Computerized automotive service system

• US 6,285,932 B1
• Filed: 05/16/1997
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Technologies Incorporated (Snap-On Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Technologies Incorporated (Snap-On Incorporated)
• Inventors: OʼMahony, Patrick B., Kling, Michael John III, Rogers, Steven Wade, Baird, Michael Lloyd, Gill, George Michael, Casby, Alan David, Brennan, John C., Sandusky, Gary L., de Bellefeuille, Jean, Zheng, Ju
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US08/857,725
• Time in Patent Office: 1,572 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701/29, 701/33, 701/35, 370/313, 370/401, 364/551.01, 364/556, 340/438, 332/86, 332/88, 356/138, 356/155, 379/1, 455/423, 455/426, 709/107, 709/218, 709/219, 707/10, 707/513
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/26 Algorithms, instructions, databases, computerized methods and graphical user interfaces employed by a user in conjunction with the wheel aligner
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

The present invention is directed to computerized vehicle servicing and diagnostic systems that communicate with or access remotely located computers via the Internet that have pre-stored data or utilize pre-store data and parameters. The present system provides a navigational framework with two modules, the Menu Mode (random) and the Wizard Mode (sequential). The Menu Mode provides direct access to any required process and Wizard Mode provides a flexible control of process sequences and allows for user modification.

Claims

1. A vehicle service system comprising:

a console computer system; and

one or more service systems each including one or more sensors for measuring vehicle characteristics and each adapted to communicate with said console computer system;

wherein said console computer system includes a web server configured for transferring a page containing said vehicle characteristics to a remote computer for display at said remote computer;

wherein said console computer system is configured for providing a navigational framework having a first mode for an operator to select a service process for one of the one or more service systems and a second mode to guide the operator through a vehicle service operation step-by-step;

wherein said console computer system is further configured for allowing the operator to repeat or skip at least one step of the vehicle service operation during the second mode without changing the steps of future vehicle service operations under the second mode.

2. The vehicle service system of claim 1, wherein said browsing request comprises a hypertext transmission protocol (HTTP) request.

3. The vehicle service system of claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of service systems comprises a vehicle wheel alignment system.

4. The vehicle service system of claim 1,

wherein the one or more service systems comprise a plurality of the service systems each including one or more sensors for measuring vehicle characteristics and each adapted to communicate with said console computer system; and

wherein said console computer system is further configured to operate on a 32-bit operating system for providing concurrent handing of multiple inputs of the vehicle characteristics from the plurality of service systems and display of data relating to the vehicle characteristics.

5. A vehicle service system, comprising:

a console computer system; and

a plurality of service systems each including one or more sensors for measuring vehicle characteristics and each adapted to communicate with said console computer system;

wherein said console computer system is configured for providing a navigational framework having a first mode for an operator to select a service process for one of the service systems and a second mode to guide the operator through a vehicle service operation step-by-steps

wherein said console computer system is further configured for allowing the operator to repeat or skip at least one step of the vehicle service operation during the second mode without changing the steps of future vehicle service operations under the second mode.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said console computer system includes a web server for accessing a computer that is remote to the service site, said web server configured for enabling transfer of information relating to display of said vehicle characteristics between said console computer system and said remote computer.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said console computer system is further configured to operate on a 32-bit operating system for providing concurrent handing of multiple inputs of the vehicle characteristics from the service systems and display of data relating to the vehicle characteristics.