Abstract: An integrated automotive repair shop network is designed to greatly enhance the efficiency and quality of diagnostic and repair work performed in an automotive repair shop. The network employs a data entry terminal for the entry of routine customer information into a shop management system, including the identification of the vehicle to undergo diagnosis or repair. The shop management system is configured to generate an appropriate repair order. Computerized diagnostic and repair devices linked through the network to the shop management system are configured to access the customer information contained in the repair orders, as well as to extract relevant technical specifications, service bulletins, parts listings, and prior services records from interconnected information databases.

Abstract: A data driven, multi-dimensional diagnostic method that combines vehicle system test data, vehicle attributes, symptoms, and extrinsic data to produce vehicle system diagnostics. Data are combined according to predetermined equations to yield intermediate diagnostic results. Intermediate diagnostic results are combined recursively according to fixed expressions to produce final diagnostic results relating to the state of the vehicle system under diagnosis. Fixed expressions may be algebraic, Boolean, fuzzy logic, statistical, or relate to an expert system.

Abstract: A method and system relating to management of dynamic vehicle data from data sources that produce data entries that have both type and latency and are possibly periodic. Data sources produce data entries that are entered into a fixed interval data storage structure that has positions related to times. Data entries are entered into the storage structure at a position represented by the position of the current time minus the known latency of the data source. The position in the structure representing the current time is updated at predetermined times so that the structure represents a historical record in real time. Data clients receive notification of availability of data and request retrievals from the fixed interval storage structure of either current or historical data entries. When a current entry of a given data type is requested, the system returns the most recent data of that type stored.