Abstract:
A method for carrying out a remote diagnosis in a motor vehicle is provided, including initializing the remote diagnosis, determining diagnostic data in the vehicle as a function of diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters available in the vehicle at the time of the diagnostic data determination, and transferring at least portions of the diagnostic data to an external service center which is designed to evaluate the transmitted diagnostic data. The diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters may be at least in part transferred from the service center to the vehicle upon execution of initialization.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a method for carrying out a remote diagnosis in a motor vehicle in which a remote diagnosis is initialized, diagnostic data in the vehicle is determined as a function of diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters available in the vehicle at the time of the diagnostic data determination, and at least portions of the diagnostic data are transferred to an external service center which is designed to evaluate the transmitted diagnostic data. The present invention further relates to a vehicle diagnostic module for implementing the method according to the present invention. The present invention also relates to a service center, in particular for use in the method according to the present invention, which is designed to evaluate diagnostic data transferred from a vehicle via a radio connection. 
   BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
   The trend toward networking, for example, of closed- and/or open-loop control devices in modern motor vehicles is making possible increasingly capable diagnostic methods with which, for example, fault states in the motor vehicle can be detected. Electronic motor vehicle diagnostic systems are used in modern service facilities to allow unequivocal fault diagnosis by service technicians, especially including service technicians who do not have detailed knowledge of the logical and physical networking of the individual components in the particular motor vehicle. A large number of manufacturer-specific motor vehicle diagnostic systems exist. There are also manufacturer-independent motor vehicle diagnostic systems that have a very wide variety of mechanisms for fault diagnosis for a broad range of motor vehicles. For that purpose, vehicle- or manufacturer-specific diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters are stored in the motor vehicle diagnostic systems. In addition, the known motor vehicle diagnostic systems have a user interface that is generally embodied in the form of a screen and a keyboard. The current motor vehicle diagnostic systems are moreover equipped with different motor vehicle adapters so that a suitable connection can be made to the motor vehicle. If this connection is a cable-based connection, the corresponding motor vehicle must be located in the physical vicinity of the motor vehicle diagnostic system. 
   German Patent No. 44 46 512 discloses an apparatus for carrying out vehicle tests in which the terminal of the motor-vehicle-side diagnostic/test connector is connected to a motor vehicle diagnostic system present in the service facility not via a cable but rather via a telephone located in the motor vehicle itself, so that transfer of the diagnostic data can be performed via the mobile radio network. 
   German Published Patent Application No. 199 21 846 discloses an external portable test unit that is equipped with a modem and is connected to a mobile telephone so that faults can be diagnosed and malfunctions remedied outside permanent service facilities via corresponding mobile radio connections. 
   In the disclosed systems, the diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters that are employed to determine diagnostic data are stored permanently in the vehicle and/or in the service center or the vehicle diagnostic system. Expansion of the diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters, which is necessary, e.g., when new vehicle components are utilized, is therefore laborious. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In the method according to an embodiment of the present invention builds the diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters are at least in part transferred from the service center to the vehicle upon execution of a remote diagnosis. 
   Because all the diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters used for the individual vehicle model are not transferred from the service center to the motor vehicle until the beginning of the remote diagnosis, the diagnostic data in the vehicle can always be determined on the basis of up-to-date diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters. With the method according to the present invention it is no longer necessary to bring the vehicle into a specialized service facility for a software update when the diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters need to be modified. The same applies when the vehicle is equipped with new components, for example with new control units. In addition, permanent and therefore memory-intensive storage of the diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters in the vehicle can be eliminated. The method according to the present invention makes it possible, for example, to integrate model-independent diagnostic modules into a very wide variety of vehicles and terminals, so that higher part quantities can be achieved and the remote diagnostic method can be standardized. Because local prediagnosis and local data acquisition and preprocessing in the vehicle are decoupled from evaluation of the diagnostic data in the service center, the method according to the present invention can be used independently of the particular data transfer method and data transfer speed. Some of the diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters can, if applicable, already be stored in the vehicle in model-dependent fashion during vehicle production or during production of the vehicle diagnostic module. 
