Multi-stage diagnostic system and method

摘要

A multi-stage diagnostic system and related method which seeks diagnostic information from a secondary information source when a first information source does not yield sufficient data for producing a diagnostic result. In particular, diagnostic process includes a first stage of communicating with an onboard vehicle computer to retrieve diagnostic trouble codes therefrom. If diagnostic trouble codes are received from the onboard computer, the diagnostic trouble codes are used to produce a diagnostic result. On the other hand, if no diagnostic trouble codes are retrieved from the onboard computer, the diagnostic process proceeds to a second stage wherein symptomatic diagnostic information is solicited from the user. A series of symptomatic questions may be presented to the user on a smartphone.

主权项

1. A system for providing diagnostics for a vehicle having an onboard computer using a hand held electronic device, the system comprising:
a scan tool disposable in operative communication with the onboard computer for retrieving diagnostic trouble codes therefrom; a diagnostic database having diagnostic solutions matched with symptomatic data; and a set of computer executable instructions downloadable onto a hand held electronic device for configuring the hand held electronic device to:
establish communication between the hand held electronic device and the scan tool;display a symptomatic question sequence for the user when no diagnostic trouble code is received from the onboard computer;store symptomatic data received from the user; andcommunicate the symptomatic data to the diagnostic database; the diagnostic database being configured to match symptomatic data received from the hand held electronic device with a diagnostic solution.