Method and Apparatus for Interfacing an Automotive Diagnostic Tool with a Diagnostic Database

• US 20110112932A1
• Filed: 11/10/2009
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innova Electronics Corporation (Innova Telematics Solutions)
• Original Assignee: Innova Electronics Corporation (Innova Telematics Solutions)
• Inventors: Chen, Ieon
• Granted Patent: US 8,306,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/016 After-sales
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083

Abstract

Provided is a method of diagnosing a vehicle having diagnostic data. The method includes providing an automotive diagnostic tool sold to a user by a selling retailer. The automotive diagnostic tool is configured to download diagnostic data from the vehicle and upload the diagnostic data to a computer. The computer is configured to communicate the diagnostic data to a diagnostic database associated with the selling retailer (such as a private label website) upon establishing a communication link between the automotive diagnostic tool and the computer. A communication link is then established between the automotive diagnostic tool and the computer. In response thereto, a communication link is then established between the computer and the diagnostic database. The diagnostic data is thereafter communicated from the automotive diagnostic tool to the diagnostic database via the computer. The diagnostic database is arranged to map vehicle diagnostic data to a most likely vehicle fix.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method of diagnosing a vehicle having diagnostic data, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an automotive diagnostic tool configured to download diagnostic data from the vehicle and upload the diagnostic data to a computer;

(b) displaying source identifying indicia on the automotive diagnostic tool, the source identifying indicia being associated with a selling retailer;

(c) supplying the automotive diagnostic tool to the selling retailer;

(d) creating a private label website associated with the selling retailer, the private label website having a diagnostic database arranged to map diagnostic data to a most likely fix;

(e) providing computer executable instructions for configuring the computer to connect with the private label website associated with the selling retailer after the automotive diagnostic tool is connected to the computer; and

(f) receiving diagnostic data at the private label website associated with the selling retailer.

22. The method recited in claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

analyzing the diagnostic data to determine the most likely fix; and

collecting a fee from the user.

23. The method recited in claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

displaying a link to a website associated with the selling retailer, the link being displayed on the private label website associated with the selling retailer, the link being configured to establish communication between the website associated with the selling retailer and the computer; and

collecting a fee from the selling retailer in response to the establishing communication between the website associated with the selling retailer and the computer.

24. The method recited in claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

analyzing the diagnostic data to determine the most likely fix; and

displaying a video with instructions for performing the most likely fix.

25. The method recited in claim 24, further comprising the step of collecting a fee from the user in response to displaying the video.

26. The method recited in claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

analyzing the diagnostic data to determine a most likely fix;

communicating the most likely vehicle fix to a third party retailer;

receiving a payment from the third party retailer; and

communicating user contact data to the third party retailer.

27. The method recited in claim 21, wherein step (d) includes:

establishing a communication link between the computer and a retailer directory, the retailer directory being arranged to map retailer data entered by a user to the private label website associated with selling retailer; and

analyzing the retailer data to identify the private label website associated with the selling retailer.

28. The method recited in claim 27, further comprising the step of configuring the computer to display a drop-down list to allow the user to select the retailer from the drop-down list.

29. The method recited in claim 27, further comprising the step of configuring the computer to display a user input prompt to allow the user to enter an alpha-numeric code associated with the retailer into the computer.

30. A method of diagnosing a vehicle having diagnostic data, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an automotive diagnostic tool configured to download diagnostic data from the vehicle and upload the diagnostic data to a computer;

(b) supplying the automotive scan tool to a selling retailer;

(c) creating a private label website associated with the selling retailer, the private label website having a diagnostic database arranged to map diagnostic data to a most likely fix;

(d) providing computer executable instructions for configuring the computer to connect with the private label website associated with the selling retailer after the automotive diagnostic tool is connected to the computer; and

(e) receiving diagnostic data at the private label website associated with the selling retailer.

31. The method recited in claim 30, further comprising the steps of:

analyzing the diagnostic data to determine the most likely fix; and

collecting a fee from the user.

32. The method recited in claim 31, further comprising the steps of:

displaying a link to a website associated with the selling retailer, the link being displayed on the private label website associated with the selling retailer, the link being configured to establish communication between the website associated with the selling retailer and the computer; and

collecting a fee from the selling retailer in response to the establishing communication between the website associated with the selling retailer and the computer.

33. The method recited in claim 30, further comprising the steps of:

analyzing the diagnostic data to determine the most likely fix; and

displaying a video with instructions for performing the most likely fix.

34. The method recited in claim 33, further comprising the step of collecting a fee from the user in response to displaying the video.

35. The method recited in claim 30, further comprising the steps of:

analyzing the diagnostic data to determine a most likely fix;

communicating the most likely vehicle fix to a third party retailer;

receiving a payment from the third party retailer; and

communicating user contact data to the third party retailer.

36. The method recited in claim 31, wherein step (d) includes:

establishing a communication link between the computer and a retailer directory, the retailer directory being arranged to map retailer data entered by a user to the private label website associated with selling retailer; and

analyzing the retailer data to identify the private label website associated with the selling retailer.

37. The method recited in claim 36, further comprising the step of configuring the computer to display a drop-down list to allow the user to select the retailer from the drop-down list.

38. The method recited in claim 36, further comprising the step of configuring the computer to display a user input prompt to allow the user to enter an alpha-numeric code associated with the retailer into the computer.