Vehicle information collection system and module therefor
First Claim
1. A method for managing vehicle check in at an automotive service center and identifying a procedure to retrieve specific information including vehicle identification data and odometer data related to one or more unknown vehicles at the automotive service center, the method comprising the steps of:
- connecting a device to the diagnostic port of one of the one or more unknown vehicles;
downloading the vehicle identification data and odometer data from the one of the one or more unknown vehicles, wherein the procedure to retrieve the specific information including the vehicle identification data and the odometer data is unknown to the device prior to the connecting step and is automatically identified during the connecting step by the device;
transferring the vehicle identification data and odometer data from the device to a work station, wherein the work station include a database;
programmatically populating the vehicle identification data and odometer data into the database;
retrieving information based on one or both of the vehicle identification data and the odometer data at the workstation; and
displaying the automatically-retrieved information on one or both of a computer and a paper printout.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for managing vehicle check in at an automotive service center comprising the steps of connecting a device to the diagnostic port of an unknown vehicle and, without user input to the device, automatically downloading vehicle identification data and odometer data from the vehicle, transferring the vehicle identification data and odometer data from the device to work station at the service center, wherein the work station include a database, programmatically populating the vehicle identification data and odometer data into the database, the work station retrieving information based on one or both of the vehicle identification data and the odometer; and displaying the retrieved data on one or both of a computer and a paper printout.
30 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for managing vehicle check in at an automotive service center and identifying a procedure to retrieve specific information including vehicle identification data and odometer data related to one or more unknown vehicles at the automotive service center, the method comprising the steps of:
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connecting a device to the diagnostic port of one of the one or more unknown vehicles; downloading the vehicle identification data and odometer data from the one of the one or more unknown vehicles, wherein the procedure to retrieve the specific information including the vehicle identification data and the odometer data is unknown to the device prior to the connecting step and is automatically identified during the connecting step by the device; transferring the vehicle identification data and odometer data from the device to a work station, wherein the work station include a database; programmatically populating the vehicle identification data and odometer data into the database; retrieving information based on one or both of the vehicle identification data and the odometer data at the workstation; and displaying the automatically-retrieved information on one or both of a computer and a paper printout. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8)
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6. A method for managing vehicle check in at an automotive service center comprising the steps of:
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connecting a device to the diagnostic port of an unknown vehicle; downloading vehicle identification data and odometer data, vehicle, wherein the specific method to access the vehicle identification data and the odometer data are unknown to the device prior to this connection step and is automatically identified by the device; transferring the vehicle identification data and the odometer data from the device to a programmed computer at the service center; and entering one or both of the vehicle identification data and the odometer data into the service center business software on said programmed computer.
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9. An information collection module for acquiring information from a vehicle and automatically identifying a procedure to acquire vehicle specific information from the vehicle, the tool comprising:
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a connector for connecting the tool to a vehicle; and means for acquiring the vehicle specific information from the vehicle, wherein the vehicle specific information is selected from the group consisting of a an odometer report, a fuel level report and a combination thereof, wherein the procedure to acquire the vehicle specific information is unknown to the tool prior to the step for acquiring the vehicle specific information and wherein the procedure is automatically identified during connecting the tool to the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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Specification