Graphical user interface with vehicle scanned function

• US 9,858,731 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2013
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Inventors: Fish, James, Moulton, David Richard, Gray, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): WEBER, JOY M
• Application Number:
  US13/955,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20140282256A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,616 Days
• Field of Search: 715835
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/025 concerning dedicated user interfaces, e.g. GUI, or dedicated keyboards G01R31/31912 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A graphical user interface is provided that can be used on a diagnostic tool. The graphical user interface allows a technician to operate various functions of the diagnostic tool including searching for additional information on the Internet, receiving weather information that is relevant to certain diagnostic tests, and displaying in certain formats the retrieved vehicle data and when certain vehicles were last scanned or diagnosed.

Claims

1. A diagnostic tool, comprising:

a processor that performs a function of the diagnostic tool;

a display in communication with the processor;

a wireless communication interface in communication with the processor and configured to communicate with a remote device;

a vehicle communication protocol interface operatively coupled to the processor and configured to allow the processor to communicate with a vehicle under test using a vehicle communication protocol stored on the diagnostic tool;

a memory in communication with the processor, the memory containing instructions, that when executed by the processor causes the processor to;

generate, on the display, a first graphical user interface (GUI) comprising a first plurality of icons corresponding to a plurality of first diagnostic functions performable by the diagnostic tool and corresponding to a local diagnostic database stored on the memory;

generate, on the display, a first message banner that includes a portion displaying a make and model information about the vehicle under test;

generate, on the display, a second message banner that includes retrieved diagnostic trouble code (DTC) information;

generate, on the display, a second plurality of icons corresponding to a plurality of remote databases stored on the remote device and indicates which of the plurality of remote databases has DTC information available associated with the retrieved DTC information; and

generate, on the display, a second GUI that replaces the first GUI when a user selects an icon of the first plurality of icons, the second GUI comprising a plurality of vehicle diagnostic data icons that displays each of retrieved vehicle data in a first measurement unit, and wherein when the user interacts with an icon of the plurality of vehicle diagnostic data icons having the retrieved vehicle data, the first measurement unit changes to a second measurement unit; and

a housing that houses the processor, the display, the wireless communication interface, the vehicle communication protocol interface, and the memory.

2. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the second GUI includes a third message banner having a label for the selected icon of the first plurality of icons, wherein the third message banner replaces the second message banner.

3. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein when the user interacts with an icon of the plurality of vehicle diagnostic data icons having the retrieved vehicle data, the icon'"'"'s color, size or shading changes.

4. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the second GUI further comprising a label for each of the plurality of vehicle diagnostic data icons.

5. The diagnostic tool of claim 4, wherein the label for each of the plurality of vehicle diagnostic data icons displays in a color that indicates whether the corresponding retrieved vehicle data is within a predetermined range.

6. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of vehicle diagnostic data icons is moveable to a different location within the second GUI.

7. The diagnostic tool of claim 6, wherein when the user moves an icon of the plurality of vehicle diagnostic data icons, the icon is fixedly placed at a particular angle within the second GUI.

8. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor positioned on a surface of the diagnostic tool.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 8, further measuring an external temperature with a temperature sensor positioned on a surface of the diagnostic tool.

9. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising machine-readable instructions for causing a processor of a diagnostic tool to execute a method of:

communicating with a vehicle under test using a vehicle communication protocol;

generating, on a display, a first graphical user interface (GUI) comprising;

a first plurality of icons corresponding to a plurality of first diagnostic functions performable by the diagnostic tool and corresponding to a locally stored diagnostic database;

generating, on the display, a first message banner that includes a portion displaying a make and model information about the vehicle under test;

generating, on the display, a second message banner that includes retrieved diagnostic trouble code (DTC) information;

generating, on the display, a second plurality of icons corresponding to a plurality of remote databases stored on a remote device and indicates which of the plurality of remote databases have DTC information available associated with the retrieved DTC information; and

generate, on the display, a second GUI that replaces the first GUI when a user selects an icon of the first plurality of icons, the second GUI comprising a plurality of vehicle diagnostic data icons that displays each of retrieved vehicle data in a first measurement unit, and wherein when the user interacts with an icon of the plurality of vehicle diagnostic data icons having the retrieved vehicle data, the first measurement unit changes to a second measurement unit.

10. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising:

displaying on the second GUI a third message banner having a label for the selected icon of the first plurality of icons, wherein the third message banner replaces the second message banner.

11. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising:

changing the icon'"'"'s color, size or shading when the user interacts with an icon of the plurality of vehicle diagnostic data icons having the retrieved vehicle data.

12. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising:

displaying a label for each of the plurality of vehicle diagnostic data icons on the second GUI.

13. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 12, further comprising:

indicating on the displayed label for each of the plurality of vehicle diagnostic data icons with a color that indicates whether the corresponding retrieved vehicle data is within a predetermined range.

14. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising:

fixing an icon of the plurality of vehicle diagnostic data icons that is placed at a particular angle by the user within the second GUI.

15. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of vehicle diagnostic data icons are moveable to a different location within the second GUI.

17. A computer-implemented method for displaying multiple graphical user interfaces on a display of a diagnostic tool, a method comprising:

communicating with a vehicle under test using a vehicle communication protocol;

generating, on a display, a first graphical user interface (GUI) including a first plurality of icons corresponding to a plurality of first diagnostic functions performable by the diagnostic tool and corresponding to a locally stored diagnostic database;

generating, on the display, a first message banner that includes a portion displaying a make and model information about the vehicle under test;

generating, on the display, a second message banner that includes retrieved diagnostic trouble code (DTC) information;

generating, on the display, a second plurality of icons corresponding to a plurality of remote databases stored on a remote device and indicates which of the plurality of remote databases have DTC information available associated with the retrieved DTC information; and

generate, on the display, a second GUI that replaces the first GUI when a user selects an icon of the first plurality of icons, the second GUI comprising a plurality of vehicle diagnostic data icons that displays each of retrieved vehicle data in a first measurement unit, and wherein when the user interacts with an icon of the plurality of vehicle diagnostic data icons having the retrieved vehicle data, the first measurement unit changes to a second measurement unit.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, further comprising:

displaying on the second GUI a third message banner having a label for the selected icon of the first plurality of icons, wherein the third message banner replaces the second message banner.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, further comprising:

changing the icon'"'"'s color, size or shading when the user interacts with an icon of the plurality of vehicle diagnostic data icons having the retrieved vehicle data.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, further comprising:

displaying a label for each of the plurality of vehicle diagnostic data icons on the second GUI.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, further comprising:

indicating on the displayed label for each of the plurality of vehicle diagnostic data icons with a color that indicates whether the corresponding retrieved vehicle data is within a predetermined range.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, further measuring an external temperature with a temperature sensor positioned on a surface of the diagnostic tool.