Abstract:
A system and a machine-implemented method for receiving at least one data string from a remote device. A data string is selected from the at least one data string received, and technical/diagnostic information related to the selected data string is retrieved.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     This disclosure relates to vehicular diagnostic information presentation systems and methodologies and, more particularly, to dynamic vehicular diagnostic information presentation systems and methodologies.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     When diagnosing motor vehicle problems, scan tools (i.e., devices that interface with a vehicle&#39;s onboard computer system) are often used by technicians to retrieve one or more trouble codes concerning the vehicle being serviced, such that each trouble code received is indicative of a problem, symptom, or condition of the motor vehicle.  
         [0003]     When addressing the individual problems associated with the retrieved trouble codes, technicians often rely upon printed technical manuals that show the various subsystems of the motor vehicle they are troubleshooting. These subsystems may include e.g., electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic and/or mechanical subsystems, and the technical manuals often include schematic diagrams of these various subsystems.  
         [0004]     Unfortunately, these printed schematic diagrams are typically difficult to follow, as one or more complete subsystems are often included within a single schematic diagram. Additionally, while these printed schematic diagrams commonly contain considerable high-level information (e.g., wiring harness information and generalized component symbols), they are often lacking with respect to low-level information (e.g., component-specific information, photographs, and location information), as this additional low-level information typically makes the schematic diagrams appear overly crowded.  
         [0005]     Alternatively or additionally, computer-based data systems may be used to retrieve computer-based trouble shooting information (i.e., electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic and/or mechanical schematic diagrams). However, these computer-based data systems tend to be stand-alone systems that are not integrated with e.g., the scan tool used to diagnose the motor vehicle, thus requiring the technician to maintain multiple systems and manually enter (into the computer-based data system) the data that was retrieved by the scan tool.  
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0006]     In one implementation, a machine-implemented method includes receiving at least one data string from a remote device. A data string is selected from the at least one data string received, and technical/diagnostic information related to the selected data string is retrieved.  
         [0007]     One or more of the following features may also be included. The selected data string may be associated with a make and model of vehicle. Retrieving technical/diagnostic information related to the selected data string may include retrieving technical/diagnostic information related to the make and model of vehicle. Selecting a data string may include clicking on or highlighting the selected data string with a pointing device. The remote device may be an electronic control unit within a motor vehicle. The technical/diagnostic information may be stored on a local or a remote data store.  
         [0008]     A make and model of vehicle may be selected, and technical/diagnostic information related to the make and model of vehicle selected may be rendered on a display device. The technical/diagnostic information may include a schematic diagram associated with the make and model of vehicle selected. The schematic diagram may be selected from the group consisting of: an electrical schematic diagram; a vacuum schematic diagram; a pneumatic schematic diagram; and a hydraulic schematic diagram.  
         [0009]     The schematic diagram rendered may include a plurality of discrete portions. A user may be allowed to graphically select one or more of the discrete portions of the schematic diagram, resulting in one or more selected discrete portions and one or more unselected discrete portions.  
         [0010]     The technical/diagnostic information may include portion-specific technical/diagnostic information related to the one or more selected discrete portions. The portion-specific technical/diagnostic information may be rendered on the display device. The portion-specific technical/diagnostic information may be selected from the group consisting of: a part number for the one or more selected discrete portions; an image of the one or more selected discrete portions; a description of the normal operation of the one or more selected discrete portions; one or more condition-dependent variables concerning the one or more selected discrete portions; location information concerning the one or more selected discrete portions; one or more instructional videos concerning the one or more selected discrete portions; service bulletin information concerning the one or more selected discrete portions; and remedial information concerning the one or more selected discrete portions. The condition-dependent variables may be selected from the group consisting of a voltage, an amperage, a resistance, an impedance, and a waveform. The one or more selected discrete portions may be selected from the group consisting of: an electrical component; an electromechanical component; and a wiring harness.  
         [0011]     The technical/diagnostic information may be selected from the group consisting of: a part number; an image; an operational description; one or more condition-dependent variables; location information; one or more instructional videos; service bulletin information; and remedial information.  
