Glossary
Acronyms, product names, and technical terms used in Qualifier and across the wider Aptiv Connect Qualifier platform. Where a term has a page of its own on this site, the term links to it.
| Term | Definition | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AC-Graph | Qualifier's graphing tool that allows you to create visualizations of your vehicle data. | |
| AHR (Advanced Health Report) | A configurable report that provides detailed analysis of a vehicle system. It covers data similar to the Snapshots page while offering additional configuration and statistical measures. | Report subscriptions can run an AHR daily, weekly, or monthly and email the result. |
| API (Application Programming Interface) | Set of predefined methods and protocols that allows one software application to interact with another. It provides specific functions and procedures that can be used by developers to access the features or data of an operating system, application, or other services. | To learn more, see MDN: introduction to web APIs. |
| Black box | See VDR (Vehicle Data Recorder) | |
| Command Center | Real-time VDR monitoring system that provides a user interface within Qualifier to select VINs, and if the accompanying VDR is currently online, stream near real-time information about that vehicle to the user. | |
| Controller Area Network (CAN) Bus | Communication protocol used to enable electronic components to communicate with each other. It acts as a central nervous system for the vehicle, allowing different systems such as the engine, transmission, brakes, and dashboard to work together and share information. | Learn more at CSS Electronics: a simple intro to CAN bus |
| CAN FD (CAN Flexible Data Rate) | CAN FD is an enhancement of the original CAN (Controller Area Network) protocol. The primary difference is that CAN FD offers faster data transmission rates and a larger payload size compared to the classic CAN. | While the original CAN protocol is limited to a maximum data rate of 1 Mbps and a payload size of 8 bytes per message, CAN FD can achieve data rates up to 5 Mbps and support payloads of up to 64 bytes per message. |
| DATALAB | Offline data discovery tool that you can use to perform additional analysis on your vehicle data, beyond what is available through the Snapshots page, Reports page, and AC-Graph. | |
| Datalog | See Event file. | |
| DBC (Database CAN) | Proprietary file format used to describe the data communication in CAN (Controller Area Network) systems. | Learn more at CSS Electronics: an intro to DBC files. |
| DL Ver Status | Within the VDR tab of the Vehicles page, DL Ver Status indicates the data acquisition software version that is running on the VDR. | |
| DM (Diagnostic Message) | Messages are used to communicate diagnostic information and fault codes within the vehicle's electronic system. Each DM provides a specific kind of diagnostic information to help technicians and tools diagnose and address vehicle issues. For example, DM1 provides active diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), DM2 gives previously active DTCs, DM12 requests emission-related DTCs that were previously active. | |
| DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Code) | Standardized alphanumeric code used for vehicle diagnostics. They are part of the Onboard Diagnostics II (OBD-II) system, which was standardized for all cars and light trucks sold in the United States after 1996. | Their first character represents the system where the issue occurred (P/B/C/U), the second character is either 0 for a generic issue or 1 for a manufacturer-specific issue, the third character specifies the subsystem (0–9), and the fourth and fifth characters identify the specific fault. |
| ECM (Engine Control Module) | Electronic component that acts as the brain of an engine. It oversees and manages a wide range of engine functions, ensuring engine performance and efficiency. Managed functions include fuel injection, ignition timing, air-to-fuel ratio, and more. | If the ECM identifies any issues or anomalies, it can trigger the Check Engine or Service Engine Soon light on the vehicle's dashboard |
| ECU (Engine Control Unit) | Alternative term to ECM, see definition above. | |
| Event Data Recorder | See VDR (Vehicle Data Recorder) | |
| Event file | Also known as a "datalog," and event file triggers when a predefined event occurs. For example, you could configure the VDR to collect data when the vehicle experiences a new DTC, when the engine stalls, when the vehicle speed exceeds a certain threshold, or when the driver presses the manual trigger. An event file can also collect a large group of parameters, optionally including the full CAN bus log, with microsecond precision at a pre-configured rate for a pre-configured amount of time before and after an event. | |
| Experiment | Within DATALAB, a job is called an experiment, which run in the order they are received. | |
| FMI (Failure Mode Identifier) | Diagnostic code used in combination with a System Identifier (SID) or a Component Identifier (CID) that provides information about the nature or type of failure detected in a particular system or component. | It is used in the world of heavy-duty vehicles, especially within systems using the J1939 protocol. |
| FTCAN (Fault-Tolerant CAN) | Variant of the standard CAN designed to provide a higher level of fault tolerance. FTCAN ensures that even in the face of certain types of hardware failures or faults, communication between electronic control units (ECUs) in a vehicle can continue, providing an added layer of safety and reliability. | Typically employs a dual-wire setup (two conductive paths). If one wire breaks or faces an issue, the other can still continue to transmit data, ensuring communication doesn't break down |
| Freeze-frame file | See Snapshot file. | |
| GMLAN (General Motors Local Area Network) | Proprietary communication protocol developed by General Motors (GM) for in-vehicle communication. Based on CAN standard, it operates at different speeds, including low speed (around 33.3 kbps) and high speed (up to 500 kbps). | |
| HUD (Heads-Up Display) | Display that projects information into the driver's forward field of view, so it can be read without looking away from the road. | |
| HSCAN (High-Speed CAN) | Communication protocol that operates at higher data rates and is commonly used in vehicle systems where faster data transmission is required, such as engine control modules, transmission control modules, and advanced driver assistance systems. | |
