Distributed vehicle service method and system

Abstract

A method and system for conducting a vehicle service comprises the steps of receiving signals representative of vehicle parameters, accessing data and/or software necessary for performing the vehicle service from at least one remote computer over a data transmission network, and performing signal processing related to the vehicle service based on the signals representative of the vehicle parameters and the accessed data and/or software. Since the data and/or software necessary for conducting the vehicle diagnostic analysis is distributed in different systems that are connected via a data communication network, an automotive service system can minimize the size of software stored locally and can access most of the information and/or algorithm required for conducting the vehicle diagnostic analysis from a remote system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle service system comprising:
 a data communication network;   one or more vehicle service equipment for servicing a vehicle in a garage or service bay, each vehicle service equipment including a microprocessor, memory, and output device for outputting vehicle diagnostic information to an operator in the garage or service bay, and configured for communication across the data communication network; and   a customer display communicatively connected to the data communication network and configured to provide a customer with access to current data about a vehicle as the vehicle undergoes service by the vehicle service equipment.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle service system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle service equipment includes a wheel alignment equipment, and the customer display is on a kiosk that enables a customer to view current data related to an alignment procedure as the alignment procedure occurs in the garage or service bay. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle service system of  claim 2 , wherein the vehicle service equipment is located in the garage or service bay in which the vehicle is being serviced, and the customer display is located in a show room. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle service system of  claim 2 , wherein the wheel alignment equipment includes an output device providing a graphic display of a vehicle diagnostic state including real-time readings of wheel alignment angles and graphic representations of vehicle wheel alignment specification values. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle service system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle service equipment includes at least one of wheel alignment equipment, wheel balancing equipment, engine analyzer equipment, engine diagnostic equipment, or brake testing equipment. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle service system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a management system configured to track at least one of scheduling or customer information.   
     
     
         7 . The vehicle service system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle service equipment includes hydraulic lift equipment. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle service system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle service equipment and the customer display are located in different locations. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle service system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle service equipment is located in the garage or service bay in which the vehicle is being serviced, and the customer display is located in a show room. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle service system of  claim 1 , wherein the customer display is separate from the vehicle service equipment. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle service system of  claim 1 , wherein the customer display is on a kiosk that enables customers to access the current data about their vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle service system of  claim 11 , wherein the kiosk is a computer based component connected to the data communication network that enables customers to access the current data about their vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle service system of  claim 1 , wherein each vehicle service equipment further comprises a measurement device and a data input configured to receive vehicle diagnostic information from the measurement device. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle service system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a server communicatively connected to the data communication network,   wherein the vehicle service equipment is configured to send the vehicle diagnostic information to the server across the data communication network.   
     
     
         15 . The vehicle service system of  claim 1 , where the data communication network includes the Internet. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle service system of  claim 1 , wherein each vehicle service equipment and the customer display has a unique network address on the data communication network.