ODX (Open Diagnostic Data eXchange, ISO 22901-1) is a formal, machine-readable description language for the diagnostic interface of ECUs. Originally developed by the ASAM e.V. association as ASAM MCD-2D, the last state became ISO standard in 2008. ODX was developed to enable a standardized data exchange between automotive, ECU and tool manufacturers. As a side effect, it also makes the flow of information within a company much more efficient.

The ODX specification includes the data model for describing all diagnostic data of a vehicle control unit such as diagnostic error codes, data parameters and identification data. Also input/output parameters, coding information or communication parameters are included. It is a mandatory component of a diagnostic stack according to ISO 22900 (modular vehicle communication interface).

All control units support various standardized diagnostic protocols for error analysis and maintenance. In ODX, all these diagnostic interfaces are described uniformly and standardized. A tester (external or even installed in the vehicle) exchanges information with the control units. ODX describes how the data sent by the ECU via UDS protocol must be translated into values readable by humans (and programs).

The D-PDU API (ISO 22900-2) is a standardized, universal programming interface for accessing a Vehicle Communication Interface (VCI).

The use of standardized diagnostic interfaces is becoming more significant in communication with control units in the field of vehicle diagnostics. With the ISO 22900-2 standard, a universal, powerful diagnostic and communication interface has been established. The standard offers a defined C interface as well as a uniform system integration. In addition, by means of an event-driven interface design a very high application performance can be achieved.

OTX (Open Test Sequence eXchange, ISO 13209) is an international standard for the formal description of diagnostic and test sequences in the automotive industry. It complements the ODX format used to exchange diagnostic data.

The OTX format is relevant to the areas of development, production and service. Here, it enables the exchange of diagnostic procedures between process partners with different platforms and diagnostic testers. Thus, procedures can easily be reused and extended if necessary.

With the sequence language OTX, diagnostic sequences can be displayed at the specification level and at the same time contain enough implementation details. Moreover, OTX directly supports the variant management, whereby the adaptation of processes to e.g. different vehicle model variants is simplified significantly.

The OTX standard consists of three parts:

• ISO 13209-1 describes the motivation and cases of application.

• ISO 13209-2 defines the core language, which includes all language elements incl. procedure declarations, control structures, expansion options and troubleshooting. The core language is kept generic and therefore also suitable for applications outside of the automotive industry.

• ISO 13209-3 determines the standardized extensions (OTX interface definitions). These provide new instructions and data types, which are, for example, tailored for diagnostic communication with the control units of vehicles, for handling of measured values or for interaction with the user.

ISOBUS (ISO 11783) describes a universal communication and transmission system for agricultural machinery that are based on the CAN 2.0B protocol. The ISOBUS data technology or the ISOBUS protocol primarily standardizes the communication between agricultural machines and onboard electronic systems or add-on devices. But also the data transfer between these mobile systems and the agricultural management software is standardized and products from different manufacturers are made compatible with each other.

The ISOBUS standard defines a serial data network for control and communication in commercial vehicles. Thereby, methods and formats are standardized that represent the data transfer between sensors, actuators, control elements, information memory and visual display units.

You can find further information under ISOBUS - AEF Online and CC-ISOBUS.