   Diagnostic data in the vehicle may determined as a function of diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters available in the vehicle at the time of the diagnostic data determination by the interaction of a diagnostic module with a closed- and/or open-loop control device. The diagnostic module can be, in particular, a universal diagnostic module that can be installed in a very wide variety of motor vehicle models, optionally even at a later time. Because the diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters suitable in each case are transferred for purposes of remote diagnosis from the service center to the diagnostic module, for example via a mobile radio interface associated with the motor vehicle or the diagnostic module, the diagnostic module can be adapted to the closed- and/or open-loop control device provided in the particular motor vehicle. 
   According to an example embodiment, a remote diagnosis includes transferring vehicle identification data from the vehicle to the service center used in the service center for the determination of suitable diagnostic mechanisms and/or suitable diagnostic parameters. 
   In addition, the determination processes may be performed after a diagnostic command has been transferred from the service center to the vehicle. In this way, for example, time-critical diagnostic operations can be externally configured and controlled or initiated, for example, when all the necessary diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters have been successfully transferred to the vehicle or to the diagnostic module. 
   According to another embodiment, the data transfer between the vehicle and the service center may be accomplished via a radio connection, in particular via a mobile radio connection. Because local prediagnosis in the vehicle is decoupled from evaluation of the diagnostic data, which optionally can encompass operating data, in the service center, the method according to the present invention can be carried out independently of the specific transfer method and transfer speed. For example, the data transfer can be accomplished via GSM-SMS, the GSM data channel, WAP, or GPRS. Other mobile radio standards, for example UMTS, are of course also conceivable. If applicable, the data transferred via the radio connection to the vehicle may be appropriately converted before they are forwarded, for example, to a vehicle bus or a vehicle network. 
   In certain embodiments of the method according to the present invention, it may be advantageous for the determination and transferring processes to be performed repeatedly, depending on diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters transferred again from the external service center. For example, in order to isolate a fault, it may be advantageous if, after the evaluation of diagnostic data is transferred from the vehicle to the service center, further diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters are transferred, as a function of the result of the evaluation, to the vehicle or to the diagnostic module. 
   The vehicle diagnostic module according to the present invention provides an interface for receiving the diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters, upon initialization of the remote diagnosis, at least in part from the external service center. It is thereby possible, in particular, to use vehicle diagnostic modules of uniform design for different motor vehicle models. The vehicle diagnostic module can be constituted, for example, by separate hardware and software, or it can be entirely or partly integrated into other components, for example into telematics terminals such as driver information systems and car radios, or into gateways, multimedia devices, etc. Reference is additionally made to the corresponding embodiments in connection with the method according to the present invention. 
   In an example embodiment of the vehicle diagnostic module according to the present invention, diagnostic data may be determined in conjunction with a closed- and/or open-loop control device. Because the diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters suitable for the particular vehicle model are downloaded, the vehicle diagnostic module is adapted to the particular closed- and/or open-loop control devices (and/or other vehicle components) present in the vehicle only upon initialization of the remote diagnosis, and can then cooperate with them in order to perform the respective diagnosis. 
   In the vehicle diagnostic module according to the present invention provision is also made for it to authorize the transfer of vehicle identification data to the service center upon initialization of the remote diagnosis, the vehicle identification data being provided for utilization in the service center in order to determine suitable diagnostic mechanisms and/or suitable diagnostic parameters. 
   In another embodiment of the vehicle diagnostic module according to the present invention the initial determination of the diagnostic data may be made after a diagnostic command has been transferred from the service center to the vehicle. As a result, for example, time-critical diagnostic operations can be externally configured and controlled or initiated, which may be the case when all the necessary diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters have been successfully transferred to the vehicle or to the diagnostic module. 
   Provision may also be made for the interface to be designed for connection of a radio device, in particular a mobile radio device. The radio device need not, in this context, be connected directly to the vehicle diagnostic module. In many cases it is advantageous if the radio device is connected via a bus system present in any case in the vehicle, for example via a CAN bus system. Especially when a bus system is used, the interface of the vehicle diagnostic module can be used not only for connecting the radio device but also, for example, to link the vehicle diagnostic module to a closed- and/or open-loop control device, or other components, present in the vehicle. 
   Another embodiment of the vehicle diagnostic module according to the present invention includes volatile memory means for storing diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters transferred from the external service center. Since the diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters are, according to the present invention, transferred from the service center to the motor vehicle upon initialization of the remote diagnosis, this data does not need to be stored permanently in the motor vehicle, so that a more-economical volatile memory is sufficient for temporary storage of the respective diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters. 
