Systems and methods for use of diagnostic scan tool in automotive collision repair

• US 10,152,836 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2017
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitchell International Incorporated (Mitchell International Holding, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mitchell International Incorporated (Mitchell International Holding, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rozint, John Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Worden, Thomas E
• Application Number:
  US15/487,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20170301154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

A new automotive collision repair technology is provided, including system and data flow architectures that are designed to provide enhanced data and enhanced data flow in the context of vehicle diagnosis and repair, particularly when repairs are necessary due to collisions. In some examples, the data flow through the network is streamlined, to avoid network congestion, to use fewer computer and network resources and/or to enable the utilization of smaller databases. In other examples, enhanced access to data in real-time and near real-time enabled by a Workflow Module supports more accurate and timely decisions on vehicle repair. An advantage of this new automotive collision repair technology is that it enables proper and proven repairs, which in turns increases operation safety of repaired vehicle and people safety.

Claims

1. An enhanced automotive collision repair system comprising:

an enhanced diagnostic scan tool having;

a first processor,

a first memory,

an adapter configured to connect the enhanced diagnostic scan tool to a computer of a vehicle that requires collision repairs following a collision, including replacement of parts of the vehicle that were damaged during the collision,

wherein, the first processor is programmed to determine an identity of the vehicle, to run diagnostics, and to perform collision repair operations including recalibration of electronic modules and sensors associated with replaced parts of the vehicle and reprograming of electronic modules of the vehicle associated with the replaced parts, while the enhanced diagnostic scan tool is connected to the computer of the vehicle via the adapter,

a display,

a repair data module configured to receive from a workflow module a first specific repair procedure data based on the identity of the vehicle and based on diagnostic data of the vehicle identified by the first processor of the enhanced diagnostic scan tool, and, when available, a second specific repair procedure data annotated to the workflow module by prior users of the enhanced automotive collision repair system, and

a workflow application including processor-executable instructions stored on a first non-transitory processor-readable media that when executed by the first processor causes the enhanced diagnostic scan tool to;

receive the first and second specific repair procedure data in real time, and

send to the workflow module proof that the identified vehicle was repaired, the proof including results of a diagnostic scan of the vehicle by the first processor before and after repairs and collision repair log data including real-time collision repair operations performed by the first processor of the enhanced diagnostic scan tool,

a workflow computer connected for data communication to the enhanced diagnostic scan tool, the workflow computer having a second processor, and a second memory,

wherein the workflow module is integral to the workflow computer and comprises;

a first set of application programming interfaces (APIs) for enabling data communication with the enhanced diagnostic scan tool,

a second set of APIs for enabling data communication with at least two third-party networks,

a plurality of specialized databases, including a vehicle diagnostic database for receiving the proof that the identified vehicle was repaired from the enhanced diagnostic scan tool and a repair procedure database for receiving the first specific repair procedure data from a first third-party network of the at least two third-party networks, and

a plurality of applications including;

a repair procedure application having processor-executable instructions stored on a second non-transitory processor-readable media that when executed causes the workflow module to retrieve from the first third-party network the first specific repair procedure data, store the first specific repair procedure data in the repair procedure database, and send the first specific repair procedure data to the repair data module of the enhanced diagnostic scan tool for viewing on the display, and

a collision repair application having processor-executable instructions stored on the second non-transitory processor-readable media that when executed causes the workflow module to monitor and record in real time the collision repair operations performed by the enhanced diagnostic scan tool, and process the proof received from the enhanced diagnostic scan tool, the processing of the proof including creating new reports containing exclusively collision repair data by separating mechanical repair diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) that are unrelated to the collision or predate the collision and providing the new reports to a second third-party network of the at least two third-party networks for verification that required collision repairs were performed.

2. The enhanced automotive collision repair system of claim 1, wherein the workflow computer is configured to be operated by a collision repair facility.

3. The enhanced automotive collision repair system of claim 1, wherein the workflow computer is configured to be operated by an administrator of the workflow module.

4. The enhanced automotive collision repair system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle'"'"'s identity comprises the vehicle'"'"'s vehicle identification number (VIN), year, make, model, and model options.

5. The enhanced automotive collision repair system of claim 1, wherein the first third-party network is vehicle information system.

6. The enhanced automotive collision repair system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of specialized databases of the workflow module further comprises a vehicle configuration database, and an image database.

7. The enhanced automotive collision repair system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of applications of the workflow module further comprises a data manager application, a document management application, and an image processing application.

8. The enhanced automotive collision repair system of claim 1, wherein the enhanced diagnostic scan tool further comprises a messaging application.