Cloud Vehicle Diagnostics via Server-Mediated Multi-Protocol Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern vehicle diagnostic services face challenges due to the complexity of acquiring and interpreting vehicle operational data, which varies by manufacturer, model, and year, and is often restricted for safety, security, or intellectual property reasons, making it difficult and costly for technicians to provide comprehensive diagnostic services.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle diagnostic system comprising a diagnostic server, a vehicle communication interface (VCI), and a human-machine interface (HMI) that establishes data connections via a wide-area network (WAN) to interface with multiple diagnostic protocols, allowing for the generation of vehicle diagnostic reports and relay of commands and data between the VCI, diagnostic bus, and HMI.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If technicians acquire comprehensive vehicle operational data and specialized technical knowledge to provide accurate diagnostic services, then diagnostic accuracy and service quality are improved, but the cost and complexity of acquiring and maintaining such knowledge increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the technician's diagnostic tool and the vehicle's diagnostic bus. The server hosts a comprehensive database of vehicle operational data, diagnostic protocols, and technical knowledge that would be impossible for individual technicians to acquire and maintain. The system mediates the diagnostic process by automatically accessing, interpreting, and presenting relevant data, thereby achieving high diagnostic accuracy without requiring technicians to possess extensive specialized knowledge.
2Loss of information
If the system provides access to restricted diagnostic data for safety, security, or intellectual property reasons, then diagnostic completeness is improved, but data accessibility and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as a secure intermediary that manages access to restricted diagnostic data. It implements authentication and authorization mechanisms to control who can access specific data based on safety, security, and intellectual property requirements. The system automatically handles the complexity of access control, presenting only authorized data to technicians while maintaining data completeness for those with proper credentials.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service authentication and data retrieval mechanisms where the diagnostic tool automatically verifies credentials and retrieves authorized data without manual intervention. This reduces the operational burden on technicians while maintaining security protocols, allowing them to access restricted data seamlessly if authorized.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the diagnostic system supports multiple diagnostic protocols and vehicle types, then system versatility and adaptability are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The server is designed as a universal platform that supports multiple diagnostic protocols (CAN, LIN, FlexRay, Ethernet) and vehicle types through a single system. Rather than requiring separate diagnostic tools for different protocols, the server provides unified access to all protocols and vehicle databases, achieving high versatility without proportionally increasing complexity at the technician's end.
Solution Approach 2:
The server mediates between the technician's simple diagnostic tool and the complex variety of vehicle protocols and data formats. It automatically detects the vehicle type and protocol, translates data between different formats, and presents standardized information to the technician, thereby supporting extensive versatility while keeping the client-side device simple.
4Productivity
If comprehensive diagnostic services are provided with extensive technical know-how, then service quality and diagnostic proficiency are improved, but service cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service functionality where the diagnostic tool automatically retrieves vehicle data, identifies issues, and presents diagnostic recommendations without requiring extensive technician intervention. The server handles data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation autonomously, allowing technicians to perform comprehensive diagnostics more efficiently while reducing the need for expensive specialized training and knowledge maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for vehicle diagnostic services utilizing a diagnostic server. The systems comprise a diagnostic server that is in data communication with a service tool and the vehicle communication interface (VCI) of a vehicle. The data communication may be accomplished using a wide area network (WAN). The diagnostic server acquires diagnostic data from the VCI and generates a diagnostic report for a user to utilizing during service actions of the vehicle. Some embodiments utilize an external gateway adapter to enable data communication between the diagnostic server and vehicles lacking a native function to interface with external devices or components across networks.