System and method for a subscription-based diagnostic software service

• US 8,930,067 B1
• Filed: 05/30/2014
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matco Tools Corp (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: NMTC, Inc. (Fortive Corp.)
• Inventors: Green, John, Fabrick, Kimber, Katzenmeyer, Brian, Jones, Jason M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US14/291,385
• Time in Patent Office: 221 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701/33.2, 705/7.38, 705/7.41, 345/168, 345/500
• US Class Current: 701/33.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3688 for test execution, e.g. scheduling of test suites
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3692 for test results analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/084 using delegated authorisation, e.g. open authorisation [OAuth] protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/086 using security domains

Abstract

Systems and methods for a diagnostic software service that utilizes a subscription model to distribute diagnostic software to diagnostic tools. A diagnostic application is installed on a mobile device. The mobile device communicates with an adapter coupled to a vehicle. An application server provides software modules to which a technician subscribes and, once subscribed, are utilized via the diagnostic application. Subscription to software modules enable the technician to add and utilize specific diagnostic functionality in an a la carte manner.

Claims

1. A mobile device, comprising:

a user interface;

a display;

a vehicle data transfer interface; and

a processor coupled to a non-transitory, computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for a subscription software application for use in maintenance of a vehicle, the subscription software application, when executed by the processor, configuring the processor to;

output, on the display, a catalog of diagnostic software modules available for utilization by a vehicle maintenance technician to analyze vehicle data received by the vehicle data transfer interface;

receive, via the user interface, a selection of a desired diagnostic software module made by the vehicle maintenance technician from among the catalog of diagnostic software modules and a commitment of payment for a subscription to the desired diagnostic software module;

communicate the selection of the desired diagnostic software module and the commitment of payment to a remote system; and

enable operation of the desired diagnostic software module by the vehicle maintenance technician on the mobile device in response to an authorization signal.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising a communication interface that communicatively couples the mobile device to the remote system to enable the processor to communicate the selection of the desired diagnostic software module.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, the subscription software application further configuring the processor to output the catalog of diagnostic software modules as a set of groups of diagnostic software modules, and to enable selection, via the user interface, of an individual diagnostic software module, one or more groups of diagnostic software modules, or an entirety of the set of groups of diagnostic software modules as the desired diagnostic software module.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, the subscription software application further configuring the processor to receive a notification of a failed payment for the subscription from the remote system and output the notification on the display.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, the subscription software application further configuring the processor to disable operation of the desired diagnostic software module in response to a deauthorization signal.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the vehicle data transfer interface comprises a wireless communication interface adapted to communicatively couple to an adapter that transfers the vehicle data from the vehicle to the mobile device.

7. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the adapter comprises an identifier and wherein the subscription software application further configuring the processor to:

communicate the identifier to the remote system; and

enable operation of the desired diagnostic software module for vehicle data received from the adapter by the vehicle data transfer interface.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, the subscription software application further configuring the processor to receive the desired diagnostic software module, as a download from a data store, and to store the desired diagnostic software module to the non-transitory, computer-readable medium.

9. The mobile device of claim 1, the subscription software application further configuring the processor to enable operation of the desired diagnostic software module by enabling execution of the desired diagnostic software module on the processor.

10. The mobile device of claim 1, the subscription software application further configuring the processor to:

communicate the vehicle data received via the vehicle data transfer interface to an server for analysis by the desired diagnostic software module;

receive an analysis result from the server; and

output the analysis result to the display.

11. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for enabling operation of a subscription-based diagnostic software module for use in maintenance of a vehicle, the computer-executable instructions comprising:

a subscription software application configured to be executed by a processor of a mobile device, with the mobile device further having a user interface, a display, and a vehicle data transfer interface, wherein the subscription software application, when executed by the processor, enables the processor to;

display a catalog of diagnostic software modules available for utilization by a vehicle maintenance technician to analyze vehicle data received by the vehicle data transfer interface;

receive a selection of a desired diagnostic software module made by the vehicle maintenance technician from among the catalog of diagnostic software modules and a commitment of payment for a subscription to the desired diagnostic software module;

communicate the selection of the desired diagnostic software module and the commitment of payment to a remote system; and

enable operation of the desired diagnostic software module by the vehicle maintenance technician on the mobile device in response to an authorization signal.

12. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the subscription software application further enables the processor to periodically check-in with the remote system to receive pending notifications.

13. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the subscription software application further enables the processor to receive promotional information from the remote system and to display the promotional information on the display.

14. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the subscription software application further enables the processor to determine a location of the mobile device and communicate the location to the remote system.

15. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the subscription software application further enables the processor to receive user information from the vehicle maintenance technician via the user interface, generate a user profile based on the user information received, and associate the subscription to the desired diagnostic software module with the user profile.

16. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the subscription software application further enables the processor to prompt the vehicle maintenance technician to input login information via the user interface, authenticate the vehicle maintenance technician with the login information and the user profile, and enable operation of the desired diagnostic software module upon successful authentication.

17. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the subscription software application further enables the processor to receive payment information usable to make a payment for the subscription from the vehicle maintenance technician via the user interface, and to communicate the payment information to the remote system.

18. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the subscription software application further configuring the processor to disable operation of the desired diagnostic software module in response to an deauthorization signal.

19. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for a subscription-based diagnostic software service for use in maintenance of a vehicle, the computer-executable instructions comprising:

a subscription software application configured to be executed by a processor to enable the processor to;

communicate with a mobile device having a user interface, wherein the user interface of the mobile device is configured to enable a vehicle maintenance technician to select a desired diagnostic software module from a catalog of diagnostic software modules, and wherein the desired diagnostic software module is configured to analyze data from a vehicle for use in maintenance of the vehicle;

receive the selection of the desired diagnostic software module;

generate a service agreement for a subscription to the desired diagnostic software module, the service agreement specifying subscription payment terms; and

authorize operation of the desired diagnostic software module on the mobile device upon commitment of payment.

20. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the subscription software application further enables the processor to communicate with a server configured to support the operation of the desired diagnostic software module on the mobile device and, upon commitment of payment, instruct the server to activate the desired diagnostic software module on the mobile device.

21. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the subscription software application further enables the processor to periodically process payment for the subscription to the desired diagnostic software module in accordance with the subscription payment terms.

22. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the subscription software application further enables the processor to communicate a notification to the mobile device when payment processing fails.

23. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the subscription software application further enables the processor to record processed payments to a retail point-of-sale system.

24. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the subscription software application further enables the processor to deauthorize operation of the desired diagnostic software module on the mobile device when payment processing fails.

25. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the subscription software application further enables the processor to communicate with a server configured to support the operation of the desired diagnostic software module on the mobile device and, upon failed payment processing, to instruct the server to deactivate the desired diagnostic software module on the mobile device.

26. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the subscription software application further enables the processor to communicate with an auxiliary system to provide an accounting of the subscription to the desired diagnostic software module.

27. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the subscription software application further enables the processor to register the vehicle maintenance technician based on information received from the mobile device, the information being obtained from the vehicle maintenance technician via the user interface of the mobile device.

28. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the subscription software application further enables the processor to communicate at least one of promotional information, product catalog information, or authorized distributor information to the mobile device.

29. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the subscription software application further enables the processor to receive, from the mobile device, location information specifying a location of at least one of the vehicle maintenance technician or the mobile device, and to communicate the at least one of the promotional information, the product catalog information, or the authorized distributor information based on the location information.

30. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the subscription software application further enables the processor to authorize operation of updated versions of the desired diagnostic software module when the updated versions become available.