Urgency Indicator for Automotive Diagnostic Trouble Codes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automotive diagnostic systems fail to communicate the urgency of repairing a vehicle's diagnostic condition, leaving drivers unaware of whether a problem requires immediate attention or can be addressed later, as conventional tools only identify diagnostic trouble codes without indicating their urgency.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize urgency databases to determine the urgency of diagnostic conditions by associating diagnostic trouble codes with either low or high urgency status, incorporating vehicle characteristics and universal part numbers to provide an urgency indicator, enabling drivers to assess the necessity of immediate action.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional diagnostic tools are used to identify diagnostic trouble codes, then the diagnostic condition can be detected, but the urgency of the repair cannot be determined
Solution Approach 1:
The diagnostic information is segmented into two distinct components: diagnostic trouble code identification and urgency level determination. The system separately processes individual DTCs through urgency databases to generate specific urgency levels, then combines these to determine an overall diagnostic urgency. This segmentation allows the system to provide both diagnostic identification and urgency assessment without overwhelming the driver with undifferentiated information.
Solution Approach 2:
Urgency databases serve as an intermediary layer between the diagnostic trouble codes and the driver. Rather than presenting raw DTC data directly to the driver, the system uses urgency databases to translate technical diagnostic codes into meaningful urgency levels (high, medium, low). This intermediary process adds the critical urgency information that was previously lost while maintaining ease of operation through simplified driver decision-making.
2Reliability
If all diagnostic conditions are treated with the same urgency, then the diagnostic system remains simple, but safety and efficiency are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by assigning different urgency levels to different diagnostic trouble codes based on their specific characteristics and potential impact on vehicle safety. Rather than treating all diagnostic conditions uniformly, the system evaluates each DTC individually against urgency criteria, allowing critical safety-related codes to be flagged as high urgency while less critical codes receive lower urgency ratings. This differentiated approach enhances reliability without requiring complete system redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of diagnostic evaluation from binary (present/absent) to multi-level (high/medium/low urgency). By introducing urgency level as an additional parameter derived from DTC analysis, the system provides more nuanced safety information. The urgency databases contain specific criteria and weighting factors that transform standard diagnostic codes into urgency-assessed results, improving reliability while managing complexity through structured parameter transformation.
3Loss of information
If diagnostic information is provided without urgency assessment, then the system remains simple and quick to operate, but the driver cannot make informed decisions about immediate action
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-establishing urgency databases containing urgency criteria and evaluation rules before diagnostic assessment occurs. These databases are populated with pre-defined urgency levels and evaluation parameters for various diagnostic trouble codes. When a diagnostic scan is performed, the system simply matches detected DTCs against these pre-prepared urgency criteria, rapidly generating urgency assessments without requiring complex real-time analysis. This preliminary preparation eliminates information loss while minimizing driver analysis time through automated evaluation.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method for determining the urgency for repairing a diagnostic condition in a vehicle. Upon determining the repair urgency, a driver may decide to continue driving (in the case of a “low” urgency determination), or cease driving (in the case of a “high” urgency determination). The urgency status may also enable a driver to shop around for the repair (in the event of a “low” urgency status), or to seek immediate assistance (in the event of a “high” urgency status).