Method of updating and configuring a scan tool

• US 20090112397A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Services Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Bertosa, Thomas, Gessner, Michael, Roberts, Robert, Freshour, Phillip
• Granted Patent: US 9,613,467 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• 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 software and method for updating a scan tool with limited memory are provided. An available diagnostic software database is located remotely from the scan tool. The diagnostic software database is vastly larger than the available memory on the scan tool. The technician can access the database and download the software modules he needs based on the vehicle or vehicles he is servicing and the available scan tool memory.

Claims

1. A method of updating an automotive scan tool, comprising the steps of:

logging in to a computer that includes a vehicle diagnostic software database, the database containing diagnostic software modules for various vehicles;

entering a vehicle identifying information into the computer so that the computer can identify the available diagnostic software modules for the identified vehicle;

providing a list of available diagnostic software modules based on the identified vehicle;

selecting the vehicle diagnostic software modules from a list of available software modules based on the entered vehicle;

downloading the selected vehicle diagnostic software modules that will fit in an available memory of the scan tool; and

loading the selected vehicle diagnostic software modules onto the automotive scan tool.

2. The updating method of claim 1 further comprising the step of purchasing the selected vehicle diagnostic software modules.

3. The updating method of claim 2, wherein the step of purchasing is paying after the selection is selected.

4. The updating method of claim 2, wherein the step of purchasing is paying with a prepaid account.

5. The updating method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle information is the vehicle identification number.

6. The updating method of claim 1, wherein the step of downloading is to download to a flash memory device.

7. The updating method of claim 1 further comprising the step of preventing unauthorized use of the selected software modules on the scan tool if the software module is not licensed for the scan tool.

8. The updating method of claim 1 further comprising the step of preventing unauthorized use of the selected software modules on the scan tool if a license is not valid for the software modules.

9. The updating method of claim 1 further comprising of updating the scan tool with the selected software modules.

10. The updating method of claim 1, wherein the computer is a remote computer.

11. The updating method of claim 1, wherein entering the vehicle identifying information is selecting the vehicle from the list of make and models.

12. The updating method of claim 1, wherein the list is icons of the software modules.

13. The updating method of claim 1, wherein the computer displays the available memory on the scan tool.

14. A method of updating an automotive scan tool, comprising the steps of:

logging in to a computer that includes a vehicle diagnostic software database, the database containing diagnostic software modules for various vehicles;

entering a vehicle identifying information into the computer so that the computer can identify the available diagnostic software modules for the identified vehicle;

providing a list of available diagnostic software modules based on the identified vehicle;

selecting the vehicle diagnostic software modules from a list of available software modules based on the entered vehicle;

licensing the selected vehicle diagnostic software modules for use on the automotive scan tool;

downloading the selected vehicle diagnostic software modules; and

loading the selected vehicle diagnostic software modules onto the automotive scan tool.

15. The updating method of claim 14 further comprising the step of purchasing the selected vehicle diagnostic software modules.

16. The updating method of claim 14, wherein licensing is authorizing the vehicle diagnostic software modules to be used on any scan tool.

17. The updating method of claim 14, wherein licensing is authorizing the vehicle diagnostic software modules to be used on an authorized scan tool.

18. The updating method of claim 14, wherein licensing is authorizing the vehicle diagnostic software modules to be copied for a predetermined amount of time.

19. The updating method of claim 14, wherein licensing is authorizing the number of times vehicle diagnostic software modules may be downloaded onto the scan tool for a predetermined period of time.

20. An article comprising a machine-accessible medium having associated data, wherein the data, when accessed, results in a machine performing:

displaying a login screen on a display of a computer, the computer includes a vehicle diagnostic software database, the database containing diagnostic software modules for various vehicles;

displaying a vehicle identification screen on the display so that a user can enter vehicle identifying information into the computer so that the computer can identify the available diagnostic software modules for the identified vehicle;

displaying a list screen that list the available diagnostic software modules based on the identified vehicle;

displaying a selection screen so that the user can select the vehicle diagnostic software modules from the list of available software modules;

licensing the selected vehicle diagnostic software modules for use on the automotive scan tool; and

displaying a downloading screen so that the user can selected how the vehicle diagnostic software modules will be downloaded.