retrieve diagnostic trouble codes therefrom. If diagnostic trouble codes are received from the onboard computer, the diagnostic trouble codes are used to produce a diagnostic result. On the other hand, if no diagnostic trouble codes are retrieved from the onboard computer, the diagnostic process proceeds to a second stage wherein symptomatic diagnostic information is solicited from the user. A series of symptomatic questions may be presented to the user on a smartphone. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for providing diagnostics for a vehicle having an onboard computer using a hand held electronic device, the system comprising: a scan tool disposable in operative communication with the onboard computer for retrieving diagnostic trouble codes therefrom; a diagnostic database having diagnostic solutions matched with symptomatic data; and a set of computer executable instructions downloadable onto the hand held computing device for configuring the hand held electronic device to: establish communication between the hand held electronic device and the scan tool; display a symptomatic question sequence for the user when there is no diagnostic trouble code received from the onboard computer; 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 hand held electronic device with a diagnostic solution. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system recited in claim 1, wherein the computer executable instructions further configure the hand held electronic device to display a symptomatic question sequence that is customized in accordance with vehicle identification information associated with the vehicle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system recited in claim 2, wherein the scan tool is configured to retrieve vehicle identification information from the onboard computer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system recited in claim 2, further comprising a hand held electronic device is configured to retrieve vehicle identification information from the vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system recited in claim 4, wherein the hand held electronic device includes a camera configured to capture an image of a portion of the vehicle and wherein the hand held electronic device is loaded with a set of executable instructions effective to derive the vehicle identification information from the captured image. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The system recited in claim 4, wherein the hand held electronic device is a smart phone. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The system recited in claim 2, wherein the vehicle identification information includes a vehicle identification number. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The system recited in claim 2, wherein the vehicle identification information includes license plate information. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system recited in claim 1, further comprising a hand held electronic device, wherein the diagnostic database is disposed in the hand held computing device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system recited in claim 1, further comprising a computer server, wherein the diagnostic database is located on the computer server. ### Claim 11 (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 response to the first question. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system recited in claim 1, wherein the computer executable instructions 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 13 (depends on 12) The system recited in claim 12, wherein the information associated with the diagnostic solution includes a cost of repair statement. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system recited in claim 1, wherein the computer executable instructions configure the hand held electronic device to establish wireless communication with the scan tool. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system recited in claim 1, wherein the computer executable instructions configure the hand held computing device to display the symptomatic question sequence for the user when diagnostic trouble codes are received from the onboard computer, the diagnostic database being configured determine the diagnostic solution based on an evaluation of diagnostic trouble codes and symptomatic data. ### Claim 16 A system for providing diagnostics for a vehicle, the vehicle having an onboard computer capable of generating diagnostic trouble codes associated with various diagnostic conditions and retrievable by the scan tool, the system comprising: a diagnostic database having diagnostic solutions matched with symptomatic data; and a set of computer executable instructions downloadable onto the hand held computing device for configuring the hand held electronic device to: display a symptomatic question sequence for the user in response to an indication that there is no diagnostic trouble code have been identified as present in the onboard computer; 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 hand held electronic device with a diagnostic solution. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system recited in claim 16, wherein the computer executable instructions further configure the hand held electronic device to display a symptomatic question sequence that is customized in accordance with vehicle identification information associated with the vehicle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system recited in claim 16, further comprising a computer server, the diagnostic database being located on the computer server. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The system recited in claim 16 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 20 (depends on 16) The system recited in claim 16, wherein the computer executable instructions 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.