   The service center according to the present invention may include means which are designed for determining, on the basis of vehicle identification data transmitted from the vehicle, suitable diagnostic mechanisms and/or suitable diagnostic parameters and for transmitting them via a radio connection to the vehicle, the diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters being provided for utilization in the vehicle for determination of the diagnostic data. The service center can be realized using hardware and software known in the art, for example, commercially available PCs that are equipped with a corresponding database and are connected to a mobile radio network. It is additionally possible for the procedures in the service center to be controlled as a function of the particular vehicle model and/or the particular user. 
   In the context of the service center according to the present invention, the radio connection may be a mobile radio connection. It is also possible, of course, for at least portions of the data transfer path to the motor vehicle to be provided by wire-based connections. 
   The service center may be a mobile service center. In this case it can, for example, be located and/or used in a breakdown assistance vehicle or the like. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating the interaction of the vehicle diagnostic module with a service center in accordance with the method according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of the method according to the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating the interaction of an embodiment of the vehicle diagnostic module according to the present invention with a service center according to the present invention in accordance with the method according to the present invention. The components associated with the vehicle are labeled  28  as a whole, while the reference character  20  is assigned to the service center. Service center  20  has associated with it a mobile radio gateway  22  through which data can be exchanged with a plurality of vehicles. Vehicle network  18  can have, for example, a CAN bus to which a plurality of components are connected. Of these components,  FIG. 1  depicts a vehicle-specific closed- and/or open-loop control device  10 , an embodiment of the vehicle diagnostic module  12  according to the present invention, and a mobile radio gateway  16 . Vehicle diagnostic module  12  has an interface  14 , for example a CAN bus interface, through which (inter alia) data can be transferred to mobile radio gateway  16  of motor vehicle  28  and thus to service center  20 , via mobile radio gateway  22  associated therewith. When a remote diagnosis is to be performed, for example at the driver&#39;s request, initiated by vehicle  28 , or initiated by service center  20 , firstly vehicle identification data (not depicted in  FIG. 1 ) is transferred from vehicle  28  to service center  20 . On the basis of the vehicle identification data, service center  20  identifies suitable diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters  26  and transfers them to motor vehicle  28  via mobile radio gateways  16  and  22 . These diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters  26  are conveyed to vehicle diagnostic module  12  via its interface  14 . Vehicle diagnostic module  12  is equipped with a volatile memory  30  in which the diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters  26  can be temporarily stored. In conjunction with closed-and/or open-loop control device  10 , vehicle diagnostic module  12  determines diagnostic data  24  that vary as a function of the particular diagnostic results or test results. The diagnostic data  24  is transferred for evaluation to service center  20 , once again via mobile radio gateways  16  and  22 . 
   Service center  20  evaluates diagnostic data  24  and, if applicable, transfers to the vehicle data which influence its operation, for example via the engine control system. If service center  20  diagnoses a serious fault on the basis of diagnostic data  24 , the service center  20  may transfer to vehicle  28  data which cause the driver to be informed in suitable fashion as to how he or she should behave, for example “Please stop as soon as possible and shut off engine” or “Please proceed to next service facility,” etc. An example of scalable diagnostic results extends, for example, from “You have a malfunction in the engine control system . . . ” to “Defective injection valve on cylinder  3 , misfire detrimental to catalytic converter detected.” The scaling can optionally be performed by the driver, or defined on the basis of a driver database. 
   The system depicted in  FIG. 1  makes it possible to reproduce a very wide variety of interactive diagnostic protocols by reading in and processing procedure descriptions and function descriptions and parameter sets associated therewith, which may be formatted in standardized fashion. Mechanisms for plausibility testing and for starting and terminating the procedure descriptions may also be provided. The possibility thus exists of making available specific and non-time-critical main functions for an individual diagnostic protocol, these main functions being capable of being activated by an external unit. As a result, it is possible for all time-critical diagnostic operations to be externally configured and controlled. A decoupling from an insecure mobile radio channel can, for example, therefore be effected. 
   The function descriptions or diagnostic mechanisms may encompass at least the following components:
         description of the communication sequence (e.g. master-slave principle with command→response;   syntax and structure of diagnostic commands;   syntax and structure of diagnostic data;   time requirements for the communication procedure (e.g. timeouts for responses from closed- and/or open-loop control device and wait times between commands);   coding and decoding mechanisms.       