         [0012]     In another implementation, a computer program product resides on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored on it. When executed by the processor, the instructions cause that processor to: receive at least one data string from a remote device; select a data string from the at least one data string received; and retrieve technical/diagnostic information related to the selected data string.  
         [0013]     One or more of the following features may also be included. The computer program product may include instructions for: associating the selected data string with a make and model of vehicle, such that retrieving technical/diagnostic information related to the selected data string may include retrieving technical/diagnostic information related to the make and model of vehicle. The instructions for selecting a data string may include instructions for clicking on the selected data string with a pointing device. The instructions for selecting a data string may include instructions for highlighting the selected data string with a pointing device. The remote device may be an electronic control unit within a motor vehicle. The technical/diagnostic information may be stored on a local or remote data store.  
         [0014]     The computer program product may include instructions for: selecting a make and model of vehicle, and rendering the technical/diagnostic information, on a display device, related to the make and model of vehicle selected. The technical/diagnostic information may include a schematic diagram associated with the make and model of vehicle selected. The schematic diagram may be selected from the group consisting of: an electrical schematic diagram; a vacuum schematic diagram; a pneumatic schematic diagram; and a hydraulic schematic diagram.  
         [0015]     The schematic diagram rendered may include a plurality of discrete portions. The computer program product may include instructions for: allowing a user to graphically select one or more of the discrete portions of the schematic diagram, resulting in one or more selected discrete portions and one or more unselected discrete portions.  
         [0016]     The technical/diagnostic information may include portion-specific technical/diagnostic information related to the one or more selected discrete portions. The computer program product may include instructions for: rendering the portion-specific technical/diagnostic information on the display device. The portion-specific technical/diagnostic information may be selected from the group consisting of: a part number for the one or more selected discrete portions; an image of the one or more selected discrete portions; a description of the normal operation of the one or more selected discrete portions; one or more condition-dependent variables concerning the one or more selected discrete portions; location information concerning the one or more selected discrete portions; one or more instructional videos concerning the one or more selected discrete portions; service bulletin information concerning the one or more selected discrete portions; and remedial information concerning the one or more selected discrete portions. The condition-dependent variables may be selected from the group consisting of a voltage, an amperage, a resistance, an impedance, and a waveform. The one or more selected discrete portions may be selected from the group consisting of: an electrical component; an electromechanical component; and a wiring harness.  
         [0017]     The technical/diagnostic information may be selected from the group consisting of: a part number; an image; an operational description; one or more condition-dependent variables; location information; one or more instructional videos; service bulletin information; and remedial information.  
         [0018]     The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view of a dynamic information system coupled to a distributed computing network;  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart of the dynamic information system of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a motor vehicle interfaced with the dynamic information system of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic view of a screen display rendered by the dynamic information system of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic view of a screen display rendered by the dynamic information system of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic view of a screen display rendered by the dynamic information system of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 7  is a diagrammatic view of a screen display rendered by the dynamic information system of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0026]      FIG. 8  is a diagrammatic view of a screen display rendered by the dynamic information system of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 9  is a diagrammatic view of a screen display rendered by the dynamic information system of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0028]      FIG. 10  is a diagrammatic view of a screen display rendered by the dynamic information system of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0029]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a dynamic information system  10  that provides a technician  12  with dynamic technical/diagnostic information concerning the various subsystems of the vehicle  14  that technician  12  is troubleshooting. As will be discussed below in greater detail, dynamic information system  10  monitors data strings (e.g., trouble codes) received from the vehicle  14  that technician  12  is working on, and tailors the technical/diagnostic information provided to technician  12  in accordance with these data strings.  
         [0030]     Dynamic information system  10  typically resides on and is executed by a diagnostic system (e.g., a Sun Diagnostics SMP-4000 Modular Platform™  16  or a Snap-On MODIS Modular Diagnostic Information System™  18 ).  
