Abstract:
A system and method for selecting individual parameters to transform from text-to-graph and graph-to-text is disclosed. The system includes a display device having a display screen for showing multiple views, including a non-graph view and a graph view. The non-graph view includes a plurality of demarcated portions, each having a graph selection element, a parameter identifier that corresponds to the graph selection element, and a current parameter value that corresponds to the graph selection element. The graph selection element may be selected to show a graph view. The graph view includes a first parameter identifier and a first current parameter value each corresponding to the selected graph selection element, a text selection element, and a graph of multiple parameter values associated with the first parameter identifier. Upon selection of the text selection element, the screen returns to the non-graph view.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Vehicles, such as automobiles, light-duty trucks, and heavy-duty trucks, play an important role in the lives of many people. To keep vehicles operational, some of those people rely on vehicle technicians to diagnose and repair their vehicle. 
     Vehicle technicians use a variety of tools in order to diagnose and/or repair vehicles. Those tools may include common hand tools, such as wrenches, hammers, pliers, screwdrivers and socket sets, or more vehicle-specific tools, such as cylinder hones, piston ring compressors, and vehicle brake tools. The tools used by vehicle technicians may also include electronic diagnostic tools such as a digital voltage-ohm meter (DVOM) or a vehicle scan tool that communicates with an electronic control unit (ECU) within a vehicle. 
     A number of different types of diagnostic tools have been used, such as engine analyzers, which are designed to monitor a variety of operating conditions of an internal combustion engine, and scanners for downloading data from vehicle on-board computers, such as the ECU. In addition, diagnostic tools may include laboratory-type tools like oscilloscopes, digital volt-ohm meters (DVOM) and the like. 
     Electronic diagnostic tools include displays for providing the desired information to a technician. These displays are often interactive so the technician can easily retrieve whatever information is needed. However, current tools have operating systems that require multiple steps to retrieve certain specific information regarding the vehicle. 
     By providing the repair technician with detailed information for quickly diagnosing and repairing vehicles, vehicle repair times can be decreased, vehicle turn-over is increased, and as a result, repair technicians may reap increased profits from a same amount of garage space. 
     OVERVIEW 
     In one embodiment, a diagnostic tool for displaying data is described. The diagnostic tool includes a display having a non-graph view including a plurality of demarcated portions. Each of the plurality of demarcated portions includes a graph selection element, a parameter identifier that corresponds to the graph selection element, and a current parameter value that corresponds to the graph selection element. The display also includes a graph view upon selection of the graph selection element in one of the demarcated portions. The graph view includes a first parameter identifier and a first current parameter value, each corresponding to the selected graph selection element. The graph view also includes a text selection element and a graph of parameter values associated with the first parameter identifier. In the graph view, some of the demarcated portions may be viewable within the display, and the demarcated portions which are not shown in the display are viewable using a scrollbar. 
     In another embodiment, the diagnostic tool includes a display having a non-graph view including a plurality of demarcated portions. Each of the plurality of demarcated portions includes a graph selection element, a parameter identifier that corresponds to the graph selection element, and a current parameter value that corresponds to the graph selection element. The display also includes a graph view upon selection of the graph selection element in one of the demarcated portions. The graph view includes a first parameter identifier and a first current parameter value each corresponding to the selected graph selection element. The graph view also includes a text selection element and a graph of parameter values associated with the first parameter identifier. Upon the selection of the text selection element, the display returns to the non-graph view. 
     In yet another embodiment, a method for displaying data on a diagnostic tool having a display is disclosed. The method includes providing, in the display, a non-graph view having a plurality of demarcated portions. Each of the plurality of demarcated portions includes a graph selection element, a parameter identifier that corresponds to the graph selection element, and a current parameter value that corresponds to the graph selection element. Next, a graph selection element in one of the demarcated portions is selected to show a graph view in the display. The graph view includes a first parameter identifier and a first current parameter value, each corresponding to the selected graph selection element. The graph view also includes a text selection element and a graph of parameter values associated with the first parameter identifier. Upon selection of the text selection element, the display returns to the non-graph view. 
