Remote Vehicle Diagnostics Using VEC Files and Server Mediation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Advanced vehicle diagnostic systems are designed for local use by technicians and require significant memory storage, making them unsuitable for real-time remote diagnostics and inaccessible to average drivers due to their complexity and memory requirements.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle diagnostic system that uses a host device connected to a vehicle via an electrical connector to remotely obtain diagnostic status information and perform output controls using a vehicle electronic configuration (VEC) file, which is transmitted to a remote server to access and control vehicle control modules, reducing memory requirements and enabling remote diagnostics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If advanced vehicle diagnostic systems are implemented with large database subscriptions stored locally, then diagnostic analysis capability is improved, but memory storage requirements increase and remote diagnostics become prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the large diagnostic database from local storage and relocates it to a remote server. The host device only stores minimal configuration data (vehicle identification, control module information), while the comprehensive diagnostic database resides remotely and is accessed via network connection. This extraction resolves the contradiction by maintaining full diagnostic capability while eliminating large local memory requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a remote server as an intermediary between the host device and the diagnostic database. The server mediates access to the comprehensive database, allowing the host device to perform sophisticated diagnostics without storing the entire database locally. This intermediary approach enables remote diagnostics with minimal local storage.
2Measurement precision
If diagnostic systems are configured for local use with sophisticated analysis tools, then diagnostic depth is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation worsen for average drivers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex database management and sophisticated analysis functions from the host device and relocates them to a remote server. The host device retains only simple configuration data and control module access information, making the device itself simple while maintaining access to deep diagnostic capabilities through the remote server.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a simplified copy of the diagnostic system architecture where the host device contains only essential configuration information (vehicle ID, control module mappings) rather than the full diagnostic database. The remote server holds the complete diagnostic knowledge base, allowing the simple host device to access comprehensive diagnostic depth through networked access to the remote copy of the database.
3Loss of information
If comprehensive diagnostic databases are stored locally, then diagnostic information access is improved, but portability and remote diagnostic capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the diagnostic database from local storage and places it on a remote server accessible via network. This allows the host device to maintain minimal local storage while accessing comprehensive diagnostic information remotely, thereby improving both information access and portability/remote capability simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for remote vehicle diagnostics. The remote vehicle diagnostics are obtained based on a vehicle identification number for a vehicle connected to an electrical connector of a vehicle diagnostic system host device. A vehicle electronic configuration file is provided to the host device to control access to one or more vehicle control modules.