Abstract:
A system and method directed to generating a transfer file of categorized vehicle service data, wherein the vehicle service data was captured by a vehicle service tool, and transmitting the transfer file to a remote device. The remote device may store the categorized vehicle service data and thereafter send the categorized vehicle service data back to the vehicle service tool that captured the vehicle service data or to another vehicle service tool for use in comparing current vehicle service conditions to previous service conditions represented by the categorized vehicle service data. The transfer file may include a variety of categories such as diagnostic trouble codes, screen shots, calibration data, and parameter identifiers.

Description:
FIELD OF DISCLOSURE 
     This disclosure relates to vehicle service tools, and more particularly to vehicle service data provided from a vehicle under service to a vehicle service tool. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many vehicle service facilities have service writers that greet customers that bring their vehicle to the service facilities, and service technicians that perform service procedures to the customer vehicles. The service writers may talk to each customer to determine why the customer brought their vehicle in for service. At some vehicle service facilities, service writers prepare hand-written repair orders that indicate the reason why each vehicle has been brought in for service. While the vehicles are being serviced at these service facilities, service technicians or service writers may record hand-written notes on each repair order, such as notes to indicate the type of service performed to each vehicle. At other vehicle service facilities, service writers prepare machine-written repair orders that indicate why each has been brought in for service. While the vehicles are being serviced at these service facilities, service technicians or service writers may record hand-written notes on repair orders so as to indicate the type of service performed to each vehicle. 
     At many vehicle service facilities, service writers typically talk to the service technician that performed service procedures to a given vehicle and/or to a person that works in a service parts department to determine the type of service performed to the given vehicle. Based on the information provided to the service writer, the service writer may record hand-written notes on the repair order for the given vehicle. Additionally, the service writer or technician may record on the repair order hand-written notes regarding diagnostic information gathered from the given vehicle. For example, the service writer may record on the repair order hand-written notes indicating one or more diagnostic trouble codes that were set in an electronic control unit (ECU) of the given vehicle. 
     Subsequently, when the given vehicle is brought in for additional service at the service facility, in order to determine the type of service previously performed to the given vehicle, the service writer or service technician may need to read the hand-written notes recorded on previous repairs orders used for the given vehicle. In some instances, the previous repair orders may have been damaged or lost, the hand-written notes may be illegible, and/or the hand-written notes may be inaccurate and/or incorrect. In these instances, service technicians may be unable to refer to the service history of the given vehicle. 
     SUMMARY 
     Vehicles, such as an automobile, generate vehicle service data that may be retrieved by a vehicle service tool. A device remote from a vehicle service tool may be programmed to use vehicle service data, received from the vehicle service tool, for various purposes. Described herein is a method and system for transferring vehicle service data from a vehicle service tool to a remote device. The vehicle service data may be categorized into pre-selected categories and the categorized vehicle service data may be placed into a transfer file that may be transmitted from the vehicle service tool to the remote device. 
     In one respect, an exemplary embodiment is arranged as a method comprising: (i) at a vehicle service tool, receiving a vehicle identifier associated with a vehicle, and vehicle service data from the vehicle, (ii) categorizing the vehicle service data received from the vehicle, (iii) generating a transfer file including the vehicle identifier and one or more categories of vehicle service data, and (iv) transmitting the transfer file to a network for transmission, in turn, to a remote device. Generating the transfer file comprises populating the one or more categories of vehicle service data with the categorized vehicle service data. 
     In another respect, an exemplary embodiment is arranged as a method comprising: (i) connecting a vehicle service tool to a given vehicle having a service condition, (ii) at the vehicle service tool, receiving vehicle service data associated with the given vehicle&#39;s service condition; wherein the vehicle service tool receives the vehicle service data from the given vehicle, (iii) interpreting the vehicle service data received from the given vehicle and responsively categorizing at least a portion of the interpreted vehicle service data, (iv) generating a transfer file including a vehicle identifier and one or more categories of vehicle service data related to the detected service condition, and (v) transmitting the transfer file to a network for transmission, in turn, to a remote device. Generating the transfer file comprises populating the one or more categories of vehicle service data with the categorized vehicle service data. 