     These as well as other aspects and advantages will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the following detailed description, with reference where appropriate to the accompanying drawings. Further, it should be understood that the embodiments described in this overview and elsewhere are intended to be examples only and do not necessarily limit the scope of the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Example embodiments are described herein with reference to the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system in accordance with an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an example display device; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of an example embodiment of the display device of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of an example non-graph view display screen that may be shown on the display device of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of an example graph view display screen that may be shown on the display device of  FIG. 3 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of another display screen that may be shown on the display device of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This description sets forth systems comprising multiple devices for use in servicing (e.g., diagnosing and/or repairing) a device-under-service. Each device of a described system is operable independently (e.g., as a stand-alone device) as well as in combination with other devices of the system. Each device of a described system may alternatively be referred to as an apparatus. 
     Each device of a described system is operable to carry out functions for servicing a device-under-service. The device-under-service may comprise a vehicle, a refrigeration unit, a personal computer, or some other serviceable device. Additionally or alternatively, the device-under-service may comprise a system such as a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, a security system, a computer system (e.g., a network), or some other serviceable system. The functions for servicing the device-under-service may include but are not limited to diagnostic functions, measurement functions, and scanning functions. 
     To work in combination with each other, the device of a described system is operable to communicate with another device via a communications network. The communications network may comprise a wireless network, a wired network, or both a wireless network and a wired network. Data obtained by a device from a device-under-service or data otherwise contained in that device may be transmitted to another device via the communications network between those devices. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system  100  in accordance with an example embodiment. System  100  comprises a device-under-service  102 , a data acquisition device (DAQ) device  104 , a vehicle scanner  106 , and a display device  108 . Display device  108  may be referred to as a controller device since display device  108  may operate as a master of DAQ device  104  and/or vehicle scanner  106  when those devices are operating as a slave device or slave scanner, respectively. 
     Devices shown in the Figures and described in this specification are also described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/374,723, filed on Aug. 18, 2010, entitled “Method and Apparatus to Use Remote and Local Control Modes to Acquire and Visually Present Data”, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     The block diagram of  FIG. 1  and other block diagrams and flow charts accompanying this description are provided merely as examples and are not intended to be limiting. Many of the elements illustrated in the figures and/or described herein are functional elements that may be implemented as discrete or distributed components or in conjunction with other components, and in any suitable combination and location. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other arrangements and elements (for example, machines, interfaces, functions, orders, and groupings of functions, etc.) can be used instead. Furthermore, various functions described as being performed by one or more elements can be carried out by a processor executing computer-readable program instructions and/or by any combination of hardware, firmware, and software. 
     A wireless network  110  may be established between any two or more of devices  104 ,  106 , and  108 . Any one of those devices may join (e.g., begin communicating via) wireless network  110  after wireless network  110  is established. As an example,  FIG. 1  shows wireless network  110  connected to: DAQ device  104  via wireless link  134 , vehicle scanner  106  connected via wireless link  136 , and display device  108  via wireless link  138 . In some embodiments, a wireless link includes a point-to-point wireless connection between two devices, such as wireless link  150  between vehicle scanner  106  and display device  108 . Devices  104 ,  106 , and  108  are operable to carry out communications with each other via wireless network  110 . Other devices, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) may be operable to join wireless network  110  as another remote device so as to communicate with other devices communicating via wireless network  110 . 
     Wireless network  110  may comprise one or more wireless networks. Each of the one or more wireless networks may be arranged to carry out communications according to a respective air interface protocol. Each air interface protocol may be arranged according to an industry standard, such as an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802 standard. The IEEE 802 standard may comprise an IEEE 802.11 standard for Wireless Local Area Networks (e.g., IEEE 802.11 a, b, g, or n), an IEEE 802.15 standard for Wireless Personal Area Networks, an IEEE 802.15.1 standard for Wireless Personal Area Networks—Task Group 1, an IEEE 802.16 standard for Broadband Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks, or some other IEEE 802 standard. For purposes of this description, a wireless network arranged to carry out communications according to the IEEE 802.11 standard is referred to as a Wi-Fi network, and a wireless network arranged to carry out communications according to the IEEE 802.15.1 is referred to as a Bluetooth network. 
     DAQ device  104  may connect to device-under-service  102  via wired link  112 . Wired link  112  may comprise input leads, for example. DAQ device  104  may comprise a digital volt meter (DVM), a digital volt ohm meter (DVOM), an oscilloscope, or some other type of measurement device operational to acquire data from device-under-service  102 . 
