Patent ID: 8825270
Filing Date: 2014-09-02
Classification: G07C

Abstract:
1. A method of identifying an urgency of treating a diagnostic condition of a vehicle, the vehicle including an on-board computer having at least one diagnostic trouble code stored thereon, the method comprising the steps of: a) forming a first urgency database listing a plurality of diagnostic trouble codes, wherein each diagnostic trouble code is associated with a respective first urgency status, the first urgency status being one of a low urgency and a high urgency; b) wherein the first urgency database is a vehicle specific characteristic database such that the determination of the first urgency status is based on a vehicle characteristic specific evaluation of urgency status of the at least one diagnostic trouble code individually; c) forming a second urgency database listing a plurality of combinations of diagnostic trouble codes, wherein each combination of diagnostic trouble codes is collectively associated with a respective second urgency status, the second urgency status being one of a low urgency and a high urgency; d) receiving, in a tool, the at least one diagnostic trouble code; e) comparing, in a comparing device, the at least one diagnostic trouble code received in the tool to information stored in the first urgency database to determine a first urgency status, based upon consideration of the digital trouble codes individually; f) when the tool receives a plurality of trouble codes, comparing, in the comparing device, the diagnostic trouble codes received in the tool to information stored in the second urgency database to determine a second urgency status, based upon consideration of a combination of digital trouble codes; and g) generating, in the comparing device, a high urgency indicator signal in response to high urgency status resulting from comparison of the diagnostic trouble codes to the first diagnostic database and the second diagnostic database.