Wireless communication for diagnostic instrument

Abstract

A wireless interface for a diagnostic instrument is provided. The diagnostic instrument includes a communications interface having an external data port. A wireless adapter coupled to the external data port communicates diagnostic data with one or more computing devices. In a single user mode, a computing device can control several diagnostic instruments wirelessly. In broadcast mode, a diagnostic instrument can send a data stream wirelessly to many listening computing devices. Further features, such as safety warning messages, are provided.

1 . A vehicle diagnostic system comprising: 
 a diagnostic instrument having an external data port; and    a wireless adapter coupled to the external data port and configured to send vehicle diagnostic information wirelessly to a computing device.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless adapter communicates with the computing device by selectively using one of at least two data communications protocols.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless adapter is further configured to receive a control command from the computing device.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic instrument is further configured to generate a plurality of wireless data streams, the plurality of wireless data streams including vehicle diagnostic information.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless adapter is further configured to receive a time base synchronization command from the computing device.  
   
   
       6 . A method for wireless communication of vehicle diagnostic information using a diagnostic instrument including a wireless adapter, the method comprising steps of: 
 assembling a series of control commands;    sending, by a computing device, a first of the series of control commands to the wireless adapter; and    receiving, from the wireless adapter, an acknowledgement of the first control command.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 sending, by the computing device, a second of the series of control commands responsive to the receiving step.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 receiving, by a plurality of computing devices, the vehicle diagnostic information sent by the wireless adapter.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the receiving step further comprises: 
 listening for the vehicle diagnostic information before sending, to the diagnostic instrument, a request command for the vehicle diagnostic information.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 relaying, by the diagnostic instrument, data from one of the plurality of computing devices to another of the plurality of computing devices.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 displaying a warning on a display screen of the computing device before sending a control command to the diagnostic instrument.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 sending vehicle diagnostic instrument status information the computing device.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 displaying a warning on a display screen responsive to the status information.    
   
   
       14 . A method for wireless communication of vehicle diagnostic information, the method comprising steps of: 
 generating, by at least one vehicle diagnostic instrument, a plurality of wireless data streams, the plurality of wireless data streams including vehicle diagnostic information; and    receiving, by at least one computing device, the plurality of wireless data streams.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 placing the at least one computing device in a master mode; and    sending a command to the at least one vehicle diagnostic instrument responsive to the placing step.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 parsing, by the at least one computing device, the plurality of wireless data streams to produce a data segment; and    assigning an identifier to the data segment.    
   
   
       17 . A vehicle diagnostic instrument comprising: 
 a connection network configured to provide a communications path;    a data acquisition unit coupled to the connection network and configured to receive diagnostic information;    a processor coupled to the connection network and configured to process the diagnostic information;    a communications interface coupled to the connection network, the communications interface having an external data port; and    a wireless adapter coupled to the external data port and configured to send the diagnostic information wirelessly to a computing device.    
   
   
       18 . The diagnostic instrument of  claim 17 , wherein the wireless adapter communicates with the computing device by selectively using one of at least two data communications protocols.  
   
   
       19 . The diagnostic instrument of  claim 17 , wherein the communications interface provides a bidirectional serial protocol for the external data port and interfaces the bidirectional serial protocol to the connection network.  
   
   
       20 . The diagnostic instrument of  claim 17 , wherein the wireless adapter is further configured to receive a control command from the computing device and to send the control command to the processor.  
   
   
       21 . The diagnostic instrument of  claim 20 , wherein the processor is further configured to enable data capture by the data acquisition unit responsive to a start control command.  
   
   
       22 . The diagnostic instrument of  claim 20 , wherein the processor is further configured to disable data capture by the data acquisition unit responsive to a stop control command.  
   
   
       23 . The diagnostic instrument of  claim 20 , wherein the control command synchronizes the time base of the computing device and the vehicle diagnostic instrument.  
   
   
       24 . (canceled)  
   
   
       25 . (canceled)  
   
   
       26 . (canceled)  
   
   
       27 . (canceled)  
   
   
       28 . (canceled)