Abstract: In a computer-implemented method of optimizing a diagnostic test sequence to diagnose a medical condition of a subject. A group of diagnostic tests related to a symptom is determined from a pool of diagnostic tests. A probabilistic failure mode analysis is conducted to determine the efficacy of each of the diagnostic tests based on historical outcomes of actual diagnostic testing. The comparative utility of each diagnostic tests based on a plurality of factors that can affect problem resolution is analyzed. A weight is assigned to each factor involved in the probabilistic failure mode analysis. The diagnostic tests are ordered based upon at least one of: a probability of the diagnostic test identifying a cause of the failure mode in a minimum amount of time; a probability of the diagnostic test identifying the cause of the failure mode at a minimum cost; and a relative weighting of minimizing time versus minimizing cost.

Abstract: A diagnostic information converter reads an existing static diagnostic procedure in the form of a tree graph and generates a diagnostic Failure Modes and Effects Analysis that can be used in the generation of a dynamic diagnostic test plan. The converter identifies the end nodes of the graph and associates a specific failure mode with each of the end nodes. In addition, the converter traces a unique path from each end node along successive branches through one or more intermediate nodes to the root node, and from each of the paths derives an initial failure mode test including the test steps corresponding to the root node, the intermediate nodes and the end node. The converter further identifies and annotates precondition nodes that correspond to a vehicle state or condition, rather than to an actual diagnostic test step and allows a user to edit the initial failure mode tests.

Abstract: A vehicle state tracker tracks the state of a vehicle during a diagnostic test sequence to eliminate redundant steps between diagnostic procedures. The vehicle state tracker maintains a list of preconditions required for each diagnostic procedure, reads a current vehicle state from a memory register and verifies the current setting of the vehicle state corresponding to a specific precondition. If the precondition is required and the current setting is not valid, the state tracker further formats a test preparation step corresponding to the precondition for display to instruct a vehicle technician to satisfy the precondition. Otherwise, if the precondition is not required and the corresponding setting is valid, the state tracker formats an instruction to reverse the corresponding vehicle condition. The state tracker additionally receives feedback indicating when a precondition has been satisfied or the corresponding vehicle condition has been reversed, and updates the vehicle state in memory.

Abstract: A diagnostic test sequence optimizer includes a diagnostic test selector that determines a group of diagnostic test procedures related to a specific symptom and vehicle type from a pool of diagnostic procedures. A failure mode analyzer then selects one or more factors that can affect resolution of a vehicle operational problem and performs a failure mode analysis to quantify a comparative utility of the individual tests, and a factor weighter assigns a weight to each of the factors. A vehicle receiver receives information regarding the history of the test subject vehicle, and a sequence optimizer places the diagnostic test procedures in an optimized sequence in accordance with the comparative utilities of the individual diagnostic procedures, user preferences and a Failure Mode and Effects Analysis compiled by the manufacturer of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method for alerting interested parties of component failure are provided. The system made up of a diagnostic tool for identifying a failed component, a reporting device for creating alerts, a routing device to ensure interested parties receive the proper alerts, and a memory to store information for associating parties with the alerts. Information is gathered to create an alert used to notify interested parties of instances of component failures. The alerts are routed to parties known to have an interest in the failure of the component. The system and method may provide information that allows for better planning and design of parts, greater availability to ensure a sufficient inventory of parts, more accurate diagnosis of issues, and more effective preventative maintenance.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic data collector/analyzer compiles historical vehicle diagnostic data, including measured vital signs from a number of different people from a variety of population types, and performs statistical analyses on various vital sign combinations to establish ranges corresponding to healthy individuals and various disease conditions.

