Handheld Automotive Diagnostic Tool with VIN Decoder and Communication System

A method of diagnosing a vehicle having an onboard computer and a vehicle identification number, the onboard computer configured to transmit the vehicle identification number in response to receipt of an identification request, the identification request being transmitted in a basic communication protocol, the onboard computer including diagnostic data being retrievable in response to receipt of a diagnostic request in a diagnostic protocol, the method comprising the steps of:

• a. connecting a scan tool to the onboard computer;
• b. retrieving the vehicle identification number from the onboard computer;
• c. matching the vehicle identification number with a protocol database including diagnostic protocols associated with vehicle identification numbers to determine the diagnostic protocol for the onboard computer;
• d. re-configuring the scan tool to communicate in the diagnostic protocol;
• e. transmitting a diagnostic request in the diagnostic protocol from the scan tool to the onboard computer;
• f. receiving diagnostic data from the onboard computer;
• g. transmitting the diagnostic data from the scan tool to a cell phone via a local connectivity circuit;
• and
• h. transmitting the diagnostic data from the cell phone to a main server via a cellular telephone network.

A method of receiving data from an onboard computer located on a vehicle, the onboard computer configured to transmit vehicle identification data in response to receipt of an identification request, the identification request being transmitted in a basic communication protocol, the onboard computer further being configured to transmit private operational data in response to receipt of a private data request, the private data request being transmitted in a diagnostic protocol, the method comprising the steps of:

• a. connecting a scan tool to the onboard computer;
• b. polling the onboard computer to identify the basic communication protocol;
• c. transmitting the identification request to the onboard computer in the basic communication protocol;
• d. receiving the vehicle identification data from the onboard computer;
• e. accessing a protocol database having a plurality of diagnostic protocols, each diagnostic protocol being associated with respective vehicle identification data;
• and
• f. determining the diagnostic protocol based on the received vehicle identification data.