Vehicle scan tool configured to receive automated initialization requests

A vehicle scan tool comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• receive a request for automated vehicle scan tool initialization, the request for automated vehicle scan tool initialization comprising instructions sent to the vehicle scan tool from a server in a format interpretable by the vehicle scan tool based on selection of a selectable scan tool initialization option displayed at a primary device, the instructions comprising at least a function identifier for a vehicle scan tool function and a vehicle identifier for a vehicle, wherein the vehicle scan tool function is identified based on context provided by the primary device,
• wherein the vehicle scan tool is configured to display at least one navigable menu to select from a plurality of vehicle scan tool functions that includes the vehicle scan tool function and to select from a plurality of vehicle identifiers that includes the vehicle identifier;
• determine a current operating state of the vehicle scan tool;
• based on the current operating state of the vehicle scan tool, make a determination to initialize the vehicle scan tool according to the request for automated vehicle scan tool initialization;
• and
• in response to making the determination, use the function identifier and the vehicle identifier in the instructions sent from the server to the vehicle scan tool to automatically initialize the vehicle scan tool to perform the vehicle scan tool function on the vehicle, the automatic initialization of the vehicle scan tool occurring based on the instructions sent to the vehicle scan tool from the server and the automatic initialization of the vehicle scan tool occurring without manual user selection of the vehicle scan tool function and the vehicle identifier from the at least one navigable menu.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein instructions executable by one or more processors to cause a computing system to perform functions comprising:

• receiving, at a vehicle scan tool, a request for automated vehicle scan tool initialization, the request for automated vehicle scan tool initialization comprising instructions sent to the vehicle scan tool from a server in a format interpretable by the vehicle scan tool based on selection of a selectable scan tool initialization option displayed at a primary device, the instructions comprising at least a function identifier for a vehicle scan tool function and a vehicle identifier for a vehicle, wherein the vehicle scan tool function is identified based on context provided by the primary device, wherein the vehicle scan tool is configured to display at least one navigable menu to select from a plurality of vehicle scan tool functions that includes the vehicle scan tool function and to select from a plurality of vehicle identifiers that includes the vehicle identifier;
• determining a current operating state of the vehicle scan tool;
• based on the current operating state of the vehicle scan tool, making a determination to initialize the vehicle scan tool according to the request for automated vehicle scan tool initialization;
• and
• in response to making the determination, using the function identifier and the vehicle identifier in the instructions sent from the server to the vehicle scan tool to automatically initialize the vehicle scan tool to perform the vehicle scan tool function on the vehicle, the automatic initialization of the vehicle scan tool occurring based on the instructions sent to the vehicle scan tool from the server and the automatic initialization of the vehicle scan tool occurring without manual user selection of the vehicle scan tool function and the vehicle identifier from the at least one navigable menu.