METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INDICATING AN AUTOMOTIVE DIAGNOSTIC URGENCY

摘要

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).

主权项

1. A method of identifying an urgency of treating a diagnostic condition of a vehicle, the vehicle including an on-board computer having a diagnostic data and vehicle identification information stored thereon, the method comprising the steps of:
identifying at least one most likely solution based on the diagnostic data retrieved from a vehicle, wherein the most likely solution is identified in relation to retrieved data considered separately and retrieved data considered in combinations; identifying a repair part associated with each identified most likely solution, the identified repair part being associated with a universal part number; providing an urgency database having a plurality of universal part numbers, wherein each universal part number is associated with a one of a low urgency and a high urgency; comparing the universal part number associated with the repair part to information stored in the first urgency database to determine an urgency status associated with the repair part; and generating a high urgency indicator signal in response to a high urgency status resulting from comparison of the universal part number to the urgency database.