Method and system for database compilation on a remote electronic device
First Claim
1. A method of customizing an automotive diagnostic device configured to communicate with an onboard vehicle computer, the method comprising the steps of:
- storing a plurality of first vehicle command instructions associated with a plurality of vehicles on the automotive diagnostic device, the plurality of first vehicle command instructions being useful to implement a specific function(s) to be executed in relation to one of the plurality of vehicles;
retrieving an electronic vehicle identification number (VIN) from a first vehicle on the automotive diagnostic device;
uploading, from the automotive diagnostic device to a master database, a first signal representative of the retrieved electronic VIN, the master database having stored vehicle command instructions arranged by year, make, and model for the plurality of vehicles;
decoding, at the master database, the electronic VIN to determine the year, make, and model of the first vehicle;
selecting, at the master database, certain ones of a plurality of second vehicle command instructions associated with the first vehicle, the selected second vehicle command instructions being selected independent of any evaluation of any operational data received from the vehicle at the master database; and
sending the selected second vehicle command instructions associated with the first vehicle to the automotive diagnostic device, the second vehicle command instructions being operative to identify first vehicle command instructions associated with the first vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method of customizing a data retrieval and storage device for communication with a specific vehicle after the device is initially connected to the vehicle. The system includes a master database having communication information arranged by vehicle specific information, and an automotive scan tool having an incomplete set of preloaded communication information stored thereon. The automotive scan tool is configured to retrieve an electronic VIN from the vehicle and upload the electronic VIN to the master database. After receiving the electronic VIN, the master database identifies the specific communication information associated with the vehicle and communicates such information to the automotive scan tool to compliment the preloaded communication information.
118 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of customizing an automotive diagnostic device configured to communicate with an onboard vehicle computer, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing a plurality of first vehicle command instructions associated with a plurality of vehicles on the automotive diagnostic device, the plurality of first vehicle command instructions being useful to implement a specific function(s) to be executed in relation to one of the plurality of vehicles; retrieving an electronic vehicle identification number (VIN) from a first vehicle on the automotive diagnostic device; uploading, from the automotive diagnostic device to a master database, a first signal representative of the retrieved electronic VIN, the master database having stored vehicle command instructions arranged by year, make, and model for the plurality of vehicles; decoding, at the master database, the electronic VIN to determine the year, make, and model of the first vehicle; selecting, at the master database, certain ones of a plurality of second vehicle command instructions associated with the first vehicle, the selected second vehicle command instructions being selected independent of any evaluation of any operational data received from the vehicle at the master database; and sending the selected second vehicle command instructions associated with the first vehicle to the automotive diagnostic device, the second vehicle command instructions being operative to identify first vehicle command instructions associated with the first vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of customizing an automotive diagnostic device configured to communicate with an onboard vehicle computer, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing first vehicle communication information associated with a plurality of vehicles on the automotive diagnostic device, the first vehicle communication information including information enabling specific diagnostic communications between the automotive diagnostic device and the plurality of vehicles; retrieving an electronic vehicle identification number (VIN) from a first vehicle on the automotive diagnostic device; uploading, from the automotive diagnostic device to a master database, a first signal representative of the retrieved electronic VIN, the master database having stored vehicle communication information arranged by year, make, and model for the plurality of vehicles; decoding, at the master database, the electronic VIN to determine the year, make, and model of the first vehicle; identifying, at the master database, second vehicle communication information stored on the master database associated with the first vehicle based on the year, make, and model of the first vehicle, the identified second vehicle command information being identified independent of any evaluation of any operational data received from the vehicle; sending the second vehicle communication information to the automotive diagnostic device; and selectively enabling certain of the first vehicle communication information in response to the second vehicle communication information to implement diagnostic communications with the first vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for customizing communication with an onboard vehicle computer, the system comprising:
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a master database having stored vehicle command instructions arranged by year, make, and model for a plurality of vehicles; and a diagnostic device having a plurality of vehicle command instruction sets stored thereon, the plurality of vehicle command instruction sets being associated with a plurality of vehicles, each vehicle command instruction set implementing a specific function to be executed in relation to one of the plurality of vehicles; the diagnostic device being configured to retrieve an electronic vehicle identification number (VIN) from a first vehicle and upload a first signal to the master database, the first signal being representative of the retrieved electronic VIN; and the master database being configured to decode the electronic VIN to determine the year/make/model of the first vehicle to select certain ones of the plurality of vehicle command instructions associated with the first vehicle, and to send a second signal representative of the certain one(s) of the plurality of vehicle command instruction set(s) associated with the first vehicle to the diagnostic device, the second signal being operative to select a vehicle command instruction set useful to implement functions on the diagnostic device in relation to the first vehicle, the master database selecting the plurality of vehicle command instructions associated with the first vehicle independent of evaluation by the master database of any operational data received from the first vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification