Vehicle diagnostic scan and collision data recorder reader device and method
A system and method for assessing a vehicle's electronic system after a crash includes a vehicle diagnostic computer tool configured to be operatively connected with an electronic system of a vehicle to obtain scan data from the electronic system of the vehicle using a diagnostic scanning program and to obtain collision data from an event data recorder of the vehicle using a collision data recorder program. The collision data and scan data are reported together, such as in a report generated by the vehicle diagnostic computer tool, for evaluating whether vehicle systems requiring repair based on the scan data are attributable to a particular collision event based on the collision data.
1 . A method of assessing damage to a vehicle, the method comprising:
providing a vehicle diagnostic system comprising a vehicle diagnostic computer tool configured to operate in a mode to scan a vehicle to obtain scan data and configured to obtain collision data from an event data recorder installed and retained on the vehicle, wherein the event data recorder is configured to record collision data during a collision event of the vehicle;
connecting the vehicle diagnostic computer tool with a diagnostic port of the vehicle to be in communication with an electronic system of the vehicle;
obtaining scan data from the electronic system of the vehicle with the vehicle diagnostic computer tool using a diagnostic scanning program, wherein the scan data is used to determine vehicle systems requiring repair;
obtaining collision data from the event data recorder with the vehicle diagnostic computer tool using a collision data reader program, wherein the scan data and the collision data are obtained contemporaneously; and
indicating with the vehicle diagnostic computer tool whether the vehicle systems requiring repair are attributable to a collision event by analyzing with an evaluation program both the scan data and the collision data to determine if the vehicle systems requiring repair based on the scan data (i) are attributable to the collision event based on the collision data or (ii) are not attributable to the collision event based on the collision data.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising reporting the scan data together with the collision data and generating a report comprising the evaluation of the scan data based on the collision data, wherein the report identifies those vehicle systems requiring repair that are attributable to the collision event.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the vehicle diagnostic computer tool generates the report.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the report, the scan data, and the collision data are transmitted to a remote computer via the vehicle diagnostic computer tool.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the diagnostic scanning program and the collision data reader program are retained in a memory of the vehicle diagnostic computer tool.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the diagnostic scanning program and the collision data reader program are retained at a remote computer and accessible via the vehicle diagnostic computer tool.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the diagnostic scanning program, the collision data reader program and the evaluation program are retained in a memory of the vehicle diagnostic computer tool.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the diagnostic scanning program, the collision data reader program and the evaluation program are retained at a remote computer and accessible via the vehicle diagnostic computer tool.
9 . A vehicle diagnostic system configured for scanning an electronic system of a vehicle to obtain scan data and configured to obtain collision data from an event data recorder installed and retained on the vehicle, said vehicle diagnostic system comprising:
a vehicle diagnostic computer tool comprising a vehicle interface and a computer module, wherein said vehicle diagnostic computer tool is configured to connect to a data port of a vehicle to be in communication with an electronic system of the vehicle;
a diagnostic scanning program configured for use with the vehicle diagnostic computer tool to obtain scan data from the electronic system of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle diagnostic computer tool is configured to use the scan data to determine vehicle systems requiring repair;
a collision data reader program configured for use with the vehicle diagnostic computer tool to obtain collision data from the event data recorder, wherein the event data recorder is configured to record collision data during a collision event on the vehicle, wherein the scan data and the collision data are obtained contemporaneously;
wherein the vehicle diagnostic system comprises an evaluation program operable to indicate whether the vehicle systems requiring repair are attributable to a collision event by analyzing both the scan data and the collision data to determine if the vehicle systems requiring repair based on the scan data (i) are attributable to the collision event based on the collision data or (ii) are not attributable to the collision event based on the collision data.
10 . The vehicle diagnostic system of claim 9 , wherein the vehicle diagnostic computer tool is configured to generate a report of the scan data together with the collision data, wherein the report comprises the evaluation of the scan data based on the collision data and identifies those vehicle systems requiring repair that are attributable to the collision event based on the collision data.
11 . The vehicle diagnostic system of claim 9 , wherein the vehicle diagnostic computer tool includes an internet interface for connecting to a remote computer, and wherein the vehicle diagnostic computer tool is configured to transmit the report, the scan data, and the collision data to a remote computer.
12 . The vehicle diagnostic system of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the diagnostic scanning program and the collision data reader program are retained in a memory of the vehicle diagnostic computer tool.
13 . The vehicle diagnostic system of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the diagnostic scanning program and the collision data reader program are retained at a remote computer and accessible via the vehicle diagnostic computer tool.
14 . The vehicle diagnostic system of claim 9 , wherein the vehicle diagnostic computer tool comprises a vehicle interface and a computer module, and wherein the vehicle interface includes a vehicle protocol for enabling communications with the electronic system of the vehicle.
15 . The vehicle diagnostic system of claim 9 , wherein the evaluation program is retained in a memory of the vehicle diagnostic computer tool.