         [0031]     Diagnostic system  16  (or system  18 ) may be a stand-alone system (i.e., a system that locally stores all required technical/diagnostic information) or a network-based system (i.e., a system that remotely stores at least a portion of the required technical/diagnostic information). If a networked system, diagnostic system  16  (or system  18 ) may use network  20  to access remote server  22  that remotely stores at least a portion of the technical/diagnostic information (which will be discussed below in greater detail) on storage device  24  (e.g., a hard disk drive, a tape drive, an optical drive, a RAID array, a random access memory (RAM), or a read-only memory (ROM), for example).  
         [0032]     Remote server  22  may be a web server running a network operating system, such as Microsoft Window 2000. Server™, Novell Netware™, or Redhat Linux™. Typically, remote server  22  also executes a web server application, such as Microsoft IIS™, Novell Webserver™, or Apache Webserver™, that allows for HTTP (i.e., HyperText Transfer Protocol) access to remote server  22  via network  20 . Further, if diagnostic system  16  (or system  18 ) is networked, additional systems  26 ,  28 ,  30  may also be connected to remote server  22  (via network  20 ), thus allowing multiple system  16 ,  18 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30  to share the technical/diagnostic information stored on remote server  22 .  
         [0033]     The instruction sets and subroutines of dynamic information system  10 , which are typically stored on a storage device  32  coupled to diagnostic system  16  (or system  18 ), are executed by one or more processors (not shown) and one or more memory architectures (not shown) incorporated into diagnostic system  16  (or system  18 ). Storage device  32  may be a hard disk drive, a tape drive, an optical drive, a RAID array, a random access memory (RAM), or a read-only memory (ROM), for example.  
         [0034]     Referring also to  FIG. 2 , when using dynamic information system  10 , technician  12  interfaces  100  system  16  (or system  18 ) with the control system of the vehicle being diagnosed (e.g., motor vehicle  14 ) so that data strings (i.e., trouble codes) may be received  102  from the vehicle.  
         [0035]     Referring also to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a schematic-representation  150  of the electrical system of motor vehicle  14 , illustrating the interconnection of various components, such as: throttle position sensor (TPS)  152 ; crank trigger  154 ; engine temperature sensor  156 ; manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor  158 ; electronic control unit (ECU)  160 ; fuel pump  162 ; fuel pump control system  164 ; fuel injectors  166 ; injection control system  168 ; ignition system  170 ; ignition control system  172 ; emission gas recirculation (EGR) valve  174 ; EGR control system  176 ; air conditioning (AC) controller  178 ; AC relay  180 ; low pressure (LP) cutoff  182 ; and AC compressor  184 , for example. Accordingly, the components shown in schematic diagram  150  may be electrical components (e.g., temp sensor  156 ), electrical-mechanical components (e.g., AC relay  180 ), or a portion of a wiring harness (e.g., wiring harness  186 ).  
         [0036]     As discussed above, the control system (e.g., ECU  160 ) of motor vehicle  14  is interfaced with system  16  (or system  18 ) so that data stored on ECU  160  may be retrieved by system  16  (or system  18 ). Typically, system  16  (or system  18 ) is interfaced to ECU  160  using a multi-conductor cable  188  that is temporarily coupled to a service port (not shown) on the wiring harness of motor vehicle  14 . However, other interface techniques (e.g., 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and infrared coupling, for example) are foreseeable and considered to be within the scope of this disclosure. The data stored within ECU  160  may include sensor readings (e.g., engine RPM, engine coolant temperature, engine oil pressure, engine oil temperature, and transmission fluid temperature, for example). Additionally, if events occurred during operation of the motor vehicle that are outside the range of normal operation, trouble codes are stored within ECU  160  so that they can be retrieved and analyzed at a later date. For example, engine overheating events, transmission overheating events, low engine oil pressure events, and out-of-range sensor events would typically all result in the generation of a trouble code that is stored within ECU  160  for later analysis. Examples of such trouble codes include: DTC P0705 (i.e., a faulty signal received from the gear selector position sensor); DTC 33 (i.e., a high voltage signal received from the mass air flow sensor); DTC P1250 (i.e., a malfunctioning solenoid circuit); DTC B2380 (i.e., a heater coolant temperature sensor circuit shorted to ground); DTC C1750 (i.e., an out-of-range signal received from accelerator position sensor(APS)); and DTC 71 (i.e., an EGR valve malfunction).  
