System and method for providing vehicle data reports

• US 20170372532A1
• Filed: 06/27/2016
• Published: 12/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: Merg, Patrick S., Costantino, David, Johnson, Lester B.
• Granted Patent: US 10,242,510 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/221 Procedure or apparatus for checking or keeping in a correct functioning condition of brake systems hydraulic pressure systems in general F15B19/00, F15B21/04; testing structures or apparatus G01M
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/252 between a Database Management System and a front-end application
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources

Abstract

A client computing system (CCS) receives a tool measurement from a measurement tool other than by determining the tool measurement from a vehicle data (VD) message. The CCS generates a VD report including a vehicle identifier of a vehicle associated with the tool measurement and the VD report. The VD report can include temporal and/or spatial identifiers pertaining to the tool measurement. The VD report can be provided to a server computing system (SCS) for storage as part of a VD record associated with the vehicle. The CCS that generated the VD report or another CCS can request the VD report from the SCS. The SCS can determine if the requesting CCS is authorized to receive the VD report to maintain the vehicle owner'"'"'s privacy. The tool measurement can be selected from a service procedure provided to the CCS from SCS and displayed at the CCS.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a server computing system including a computer-readable memory and at least one processor, a first vehicle data report including an identifier of a first vehicle and a tool measurement regarding the first vehicle;

storing, at the computer-readable memory, multiple vehicle data records including an identifier of a respective vehicle, wherein the multiple vehicle data records include a first vehicle data recording including the identifier of the first vehicle;

storing, at the computer-readable memory, the first vehicle data report as part of the first vehicle data record;

receiving, by the server computing system, a request from a client computing system for a requested portion of the first vehicle data record, wherein the request includes the identifier of the first vehicle, and wherein the requested portion includes at least a portion of the first vehicle data report;

determining, by the at least one processor, the client computing system is authorized to receive the requested portion of the first vehicle data record; and

transmitting, by the server computing system, a response to the request from the authorized client computing system, wherein the response includes the requested portion of the first vehicle data record.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the server computing system, a second vehicle data report including measurement data regarding the first vehicle, wherein the second vehicle data report includes measurement data determined from a vehicle data message transmitted by an electronic control unit within the first vehicle; and

storing, at the computer-readable memory, the second vehicle data report as part of the first vehicle data record,

wherein the requested portion of the first vehicle data record further includes at least a portion of the second vehicle data report.

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein the first vehicle data record includes a vehicle data record password,

wherein the request includes a request password, and

wherein determining the client computing system is authorized to receive the requested portion of the first vehicle data record includes determining, by the at least one processor, the request password matches the vehicle data record password.

4. The method of claim 1,

wherein the first vehicle data record includes a second identifier,

wherein the second identifier identifies at least one of the client computing system, a repair shop, and/or a repair technician,

wherein the request includes a request identifier, and

wherein determining the client computing system is authorized to receive the requested portion of the first vehicle data record includes determining, by the at least one processor, the request identifier of the request matches the second identifier of the vehicle data record.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, by server computing system to the client computing system, a service procedure displayable at the client computing system, wherein the service procedure pertains to the first vehicle and includes a procedural step requiring use of a measurement tool configured for performing the tool measurement.

6. The method of claim 1,

wherein the selected measurement tool comprises a torque wrench, and

wherein the tool measurement comprises a torque measurement performed by the torque wrench.

7. The method of claim 1,

wherein the selected measurement tool comprises a vehicle brake lathe, and

wherein the tool measurement comprises at least one of a thickness of a vehicle brake rotor and/or a diameter of a vehicle brake drum.

8. The method of claim 7, the method further comprising:

comparing, by the at least one processor, the tool measurement to a threshold measurement for vehicle brake parts stored in parts specification data within the computer-readable medium; and

transmitting, by the server computing system, a tool measurement conclusion message indicating whether further machining of at least one of the vehicle brake rotor and/or the vehicle brake drum by the brake lathe should be performed.