| Issue Level View | Within the Events page, you can choose to view all issues that appear within your applied filters. These are presented in the Issue Level Table. | See Events. |
| KWP (Keyword Protocol) | Diagnostic communication protocol used in automotive Electronic Control Units (ECUs). The protocol facilitates the exchange of diagnostic information between a vehicle's on-board diagnostic system and external diagnostic equipment. The latest protocol is KWP2000 (ISO 14230) and operates either over a physical K-line (ISO 9141) or CAN. | To learn more, see Wikipedia: Keyword Protocol 2000 |
| MIL (Malfunction Indicator Light) | Warning light on a vehicle's dashboard that alerts the driver to a potential problem with the vehicle's engine, transmission, or emission system. | |
| MSB (Most Significant Bit/Byte) | Refers to the bit in a binary number that has the highest value position. | |
| OBD (Onboard Diagnostics) | A vehicle's self-diagnostic and reporting capability. OBD systems monitor the performance of various engine components and other crucial systems within a vehicle, providing vehicle owners and technicians with information about the vehicle's state of health. | To learn more, see Wikipedia: on-board diagnostics. |
| OBD-II (Onboard Diagnostics II) | Second iteration of the Onboard Diagnostics system, which is a standardized system in vehicles designed to monitor the performance of the vehicle's engine and other essential systems. In addition to standardized codes (DTCs), it standardizes connectors, emissions monitoring, and other vehicular systems. | For general info, see CARB: OBD-II systems fact sheet. For technical info, see CSS Electronics: OBD2 explained. |
| OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) | The original producer of a vehicle's components. For instance, if you were to buy an "OEM" part for your car, it would mean you're buying a part that's identical to the parts used when your car was built. | |
| OTA (Over-the-Air Technology) | Wireless method of updating, configuring, or upgrading software on the embedded device, without requiring any physical connections or intervention. | |
| PE (Pre-existing) | A term used as a filter within Qualifier, to filter pre-existing DTCs. | |
| PCM (Powertrain Control Module) | Type of Electronic Control Unit (ECU) used in automobiles. It's typically the primary module managing and controlling the vehicle's engine and transmission systems. | |
| protobuf (Protocol Buffer) | Method developed by Google for serializing structured data, similar to XML or JSON. Protocol Buffers are used to define messages (data structures) and services in a language-neutral, platform-neutral way, and then to automatically generate source code in multiple languages. | For documentation, see protobuf.dev. |
| Private filters | When you set up a new global filter profile, you can choose to make it public or private. Private filters are available only to you. | |
| Public filters | When you set up a new global filter profile, you can choose to make it public or private. Public filters are available to everyone in your organization but not to people outside your organization. | |
| Pulse Data | A small packet of information that is transmitted from the vehicle, typically every two minutes, when the data recorder is on and has a cellular signal. | |
| RKE (Remote Keyless Entry) | Technology used in vehicles that allows an individual to lock and unlock doors remotely. RKE systems often encompass additional functionalities like opening the trunk, sounding a panic alarm, or starting the engine. | |
| SPN (Suspect Parameter Number) | Unique number assigned to specific parameters in the electronics communication systems of heavy-duty vehicles, primarily those using the SAE J1939 protocol. The SPN serves as an identifier for individual parameters that might be monitored, measured, or controlled by electronic control units (ECUs) in the vehicle. | To learn more, see CSS Electronics: J1939 explained. |
| Snapshot file | Sometimes also called "freeze-frame" files, snapshot files collect a subset of predefined parameters at a single point in time. These files are useful for statistical analysis and assessing robustness. | |
| SWCAN (Single-Wire CAN) | Variation of the Controller Area Network (CAN) protocol that operates over a single wire. It is a slower-speed alternative to the more standard two-wire CAN (often referred to as High-Speed CAN or HSCAN) and is typically used for non-critical communications in vehicles where data speed is less of a concern. | |
| System families | Required filter when building AHRs. A system family is a group of systems that are all related. Examples include the engine system family and the OBD system family. | |
| Time stamp | Exact date and time when a particular reading or event was recorded. All Aptiv systems write time stamps in GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). | The current GMT time is shown at the top of every page in Qualifier. |
| TCM (Transmission Control Module) | Electronic component that manages and controls the operation of an automobile's automatic transmission. It is primarily responsible for ensuring smooth gear shifts and optimal transmission performance. | |
| Trip file | In Qualifier, a trip file collects a subset of parameters at 1 Hz throughout a vehicle trip, that is, from key on to key off. It's useful for tracking how a particular signal changed throughout a drive cycle | |
| TTD (Test Tool Detected) | TTD is a term typically used as a filter within Qualifier to filter DTCs that occurred while another test tool was plugged into the vehicle. | |
| UDS (Unified Diagnostic Services) | Diagnostic communication protocol used in electronic control units (ECUs). It is defined by the ISO 14229-1 standard and provides a unified approach to diagnostics services across different automobile manufacturers and platforms. | |
| VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) | Unique code used by the automotive industry to identify individual motor vehicles. It serves as the vehicle's fingerprint, as no two vehicles have the same number. VINs are regulated by the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) under the standard ISO 3779:2009. | For the official standard explanation, see ISO 3779:2009(en) Content and Structure. |
| VDR (Vehicle Data Recorder) | Device installed in vehicles that records specific information related to the vehicle's operations, especially in the moments leading up to, during, and after an incident or collision. |