System and method for a vehicle scanner to automatically execute a test suite from a storage card

• US 20120046826A1
• Filed: 08/04/2011
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: Panko, James A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,633,492 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33.3
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0883 wherein the data carrier is removable

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods for a vehicle scanner to automatically execute applications from a removable storage card. The method includes detecting a presence of one or more executable diagnostic requests in removable data storage, and responsive to the detection, transmitting one or more corresponding requests for vehicle diagnostic data to the vehicle via a vehicle interface. Responsive to the transmission, the vehicle scanner receives and processes diagnostic data from the vehicle. The vehicle scanner may store the data back to the removable storage card, or may transmit the data via a wired or wireless interface to a display device. As part of the detection process, the vehicle scanner may first authenticate the removable storage card before executing vehicle diagnostic instructions from the card.

Claims

1. A vehicle diagnostic device capable of being connected to a diagnostic port of a vehicle comprising:

a processor;

removable data storage;

a vehicle interface configured to interface with the diagnostic port of the vehicle, transmit commands to a vehicle diagnostic system via the diagnostic port, and receive diagnostic data from the vehicle diagnostic system via the diagnostic port;

wherein the processor is configured to;

detect a presence of one or more executable diagnostic requests in the removable data storage;

responsive to the detection, transmit one or more corresponding requests for vehicle diagnostic data to the vehicle via the vehicle interface; and

process vehicle diagnostic data received from the vehicle interface responsive to the transmission.

2. The vehicle diagnostic device of claim 1, wherein processing vehicle diagnostic data comprises routing the vehicle diagnostic data to said removable data storage.

3. The vehicle diagnostic device of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communications interface configured to transmit data to a display device;

wherein processing vehicle diagnostic data comprises routing the vehicle diagnostic data to said wireless communications interface for transmission to the display device.

4. The vehicle diagnostic device of claim 1, further comprising a wire-line communications interface configured to transmit data to a display device;

wherein processing vehicle diagnostic data comprises routing the vehicle diagnostic data to said wire-line communications interface for transmission to the display device.

5. The vehicle diagnostic device of claim 4, wherein the wire-line communications interface is one selected from the group consisting of universal serial bus (USB) and Ethernet.

6. The vehicle diagnostic device of claim 1, wherein detecting a presence of one or more executable diagnostic requests in the removable data storage comprises, responsive to receiving power from the vehicle interface, automatically accessing the removable data storage and locating one or more executable diagnostic requests.

7. The vehicle diagnostic device of claim 1, wherein detecting a presence of one or more executable diagnostic requests in the removable data storage comprises receiving a signal indicating an insertion of the removable data storage in a removable data storage slot and, responsive to receiving the signal, automatically accessing the removable data storage and locating one or more executable diagnostic requests.

8. The vehicle diagnostic device of claim 7, wherein the signal is generated by activation of a mechanical switch upon insertion of the removable data storage in the removable data storage slot.

9. The vehicle diagnostic device of claim 7, wherein the signal is generated by completion of an electrical circuit upon insertion of the removable data storage in the removable data storage slot.

10. The vehicle diagnostic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to authenticate the removable data storage prior to transmitting the one or more corresponding requests for vehicle diagnostic data to the vehicle via the vehicle interface.

11. A method of obtaining and processing vehicle diagnostic data comprising:

detecting a presence of one or more executable diagnostic requests in removable data storage;

responsive to the detection, transmitting one or more corresponding requests for vehicle diagnostic data to the vehicle via a vehicle interface; and

processing vehicle diagnostic data received from the vehicle interface responsive to the transmission.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising, wherein processing vehicle diagnostic data comprises routing the vehicle diagnostic data to the removable data storage.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein processing vehicle diagnostic data comprises routing the vehicle diagnostic data to a wireless interface for transmission to a display device.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein processing vehicle diagnostic data comprises routing the vehicle diagnostic data to a wire-line communications interface for transmission to a display device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the wire-line communications interface is one selected from the group consisting of universal serial bus (USB) and Ethernet.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting a presence of one or more executable diagnostic requests in the removable data storage comprises, responsive to receiving power from the vehicle interface, automatically accessing the removable data storage and locating one or more executable diagnostic requests.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting a presence of one or more executable diagnostic requests in the removable data storage comprises receiving a signal indicating an insertion of the removable data storage in a removable data storage slot and, responsive to receiving the signal, automatically accessing the removable data storage and locating one or more executable diagnostic requests.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the signal is generated by activation of a mechanical switch upon insertion of the removable data storage in the removable data storage slot.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the signal is generated by completion of an electrical circuit upon insertion of the removable data storage in the removable data storage slot.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of authenticating the removable data storage prior to transmitting the one or more corresponding requests for vehicle diagnostic data to the vehicle via the vehicle interface.

21. A method of verifying proper manufacture of a vehicle diagnostic scanner device comprising:

detecting a presence of one or more executable post-manufacture diagnostic tests in removable data storage;

responsive to the detection, executing the one or more corresponding post-manufacture diagnostic test; and

providing an indication of whether the one or more post-manufacture diagnostic tests executed without error.