Vehicle or engine diagnostic systems supporting fast boot and reprogramming
AssigneeSnap-on Incorporated
InventorsSteve Brozovich, Robert Hoevenaar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A programmable vehicle or engine diagnostic tool includes an interface for receiving a signal relating to a performance parameter of the vehicle or engine, a user interface, and a central processing unit, for processing the signal to generate information for presentation to the user. The system utilizes a fast access non-volatile random access type main memory to store the programming for execution by the central processing unit. Techniques are disclosed for moving applications to the main memory, for fast boot at subsequent operation, based for example on program usage or user selection.
Claims17
A method of managing software that is available for use in a system for testing or diagnosis of a vehicle or an engine, comprising:
- prioritizing software that may be utilized by the system to implement one or more testing or diagnostic functions;
- storing a select portion of the software in a non-volatile random access memory serving as main memory of the system, based on the prioritization;
- booting a processor of the system to use the software directly from the non-volatile random access memory;
- modifying the prioritization of the software that may be utilized by the system to implement one or more testing or diagnostic functions, and storing a different select portion of the software in the non-volatile random access memory, based on the modified prioritization;
- and
- booting the processor of the system to use the different select software directly from the non-volatile random access memory.
A vehicle or engine diagnostic system, comprising:
- an interface for receiving a signal relating to a performance parameter of the vehicle or engine;
- a central processing unit, for performing a processing operation responsive to the signal;
- a non-volatile random access memory coupled to the central processing unit as main memory for use by the central processing unit;
- and
- programming for execution by the central processing unit stored in the non-volatile random access memory, wherein execution of the programming directly from the non-volatile random access memory causes the central processing unit to perform steps, comprising:
- (a) prioritizing a plurality of applications that may be utilized by the system to implement one or more testing or diagnostic functions;
- (b) storing a selected one of the applications as part of the programming in the non-volatile random access memory, based on the prioritization;
- (c) booting a processor of the system to enable use of the programming directly from the non-volatile random access memory;
- (d) modifying the prioritization of the applications that may be utilized by the system to implement one or more testing or diagnostic functions, and storing a different selected one of the applications as part of modified programming in the non-volatile random access memory, based on the modified prioritization;
- and
- (e) booting the processor of the system to enable use of the modified programming directly from the non-volatile random access memory.
The vehicle or engine diagnostic system of claim 11, wherein the non-volatile random access memory comprises a non-volatile nano random access memory (NNRAM).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.