Method and apparatus to manage information between a scan tool and networked devices

1. A base computing device for managing information between a portable vehicle diagnostic tool and a networked computing device over a communication network, the base computing device comprising:

a processor configured to execute modules;

a memory configured to store the modules; and

a communication interface configured to wirelessly communicate with the portable vehicle diagnostic tool and the networked computing device over the communication network, wherein the communication interface allows diagnostic information including signals, in real time to be exchanged between the portable vehicle diagnostic tool and the networked computing device, wherein the signals are received partially without having to wait for the portable vehicle diagnostic tool to complete receiving all of the diagnostic information before passing the diagnostic information to the base computing device, and wherein the modules include:

an instruction module configured to determine whether to execute one of the modules that is configured to process signals received from the portable vehicle diagnostic tool or the networked computing device, wherein the instruction module is further configured to request top fixes information, or a defective part's number based on the partial diagnostic information received from the portable diagnostic tool and updates, if needed, the top fixes or the defective part's number information based on a completed diagnostic information received from the portable diagnostic tool;

a format module configured to reformat the information for use by the portable vehicle diagnostic tool or the networked computing device;

a data analysis module configured to extract portions of data from the information and convert the information into another form while being representative of the data; and

a pass-through module configured to transmit the signals to and from the portable vehicle diagnostic tool and the networked computing device with information represented in the signals that is in same condition as received, wherein the information represented in the signals that is in same condition as received includes location tags for a source and a destination of the information;

wherein the partial diagnostic information received from the portable diagnostic tool includes diagnostic information about component failures from the vehicle under test, including diagnostic and failure codes, performance measurements, and part identifiers; and

wherein the partial diagnostic information received from the portable diagnostic tool is processed in the base computing device, to analyze the data to determine where to send the data and what type of information is desired from the network computing device.

2. The base computing device of claim 1 , wherein the modules further comprises:

a command module configured to associate an instruction with the signals to instruct the networked computing device on a desired return information.

3. The base computing device of claim 1 , wherein the modules further comprise:

an input module configured to keep track of a source and a destination of the signals and to tag the signals with the source and destination.

4. The base computing device of claim 1 , wherein the modules further comprises:

a communication module configured to create a communicative connection between the processor and the portable vehicle diagnostic tool, and the processor and the networked computing device.

5. The base computing device of claim 1 , wherein the modules further comprises:

a display module configured to display information on a display of the base computing device.

6. The base computing device of claim 1 further comprising a command module configured to request top fixes information from the networked computing device based on partial diagnostic information received from the portable diagnostic tool.

7. A method for managing information between a diagnostic tool and a networked computing device over a communication network, comprising the steps of:

connecting wirelessly a base computing device to the diagnostic tool and the networked computing device over the communication network via a communication interface of the base computing device;

receiving signals in real time representative of information from the diagnostic tool or the networked computing device via the communication interface, wherein the signals are partially received without having to wait for the diagnostic tool to complete receiving all of the information before passing the information to the base computing device;

determining in real time whether to execute an information processing function, stored in a memory of the base computing device, via a processor of the base computing device;

executing one or more of the information processing functions via the processor if the determination was made to execute the information processing function;

passing the signals in real time, using a pass-through module stored in the memory of the base computing device, to and from the diagnostic tool and the networked computing device if the determination was made not to execute the information processing function, wherein the information represented in the signals is in same condition as received and includes location tags for a source and a destination of the information;

determining, via the processor and a destination determining module stored in the memory of the base computing device, a destination for the signals received;

formatting, via the processor and a format module stored in the memory of the base computing device, the information received for use by the diagnostic tool or the networked computing device;

analyzing, via the processor and a data analysis module stored in the memory of the base computing device, the information received by extracting portions of data from the information or converting the information into a representative form;

requesting, with an instruction module, top fixes information, or a defective part's number based on the partial information received from the diagnostic tool;

updating, if needed, the top fixes or the defective part's number information based on a complete diagnostic information from the diagnostic tool; and

sending output signals in real time to the diagnostic tool representative of a returned information based on the information received from the diagnostic tool via the communication interface;

wherein the partial information received from the portable diagnostic tool includes diagnostic information about component failures from the vehicle under test, including diagnostic failure codes, performance measurements, and part identifiers; and

wherein the partial information received from the portable diagnostic tool is processed in the base computing device, to analyze the data to determine where to send the data and what type of information is desired form the network computing device.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein executing the information processing function further comprises passing through the information, via the processor, to and from the diagnostic tool or the networked computing.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein executing the information processing function further comprises determining, via the processor, a command to instruct the networked computing device on a desired return information based on the diagnostic tool information.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of: managing the signals by keeping track of a source and a destination of the signals by tagging, via the processor, the signals with the source and destination.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

requesting top fixes information from the networked computing device, via the processor and a command module, based on partial diagnostic information received from the diagnostic tool.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

displaying information on a display of the base computing device, via a display module stored in the memory of the base computing device.

13. A base computing device for managing information between a portable vehicle diagnostic tool and a networked computing device over a communication network, the base computing device comprising:

means for processing modules;

means for storing the modules; and

means for wirelessly communicating with the portable vehicle diagnostic tool and the networked computing device over the communication network, wherein the means for wirelessly communicating allows diagnostic information including signals, in real time to be exchanged between the portable vehicle diagnostic tool and the networked computing device, wherein the signals are received partially without having to wait for the portable vehicle diagnostic tool to complete receiving all of the diagnostic information before passing the diagnostic information to base computing device, and wherein the modules include:

an instruction module configured to determine whether to execute one or more modules that is configured to process signals received from the portable vehicle diagnostic tool and the networked computing device, wherein the instruction module is further configured to request top fixes information, or a defective part's number based on the partial diagnostic information received from the portable diagnostic tool and updates, if needed, the top fixes or the defective part's number information based on a complete diagnostic information received from the portable diagnostic tool;

a destination determination module configured to determine whether to route the signals to the portable vehicle diagnostic tool or the networked computing device;

a format module configured to reformat the information for use by the portable vehicle diagnostic tool to the networked computing device;

a data analysis module configured to extract portions of data from the information and convert the information into another form while being representative of the data; and

a pass-through module configured to transmit the signals to and from the portable vehicle diagnostic tool and the networked computing device with information represented in the signals that in same condition as received, wherein the information represented in the signals that is in same condition as received includes location tags for a source and a destination of the information;

wherein the partial diagnostic information received from the portable diagnostic tool includes diagnostic information about component failures from the vehicle under test, including diagnostic and failure codes, performance measurements, and part identifiers; and

wherein the partial diagnostic information received from the portable diagnostic tool is processed in the base computing device, to analyze the data to determine where to send the data and what type of information is desired from the network computing device.

14. The base computing device of claim 13 , the modules further comprises:

a command module configured to associate an instruction with the signals to instruct the networked computer on a desired return information.

15. The base computing device of claim 13 , wherein the modules further comprise:

an input module configured to keep track of a source and a destination of the signals and to tag the signals with the source and destination.

16. The base computing device of claim 13 , wherein the modules further comprise:

a communication module configured to create a communicative connection between the processor and the portable vehicle diagnostic tool, and the processor and the networked computing device.

17. The base computing device of claim 13 , wherein the modules further comprises:

a display module configured to display information on a display of the base computing device.

18. The base computing device of claim 13 further comprising a command module configured to request top fixes information from the networked computing device based on partial diagnostic information received from the portable diagnostic tool.