US 8,019,503 B2 · Automotive diagnostic and remedial process

Abstract

A method of processing vehicle diagnostic data is provided for identifying likely vehicle fix(s) associated with a diagnostic data, and identifying a repair procedure(s) for correcting the likely fix(s). The process receiving vehicle diagnostic data from a vehicle onboard computer at a remote diagnostic database, the database being arranged to map vehicle diagnostic data to possible vehicle fix(s). The possible vehicle fix(s) are prioritized in accordance with ranked matches of the received diagnostic data to combinations of diagnostic data stored in a prior experience database. The prior experience database having an identified fix associated with each stored combination of diagnostic data. The fix associated with the highest ranked combination of diagnostic data is identified as the most likely fix. The most likely fix is mapped to a vehicle repair database, the most likely fix being directly mapped to an associated repair procedure for repairing the most likely fix.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method of processing vehicle diagnostic data to identify likely vehicle fix(s) associated with the diagnostic data and identifying a repair procedure(s) for correcting the likely fix(s), the process comprising:

receiving at a remote database a combined set of vehicle diagnostic data downloaded to a scan tool from a vehicle onboard computer, the database being arranged as possible individual fix(s) corresponding to a particular combined set of vehicle diagnostic data;
prioritizing the possible vehicle fix(s) solely in accordance with ranked matches of the received combined set of diagnostic data to the combined set of diagnostic data stored in a prior experience database, the prior experience database having an identified fix associated with each stored combined set of diagnostic data, the fix associated with the highest ranked stored combined set of diagnostic data being identified as the most likely fix;
and
mapping the most likely fix to an associated repair procedure for the most likely fix.

1 more element

An automotive diagnostic and remedial process comprising:

i. accessing automotive diagnostic data stored in an automotive electrical control system, the accessed automotive diagnostic data including a combined set of diagnostic trouble codes;
ii. transferring the automotive diagnostic data to a scan tool;
iii. uploading the accessed automotive diagnostic information from the scan tool to a remote first database, the first database being operative to correlate only the accessed combined set of diagnostic trouble codes with at least one possible fix;
iv. accessing a second database of automotive repair procedures for repairing a range of automotive conditions;
v. linking the possible fix to a selected repair procedure(s) in the second database, the selected repair procedure(s) being effective to repair the possible fix;
and
vi. accessing the selected repair procedure(s) effective to repair the possible fix.

4 more elements

A process of presenting vehicle repair procedures in response to input of vehicle diagnostic data from a hand held scan tool, the process comprising:

a. downloading a combined set of vehicle diagnostic data and vehicle identification information from a vehicle electronic control system to a hand held scan tool;
b. uploading the combined set of vehicle diagnostic data and vehicle identification information from the scan tool to an online diagnostic web site;
c. comparing the uploaded combination of vehicle diagnostic data to stored combined sets of vehicle diagnostic data;
d. prioritizing a stored combined set of diagnostic data that most closely conforms to the uploaded combined set of vehicle diagnostic data;
e. mapping the prioritized combined set of vehicle diagnostic data to at least one fix;
f. mapping the fix and vehicle identification information to a repair procedure path addressable at an online repair procedure data base;
and
g. selectively accessing a repair procedure using the repair procedure path.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automotive diagnostic and remedial process

Life of this patent

Automotive diagnostic and remedial process

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15