Dynamic software configuration
A method and apparatus are provided that allow the user to quickly load new versions of applications on a scan tool. The latest versions of the applications that a scan tool can operate are loaded onto a memory device. The scan tool verifies which versions of the applications are authorized and allows the scan tool to only access information related to the authorized versions.
1. A method of updating software on a vehicle diagnostic tool, comprising:
storing a plurality of available versions of one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles on a diagnostic tool memory, the vehicle scan tool memory including previously available versions of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles;
updating at least one previously available version of the stored one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles using the plurality of currently available versions of said one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles stored on the vehicle scan tool memory;
purchasing versions of the updated at least one previously available version of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles stored on the vehicle scan tool memory;
authorizing the purchased versions of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles stored onto the diagnostic tool memory for use by the diagnostic tool;
displaying on a display of the diagnostic tool both the authorized purchased versions of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles stored onto the diagnostic tool memory and unauthorized versions of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles stored on the diagnostic tool memory, wherein the unauthorized versions of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles are greyed out or include a lock icon; and
allowing access to the authorized versions of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles stored on the diagnostic tool memory, while not allowing access to the unauthorized versions of the one or more applications stored onto the diagnostic tool memory of the diagnostic tool.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of available versions of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles stored on the diagnostic tool memory include all previous versions and all of the latest versions for a vehicle's model.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the storing step further comprises loading the plurality of available versions of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles onto the diagnostic tool memory via a wired or wireless connection with a remote computing device prior to the purchasing of the available version of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic tool memory is a compact flash card and the diagnostic tool is a vehicle diagnostic scan tool.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the authorization of the purchased versions of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles stored on the diagnostic tool memory is done via a security card system or the Internet.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
allowing access to each of the versions that are previous to the authorized version of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles based on the authorization.
7. A method of updating a diagnostic application on a vehicle scan tool, comprising:
storing a plurality of currently available versions of one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles on a vehicle scan tool memory, the vehicle scan tool memory including previously available versions of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles;
updating at least one previously available version of the stored one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles using the plurality of currently available versions of said one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles stored on the vehicle scan tool memory;
purchasing versions of the updated at least one previously available version of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles stored on the vehicle scan tool memory;
unlocking purchased versions of the updated at least one previously available version of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles stored on the vehicle scan tool memory;
displaying on a display of the vehicle scan tool both icons correlated to the unlocked purchased versions of the updated at least one previously available version of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles stored onto the diagnostic tool memory and the locked versions of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles stored on the vehicle scan tool memory, wherein the icons correlated to the locked versions of the vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles are greyed out or include a lock icon; and
allowing access to the unlocked versions of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles, while not allowing access to the locked versions of the one or more applications included in the vehicle scan tool memory.
8. The diagnostic tool of claim 1 , wherein the available versions of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles are further authorized based on a vehicle's model.
9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
allowing access to each of the versions that are previous to the authorized version of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the storing step further comprises:
loading the plurality of currently available versions of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles onto the vehicle scan tool memory via a wired or wireless connection with a remote computing device.
11. A vehicle diagnostic tool, comprising:
a processor with at least one vehicle communication protocol interface operatively coupled to the processor that allows the processor to communicate with a vehicle for diagnosis;
a memory of the vehicle diagnostic tool operably coupled to the processor, the memory configured to store a plurality of available versions of one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles, the vehicle scan tool memory including previously available versions of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles; and
a housing surrounding the processor, the at least one vehicle communication protocol interface, the memory, a display, and a user interface, wherein the processor is configured to:
update at least one previously available version of the stored one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles using the plurality of currently available versions of said one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles stored on the vehicle scan tool memory;
purchase versions of the updated at least one previously available version of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles stored on the vehicle scan tool memory;
unlock purchased versions of the updated at least one previously available version of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles stored on the vehicle scan tool memory;
display on a display of the vehicle scan tool both icons correlated to the unlocked purchased versions of the undated at least one previously available version of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles stored onto the diagnostic tool memory and the locked versions of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles stored on the vehicle scan tool memory, wherein the icons correlated to the locked versions of the vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles are greyed out or include a lock icon; and
allow access to the unlocked versions of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles, while not allowing access to the locked versions of the one or more applications included in the vehicle scan tool memory.
12. The diagnostic tool of claim 11 , wherein the authorization occurs via a security card system or Internet.
13. The diagnostic tool of claim 11 , wherein the storing of the available versions of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles onto the memory is done via a wired or wireless connection with a remote computer.
14. The diagnostic tool of claim 11 , wherein the available versions of the one or more vehicle diagnostic applications for domestic and foreign vehicles are transferred to the memory via a flash memory device.