Diagnostic system and method

A method for identifying a component that has failed, the method comprising:

• receiving input relating to observed symptoms indicative of a failed component;
• correlating the input relating to the observed symptoms with a plurality of suspect components that are each capable of causing the observed symptoms upon failure;
• prioritizing the plurality of suspect components based upon a relative likelihood that the respective suspect components caused the observed symptoms;
• identifying a plurality of tests to be performed in order to refine the prioritization of the plurality of suspect components;
• receiving input to define at least one predetermined criteria relating to the plurality of tests;
• prioritizing the plurality of tests based upon the at least one predetermined criteria;
• and
• displaying a prioritized listing of the plurality of suspect components and an indication of at least one of the tests to be performed in order to refine the prioritization of the plurality of suspect components.

A method for identifying a component that has failed, the method comprising:

• correlating input relating to at least one observed symptom with a plurality of suspect components that are each capable of causing the at least one observed symptom upon failure;
• prioritizing the plurality of suspect components based upon a relative likelihood that the respective suspect components caused the at least one observed symptom;
• identifying a plurality of tests to be performed in order to refine the prioritization of the plurality of suspect components;
• prioritizing the plurality of tests based upon at least one predetermined criteria;
• and
• displaying the plurality of prioritized tests.

A diagnostic system for identifying a component that has failed, the diagnostic system comprising:

• an interface for receiving input relating to observed symptoms indicative of a failed component;
• a processing element for correlating the input relating to the observed symptoms with at least one suspect component that is capable of causing the observed symptoms upon failure, said processing element also capable of identifying additional information relating to the at least one suspect component and including at least one item selected from the group consisting of component availability, time to repair the suspect component, cost to repair the suspect component, time to replace the suspect component and cost to replace the suspect component;
• and
• a display for presenting the at least one suspect component and the additional information relating to the at least one suspect component.

A method for identifying a component that has failed, the method comprising:

• receiving input relating to observed symptoms indicative of a failed component;
• correlating the input relating to the observed symptoms with at least one suspect component that is capable of causing the observed symptoms upon failure;
• identifying additional information relating to the at least one suspect component including at least one item selected from the group consisting of component availability, time to repair the suspect component, cost to repair the suspect component, time to replace the suspect component and cost to replace the suspect component;
• and
• displaying the at least one suspect component and the additional information relating to the at least one suspect component.

A diagnostic system for identifying a component that has failed, the diagnostic system comprising:

• an interface for receiving input relating to observed symptoms indicative of a failed component;
• a processing element for correlating the input relating to the observed symptoms with at least one suspect components that is capable of causing the observed symptoms upon failure, said processing element correlating the input relating to the observed symptoms with the at least one suspect component in accordance with a diagnostic model constructed based upon systemic information relating to the components and input-output relationships of the components, experiential information relating to direct relationships between component failures and the observed symptoms, and factual information relating to component reliability;
• and
• a display for presenting the at least one suspect component.