Abstract: A reverse failure analyzer determines a group of diagnostic test procedures related to a particular vehicle component from a pool of diagnostic procedures, and then identifies the specific failure modes of each of the diagnostic test procedures. The reverse failure analyzer further associates the specific failure modes with the respective vehicle component associated with each of the diagnostic test procedures, and the symptoms associated with each of the diagnostic test procedures to the correlated vehicle components and failure modes. In addition, the reverse failure analyzer can cross-reference various vehicle components that can be the root cause of a particular symptom or a vehicle operational problem. Furthermore, the reverse failure analyzer can receive observed symptoms regarding a particular test subject vehicle and correlate the observed symptoms to the vehicle components that can cause the symptoms based on the results of reverse failure analyses.

Abstract: A system and method for determining work procedures through correlated symptoms are provided. The system made up of a diagnostic authoring apparatus for constructing and managing a diagnostic database. Information is stored in the diagnostic database that identifies vehicles that have the tendency to display certain symptoms in correlation with particular problems. These problems in the vehicles generally have a common solution for that type of vehicle. The problem may be common enough to check for a symptom preemptively, possibly before the vehicle owner is aware of it, or even prior to the manifestation of the symptom. The problem may warrant action taken to fix or avoid the problem. The system and method may associate and mark a problem with a preemptive symptom so a vehicle service/repair professional may be presented with the proper way to handle the associated problem for a particular vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method for determining work procedures through correlated symptoms are provided. The system made up of a diagnostic authoring apparatus for constructing and managing a diagnostic database. Information is stored in the diagnostic database that identifies equipment and/or systems that have the tendency to display certain symptoms in correlation with particular problems. These problems in the equipment and/or systems generally have a common solution for that type of equipment and/or system. The problem may be common enough to check for a symptom preemptively, possibly before the owner is aware of it, or even prior to the manifestation of the symptom. The problem may warrant action taken to fix or avoid the problem. The system and method may associate and mark a problem with a preemptive symptom so a service/repair professional may be presented with the proper way to handle the associated problem for a particular equipment and/or system.

Abstract: To display patient information, a computing device receives a set of diagnostic values for a patient, a processor of the computing device compares the set of diagnostic values with a set of predetermined normal values, and a video image is displayed having a graphical depiction of the diagnostic values in comparison to the related normal values. The related set of normal values is displayed at a predetermined region of the video image and the set of diagnostic values is displayed on the video image in relation to the certain region of the normal values. Varying levels of relative health of the patient are indicated according the placement of an icon relative to areas of the graphical depiction of the diagnostic values. The video image is a plurality of concentric circles with the diagnostic values being displayed relatively closer to a center of the display in response to the diagnostic values being relatively closer to the values of the related normal values.

Abstract: A reverse failure analyzer determines a group of diagnostic test procedures related to a particular vehicle component from a pool of diagnostic procedures, and then identifies the specific failure modes of each of the diagnostic test procedures. The reverse failure analyzer further associates the specific failure modes with the respective vehicle component associated with each of the diagnostic test procedures, and the symptoms associated with each of the diagnostic test procedures to the correlated vehicle components and failure modes. In addition, the reverse failure analyzer can cross-reference various vehicle components that can be the root cause of a particular symptom or a vehicle operational problem. Furthermore, the reverse failure analyzer can receive observed symptoms regarding a particular test subject vehicle and correlate the observed symptoms to the vehicle components that can cause the symptoms based on the results of reverse failure analyses.

Abstract: A technique and apparatus of displaying a vehicle's information on a display device is provided and include measuring a set of diagnostic and state values of the vehicle, comparing the set of measured values with a set of related predetermined values, the set of predetermined values being within a preset range for operation of the vehicle, displaying on a video image a graphical depiction of the present measured value, and displaying on the same video image, a graphical depiction of the measured set of values in comparison to the related predetermined set of values, with the comparison changing color of a certain portion of the graphical depiction.

Abstract: A vehicle diagnostic data collector/analyzer compiles historical vehicle diagnostic data, including measured operating parameters from a number of different vehicles operating under a variety of normal vehicle operating conditions and vehicle component failure conditions, and performs statistical analyses on various vehicle type/operating condition combinations to establish operating parameter ranges corresponding to normal operating conditions and various failure conditions. The diagnostic data collector/analyzer also measures real-time operating parameters on specific test-subject vehicles and evaluates similarities and differences between the measured operating parameters and the established ranges, and correlates the test data with known operating conditions in order to diagnose potential failure modes of vehicle components.

