Systems and methods for automatically linking diagnostic scan data

Abstract

A new automotive collision repair technology is provided, including system and data flow architectures that are designed to provide enhanced data and enhanced data flow in the context of vehicle diagnosis and repair, particularly when repairs are necessary due to collisions. In some examples, the data flow through the network is streamlined, to avoid network congestion, to use fewer computer and network resources and/or to enable the utilization of smaller databases. In other examples, enhanced access to data in real-time and near real-time enabled by a Workflow Module supports more accurate and timely decisions on vehicle repair. An advantage of this new automotive collision repair technology is that it enables proper and proven repairs, which in turns increases operation safety of repaired vehicle and people safety.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method implemented by a computer in a diagnostic scan tool, the method comprising:
 calibrating an electronic system of a vehicle while the diagnostic scan tool is connected to the vehicle;   obtaining a set of diagnostic data from the electronic system of the vehicle, after calibrating the electronic system of the vehicle, by performing a scan of the vehicle while the diagnostic scan tool is connected to the vehicle;   saving the set of diagnostic data in association with identity information of the vehicle on a server computer that is communicatively connected to the diagnostic scan tool; and   receiving a report from the server computer, the report documenting successful completion of the calibration and including the identity information of the vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting the report to an insurance claims management system.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle identity information comprises a vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the vehicle identity information further comprises year, make, model, and model options of the vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 receiving an order VIN of an order; and   verifying the order VIN matches the VIN of the vehicle.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 receiving an insurance claim VIN of an insurance claim; and   verifying the insurance claim VIN matches the VIN of the vehicle.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 date-stamping the set of diagnostic data prior to saving the set of diagnostic data on the server computer.   
     
     
         8 . One or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media encoded with instructions that, when executed by one or more hardware processors of a diagnostic scan tool, cause the diagnostic scan tool to perform operations comprising:
 calibrating an electronic system of the vehicle while the diagnostic scan tool is connected to the vehicle;   obtaining a set of diagnostic data from the electronic system of the vehicle, after calibrating the electronic system of the vehicle, by performing a scan of the vehicle while the diagnostic scan tool is connected to the vehicle;   saving the set of diagnostic data in association with identity information of the vehicle on a server computer that is communicatively connected to the diagnostic scan tool; and   receiving a report from the server computer, the report documenting successful completion of the calibration and including the identity information of the vehicle.   
     
     
         9 . The one or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media of  claim 8 , the operations further comprising:
 transmitting the report to an insurance claims management system.   
     
     
         10 . The one or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media of  claim 8 , wherein the vehicle identity information comprises a vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The one or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media of  claim 10 , wherein the vehicle identity information further comprises year, make, model, and model options of the vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The one or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media of  claim 10 , the operations further comprising:
 receiving an order VIN of an order; and   verifying the order VIN matches the VIN of the vehicle.   
     
     
         13 . The one or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media of  claim 10 , the operations further comprising:
 receiving an insurance claim VIN of an insurance claim; and   verifying the insurance claim VIN matches the VIN of the vehicle.   
     
     
         14 . The one or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media of  claim 8 , the operations further comprising:
 date-stamping the set of diagnostic data prior to saving the set of diagnostic data on the server computer.   
     
     
         15 . A method implemented by a computer in a diagnostic scan tool, the method comprising:
 performing a first scan of the vehicle while the diagnostic scan tool is connected to the vehicle to obtain a first set of diagnostic data from one or more electronic modules of the vehicle;   performing a second scan of the vehicle while the diagnostic scan tool is connected to the vehicle to obtain a second set of diagnostic data from one or more electronic modules of the vehicle; and   saving the first and second sets of diagnostic data transmitted from the diagnostic scan tool to a server computer in association with identity information of the vehicle;   wherein the first scan is performed prior to a repair technician commencing repair work on the vehicle; and   wherein the second scan is performed after the repair technician completes the repair work on the vehicle.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving a report from the server computer, the report documenting successful completion of the repair work and including the identity information of the vehicle.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 transmitting the report to an insurance claims management system.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the vehicle's identity comprises vehicle identification number (VIN), year, make, model, and model options of the vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 receiving an order VIN of an order; and   verifying the order VIN matches the VIN of the vehicle.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 receiving an insurance claim VIN of an insurance claim; and   verifying the insurance claim VIN matches the VIN of the vehicle.