US-12626546-B2 - Vehicle scan tool configured to receive automated initialization requests

Abstract

In an embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a vehicle scan tool, a request for automated vehicle scan tool initialization, the request comprising a function identifier for a vehicle scan tool function and a vehicle identifier for a vehicle, where the vehicle scan tool is configured to display at least one navigable menu. The method additionally includes determining a current operating state of the vehicle scan tool. Based on the current operating state of the vehicle scan tool, the method further includes making a determination to initialize the vehicle scan tool according to the request for automated vehicle scan tool initialization. In response to making the determination, the method also includes using the function identifier and the vehicle identifier to initialize the vehicle scan tool to perform the vehicle scan tool function on the vehicle.

Inventors

• Patrick S. Merg
• Roy S. Brozovich
• Jacob G. Foreman
• Brett A. Kelley

Assignees

• SNAP-ON INCORPORATED

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240923

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A method, comprising: providing, by a vehicle scan tool to a server, contextual information related to vehicle service content currently displayed on the vehicle scan tool; receiving, by the vehicle scan tool from the server, instructions to display a selectable scan tool initialization option to initialize the vehicle scan tool to perform a vehicle scan tool function identified by the server based on the contextual information, 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; in response to receiving the instructions, displaying, by the vehicle scan tool, the selectable scan tool initialization option with vehicle service content; receiving, by the vehicle scan tool, a user selection of the selectable scan tool initialization option; determining, by the vehicle scan tool, a current operating state of the vehicle scan tool, wherein determining the current operating state of the vehicle scan tool comprises determining that the vehicle scan tool is connected to a vehicle and that the vehicle scan tool is performing a different vehicle scan tool function on the vehicle; based on the user selection of the selectable scan tool initialization option and the current operating state of the vehicle scan tool, making a determination determining, by the vehicle scan tool, to initialize the vehicle scan tool to perform the vehicle scan tool function on the vehicle, wherein determining to initialize the vehicle scan tool to perform the vehicle scan tool function on the vehicle comprises: displaying, on the vehicle scan tool, an option to interrupt the different vehicle scan tool function; and receiving a user input indicating to interrupt the different vehicle scan tool function; and in response to determining to initialize the vehicle scan tool making the determination, automatically initializing the vehicle scan tool to perform the vehicle scan tool function on the vehicle, the automatic initialization of the vehicle scan tool occurring without manual user selection of the vehicle scan tool function from the at least one navigable menu.
2. 2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving a user confirmation to perform the vehicle scan tool function on the vehicle; and in response to receiving the user confirmation, transmitting a message from a vehicle communications transceiver in the vehicle scan tool to an electronic control unit in the vehicle to perform the vehicle scan tool function on the vehicle with the vehicle scan tool.
3. 3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising causing the vehicle scan tool to display a cookie crumb trail indicative of which of the at least one navigable menu was bypassed during automatic scan tool initialization.
4. 4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring, by the vehicle scan tool, for automated vehicle scan tool initialization requests pushed from the server.
5. 5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising periodically attempting, by the vehicle scan tool, to pull automated vehicle scan tool initialization requests from the server.
6. 6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving a beacon signal from the server; and sending, from the vehicle scan tool to the server, a status flag indicative of whether or not the vehicle scan tool is currently performing any vehicle scan tool function.
7. 7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying, on the vehicle scan tool, a queue of a plurality of cached vehicle scan tool initialization requests.
8. 8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of cached vehicle scan tool initialization requests is user selectable in order to initialize the vehicle scan tool to perform a corresponding vehicle scan tool function.
9. 9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising causing the vehicle scan tool to switch from a manual mode in which the at least one navigable menu is manually navigable through user input to an automatic mode in which the vehicle scan tool function is performed by the vehicle scan tool on the vehicle in response to a single user input signal.
10. 10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein automatically initializing the vehicle scan tool is further based on a vehicle identifier comprising a year, make, model, and engine of the vehicle.