     Vehicle scanner  106  may connect to device-under-service  102  via wired link  114 . Wired link  114  may be arranged as a cable assembly described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/374,805, filed on Aug. 18, 2010, and is entitled “Cable assembly for protection against undesired signals,” which is incorporated herein by reference, or wired link  114  may be arranged as some other wired link. Vehicle scanner  106  may comprise a device that is operable to request and/or monitor data from one or more electronic control units (ECU) located on and/or within device-under-service  102 . The data from the ECU(s) may comprise serial data arranged according to serial data available at an On Board Diagnostic (OBD) II connector within an automobile, such as a Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J1850 standard or an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9141-2 standard. 
     Vehicle scanner  106  may be operable as a stand-alone-device when vehicle scanner  106  operates as a data recorder to collect data from device-under-service  102  and other devices of system  100  are not connected to device-under-service  102  or communicating with vehicle scanner  106 . Such data obtained when vehicle scanner operates as a data recorder can subsequently be displayed via another device of system  100 , such as display device  108 . 
     Device-under-service  102  may comprise a vehicle, such as an automobile, a motorcycle, a semi-tractor, a light-duty truck, a medium-duty truck, a heavy-duty truck, farm machinery, or some other vehicle. System  100  is operable to carry out a variety of functions, including functions for servicing device-under-service  102 . The example embodiments may include or be utilized with any appropriate voltage or current source, such as a battery, an alternator, a fuel cell, and the like, providing any appropriate current and/or voltage, such as about 12 volts, about 42 volts, and the like. The example embodiments may be used with any desired system or engine. Those systems or engines may comprise items utilizing fossil fuels, such as gasoline, natural gas, propane, and the like, electricity, such as that generated by battery, magneto, fuel cell, solar cell and the like, wind and hybrids or combinations thereof. Those systems or engines may be incorporated into other systems, such as an automobile, a truck, a boat or ship, a motorcycle, a generator, an airplane and the like. 
     One or more of remote devices  104  and  106  and display device  108  may connect to a wired network  116 . Vehicle scanner  106  and display device  108  may connect to a network  116  via wired links  118  and  120 , respectively. Network  116  may include and/or connect to the Internet, and network  116  may include and/or connect to one or more network nodes, such as an access node  122  and a network node  124 . Access node  122  may provide any of DAQ device  104 , vehicle scanner  106 , and display device  108  with wireless connectivity to network  116 . Network node  124  may comprise a desktop personal computer (PC), a workstation that executes a Unix-based or Linux-based operating system, or some other node that interfaces and/or connects to network  116 . In accordance with an example in which device-under-service  102  comprises an automobile, network node  124  may comprise a desktop PC or workstation operating at an automobile repair facility. In that regard, network node  124  may operate as a server that provides data (e.g., automobile repair data and/or instruction data) to display device  108 . 
     DAQ device  104  and remote device  106  may each transmit data to display device  108  for display via a user interface  200  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). For example, DAQ device  104  may transmit data to display device  108  via the Bluetooth network of wireless network  110  and remote device  106  may transmit data to display device  108  via the Wi-Fi network of wireless network  110 . Alternatively, DAQ device  104  and vehicle scanner  106  may take turns transmitting data to display device  108  via the Bluetooth network, the Wi-Fi network, or both the Bluetooth network and the Wi-Fi network. 
     Next,  FIG. 2  is a block diagram of display device  108 , and  FIG. 3  illustrates details of an example embodiment of display device  108 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , display device  108  includes a user interface  200 , a wireless transceiver  202 , a processor  204 , a wired interface  206 , and a data storage device  208 , all of which may be linked together via a system bus, network, or other connection mechanism  210 . 
     User interface  200  is operable to present data to a user and to enter user inputs (e.g., user selections). User interface  200  may include a display, such as display  300  illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Display  300  is operable to visually present data, such as data transmitted to wireless transceiver  202  from a remote device (e.g., DAQ device  104  or vehicle scanner  106 ), data that is transmitted to wired interface  206 , data stored at data storage device  208  (e.g., menu data  216 ), or some other type of data. Display  300  may simultaneously display data that is transmitted to display device  108  from DAQ device  104  and data that is transmitted to display device  108  from vehicle scanner  106 . User interface  200  may include a selection element that is operable to enter a user selection. Examples of the selection element are illustrated in  FIG. 3  and include, but are not limited to, keyboards, microphones, touch-screens, switches, buttons, computer mice, joysticks, and some other types of selection elements. 
