Granted Patent B2

US 12,591,859 · App. 18/159,544 · Granted Mar 31, 2026

Inventors: Patrick S. Merg (Hollister, CA); Jacob G. Foreman (Hollister, CA); Joshua C. Covington (San Juan Bautista, CA); Joseph R. Grammatico (San Jose, CA); Brett A. Kelley (San Jose, CA)

Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated

G06Q10/20G06Q10/06311G07C5/0808

Abstract

Claims (121)

1 . A method comprising:

outputting, by a first computing system, a request for transmission to a server, wherein:

the request includes an identifier of a service session record corresponding to a vehicle,

the service session record includes a timeline for tracking multiple events corresponding to the service session record chronologically,

the multiple events include a first event and a second event initiated after the first event,

the first and second events were initiated by the first computing system or a second computing system, and

the service session record further includes a respective event summary for each of the multiple events;

receiving, by the first computing system in response to the request, one or more graphical user interface resources for displaying a first graphical user interface corresponding to the service session record after summaries corresponding to the first and second events have been displayed at the first or second computing system;

displaying, on a display at the first computing system, the first graphical user interface in a first display mode, wherein:

displaying the first graphical user interface in the first display mode includes displaying a first event summary of the timeline,

the first event summary corresponds to the first event of the service session record, and

the first event summary includes a first user-selectable control selectable to trigger changing a display mode of the first graphical user interface;

displaying, in response to a selection of the first user-selectable control after summaries corresponding to the first and second events have been displayed at the first or second computing system, the first graphical user interface in a second display mode, wherein:

displaying the first graphical user interface in the second display mode includes displaying a particular detail regarding the first event of the service session record not shown in the first display mode, and

the particular detail includes a test identifier corresponding to a specific test and a second user-selectable control to launch performance of the specific test that includes measuring a voltage via a voltmeter or an oscilloscope, or transmitting a message onto a vehicle data bus within the vehicle;

outputting, by the first computing system in response to a selection of the second user-selectable control, an instruction to launch performance of the specific test;

determining, by the first computing system, a result based on performance of the specific test; and

outputting, by the first computing system, a communication to the server for modifying the first event summary or adding another event summary to the service session record based on performance of the specific test and the result.

2 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein:

displaying the first graphical user interface in the first display mode includes displaying multiple event summaries arranged in a first temporal order, and

the multiple event summaries include the first event summary.

3 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein:

displaying the first graphical user interface in the first display mode further includes displaying a filter selector including a first selection criterion,

the method further comprises:

determining a selection of the first selection criterion has occurred; and

displaying a modified version of the first graphical user interface, and

displaying the modified version of the first graphical user interface incudes displaying a subset of the respective event summaries arranged in a second temporal order.

4 . A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

outputting, by the first computing system for transmission to the server, a communication including an input for modifying the service session record, wherein:

the communication includes one or more from among: the identifier of the service session record, an identifier of the vehicle, or data that corresponds to the input for modifying the service session record,

the input for modifying the service session record is generated by the first computing system in response to performing an event with respect to the vehicle using the first computing system or a service activity of the event with respect to the vehicle, and

the event with respect to the vehicle includes the first event, the second event, or a third event.

5 . A method according to claim 4 , wherein performing the event with respect to the vehicle using the first computing system or the service activity of the event includes performing one or more from among:

capturing data generated by the vehicle,

testing operation of a vehicle component,

measuring a vehicle component,

inspecting the vehicle,

capturing an image of at least a portion of the vehicle,

capturing a screen shot of the display,

capturing a sound made by the vehicle,

analyzing a gas emitted by the vehicle,

aligning a vehicle component,

adjusting a vehicle component,

performing a maintenance task on the vehicle,

test driving the vehicle,

selecting a new state of the service session record,

selecting a new state of an event of the service session record, or

using a module of the first computing system.

6 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein:

each event of the multiple events is classified with a particular state from among multiple states, and

the multiple states include one or more from among: an open state, a dispatched state, a paused stated, and a closed state.

7 . A method according to claim 6 , wherein the first event of the service session record is classified with one or more additional states based on one or more from among:

the first computing system being selected for use during a service session, or

an operating state of the first computing system.

8 . A method according to claim 7 , wherein:

the first computing system is operatively connectable directly or indirectly to the vehicle, whereby a vehicle communication transceiver of the first computing system is operable to transmit a vehicle data message onto a communication link in the vehicle and to receive a vehicle data message transmitted by a component in the vehicle onto the communication link, and

the one or more additional states include a state selected from among: a diagnose state, a repair state, and a report state.

9 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein:

the particular detail regarding the first event includes a third user-selectable control selectable to display information based on diagnostic data determined during the first event,

the method further comprises:

determining a selection of the third user-selectable control occurs, and

displaying, on the display, the information based on diagnostic data determined during the first event.

10 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein:

the message includes a request to perform a functional test, and

the specific test includes the functional test.

11 . A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, while the first graphical user interface is displayed in the first display mode or the second display mode, a communication indicating that the timeline has been modified resulting in a modified timeline;

displaying, on the display, a notification that timeline has been modified; and

displaying, on the display, at least a portion of the modified timeline.