11. 11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle scan tool function comprises a functional test in which the vehicle scan tool transmits a message to an electronic control unit in the vehicle to perform the functional test on the vehicle with the vehicle scan tool.
12. 12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle scan tool function comprises retrieving a list of relevant parameter identifier values (PIDs) from the vehicle for display on the vehicle scan tool.
13. 13 . A vehicle scan tool comprising: a processor configured to: provide, by the vehicle scan tool to a server, contextual information related to vehicle service content currently displayed on the vehicle scan tool; receive, by the vehicle scan tool from the server, instructions to display a selectable scan tool initialization option to initialize the vehicle scan tool to perform a vehicle scan tool function identified by the server based on the contextual information, 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; in response to receiving the instructions, display, by the vehicle scan tool, the selectable scan tool initialization option with vehicle service content; receive, by the vehicle scan tool, a user selection of the selectable scan tool initialization option; determine, by the vehicle scan tool, a current operating state of the vehicle scan tool, wherein determining the current operating state of the vehicle scan tool comprises determining that the vehicle scan tool is connected to a vehicle and that the vehicle scan tool is performing a different vehicle scan tool function on the vehicle; based on the user selection of the selectable scan tool initialization option and the current operating state of the vehicle scan tool, make a determination determine, by the vehicle scan tool, to initialize the vehicle scan tool to perform the vehicle scan tool function on the vehicle, wherein determining to initialize the vehicle scan tool to perform the vehicle scan tool function on the vehicle comprises the processor configured to: display, on the vehicle scan tool, an option to interrupt the different vehicle scan tool function; and receive a user input indicating to interrupt the different vehicle scan tool function; and in response to determining to initialize the vehicle scan tool making the determination, 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 without manual user selection of the vehicle scan tool function from the at least one navigable menu.
14. 14 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein instructions executable by one or more processors to cause a vehicle scan tool to perform functions comprising: providing, by the vehicle scan tool to a server, contextual information related to vehicle service content currently displayed on the vehicle scan tool; receiving, by the vehicle scan tool from the server, instructions to display a selectable scan tool initialization option to initialize the vehicle scan tool to perform a vehicle scan tool function identified by the server based on the contextual information, 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; in response to receiving the instructions, displaying, by the vehicle scan tool, the selectable scan tool initialization option with vehicle service content; receiving, by the vehicle scan tool, a user selection of the selectable scan tool initialization option; determining, by the vehicle scan tool, a current operating state of the vehicle scan tool, wherein determining the current operating state of the vehicle scan tool comprises determining that the vehicle scan tool is connected to a vehicle and that the vehicle scan tool is performing a different vehicle scan tool function on the vehicle; based on the user selection of the selectable scan tool initialization option and the current operating state of the vehicle scan tool, making a determination determining, by the vehicle scan tool, to initialize the vehicle scan tool to perform the vehicle scan tool function on the vehicle, wherein determining to initialize the vehicle scan tool to perform the vehicle scan tool function on the vehicle comprises: displaying, on the vehicle scan tool, an option to interrupt the different vehicle scan tool function; and receiving a user input indicating to interrupt the different vehicle scan tool function; and in response to determining to initialize the vehicle scan tool making the determination, automatically initializing the vehicle scan tool to perform the vehicle scan tool function on the vehicle, the automatic initialization of the vehicle scan tool occurring without manual user selection of the vehicle scan tool function from the at least one navigable menu.
15. 15 . The vehicle scan tool of claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to: receive a user confirmation to perform the vehicle scan tool function on the vehicle; and in response to receiving the user confirmation, transmit a message from a vehicle communications transceiver in the vehicle scan tool to an electronic control unit in the vehicle to perform the vehicle scan tool function on the vehicle with the vehicle scan tool.
16. 16 . The vehicle scan tool of claim 13 , wherein the vehicle scan tool function comprises a functional test in which the vehicle scan tool transmits a message to an electronic control unit in the vehicle to perform the functional test on the vehicle with the vehicle scan tool.
17. 17 . The vehicle scan tool of claim 13 , wherein the vehicle scan tool function comprises retrieving a list of relevant parameter identifier values (PIDs) from the vehicle for display on the vehicle scan tool.