     Wireless transceiver  202  comprises a wireless transceiver that is operable to carry out communications via wireless network  110 . Wireless transceiver  202  may carry out communications with one or more remote devices, such as one or more of DAQ device  104 , vehicle scanner  106 , and some other device (other than display device  108 ) that is operating to communicate via wireless network  110 . As an example, wireless transceiver  202  may comprise a transceiver that is operable to carry out communications via a Bluetooth network. For purposes of this description, a transceiver that is operable to carry out communications via a Bluetooth network is referred to as a Bluetooth transceiver. As another example, wireless transceiver  202  may comprise a transceiver that is operable to carry out communications via a Wi-Fi network. For purposes of this description, a transceiver that is operable to carry out communications via a Wi-Fi network is referred to as a Wi-Fi transceiver. 
     In accordance with an embodiment in which DAQ device  104 , vehicle scanner  106 , and display device  108  each include a single wireless transceiver (e.g., a Bluetooth transceiver), one of the devices, such as display device  108 , can operate as a master (e.g., a controller), and the other devices, such as DAQ device  104  and vehicle scanner  106 , can operate as slaves to the master. DAQ device  104 , vehicle scanner  106 , and display device  108  may transmit communications via wireless network  110  using a time-division duplex arrangement and synchronized to a clock signal of the master. 
     Wireless transceiver  202  is not limited to a single wireless transceiver. For example, wireless transceiver  202  may comprise a Bluetooth transceiver and a Wi-Fi transceiver. In accordance with such an example, the Bluetooth transceiver may communicate with DAQ device  104  and/or vehicle scanner  106  via a Bluetooth network of wireless network  110 , and the Wi-Fi transceiver may communicate with DAQ device  104  and/or vehicle scanner  106  via a Wi-Fi network of wireless network  110 . 
     In accordance with an embodiment in which display device  108  includes two wireless transceivers (e.g., a Bluetooth transceiver and a Wi-Fi transceiver) and DAQ device  104  and vehicle scanner  106  each include two wireless transceivers (e.g., a Bluetooth transceiver and a Wi-Fi transceiver), DAQ device  104  and vehicle scanner  106  may simultaneously transmit data to display device  108  for display via display  300 . In that regard, DAQ device  104  may transmit data to display device  108  via the Bluetooth network of wireless network  110  and vehicle scanner  106  may transmit data to display device  108  via the Wi-Fi network of wireless network  110 . Alternatively, DAQ device  104  and vehicle scanner  106  may take turns transmitting data to display device  108  via the Bluetooth network, the Wi-Fi network, or both the Bluetooth network and the Wi-Fi network. 
     In accordance with an embodiment in which wireless transceiver  202  includes three or more wireless transceivers, two or more of the wireless transceivers may communicate according to a common air interface protocol or different air interface protocols. 
     Each wireless transceiver of the example embodiments may operate in a transceiver-on state. In the transceiver-on state, the transceiver is powered on. While operating in the transceiver-on state, the transceiver can transmit and receive data via an air interface. For some transceivers, while operating in the transceiver-on state, the transceiver can transmit and receive data via the air interface simultaneously. For other transceivers, at any given time while operating in the transceiver-on state, the transceiver can either transmit data or receive data via the air interface. Each wireless transceiver of the example embodiments may operate in a transceiver-off state. While operating in the transceiver-off state, the transceiver does not transmit or receive data via an air interface. While operating in the transceiver-off state, the transceiver can be powered off. 
     Wired interface  206  may include one or more ports. Examples of those ports include, but are not limited to, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, an audio output port, an audio input port, and a power port. Each port of wired interface  206  provides an interface to display device  108  and to one or more circuits. In one respect, the one or more circuits may comprise electrical circuits, such as the electrical circuits of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable or the electrical circuits of an Ethernet cable (e.g., a CAT 5 cable). In another respect, the one or more circuits may comprise optical fibers that are operable to carry optical signals. Other examples of the one or more circuits are also possible. 
     Processor  204  may comprise one or more general purpose processors (e.g., INTEL microprocessors) and/or one or more special purpose processors (e.g., digital signal processors). Processor  204  may execute computer-readable program instructions (CRPI)  212  that are contained in computer-readable data storage device  208 . 
     Data storage device  208  may comprise a computer-readable storage medium readable by processor  204 . The computer-readable storage medium may comprise volatile and/or non-volatile storage components, such as optical, magnetic, organic or other memory or disc storage, which can be integrated in whole or in part with processor  204 . Data storage device  208  may contain various data including, but not limited to, CRPI  212 , remote device data  214 , menu data  216 , and instruction data  218 . 
     Remote device data  214  may include data associated with a device that is arranged to communicate with display device  108  via wireless network  110 . For example, remote device data  214  may include data associated with DAQ  104 , such as a radio identifier and password associated with DAQ  104 . The data associated with DAQ  104  may be received at display device  108 , for storing as remote device data  214 , during a pairing process carried out between display device  108  and DAQ  104 . The pairing process between DAQ  104  and display device  108  may include DAQ  104  providing display device  108  with the data associated with DAQ  104  and display device  108  providing DAQ  104  with data associated with display device  108 . After carrying out the paring process with DAQ  104 , display device  108  may use the remote device data  214  when establishing communication network  110  with DAQ  104 . 
