OPEN ARCHITECTURE DIAGNOSTIC TOOL

摘要

A diagnostic tool, for communicating with a plurality of motor vehicle contr ol units, includes a processor, a main memory and a non-volatile storage device. The processor executes an operating system and a plurality of diagnostic applications. The non-volatile storage device is coupled to the processor and stores the operating system a nd the plurality of diagnostic applications. Each of the diagnostic applications is compiled and linked separately from the operating system. Each of the diagnostic applications is also separately downloadable into the storage device of the diagnostic tool. The diagnostic applications when executed by the processor function to provide at least one message to one of the control units and to receive control unit information from one of the control units in response to the at least one message.