Abstract: A vehicle state tracker tracks the state of a vehicle during a diagnostic test sequence to eliminate redundant steps between diagnostic procedures. The vehicle state tracker maintains a list of preconditions required for each diagnostic procedure, reads a current vehicle state from a memory register and verifies the current setting of the vehicle state corresponding to a specific precondition. If the precondition is required and the current setting is not valid, the state tracker further formats a test preparation step corresponding to the precondition for display to instruct a vehicle technician to satisfy the precondition. Otherwise, if the precondition is not required and the corresponding setting is valid, the state tracker formats an instruction to reverse the corresponding vehicle condition. The state tracker additionally receives feedback indicating when a precondition has been satisfied or the corresponding vehicle condition has been reversed, and updates the vehicle state in memory.

Abstract: A method of displaying a vehicle's information, includes measuring a set values of the vehicle, comparing the set of measured values with a set of related normal values of a vehicle of the same type as the vehicle being measured, and operating within a preset normal range, and displaying on a video image a graphical depiction of the measured set of values in comparison to the normal set of values of the same type of vehicle.

Abstract: A diagnostic tool and a computer-implemented method for generating testing and diagnosis procedures for vehicle diagnosis include determining if a first procedure remains to be performed, if a first procedure remains to be performed, then determining whether: there is a second procedure dependent on the first procedure, or the first procedure can run in parallel to the second procedure, if there is a second procedure dependent on the first procedure, then performing the first procedure, if the first procedure can run in parallel to the second procedure, then performing the first procedure, and determining if the second procedure remains to be performed.

Abstract: A vehicle state tracker tracks the state of a vehicle during a diagnostic test sequence to eliminate redundant steps between diagnostic procedures. The vehicle state tracker maintains a list of preconditions required for each diagnostic procedure, reads a current vehicle state from a memory register and verifies the current setting of the vehicle state corresponding to a specific precondition. If the precondition is required and the current setting is not valid, the state tracker further formats a test preparation step corresponding to the precondition for display to instruct a vehicle technician to satisfy the precondition. Otherwise, if the precondition is not required and the corresponding setting is valid, the state tracker formats an instruction to reverse the corresponding vehicle condition. The state tracker additionally receives feedback indicating when a precondition has been satisfied or the corresponding vehicle condition has been reversed, and updates the vehicle state in memory.

Abstract: An interactive diagnostic schematic generator illustrates diagnostic test procedures for diagnosing failure modes of a vehicle. The schematic generator reads a schematic data file such as a wiring diagram from a computer memory, indicates a test subject in the schematic or illustrates a location where test equipment is to be connected, and formats the schematic for display on a display device. The schematic generator also receives feedback from a vehicle onboard computer, test equipment or user input indicating that the action has been performed, and removes the indication of the test subject in the schematic. The schematic generator further marks the test subject to indicate that the action has been performed with a marking style that is visually distinct from the indicating style, optionally indicating that the result has validated or invalidated the test subject.

Abstract: A diagnostic system for a vehicle, includes a computer storing software on a computer readable media, configurable for setting up recording of vehicle operations, selecting from a plurality of customizable triggering operations according to Boolean logic, and a vehicle communication interface detachably connected to the computer, being setup by the computer for recording of vehicle operation while the vehicle is operating and recorded information stored in a computer readable media of the vehicle communication interface being reviewed by the computer, and detachably connected to the vehicle for recording of the vehicle operations.

Abstract: A diagnostic system for a vehicle, including a memory receiving and storing vehicle specific information, and storing diagnostic test sequences, a processor connected to the memory, executing instructions for the diagnostic test sequences and outputting the results of the execution, and a centralized database, remote from the memory, storing the results of the execution of the diagnostic test sequences and results of the execution of diagnostic tests from additional vehicles, configurable for extraction and linking of the data stored in the centralized database.