     Remote device data  214  is not limited to data associated with one remote device. In that regard, remote device data  214  may include respective data associated with each of a plurality of devices operable to communicate via wireless network  110 , such as data associated with DAQ  104  and data associated with vehicle scanner  106 . The data associated with vehicle scanner  106  may include a radio identifier and password associated with vehicle scanner  106 . The data associated with vehicle scanner  106  may be received at display device  108 , for storing as remote device data  214 , during a pairing process carried out between display device  108  and vehicle scanner  106 . The pairing process between vehicle scanner  106  and display device  108  may include vehicle scanner  106  providing display device  108  with the data associated with vehicle scanner  106  and display device  108  providing vehicle scanner  106  with data associated with display device  108 . After carrying out the paring process with vehicle scanner  106 , display device  108  may use the remote device data  214  when establishing wireless network  110  with vehicle scanner  106 . 
     Menu data  216  comprises data that can be visually presented via display  300 , such as a menu which may comprise one or more menu items that is/are selectable by a user. Selection of a menu item can cause display  300  to display instruction data  218 . Additionally or alternatively, selection of a menu item can cause wireless transceiver  202  to transmit instruction data  218  to a remote device (e.g., DAQ  104  or vehicle scanner  106 ) as payload of a message, such as a data-share message or to transmit a mode-selection command to the remote device. 
     Instruction data  218  may comprise various data. As an example, instruction data  218  may comprise data that illustrates how to connect DAQ  104  and/or vehicle scanner  106  to device-under-service  102 . As another example, instruction data  218  may comprise diagnostic information for diagnosing device-under-service  102 . For instance, in accordance with an example embodiment in which device-under-service  102  comprises an automobile, the diagnostic information may comprise diagnostic flow charts for diagnosing an electrical system on the automobile. The diagnostic flow charts can provide different paths to follow based on measurement data display device  108  obtains from DAQ  104  and/or vehicle scanner  106 . 
     CRPI  212  may comprise program instructions that are executable as an operating system that provides for direct control and management of hardware components (e.g., processor  204  and data storage device  208 ) of display device  108 . The operating system can manage execution of other program instructions within CRPI  212 . As an example, the operating system may comprise the Windows XP Embedded (XPe) operating system available from Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash., United States. Other examples of the operating system are also possible. CRPI  212  may comprise program instructions that are executable by processor  204  to cause display  300  to display menu data  216  or instruction data  218 . Displaying menu data  216  may include displaying a list of operating modes of DAQ  104  or of vehicle scanner  106 . 
     Next,  FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of an example embodiment of display device  108 .  FIG. 3  further illustrates that display device  108  includes display  300 , a microphone  302  for receiving audible data (e.g., voice data generated by a user of display device  108  or sounds generated by a motor vehicle), a status indicator  304  (e.g., a light emitting diode (LED)), and user controls  306 . The voice data may include voice commands for making a mode-selection from a menu displayed on display  300 . A microphone symbol is located above microphone  302  and a data storage device symbol is located above status indicator  304 . 
     Display  300  may comprise a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display, or some other type of display. Display  300  is operable to visually present (e.g., display) data to a user. Display  300  may visually present data using numbers, letters, punctuation marks, pictures, graphs, or some other visually presentable form of data. The data visually presentable and/or presented at display  300  may include locally-acquired data (LAD), such as menu data  216  and a cursor that can be moved between menu items of menu data  216 . The data visually presentable and/or presented at display  300  may include remotely-acquired data (RAD), such as data acquired via wireless transceiver  202  or wired interface  206 . 
     Display  300  may comprise a touch screen that can detect the presence and location of a touch within its display area. The various menu items of a displayed menu may be selected via the touch screen. 
     User controls  306  are operable to enter a user-selection. User controls  306  may be arranged in various ways. In that regard, user controls  306  may be arranged to include a keypad, rotary switches, push buttons, or some other means to enter a user-selection. In the example embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , user controls  306  include a power button  308 , a brightness button  310 , a keyboard button  312 , a camera button  314 , a cursor left button  316 , a cursor right button  318 , a cursor up button  320 , a cursor down button  322 , a menu item selection button  324 , and a quick access button  326 . Table 1 lists example user-selections that can be entered by pushing or pushing and releasing a user control of user controls  306 . Other examples of user controls  306  and other examples of the user-selections are also possible. 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 User Control 
                 Example User-selections 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Power button 308 
                 Turn display device 108 power on or off. 
               