9. A server computing system comprising;

at least one processor; and

at least one computer-readable memory storing computer-readable program instructions and multiple vehicle data records including an identifier of a respective vehicle, wherein the multiple vehicle data records include a first vehicle data record including an identifier of a first vehicle, wherein execution of the computer-readable program instructions cause the server computing system to perform functions including;

receiving a first vehicle data report including the identifier of the first vehicle and a tool measurement regarding the first vehicle;

storing, at the computer-readable memory, the first vehicle data report as part of the first vehicle data record;

receiving a request from a client computing system for a requested portion of the first vehicle data record, wherein the request includes the identifier of the first vehicle, and wherein the requested portion includes at least a portion of the first vehicle data report;

determining the client computing system is authorized to receive the requested portion of the first vehicle data record; and

transmitting a response to the request from the authorized client computing system, wherein the response includes the requested portion of the first vehicle data record.

10. The server computing system of claim 9, wherein the functions further include:

receiving, by the server computing system, a second vehicle data report including measurement data regarding the first vehicle, wherein the second vehicle data report includes measurement data determined from a vehicle data message transmitted by an electronic control unit within the first vehicle; and

storing, at the computer-readable memory, the second vehicle data report as part of the first vehicle data record,

wherein the requested portion of the first vehicle data record further includes at least a portion of the second vehicle data report.

11. The server computing system of claim 9,

wherein the first vehicle data record includes a vehicle data record password,

wherein the request includes a request password, and

wherein determining the client computing system is authorized to receive the requested portion of the first vehicle data record includes determining, by the at least one processor, the request password matches the vehicle data record password.

12. The server computing system of claim 9,

wherein the first vehicle data record includes a second identifier,

wherein the second identifier identifies at least one of the client computing system, a repair shop, and/or a repair technician,

wherein the request includes a request identifier, and

wherein determining the client computing system is authorized to receive the requested portion of the first vehicle data record includes determining, by the at least one processor, the request identifier of the request matches the second identifier of the vehicle data record.

13. The server computing system of claim 9, wherein the functions further include:

transmitting, by server computing system to the client computing system, a service procedure displayable at the client computing system, wherein the service procedure pertains to the first vehicle and includes a procedural step requiring use of a measurement tool configured for performing the tool measurement.

14. The server computing system of claim 9,

wherein the selected measurement tool comprises a torque wrench, and

wherein tool measurement comprises a torque measurement performed by the torque wrench.

15. The server computing system of claim 9,

wherein the selected measurement tool comprises a vehicle brake lathe, and

wherein the tool measurement comprises at least one of a thickness of a vehicle brake rotor and/or a diameter of a vehicle brake drum.

16. The server computing system of claim 15, wherein the functions further include:

comparing, by the at least one processor, the tool measurement to a threshold measurement for vehicle brake parts stored in parts specification data within the computer-readable medium; and

transmitting, by the server computing system, a tool measurement conclusion message indicating whether further machining of at least one of the vehicle brake rotor and/or the vehicle brake drum by the brake lathe should be performed.

17. A method comprising:

receiving, by at least one processor of a client computing system, an identifier of a first vehicle;

generating, by the at least one processor of the client computing system, a request for a first vehicle data report including a tool measurement regarding the first vehicle, wherein the first vehicle data report is part of a first vehicle data record including an identifier of the first vehicle and a first authorization identifier, wherein the request includes the identifier of the first vehicle and the first authorization identifier;

transmitting, by the client computing system to a server computing system, the request for the first vehicle data report, wherein the first vehicle data record is stored at the server computing system with one or more other vehicle data records that include both an identifier of a respective vehicle other than the first vehicle and at least one authorization identifier;

receiving, by the client computing system in response to transmitting the request, the first vehicle data report; and

displaying, by a display of the client computing system, the first vehicle data report.

18. The method of claim 17,

wherein the identifier of the first vehicle includes a vehicle identification number (VIN) associated with the first vehicle, and

wherein the request includes data indicating the client computing system received the VIN from an electronic control unit with the first vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the request includes data indicating a time when the client computing system received the VIN from the electronic control unit within the first vehicle.

