Method and apparatus to manage information between a scan tool and networked devices

摘要

A system and method for managing information between a diagnostic tool and a networked computing device are provided. The system made up of a diagnostic tool for retrieving information from a vehicle under test, a networked computing device for providing information concerning the vehicle under test, and an information management device for assisting communication between the diagnostic tool and the networked computing device. Information is gathered by the diagnostic tool and sent to the information management device which determines how to process the information, which may then be sent to the networked computing device for processing and returning relevant data to the information management device, and potentially to the diagnostic tool.

主权项

1. A base computing device for managing information between a portable vehicle diagnostic tool and a networked computing device over a communication network, the base computing device comprising:
a processor configured to execute modules; a memory configured to store the modules; and a communication interface configured to wirelessly communicate with the portable vehicle diagnostic tool and the networked computing device over the communication network, wherein the communication interface allows diagnostic information including signals, in real time to be exchanged between the portable vehicle diagnostic tool and the networked computing device, wherein the signals are received partially without having to wait for the portable vehicle diagnostic tool to complete receiving all of the diagnostic information before passing the diagnostic information to the base computing device, and wherein the modules include:
an instruction module configured to determine whether to execute one of the modules that is configured to process signals received from the portable vehicle diagnostic tool or the networked computing device, wherein the instruction module is further configured to request top fixes information, or a defective part's number based on the partial diagnostic information received from the portable diagnostic tool and updates, if needed, the top fixes or the defective part's number information based on a completed diagnostic information received from the portable diagnostic tool;a format module configured to reformat the information for use by the portable vehicle diagnostic tool or the networked computing device;a data analysis module configured to extract portions of data from the information and convert the information into another form while being representative of the data; anda pass-through module configured to transmit the signals to and from the portable vehicle diagnostic tool and the networked computing device with information represented in the signals that is in same condition as received, wherein the information represented in the signals that is in same condition as received includes location tags for a source and a destination of the information;wherein the partial diagnostic information received from the portable diagnostic tool includes diagnostic information about component failures from the vehicle under test, including diagnostic and failure codes, performance measurements, and part identifiers; andwherein the partial diagnostic information received from the portable diagnostic tool is processed in the base computing device, to analyze the data to determine where to send the data and what type of information is desired from the network computing device.