Method and apparatus for assisted vehicle identification and service
First Claim
1. An improved computerized vehicle service system having a processor configured with at least one vehicle service application, a display coupled to the processor, and at least one input device coupled to the processor, the improvement comprising:
- a mapping between at least one vehicle service application and at least one data file of information associated with at least one vehicle model; and
wherein the processor is further configured to access said mapping during execution of said at least one vehicle service application to provide an operator with at least one context-sensitive assistance element indicating the availability of said associated information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An intuitive and context sensitive system facilitating the proper identification and service of a vehicle undergoing a vehicle service procedure. The system is configured with a mapping of relevant vehicle identification assistance data or vehicle specific information to one or more selection locations in the user interface of a vehicle service software application. The mapping identifies the availability of additional vehicle identification assistance information, vehicle specific functional applets, and the context within the vehicle service software application at which the additional vehicle identification assistance information or vehicle specific functional applets are relevant. The additional vehicle identification assistance information or applets are maintained external to the vehicle service software application, permitting the additional vehicle identification assistance information and applets to be updated, changed, or replaced without altering the vehicle service software application.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. An improved computerized vehicle service system having a processor configured with at least one vehicle service application, a display coupled to the processor, and at least one input device coupled to the processor, the improvement comprising:
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a mapping between at least one vehicle service application and at least one data file of information associated with at least one vehicle model; and wherein the processor is further configured to access said mapping during execution of said at least one vehicle service application to provide an operator with at least one context-sensitive assistance element indicating the availability of said associated information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An improved computerized vehicle service system having a processor configured with at least one vehicle service application, a display coupled to the processor, and at least one input device coupled to the processor, the improvement comprising:
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a mapping between at least one vehicle service application and at least one HTML data file of context-sensitive information; and wherein the processor is further configured to access said mapping during execution of said at least one vehicle service application to provide an operator with at least one interactive element indicating the availability of context-sensitive information. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for operation of a vehicle service system having a processor configured with a vehicle service application, at least one data storage component operatively coupled to the processor, a display operatively coupled to the processor, and at least one operator-directed input device coupled to the processor, comprising:
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executing the vehicle service application; accessing a mapping of available information external to the vehicle service application; providing the operator with an indication of the availability of said information; responsive to operator input received through said input device, utilizing said mapping to retrieve said external information; and utilizing said retrieved external information to display information to an operator to assist in a vehicle identification. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for operation of a vehicle service system having a processor configured with a vehicle service application, at least one data storage component operatively coupled to the processor, a display operatively coupled to the processor, and at least one operator directed input device coupled to the processor, comprising:
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executing the vehicle service application; accessing a mapping of available information external to the vehicle service application; providing the operator with an indication of the availability of said information; responsive to operator input received through said input device, utilizing said mapping to retrieve said external information; and utilizing said retrieved external information to display information to an operator to assist in a vehicle service procedure. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. An improved vehicle service system having a processor configured with at least one vehicle service application to provide an operator with at least one selection during a vehicle service procedure, a display coupled to the processor, and at least one input device coupled to the processor, the improvement comprising:
wherein the processor is further configured to present an operator with an option to view, on the display, assistance information associated with the at least one selection, said assistance information providing an operator with additional information to aid in the choice of said at least one selection. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method for operation of a vehicle service system having a processor configured with a vehicle service application, at least one data storage component operatively coupled to the processor, a display operatively coupled to the processor, and at least one operator directed input device coupled to the processor, comprising:
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executing the vehicle service application; providing an operator With at least one selection during said execution of said vehicle service application; indicating an availability of assistance information associated with said at least one selection to aid in the choice of said at least one selection; responsive to operator input, providing said available assistance information to said operator. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41)
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Specification