         [0037]     Since multiple makes and models of vehicles utilize common trouble codes, when using dynamic information system  10 , technician  12  typically identifies  104  the vehicle  14  being analyzed, thus associating  106  the trouble code(s) received  102  with a specific vehicle, and allowing dynamic information system  10  to retrieve  108  technical/diagnostic information that is tailored not only to the trouble code received but also to the vehicle being analyzed.  
         [0038]     For example, a Ford™ pickup truck and a Chevrolet™ passenger car may each utilize trouble code DTC C1750 to denote an out-of-range signal received from an APS. As the wiring harnesses, schematic diagrams, and the APS location/appearance/part number vary depending on which of these two vehicles the technician is working on, by identifying  102  the vehicle and associating  104  the trouble codes received with the identified vehicle, accurate and pertinent technical/diagnostic information (e.g., schematic diagrams, component part numbers; component images and illustrations; descriptions of normal component operation, component condition-dependent variables; component location information; instructional videos; service bulletin information; and/or remedial information) may be retrieved  108  and provided to the technician.  
         [0039]     The identification of the vehicle may be made in various ways. For example, the make, model, and year of the vehicle may be selected (e.g., via drop down menus). Alternatively, the vehicle identification number (VIN) may be entered into dynamic information system  10 , such that dynamic information system  10  accesses a look-up table (or a similar data structure; not shown), which correlates the VIN to a particular make, model, and year of vehicle.  
         [0040]     Often, when servicing a vehicle, multiple trouble codes are received from ECU  160 . For example, assume that when analyzing vehicle  14 , trouble codes: DTC P0705; DTC 33; DTC P1250; DTC B2380; DTC C1750; and DTC 71 are received. As problems are typically analyzed and resolved one at a time, technician  12  typically selects  110  one or more of the trouble codes received, such that the pertinent technical/diagnostic information (relating to the selected trouble codes) can be retrieved  108 . Accordingly, by allowing technician  12  to select  110  only the trouble code(s) in which they are interested (when a large number of trouble codes are retrieved), system  10  is prevented from having to retrieve an overwhelming amount of technical/diagnostic information.  
         [0041]     Referring also to  FIG. 4 , a list  200  of the trouble codes received for the vehicle being analyzed (e.g., vehicle  14 ) is rendered on a display device (e.g., a CRT screen, an LCD screen, an LED display, or an LCD display, for example) of system  16  (or system  18 ). Once displayed, technician  12  may then select  110  the appropriate trouble code (e.g., code DTC71) by using pointer  202 , which is controlled by a pointing device (e.g., a mouse, trackball, or touch screen device, not shown). Alternatively, using directional arrow keys (not shown) incorporated into system  16  (or system  18 ), technician  12  may highlight and select the appropriate code.  
         [0042]     Once a code is selected, system  10  retrieves the appropriate technical/diagnostic information pertaining to the selected code as applied to the selected vehicle. In this particular example, the technical/diagnostic information will be retrieved for code DTC71 as applied to an 2003 Acura™ TL Type S.  
         [0043]     Referring also to  FIG. 5  and continuing with the above stated example, once a trouble code is selected, dynamic information system  10  retrieves  102  and renders  112  the appropriate technical/diagnostic information on the display device of diagnostic system  16  (or system  18 ). An example of such technical/diagnostic information is schematic diagram  250 , which may be retrieved from local storage device  32  or from remote storage device  24  (if system  16 /system  18  is networked). Schematic diagram  250  may be an electrical schematic diagram, a vacuum schematic diagram, a pneumatic schematic diagram, and/or a hydraulic schematic diagram, for example.  
