Auto ID and Fingerprint System and Method Thereof
AssigneeBosch Automotive Service Solutions Inc.
InventorsThomas Bertosa, Michael Gessner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A diagnostic tool that can communicate with a computing device such as smart phone is provided. The diagnostic tool can include a power management system that allows the dynastic tool to enter lower power state in order to prevent the power drain of vehicle battery. The diagnostic tool can also AutoID a vehicle or use a “fingerprinting” process to identify the vehicle. A crediting system is provided that can be used to credit a 3rd party for software purchased for use by the diagnostic tool or smart phone.
Claims20
A diagnostic tool, comprising:
- a processor that controls a plurality of functions of the diagnostic tool;
- a memory that stores diagnostic software and software to operate the plurality of functions of the diagnostic tool, wherein the diagnostic software include a vehicle information database;
- a vehicle connector interface configured to connect the diagnostic tool to a data link connector in a vehicle under test, wherein the vehicle connector interface retrieves vehicle diagnostic data including vehicle identification data from an electronic control unit of the vehicle under test;
- and
- a wireless interface configured to communicate with a smart phone and receive inputs from the smart phone, wherein the processor is configured to automatically identify the vehicle under test and the inputs include additional vehicle identifying information entered by a user.
A diagnostic tool, comprising:
- a processor that controls a plurality of functions of the diagnostic tool including automatically identifying a vehicle under test;
- a memory that stores diagnostic software and software to operate the plurality of functions of the diagnostic tool, wherein the diagnostic software includes a vehicle information database;
- a vehicle connector interface configured to connect the diagnostic tool to a data link connector in the vehicle under test, wherein the vehicle connector interface retrieves vehicle diagnostic data including vehicle identification data from an electronic control unit of the vehicle under test;
- and
- a wireless interface configured to communicate with a smart phone and receive inputs from the smart phone, wherein the processor is configured to automatically identify a previous vehicle under test based on various unique vehicle data markers that is stored in the memory.
A method of identifying a vehicle under test, comprising the steps of:
- storing, in a memory of a diagnostic tool, diagnostic software and software to operate a plurality of functions of the diagnostic tool, wherein the diagnostic software includes a vehicle information database;
- controlling, with a processor of the diagnostic tool, the plurality of functions of the diagnostic tool including automatically identifying a previous vehicle under test based various unique vehicle data markers that is stored in the memory;
- retrieving, with a vehicle connector interface of the diagnostic tool, vehicle diagnostic data including vehicle identification data from an electronic control unit of the vehicle under test;
- communicating, with a wireless interface of the diagnostic tool, with a smart phone;
- and
- identifying the previous vehicle under test based on the unique vehicle identification markers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.