   The diagnostic parameters required for the particular vehicle models and closed- and/or open-loop control devices may encompass at least the following data structured in standardized fashion:
         identifier for addressing the corresponding closed- and/or open-loop control device;   structure of the fault memory;   information for access to the fault memory and its contents;   test parameters for checking individual components in the closed- and/or open-loop control device; and   value ranges of diagnostic data.       

   The method according to the present invention can be implemented, for example, in the form of structured state tables of an automatic device that, by way of its properties and degrees of freedom, can reproduce all known diagnostic protocols (e.g. keyword-XY). 
     FIG. 2  is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of the method according to the present invention, the significance of the respective steps S 1  through S 9  being evident from the following table: 
   
     
       
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
                 
             
             
                 
               Step 
               Description 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
               S1 
               Diagnosis request to service center 
             
             
                 
               S2 
               Determination of vehicle identification data 
             
             
                 
               S3 
               Selection of suitable diagnostic mechanisms and 
             
             
                 
                 
               parameters 
             
             
                 
               S4 
               Download of vehicle-specific diagnostic mechanisms 
             
             
                 
                 
               and parameters 
             
             
                 
               S5 
               Transfer of a diagnostic command into the vehicle 
             
             
                 
               S6 
               Execution of diagnostic command in the vehicle 
             
             
                 
                 
               (subprocess) 
             
             
                 
               S7 
               Transfer of diagnostic data to service center 
             
             
                 
               S8 
               Identification of fault based on diagnostic data 
             
             
                 
                 
               in service center 
             
             
                 
               S9 
               Transfer of scalable diagnostic results to driver 
             
             
                 
                 
               or to vehicle MMI 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   In the embodiment of the method according to the present invention depicted in  FIG. 2 , the driver of the vehicle may wish to perform a remote diagnosis, or intelligent vehicle components may determine that performance of a remote diagnosis is indicated. In step S 1 , a diagnosis request is therefore sent to a service center, for example to service center  20  depicted in  FIG. 1 . In step S 2 , vehicle identification data of the vehicle labeled  28  in  FIG. 1  are transferred to the service center labeled  20  in  FIG. 1 . In step S 3 , the service center selects, on the basis of the vehicle identification data, suitable diagnostic mechanisms and diagnostic parameters which are labeled with the reference character  26  in  FIG. 1 . In step S 4 , the selected diagnostic mechanisms and diagnostic parameters are transferred from the service center to the vehicle, such as via a mobile radio connection. These diagnostic mechanisms and diagnostic parameters are temporarily stored in the vehicle diagnostic module, for example in volatile memory  30  of vehicle diagnostic module  12  depicted in  FIG. 1 . Once all the diagnostic mechanisms and diagnostic parameters required for performing or at least for initiating the remote diagnosis have been successfully transferred to the vehicle, in step S 5 , the service center sends a diagnostic command to the vehicle. The transferred diagnostic command, which may be appropriately translated upon transfer onto a vehicle bus, is then executed in the vehicle in step S 6 ; this can correspond to a subprocess. Diagnostic data are thereby obtained, for example the diagnostic data labeled with reference character  24  in  FIG. 1 , and in step S 7 , these are transferred to the service center. In the embodiment of the method according to the present invention depicted in  FIG. 2 , execution can branch once or repeatedly from step S 7  back to step S 5  by transferring a (further) diagnostic command to the vehicle at that point. Once the requisite diagnostic data have been transferred to the service center, those diagnostic data are evaluated therein in step S 8 . At step S 9 , diagnostic results (which may be scalable) are transferred to the driver and/or to corresponding vehicle components. As mentioned, all data transfer between the vehicle and the service center takes place via a mobile radio network. 
   The method of present invention can also be employed for purposes other than actual diagnosis, for example for the transfer of any data present in the vehicle. Such data can, for example, be read out of memories associated with the vehicle and transferred to respectively suitable service centers. 
   The description above of the exemplary embodiments according to the present invention is for illustrative purposes only, and not for purposes of limiting the invention. A variety of changes and modifications are possible in the context of the invention without leaving the scope of the invention and its equivalents.