         [0044]     When retrieving the appropriate technical/diagnostic information, a look-up table (or database) is typically employed to determine which specific items (e.g., schematic diagrams, technical bulletins, videos, still images, and illustrations, for example) should be retrieved. For example, a table (or database record) may be defined for each year/make/model of vehicle, such that this table (or record) itemizes all of the potential trouble codes for that year/make/model of vehicle. Therefore, when a trouble code is selected  110 , the appropriate look-up table (or record) is accessed, and the appropriate trouble code is located within the table (or record), such that the table (or record) specifies the appropriate e.g., schematic diagrams, technical bulletins, videos, still images, and illustrations, to be retrieved in response to the trouble code being selected.  
         [0045]     Continuing with the above-stated example, schematic diagram  250  illustrates the interconnection of various components within vehicle  14 , such as: such as: throttle position sensor (TPS)  152 ; crank trigger  154 ; engine temperature sensor  156 ; manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor  158 ; electronic control unit (ECU)  160 ; fuel pump  162 ; fuel pump control system  164 ; fuel injectors  166 ; injection control system  168 ; ignition system  170 ; ignition control system  172 ; emission gas recirculation (EGR) valve  174 ; EGR control system  176 ; air conditioning (AC) controller  178 ; AC relay  180 ; low pressure (LP) cutoff  182 ; and AC compressor  184 , for example.  
         [0046]     Depending on the complexity of the schematic diagram, the above-listed components may be grouped into the various portions, such as: a sensor circuit  252  (i.e., TPS  152 , crank trigger  154 , engine temperature sensor  156 , and MAP sensor  158 ); an air conditioning circuit  254  (i.e., AC controller  178 , AC relay  180 , LP cutoff  182 , and AC compressor  184 ); a fuel delivery circuit  256  (i.e., fuel pump  162 , fuel pump control system  164 , fuel injectors  166 , and injection control system  168 ); an ignition circuit  258  (i.e., ignition system  170 , and ignition control system  172 ); and an emission circuit  260  (i.e., EGR valve  174 , and EGR control system  176 ). By dividing the schematic into portions, technician  12  is allowed to select  114  the particular systems/subsystems (within schematic diagram  250 ) that the technician is interested in. Further, while schematic diagram  250  (in this example) is divided into five logical portions, the number and size of the portions may be increased or decreased as needed when designing/programming the schematic diagrams.  
         [0047]     As trouble code DTC71 (i.e., EGR valve malfunction) was selected by technician  12 , technician  12  would typically select emission circuit  260  (which includes EGR valve  174  and EGR control system  176 ) using pointer  202 , which is controlled by a pointing device (e.g., a mouse, trackball, or touch screen device, not shown). Once a particular portion of schematic diagram  250  is selected, a more detailed illustration (not shown) of the selected discrete portion may be rendered, or the selected discrete portion may be highlighted and/or the unselected discrete portion(s) “greyed-out” (i.e., shaded so that the unselected portions are contrasted from the selected portion).  
         [0048]     Referring also to  FIG. 6 , once emission circuit  260  is selected, the unselected circuit portions are (in this example) “greyed-out” with respect to the selected circuit portion (e.g., emission circuit  260 ). In this example, circuits  252 ,  254 ,  256 ,  258  are shown as dashed lines (e.g., see circuit line  262  and sensor box  264 ).  
         [0049]     Referring also to  FIG. 7 , technician  12  may retrieve additional information related to the selected trouble code. As stated above, trouble code DTC71 (i.e., EGR valve malfunction) was selected. After using schematic diagram  250  to review the interfacing of EGR valve  174 , EGR control system  176 , and ECU  160 , technician  12  may wish to recieve additional information concerning circuit  260 . For example, via drop-down menu  300  rendered  116  by dynamic information system  10 , technician  12  may select the type of operation to be performed, such as retrieving  108  and rendering  112  e.g., part numbers of components within the selected discrete portion, images of components within the selected discrete portion, a description of the normal operation of components within the selected discrete portion, one or more condition-dependent variables (e.g., voltage, current, resistance, etc.), component location information, one or more instructional videos, service bulletin information concerning the selected discrete portion, and/or remedial information concerning the selected discrete portion).  
