Vehicle Diagnostic Data Access for Multi-Corpus Service Workflows
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of vehicle diagnostics is exacerbated by varying operational data across different vehicle manufacturers, components, and years, along with restricted access to diagnostic data, requiring specialized technical knowledge and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle diagnostic system comprising a vehicle communication interface (VCI), a server, and a network access point, which uses a dynamically-linked library (DLL) to interface securely and seek diagnostic data from a server corpus and specialty corpuses via the J2534 protocol, allowing for membership-based access to ensure comprehensive and cost-effective diagnostic services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If technicians acquire extensive specialized technical knowledge for comprehensive diagnostic services, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but training costs and time requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the diagnostic tool and specialized diagnostic data. The server corpus stores comprehensive diagnostic information for multiple vehicle types, and the tool automatically queries this server when diagnostic accuracy is needed, eliminating the requirement for technicians to memorize extensive specialized knowledge while maintaining high diagnostic accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-storing comprehensive diagnostic data, vehicle specifications, and troubleshooting information in the server corpus before diagnostic needs arise. This allows the system to quickly retrieve and present relevant information during diagnostics without requiring technicians to have prior specialized knowledge
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system provides access to a wide range of diagnostic data for multiple vehicle types, then diagnostic capability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the diagnostic system into distinct functional components: a client diagnostic tool, a network communication layer, and a server with organized corpus databases. This segmentation allows the system to handle multiple vehicle types and diagnostic protocols without increasing complexity at any single point, as each component has a specific, manageable function
Solution Approach 2:
The server corpus is designed with a universal structure that can store and retrieve diagnostic data for multiple vehicle manufacturers, models, and years using a standardized format. The DLL interface provides multi-functional access to this data, allowing a single system to serve diverse diagnostic needs without requiring separate specialized systems for each vehicle type
3Reliability
If the system implements security restrictions on diagnostic data access, then data protection is improved, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service security mechanisms where the DLL automatically handles authentication, authorization, and data protection protocols without requiring user intervention. The security framework operates autonomously to protect sensitive diagnostic data while transparently managing access control, maintaining ease of operation for authorized users
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle diagnostic system and method utilizing a plurality of diagnostic data corpuses. A first corpus comprises conventional and well-known diagnostic data useful in a broad range of common service tasks. A second corpus comprises less well-known diagnostic data useful in less common service tasks. One or more specialty corpuses may comprise obscure, protected, or emerging diagnostic data for the last-common tasks specific to particular manufacturers of the vehicle or its components. The second corpus and one or more specialty corpuses may offer access only to users that have acquired sufficient authorization.