Dynamic file system creation for scan tools

• US 20070050106A1
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Chinnadurai, Manokar
• Granted Patent: US 8,255,108 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable

Abstract

An automotive diagnostic tool and method for accessing user configuration data and retrieving vehicle diagnostic data for read/write mode and storage. The diagnostic tool comprises a processor and a non-volatile memory coupled with the processor for storing data as continuously arranged data. The tool further comprises a main memory coupled with the processor for access and transfer of the data between the main memory and the non-volatile memory. The main memory is configured such that the continuously arranged data can be accessed from the non-volatile memory and stored in the main memory as the read/write data in a file system format. The main memory is further configured such that the read/write data can be transferred from the main memory to the non-volatile memory for storage as continuously arranged data.

Claims

1. A diagnostic tool for accessing user configuration data and retrieving vehicle diagnostic data for read/write mode and storage comprising:

a processor;

a first non-volatile memory coupled with the processor for storing data, the first non-volatile memory being configured such that the data is stored as continuously arranged data; and

a main memory coupled with the processor for access and transfer of the data between the main memory and the first non-volatile memory, the main memory being configured such that continuously arranged data can be accessed from the first non-volatile memory and stored in the main memory as read/write data, the main memory being further configured such that the read/write data can be transferred from the main memory to the first non-volatile memory for storage as continuously arranged data.

2. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the main memory includes a temporary storage area for storing read/write data in the main memory.

3. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the main memory includes RAM and a file system, the file system being configured for accessing the continuously arranged data from the first non-volatile memory and storing the data as read/write data in the main memory.

4. The diagnostic tool of claim 3, wherein the main memory is a RAMDISK.

5. The diagnostic tool of claim 3, further comprising a second non-volatile memory having at least one application and an operating system, wherein the operating system is configured to dynamically create the file system.

6. The diagnostic tool of claim 5, wherein the operating system is configured to transfer the data between the main memory and the non-volatile memory.

7. The diagnostic tool of claim 6, wherein the operating system is configured to use the file system to store the data as read/write data in the main memory, the operating system being further programmed for converting and transferring the read/write data as continuously arranged data to the first non-volatile memory for storage therein.

8. The diagnostic tool of claim 5, wherein the second memory is configured to perform a service operation to transfer the data between the temporary file and the first non-volatile memory.

9. The diagnostic tool of claim 8, wherein the second memory is configured to perform the service operation using burst mode and memory transfer operations.

10. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the main memory and at least a portion of the first non-volatile memory are configured to create a file system in the main memory to store the data as read/write data in the main memory and to transfer the read/write data to the first non-volatile memory for storage as continuously arranged data.

11. A method of retrieving, updating and storing vehicle data on an automotive diagnostic tool, the method comprising:

booting an operating system in read only mode;

creating a file system in a main memory of the diagnostic tool using the operating system;

accessing the vehicle data stored on a non-volatile memory, the vehicle data being stored such that the data is stored in the non-volatile memory as continuously arranged data;

transferring the continuously arranged data from the non-volatile memory to a temporary storage area of the main memory such that the vehicle data is stored as read/write data.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising transferring the read/write data from the temporary storage area in the main memory to the non-volatile memory for storage such that the vehicle data is stored the non-volatile memory as continuously arranged data.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising accessing the vehicle data from the temporary storage area as read/write data using the operating system and the at least one application, wherein the operating system and the at least one application access the data using the file system of the main memory.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein creating a file system in main memory includes programming the operating system so as to create the file system in the main memory.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein programming the operating system is such that the file system is dynamically created.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the main memory is RAM memory, such that programming the operating system so as to create the file system in the main memory creates a RAMDISK.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the booting an operating system is such that the operating system is booted from a non-volatile memory having a file system mounted in read only mode.

18. A diagnostic tool for accessing, writing and storing data comprising:

first storage means for storing at least one application and an operating system in read only mode;

processing means for executing the at least one application and the operating system, the processing means being coupled to the first storing means;

second storage means for storing data as continuously arranged data, the second storage means being coupled to the processing means; and

memory means for accessing continuously arranged data in read/write mode, the memory means being coupled to the processing means.

19. The diagnostic tool of claim 18, wherein the first storage means includes operating means for creating file means in the memory means for accessing continuously arranged data from the second storage means and storing the data in the memory means as read/write data.

20. The diagnostic tool of claim 19, wherein the operating means includes transfer means for transferring the read/write data from the memory means as continuously arranged data to the second storage means for storage therein.