System and method for accessing vehicle communication applications requiring vehicle identification without re-entering vehicle identification

A computing system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable memory storing executable instructions, a local database, a first software executable, and a second software executable different from the first software executable, wherein:
• a vehicle to be serviced is identifiable by vehicle identification information, a first vehicle identifier, and a second vehicle identifier,
• the first vehicle identifier is based on but different from the vehicle identification information and is associated with the first software executable,
• the second vehicle identifier is based on but different from both the first vehicle identifier and the vehicle identification information and is associated with the second software executable,
• the local database includes default repair-related data about the vehicle, and
• execution of the executable instructions by the processor causes the computing system to perform functions comprising:
• determining the vehicle identification information;
• determining whether a server having access to enhanced repair-related data about the vehicle is available to the computing system;
• retrieving the first and second vehicle identifiers from the server if the server is available to the computing system or from the local database if the server is not available to the computing system;
• after retrieving the first and second vehicle identifiers, storing the first and second vehicle identifiers in the non-transitory computer-readable memory;
• determining repair-related information about the vehicle by:
• receiving a request to activate the first software executable,
• after receiving the request to activate the first software executable, activating the first software executable at least by:
• retrieving the stored first vehicle identifier that is associated with the first software executable, and
• providing the retrieved first vehicle identifier to the first software executable as part of initiating execution of the first software executable;
• after initiating execution of the first software executable, receiving a request to activate the second software executable;
• after receiving the request to activate the second software executable, activating the second software executable at least by:
• retrieving the stored second vehicle identifier that is associated with the second software executable, and
• providing the retrieved second vehicle identifier to the second software executable as part of initiating execution of the second software executable;
• determining the repair-related information about the vehicle based on execution of the first software executable and execution of the second software executable;
• and
• generating a display page based on the repair-related information about the vehicle, and
• the repair-related information about the vehicle includes:
• at least a portion of the default repair-related data about the vehicle from the local database if the server is not available to the computing system, or
• at least a portion of the enhanced repair-related data about the vehicle from the server if the server is available to the computing system.