               
                 Brightness button 310 
                 Increase or decrease a brightness of display 300.  
               
               
                   
                 Display a brightness menu at display 300. 
               
               
                 Keyboard button 312 
                 Display keyboard at display 300. Remove 
               
               
                   
                 keyboard being displayed at display 300. 
               
               
                 Camera button 314 
                 Activate camera shutter to capture an image 
               
               
                 Cursor left button 316 
                 Move a cursor, displayed at display 300, to the left 
               
               
                 Cursor right button  
                 Move a cursor, displayed at display 300, to the  
               
               
                 318 
                 right 
               
               
                 Cursor up button 320 
                 Move a cursor, displayed at display 300, upward 
               
               
                 Cursor down button  
                 Move a cursor, displayed at display 300,  
               
               
                 322 
                 downward 
               
               
                 Menu item selection  
                 Select a menu item from displayed menu data 216. 
               
               
                 button 324 
                   
               
               
                 Quick access button  
                 Select a function that pertains to a current  
               
               
                 326 
                 operating mode of display device 108. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     As described above, the display  300  may be an interactive touch screen where a number of different actions can be selected by the user. The actions may be selected by touching the display  300  with a user&#39;s finger or with a stylus, for example. One such action may include selecting specific data related to the device-under-service  102  to be displayed. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an example data display screen  400  on a diagnostic tool, such as the display device  108 , on which data being retrieved from the device-under-service  102  can be viewed. The data display screen  400  allows a user to select an individual parameter identifier (PID) to be displayed as text or as a graph, and to easily alternate between the text view and the graph view. The data display screen  400  shows a non-graph view of the retrieved data. For an embodiment in which device-under-service  102  is an automobile, such data may include, for example, engine data. The type of data shown may be selected by the technician, and may be displayed in a menu bar  403 . The menu bar  403  may also include a list of options for viewing and formatting the data. 
     The data shown on the data display screen  400  may be arranged in a plurality of demarcated portions  402 . The demarcated portions  402  may be presented in a dual column format, as shown in  FIG. 4 . Alternatively, other formats may be used. Each demarcated portion  402  may be rectangular in shape and may extend horizontally across one column of the display  300 . Additional demarcated portions  402  may be viewed on the display  300  by scrolling up or down with scrollbars  404 . In another embodiment, the non-graph view may not include scrollbars, and additional demarcated portions  402  may be viewed on the display  300  by touching and dragging the screen up or down with a finger or stylus. 
     Each of the plurality of demarcated portions  402  may include a graph selection element  406  located within or directly adjacent to the demarcated portion  402 . In  FIG. 4 , the graph selection element  406  is shown as a virtual button on the display  300 . However, it should be understood that the graph selection element  406  may comprise a physical button located on the display device  108 . The graph selection element  406  enables parameter values associated with the graph selection element to be viewed as a graph in a single step. Therefore, a user does not have to perform multiple actions or visit a series of menus or prompts in order to alternate the viewing of information as a graph or as text. 
     The processor  204  may execute CRPI  212  to detect selection of graph selection element  406  (e.g., detecting a given area of display  300 , where graph selection element  406  is located, is touched via a user&#39;s finger, a stylus, or some other selection device). In response to detecting selection of graph selection  406 , processor  204  may execute CRPI  212  to cause display  300  to transition from a non-graph view to a graph view. 