20. The method of claim 17,

wherein the first vehicle data report includes a repair shop identifier and/or a repair technician identifier, and

wherein the first authorization identifier includes (i) an identifier of the client computing system, and/or (ii) the repair shop identifier and/or the repair technician identifier.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving, by a user interface of the client computing system, a vehicle data record password,

wherein the first vehicle data record is associated with the vehicle data record password, and

wherein the authorization identifier comprises the vehicle data record password received by the user interface.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

generating, by the at least one processor of the client computing system, a request for a second vehicle data report, wherein the request for the second vehicle data report includes the identifier of the first vehicle and the first authorization identifier;

transmitting, by the client computing system, the request for the second vehicle data report;

receiving, by the client computing system, a notice indicating the client computing system is not authorized to access the second vehicle data report; and

displaying, by the display, the notice indicating the client computing system is not authorized to access the second vehicle data report.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the first vehicle data report includes measurement data determined from a vehicle data message transmitted by an electronic control unit within the first vehicle.

24. The method of claim 17,

wherein the selected measurement tool comprises a torque wrench, and

wherein the tool measurement comprises a torque measurement.

25. The method of claim 17,

wherein the selected measurement tool comprises a vehicle brake lathe, and

wherein the tool measurement comprises a thickness of a vehicle brake rotor and/or a diameter of a vehicle brake drum.

26. The method of claim 17,

wherein the selected measurement tool comprises a vehicle alignment machine, and

wherein the tool measurement comprises at least one of a caster measurement, a camber measurement, a toe-in measurement, a toe-out measurement, and/or a steering axis inclination measurement.

27. A client computing system comprising;

at least one processor;

a display; and

at least one computer-readable memory storing computer-readable program instructions, wherein execution of the computer-readable program instructions cause the client computing system to perform functions including;

receiving, by the at least one processor, an identifier of a first vehicle;

generating, by the at least one processor, a request for a first vehicle data report including a tool measurement regarding the first vehicle, wherein the first vehicle data report is part of a first vehicle data record including an identifier of the first vehicle and a first authorization identifier, wherein the request includes the identifier of the first vehicle and the first authorization identifier;

transmitting, to a server computing system, the request for the first vehicle data report, wherein the first vehicle data record is stored at the server computing system with one or more other vehicle data records that include both an identifier of a respective vehicle other than the first vehicle and at least one authorization identifier;

receiving, in response to transmitting the request, the first vehicle data report; and

displaying, by the display, the first vehicle data report.

28. The client computing system of claim 27, further comprising:

wherein the identifier of the first vehicle includes a vehicle identification number (VIN) associated with the first vehicle, and

wherein the request includes data indicating the client computing system received the VIN from an electronic control unit with the first vehicle.

29. The client computing system of claim 28, wherein the request includes data indicating a time when the client computing system received the VIN from the electronic control unit within the first vehicle.

30. The client computing system of claim 27,

wherein the first vehicle data report includes a repair shop identifier and/or a repair technician identifier, and

wherein the first authorization identifier includes (i) an identifier of the client computing system, and/or (ii) the a repair shop identifier and/or the repair technician identifier.

31. The client computing system of claim 27, further comprising:

receiving, by a user interface of the client computing system, a vehicle data record password,

wherein the first vehicle data record is associated with the vehicle data record password, and

wherein the authorization identifier comprises the vehicle data record password received by the user interface.

32. The client computing system of claim 27, further comprising:

generating, by the at least one processor of the client computing system, a request for a second vehicle data report, wherein the request for the second vehicle data report includes the identifier of the first vehicle and the first authorization identifier;

transmitting, by the client computing system, the request for the second vehicle data report;

receiving, by the client computing system, a notice indicating the client computing system is not authorized to access the second vehicle data report; and

displaying, by the display, the notice indicating the client computing system is not authorized to access the second vehicle data report.

33. The client computing system of claim 27, wherein the first vehicle data report includes measurement data determined from a vehicle data message transmitted by an electronic control unit within the first vehicle.

34. The client computing system of claim 27,

wherein the selected measurement tool comprises a torque wrench, and

wherein the tool measurement comprises a torque measurement.

35. The client computing system of claim 27,

wherein the selected measurement tool comprises a vehicle brake lathe, and

wherein the tool measurement comprises a thickness of a vehicle brake rotor and/or a diameter of a vehicle brake drum.

36. The client computing system of claim 27,

wherein the selected measurement tool comprises a vehicle alignment machine, and

wherein the tool measurement comprises at least one of a caster measurement, a camber measurement, a toe-in measurement, a toe-out measurement, and/or a steering axis inclination measurement.