ALDL and the Patent WAS Diacom Cable

[David C. Allen]

Check OUT!!!

http://patent.womplex.ibm.com/details?pn=US04796206__

Inventor(s):
                      Boscove; Joseph A. , Highland Beach, FL
                      Kurtz; Hobart L. , Boca Raton, FL
                      Prince; Jeffrey E. , Birmingham, MI
                      Wiegand; William P. , Birmingham, MI

          Applicant(s):
                      International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY

     Issued/Filed Dates:
                      Jan. 3, 1989 / June 2, 1986 E2 (Expired)

    Application Number:
                      US1986000869534

           IPC Class:
                      G06F 011/32; G06F 015/20;

              Class:
                      Current: 701/099; 073/116;
                      Original: 364/551.01; 364/431.01; 073/116;

       Field of Search:
                      364/550,551,431.01,424 073/116,117.3

            Abstract:
                      A computer based technician terminal is connected to 
a vehicle being
                      serviced using an assembly line data link (ALDL) 
connection from an
                      on-board computer. The data link provides status 
information and fault
                      codes. The technician is led through various 
procedures. During set
                      up, the technician connects an ALDL cable from the 
terminal to the
                      vehicle, the vehicle indentification number (VIN) is 
entered and vehicle
                      options are identified. A fault detection procedure 
(FDP) in the
                      terminal detects vehicle malfunctions by 
interrogating data received
                      (via the ALDL) from the on-board computer. A fault 
analysis procedure
                      (FAP), using the fault codes from a table as 
arguments, does a
                      sequential compare against the contents of a fault 
analysis table
                      containing fault codes. In a fault sequencing 
procedure (FSP), for
                      each fault code passed by the FAP, there is a list 
containing the
                      name(s) of one or more isolation procedures. A fault 
isolation
                      procedure (FIP) is provided for electrical or 
electronic components on
                      the vehicle to perform a complete test of the related 
part using a
                      multifunction test probe. Fault repair procedures 
guide the technician
                      through the proper steps to accomplish the repair, 
replacement or
                      adjustment required.

Attorney, Agent, or Firm:
                      Cooper; D. Kendall; Tomlin; Richard A.;