     Each of the plurality of demarcated portions  402  may also include an associated PID  408  and current parameter value  410 . The PID and parameter value both correspond to a single graph selection element  406 . The PID  408  may be a parameter associated with the retrieved data (e.g., data received from vehicle scanner  106 ). In this example, the retrieved data is engine data for a vehicle (a 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe), and thus example PIDs may include Engine Revolutions per Minute (RPM), Throttle Position Sensor voltage (TPS), and Heated Oxygen Sensor voltage (HO2S). Other PIDs may include any OBD I or OBD II parameter. The PID  408  may take the form of an abbreviated parameter name. The current parameter value  410  is a current value of the PID with which the parameter value is associated. The current parameter value  410  is constantly changing and/or refreshing to display the current, up-to-date information associated with the specific PID of the device-under-service  102 . 
     The non-graph screen  400  may also include one or more icons  412  for performing additional functions in the non-graph view, such as a zoom function, pausing and restarting the constant flow of data, taking a snapshot of the screen, and returning to the home screen, for example. These icons may be located toward the bottom of the display  300 . A movie control or jog function  413  may also be located on the non-graph screen  400 . The movie control function  413  may include a scroll bar which allows a user to fast forward or rewind the data received by the display device  108  and viewed on the display  300  in small or large increments. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the data retrieved from the device-under-service  102  can also be viewed in a graph view, as shown in data display screen  500 . The graph view may include one or more graphs  501  of multiple parameter values  410  of certain PIDs  408 . The graph view may also include a menu bar  503 . In the graph view, the graphs  501  may include graph demarcated portions  502  located above the graph. Each graph demarcated portion  502  may include a text selection element  506 , the same PID  408  that was associated with the selected graph selection element  406 , and the current parameter value  510  of the PID. In the graph view, as in the non-graph view, the current parameter value  510  is constantly updating according to the most current data being retrieved from the device-under-service  102 . All of the parameter values that have been retrieved are plotted to create the graph  501 . 
     The text selection element  506  may be located within or directly adjacent to the graph demarcated portion  502 . In  FIG. 5 , the graph selection element  506  is shown as a virtual button on the display  300 . However, as with the graph selection element  406 , text selection element  506  may comprise a physical button located on the display device  108 . The text selection element  506  enables the PID and current parameter value associated with the text selection element to return to the non-graph view in a single step. Therefore, a user does not have to perform multiple actions or visit a series of menus or prompts in order to alternate the viewing of information as a graph or as text. The processor may execute CRPI that cause display  300  to transition from the graph view to the non-graph view. 
     Each graph  501  may be scrolling and constantly updating according to the current readings of the device-under-service  102 . The newest current parameter value  510  is added to the right portion of the graph, and the oldest parameter value (at the left portion of the graph) is removed. The graph  501  may further include a display of the minimum and maximum parameter values retrieved from the device-under-service. These values may be displayed as “Min” and Max” on the graph  501 . 
     More than one graph  501  can be viewed on the data display screen  500  at a time. For example, as shown in  FIG. 5 , two graphs  501  are shown on the data display screen  500 . In one embodiment, up to four graphs are viewable on the data display screen  500 . If more than four graphs are available for viewing on the display  300 , additional graphs may be viewed by moving the scrollbars  504  or by touching and dragging the screen up or down with a finger or stylus. Other configurations are also possible. 
     The graph view  500  may also include one or more icons  512  for performing additional functions in the graph view, such as a zoom function, pausing and restarting the constant flow of data, taking a snapshot of the screen, and returning to the home screen, for example. These icons may be located toward the bottom of the display  300 . A movie control or jog function  513  may also be located on the graph screen  500 . The movie control function  513  may include a scroll bar which allows a user to fast forward or rewind the data received by the display device  108  and viewed on the display  300  in small or large increments. 
