US 6,208,948 B1 · Computer-assisted diagnostic device and diagnostic process for electronically controlled systems

Abstract

A computer-assisted diagnostic device for electronically controlled systems, which are arranged in an overall system, and a diagnostic process which can be implemented by means of a computer are provided. The diagnostic device and process are suitable for electronically controlled systems in a motor vehicle. Computers of a second type pertaining to the diagnostic device can at any time exchange by way of networks based on Internet technology current data and programs with a computer of a first type. The frequently changed and adapted diagnostic programs must only be filed on the computer of the first type, which considerably reduces the establishment and maintenance expenditures for the diagnostic programs and completely eliminates the program distribution expenditures. In the computers of the second type, dynamically loadable libraries are filed. The diagnostics program loaded into a computer of the second type is expanded by these libraries and is therefore enabled to intervene in the electronically controlled systems, if devices exist for permitting the interaction between the computer of the second type and the electronically controlled systems of an overall system.

Claims19

Dependent claims

Computer-assisted diagnostic device for electronically controlled systems arranged within an overall system, the diagnostic device comprising:

a computer of a first type which exists outside the overall system and which contains an expandable diagnostics program and, in addition, contains data of a first type, said data of the first type essentially comprising diagnosis-relevant data of the electronically controlled systems;
one or more computers of a second type available at any location which contain dynamically loadable libraries for expanding the expandable diagnostics program, the diagnostics program expanded by the dynamically loadable libraries being capable of accessing the electronically controlled systems;
and
devices for permitting an interaction between a computer of the second type and the electronically controlled systems of an overall system, the computer of the first type and the one or more computers of the second type being capable of exchanging data and programs with one another by way of networks based on Internet technology,
wherein the computer of the first type is a server set up at a central point and the data of the first type additionally comprising data and diagnostic results generated by an intervention of the expanded diagnostics program in the electronically controlled systems.

2 more elements

Diagnostic process for electronically controlled systems arranged within an overall system which can be implemented via computers, the diagnostic process comprising the acts of:

loading a diagnostics program filed in a computer of a first type and loading of data of a first type, which essentially comprise diagnosis-relevant data of the electronically controlled systems in one or more computers of a second type available at one or several arbitrary locations, the diagnostics program being transmitted by way of a network based on Internet technology from the computer of the first type to the one or more computers of the second type, the computer of the first type and the one or more of the second type being capable of exchanging data and programs with one another;
expanding the loaded diagnostics program by directly loadable libraries filed in each computer of the second type;
and
implementing the expanded diagnostics program, the expanding diagnostics program intervening, by way of devices for permitting an interaction between a computer of the second type and the electronically controlled systems of the overall system, into the electronically controlled systems;
and
wherein the computer of the first type is a server set up at a central point, and the data of the first type additionally comprises data and diagnostic results generated by the intervention of the expanded diagnostic program in the electronically controlled systems.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Computer-assisted diagnostic device and diagnostic process for electronically controlled systems

Life of this patent

Computer-assisted diagnostic device and diagnostic process for electronically controlled systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19