Abstract: A method for performing diagnostics on a system of a vehicle includes the steps of receiving a request form an external source, obtaining data relevant to the request, processing the request using the data, and generating a report based at least in part on the processing of the request. The report comprises a diagnostic vector and a life usage vector. The diagnostic vector comprises diagnostic information for the system based at least in part on the processing of the request. The life usage vector comprises information as to usage of the system throughout a life history of the system, based at least in part on the processing of the request.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided pertaining to a design of experiments. The method comprises generating a data set from historical data; identifying and removing any fault data points in the data set so as to create a revised data set; supplying the data points from the revised data set into a nonlinear neural network model; and deriving a simulator model characterizing a relationship between the input variables and the output variables. The apparatus comprises means for generating a data set from historical data; means for identifying and removing any fault data points in the data set so as to create a revised data set; means for supplying the data points from the revised data set into a nonlinear neural network model; and means for deriving a simulator model characterizing a relationship between the input variables and the output variables.