     The graphs  501  may include additional icons for specific graph functions, such as an expand/collapse icon  514  and a graph properties icon  516 . When the graph  501  is displayed in only a portion of the data display screen  500 , the expand/collapse icon  514  may be selected to expand the graph  501  to fill a larger portion of the screen or the entire screen  500 . The processor  204  detects selection of the expand/collapse icon  514  and in response, CRPI are carried out which cause the graph  501  to expand. The expand/collapse icon  514  may then be selected again, causing the processor  204  to carry out a different set of CRPI which causes the screen to return to the standard view of the graph, where the graph is displayed in a smaller portion of the screen. 
     The graph properties icon  516  may allow a user to select triggers for recording a snapshot and to adjust the scale of the graph. When the graph properties icon  516  is selected, the processor  204  carries out CRPI which cause a screen  600  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) to appear. Selecting one of the boxes  602  may open a virtual keyboard (not shown) on the display  300  to a user may enter information regarding the triggers or scale of the graph. The accept button  604  or cancel button  606  may then be selected by the user to return to the graph view of the data display screen  500 . 
     In operation, a user selects one of the graph selection elements  406  in the non-graph view of the data display screen  400 . Upon selection of a first graph selection element  406 , a graph  501  of the information located in the demarcated portion  402  appears on the screen  400  in the graph view  500 . Selection may include selecting the first graph selection element  406  on the display  300 , or pressing a button on the display device  108  located next to the desired demarcated portion  402  which corresponds to the first graph selection element  406 , for example. Selecting the first graph selection element  406  for the graph view moves the associated demarcated portion and graph  501  to the top of the plurality of graph demarcated portions  502 . Some, or a portion of, the remaining demarcated portions  402  are viewable within the display  300  underneath the graph  501 , and those demarcated portions which are not viewable in the display can be brought onto the display  300  by moving the scrollbars  504 . In another embodiment, the graph view may not include scrollbars, and the remaining demarcated portions  402  or graphs may be viewed on the display  300  by touching and dragging the screen up or down with a finger or stylus. 
     As described above, more than one graph  501  can be viewed on the data display screen  500  at a time. To view an additional graph, a second graph selection element is selected by the user. If the second graph selection element is located in a different column than the graph  501 , a second graph  520  appears at the top of the second column beside the first graph  501 . If the second graph selection element is located in the same column as the graph  501 , then the second graph  520  appears in the place of the graph  501  at the top of the column, and the graph  501  appears underneath the second graph  520 . The latest selected graph appears at the top of its associated column. 
     When a large amount of graphs are viewable on the display  300  at once, such as four graphs, for example, the demarcated portions  402  may be only be visible by moving the scrollbars  504  or by touching and dragging the screen up or down with a user&#39;s finger or stylus. Additional graphs may also be viewable on the display  300  by moving the scrollbars  504  or by touching and dragging the screen up or down with a user&#39;s finger or stylus. 
     To return to the non-graph view, a user selects the text selection element  506  located in the graph demarcated portion  502  of the graph  501 . Thus, as explained above, a user does not have to perform multiple actions in order to alternate the viewing of information as a graph or as text. This allows the user to be more efficient in their evaluation of the device-under-service  102 . 
     While examples have been described in conjunction with present embodiments of the application, persons of skill in the art will appreciate that variations may be made without departure from the scope and spirit of the application. For example, the apparatus and methods described herein may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination, such as a general purpose or dedicated processor running a software application through volatile or non-volatile memory. The true scope and spirit of the application is defined by the appended claims, which may be interpreted in light of the foregoing.