Vehicle Diagnostic Tool VoIP Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle service facilities face challenges in effective communication between different areas of the facility, disrupting work when personnel need to communicate verbally, as existing systems rely mainly on data communications and lack integrated voice communication capabilities.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating voice communication capabilities into vehicle diagnostic tools using wireless packet data communication, allowing two-way voice communication over the same data network used for diagnostic data, enabling users to communicate with office personnel and others via a broader area data network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If voice communication is added to vehicle diagnostic tools, then communication capability between technicians and office personnel is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle diagnostic tool is enhanced with multi-functionality by integrating both data communication and voice communication capabilities into a single device. The tool can perform diagnostic functions, transmit diagnostic data over the data network, and conduct two-way voice communications, eliminating the need for separate communication devices and reducing overall system complexity despite the increased functionality of the individual tool.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines voice communication hardware (microphone, speaker) and software (voice communication application) with the existing diagnostic tool and data network infrastructure. This merging allows voice communications to ride on the existing packet transport network used for data communications, rather than requiring a completely separate communication system.
2Productivity
If voice communication capabilities are integrated into diagnostic tools, then communication efficiency between different facility areas is improved, but loss of time for work disruption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The voice communication system is integrated directly into the diagnostic tool, allowing technicians to initiate and conduct voice communications without leaving their work stations or requiring assistance from office personnel. The tool itself provides the communication function, enabling technicians to resolve questions and coordinate work directly from the service bay without physical movement or work interruption.
3Ease of manufacture
If wireless packet data communication is used for voice transmission, then infrastructure cost is reduced by using existing data networks, but reliability of voice communication may be affected by network conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The existing data network infrastructure is made multi-functional by using it for both data transmission and voice communication. Rather than building a separate dedicated voice communication network, the system leverages the existing packet-switched data network to carry both types of traffic, significantly reducing infrastructure costs while maintaining adequate voice communication quality through proper packet handling and network resource management.
Data Source
AI summary
In an exemplary vehicle service facility that provides vehicle related sales, maintenance services or the like, a diagnostic tool has wireless packet data communication capabilities. To support voice communication, the tool also has one or more audible input/output transducers and a vocoder, and is configured to use VoIP technology or the like to enable wireless packet data transport of voice calls over the same wireless data links. The packet voice capability can support voice communications with technicians using other tools at the facility or with personnel in an office at the service facility. If the facility has a data link to a wide area packet network, like the Internet, the packet voice capability may also support voice communications with other parties having packet service. Examples are technicians at other locations or various personnel of technical support services for the tools or for different types of vehicles.