18. 18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions cause the vehicle scan tool to perform further functions comprising: receiving a user confirmation to perform the vehicle scan tool function on the vehicle; and in response to receiving the user confirmation, transmitting a message from a vehicle communications transceiver in the vehicle scan tool to an electronic control unit in the vehicle to perform the vehicle scan tool function on the vehicle with the vehicle scan tool.
19. 19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the vehicle scan tool function comprises a functional test in which the vehicle scan tool transmits a message to an electronic control unit in the vehicle to perform the functional test on the vehicle with the vehicle scan tool.
20. 20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the vehicle scan tool function comprises retrieving a list of relevant parameter identifier values (PIDs) from the vehicle for display on the vehicle scan tool.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/216,366, filed Dec. 11, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND Most vehicles are serviced at least once during their useful life. In many instances, a vehicle is serviced at a facility with professional mechanics (e.g., technicians). The technicians can use any of a variety of non-computerized hand tools to service (e.g., repair) any of the wide variety of mechanical components on a vehicle. The technicians may also use computerized vehicle scan tools that can electronically communicate with a vehicle to perform tests on the vehicle or collect diagnostic information from the vehicle. While servicing a vehicle, a technician sometimes accesses information for diagnosing and/or repairing the vehicle. Such diagnostic information may be viewed by a technician on a computer workstation that is located at a different location at the facility than the vehicle. The technician may print relevant diagnostic information from the workstation, and then carry the printed material back to the vehicle. The technician may then use the printed material to manually configure a vehicle scan tool to perform functions on the vehicle. Siloing of information between different computing devices at a shop, such as a workstation and a vehicle scan tool, may lead to inefficiencies in time spent by technicians to service vehicles at the facility. OVERVIEW Several examples that relate to automated vehicle scan tool initialization are described herein. Some of the examples pertain to supplementing vehicle service content with selectable links to initialize a vehicle scan tool. Additional examples involve locating an available vehicle scan tool and transmitting information to the vehicle scan tool to initialize the vehicle scan tool to perform a contextually relevant vehicle service function. Yet further examples involve a vehicle scan tool configured to receive an automated vehicle scan tool initialization request and act on the request based on a current operating state of the vehicle scan tool. Viewed from one aspect, an example embodiment takes the form of a method. The method includes receiving, at a vehicle scan tool, a request for automated vehicle scan tool initialization, the request comprising a function identifier for a vehicle scan tool function and a vehicle identifier for a vehicle, where 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. The method further includes determining a current operating state of the vehicle scan tool. Based on the current operating state of the vehicle scan tool, the method further includes making a determination to initialize the vehicle scan tool according to the request for automated vehicle scan tool initialization. In response to making the determination, the method additionally includes using the function identifier and the vehicle identifier to initialize the vehicle scan tool to perform the vehicle scan tool function on the vehicle. Viewed from another aspect, an example embodiment takes the form of a vehicle scan tool. The vehicle scan tool includes a control system configured to receive a request for automated vehicle scan tool initialization, the request comprising a function identifier for a vehicle scan tool function and a vehicle identifier for a vehicle, where 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. The control system is further configured to determine a current operating state of the vehicle scan tool. Based on the current operating state of the vehicle scan tool, the control system is further configured to make a determination to initialize the vehicle scan tool according to the request for automated vehicle scan tool initialization. In response to making the determination, the control system is additionally configured to use the function identifier and the vehicle identifier to initialize the vehicle scan tool to perform the vehicle scan tool function on the vehicle. Viewed from a further aspect, an example embodiment takes the form of a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein instructions executable by one or more processors to cause a computing system to perform functions. The functions include receiving, at a vehicle scan tool, a request for automated vehicle scan tool initialization, the request comprising a function identifier for a vehicle scan tool function and a vehicle identifier for a vehicle, where the vehicle scan tool is configured to display at least one nav