         [0050]     Referring also to  FIG. 8  and continuing with the above-stated example, assume that technician  12  selects “test points/values” from drop-down menu  300 . Schematic diagram  250  is then populated with one or more callouts  302 ,  304  that locate the circuit test points and define the related values that should-be read at those test points. For example, callout  300  defines that for the wiring harness  306  between ECU  160  and EGR control system  176 , a low signal value should be in the range of 0.60-1.20 vdc and a high signal value should be in the range of 4.20-5.20 vdc. Additionally, callouts  300 ,  302  may provide other types of information, such as line amperage, a resistance, an impedance, or a waveform (e.g., sine wave, or square wave, for example).  
         [0051]     Referring also to  FIG. 9  and continuing with the above-stated example, assume that technician  12 , upon inspecting the EGR control system  176  and finding it operational, suspects that the EGR valve  174  is malfunctioning, resulting in trouble code DTC71 (i.e., EGR valve malfunction). However, technician  12  does not know where EGR valve  174  is located. Technician  12  may select “location information” from drop-down menu  300 . Schematic diagram  250  is then populated with one or more callouts  320 ,  322  that provide location information concerning the various components included in emission circuit  160 . For example, callout  322  locates EGR valve  174  on the firewall side of the intake manifold.  
         [0052]     Alternatively, the location information may be graphically presented to technician  12  in the form of an illustration of vehicle  14  (e.g., a top view illustration, a side view illustration, a front view illustration, a back view illustration or an isometric view illustration, not shown) in which the various components of, e.g., emission circuit  160  are superimposed onto the illustration in the appropriate location, thus allowing technician  12  to graphically locate a particular component within the vehicle.  
         [0053]     Referring also to  FIG. 10  and continuing with the above-stated example, assume that technician  12  determines (upon physical examination) that EGR valve  174  is malfunctioning. Technician  12  may select “part numbers” from drop-down menu  300 . Schematic diagram  250  would then be populated with one or more callouts  340 ,  342  that define the part number (OEM or aftermarket) associated with each component within the circuit. For example, callout  342  informs technician  12  that the part number for EGR valve  174  is H367-79231.  
         [0054]     In addition to the drop-down menu selections described above, technician  12  may select “images” from menu  300  and be provided with photographs and/or illustrations (not shown) of the component(s) in question.  
         [0055]     By selecting “operation description” from menu  300 , technician  12  is provided with a detailed description of the operation of the component in question. This may be a text-based description, an audio-based description, or a video-based description.  
         [0056]     By selecting “instruction videos” from menu  300 , technician  12  is provided with videos that provide enhanced technical information (e.g., the manner in which to replace a particular type of master cylinder).  
         [0057]     Further, if technician  12  selects “service bulletins” from menu  300 , technician  12  is provided with one or more service bulletins related to the circuit (or device/system) in question (e.g., all service bulletins related to the vehicle on which the technician is currently working).  
         [0058]     Additionally, if technician  12  selects “remedial action” from menu  300 , technician  12  is presented with a list of known problems, their respective causes, and their respective solutions. For example, when selecting “remedial action”, technician  12  may be informed that in heavy winter driving, salt-laden slush is often packed around the base of AC relay  180 , resulting in the external relay contacts corroding and the relay prematurely failing. The technician may be informed to silicone seal the base of the relay to the relay socket to prevent corrosion of the terminals.  
         [0059]     The embodiments described herein may include or be utilized with any appropriate voltage or current source, such as a battery, an alternator, a fuel cell, and the like, providing any appropriate current and/or voltage, such as about 12 Volts, about 42 Volts and the like.  
         [0060]     The embodiments described herein may be used with any desired system or engine. Those systems or engines may comprise items utilizing fossil fuels, such as gasoline, natural gas, propane and the like, electricity, such as that generated by battery, magneto, fuel cell, solar cell and the like, wind and hybrids or combinations thereof. Those systems or engines may be incorporated into other systems, such as an automobile, a truck, a boat or ship, a motorcycle, a generator, an airplane and the like.  
         [0061]     A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.