12 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein:

the first event summary includes event identification information generated by the first computing system or the second computing system used during performance of the first event, and

the event identification information includes one or more from among: an identifier of the first computing system or the second computing system, an event identifier, a time identifier, or an event type identifier.

13 . A method according to claim 12 , further comprising:

outputting, by the first computing system, a request for transmission to the second computing system, wherein the request includes at least a portion of the event identification information; and

receiving, in response to the request for transmission to the second computing system, a communication from the second computing system including the particular detail regarding the first event,

wherein displaying the first graphical user interface in the second display mode is conditioned on receiving the communication from the second computing system including the particular detail regarding the first event.

14 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein receiving the one or more graphical user interfaces for displaying the first graphical user interface includes receiving the first event summary of the timeline and the particular detail regarding the first event.

15 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the timeline includes at least one event summary corresponding to an event or service activity performed using the first computing system.

16 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein displaying the particular detail regarding the first event includes displaying information determined or captured during performance of the first event.

17 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein:

the method further comprises outputting, by the first computing system in response to a selection of the second user-selectable control, a communication for transmission to the second computing system,

the communication includes a request for the second computing system to perform a service activity for the service session record; and

the method further comprises displaying, on the display, a notification indicating a status of the second computing system performing the service activity for the service session record.

18 . A computing system comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable memory storing executable instructions, wherein execution of the executable instructions by the processor causes a first computing system to perform functions comprising:

outputting a request for transmission to a server, wherein:

the request includes an identifier of a service session record corresponding to a vehicle,

the service session record includes a timeline for tracking multiple events corresponding to the service session record chronologically,

the multiple events include a first event and a second event initiated after the first event,

the first and second events were initiated by the first computing system or a second computing system, and

the service session record further includes a respective event summary for each of the multiple events;

receiving, by the first computing system in response to the request, one or more graphical user interface resources for displaying a first graphical user interface corresponding to the service session record after summaries corresponding to the first and second events have been displayed at the first or second computing system;

displaying, on a display at the first computing system, the first graphical user interface in a first display mode, wherein:

displaying the first graphical user interface in the first display mode includes displaying a first event summary of the timeline,

the first event summary corresponds to the first event of the service session record, and

the first event summary includes a first user-selectable control selectable to trigger changing a display mode of the first graphical user interface;

displaying, in response to a selection of the first user-selectable control after summaries corresponding to the first and second events have been displayed at the first or second computing system, the first graphical user interface in a second display mode, wherein:

displaying the first graphical user interface in the second display mode includes displaying a particular detail regarding the first event of the service session record not shown in the first display mode, and

the particular detail includes a test identifier corresponding to a specific test and a second user-selectable control to launch performance of the specific test that includes measuring a voltage via a voltmeter or an oscilloscope, or transmitting a message onto a vehicle data bus within the vehicle;

outputting, by the first computing system in response to a selection of the second user-selectable control, an instruction to launch performance of the specific test;

determining, by the first computing system, a result based on performance of the specific test; and

outputting, by the first computing system, a communication to the server for modifying the first event summary or adding another event summary to the service session record based on performance of the specific test and the result.

19 . A non-transitory computer-readable memory having stored therein instructions executable by a processor to cause a first computing system to perform functions comprising:

outputting, by the first computing system, a request for transmission to a server, wherein:

the request includes an identifier of a service session record corresponding to a vehicle,

the service session record includes a timeline for tracking multiple events corresponding to the service session record chronologically,

the multiple events include a first event and a second event initiated after the first event,

the first and second events were initiated by the first computing system or a second computing system, and

the service session record further includes a respective event summary for each of the multiple events;

receiving, by the first computing system in response to the request, one or more graphical user interface resources for displaying a first graphical user interface corresponding to the service session record after summaries corresponding to the first and second events have been displayed at the first or second computing system;

displaying, on a display at the first computing system, the first graphical user interface in a first display mode, wherein:

displaying the first graphical user interface in the first display mode incudes displaying a first event summary of the timeline,

the first event summary corresponds to the first event of the service session record, and

the first event summary includes a first user-selectable control selectable to trigger changing a display mode of the first graphical user interface;

displaying, in response to a selection of the first user-selectable control after summaries corresponding to the first and second events have been displayed at the first or second computing system, the first graphical user interface in a second display mode, wherein:

displaying the first graphical user interface in the second display mode includes displaying a particular detail regarding the first event of the service session record not shown in the first display mode, and

the particular detail includes a test identifier corresponding to a specific test and a second user-selectable control to launch performance of the specific test that includes measuring a voltage via a voltmeter or an oscilloscope, or transmitting a message onto a vehicle data bus within the vehicle;

outputting, by the first computing system in response to a selection of the second user-selectable control, an instruction to launch performance of the specific test;

determining, by the first computing system, a result based on performance of the specific test; and

outputting, by the first computing system, a communication to the server for modifying the first event summary or adding another event summary to the service session record based on performance of the specific test and the result.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (39)