     In yet another respect, an exemplary embodiment is arranged as a system comprising: (i) a processor, (ii) a vehicle interface that receives vehicle service data from a vehicle and provides the vehicle service data to the processor, (iii) a network interface that interfaces to a network so as to allow the vehicle service tool to communicate with a remote device via the network, and (iv) data storage containing computer-readable program instructions executable by the processor. In accordance with this exemplary embodiment, the computer-readable program instructions include instructions that (i) cause the processor to categorize the vehicle data received from the vehicle, (ii) generate a transfer file including one or more categories of vehicle service data and including a vehicle identifier associated with the vehicle, and (iii) cause the network interface to transmit the transfer file to the network for transmission, in turn, to a remote device. 
     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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Various examples of embodiments arranged as a method or a system are described herein with reference to the following drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  depicts an arrangement in which an exemplary method and system may be carried out; 
         FIG. 2  depicts a simplified block diagram of an exemplary vehicle service tool; 
         FIG. 3  depicts a flow chart showing a set of functions that may be carried out in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; and 
         FIG. 4  depicts a flow chart showing another set of functions that may be carried out in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     Reference numerals are shown in the drawings to identify various elements of the drawings. Drawing elements having identical reference numerals are substantially identical or identical elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     1. Overview 
     This description describes a method and system for transferring vehicle service data captured by a vehicle service tool to a remote device. The vehicle service tool may capture vehicle service data from a given vehicle, such as data associated with a particular service condition of the given vehicle, interpret the data so as to determine which categories of a transfer file the vehicle service data should be populated, and then generate the transfer file. The transfer file may include a vehicle identifier associated with the given vehicle and categories to be populated with the vehicle service data received from the given vehicle. The transfer file may be transmitted from the vehicle service tool to a remote device. The remote device may store the transfer file and/or the categorized vehicle service data contained within the transfer file in a data record for the given vehicle. Thereafter, the remote device may provide the vehicle service data within the transfer file to another device, such as the vehicle service tool that captured the vehicle service data or another vehicle service tool. In this way, the vehicle service tool that receives the vehicle service data from the remote device may compare this data to vehicle service data currently being received at the vehicle service tool from the given vehicle. 
     2. Exemplary Architecture 
       FIG. 1  depicts an arrangement  150  in which an exemplary method and system may be carried out. It should be understood, however, that this and other arrangements described herein are provided for purposes of example only. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other arrangements and other elements (e.g. machines, interfaces, functions, orders, and groupings of functions, etc.) can be used instead, and some elements may be omitted altogether. Further, many of the elements described herein are functional entities that may be implemented as discrete or distributed components or in conjunction with other components, in any suitable combination and location, and as any suitable combination of hardware, firmware, and/or software. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a service technician  100  has a vehicle service tool  102  that interfaces to a vehicle  104  (e.g., the vehicle under service) and to a remote vehicle service tool interface device  106 . Vehicle service tool  102  may interface to vehicle  104  via a vehicle interface cable  108 . Alternatively or additionally, vehicle service tool  102  may interface to vehicle  104  via an air interface (i.e., wirelessly). Vehicle service tool  102  may interface to the remote device  106  via a network cable  110 , such as an Ethernet network cable, a private network, such as local area network within a service facility, and/or a public network, such as the Internet. Alternatively or additionally, vehicle service tool  102  may interface to remote device  106  via an air interface. 
     Vehicle service tool  102  may be arranged in any of a variety of configurations. For example, vehicle service tool  102  may be arranged as a portable handheld service tool that can be carried by service technician  100  to a location desired by the service technician  100 , such as the front seat of vehicle  104  or an engine compartment under a hood of vehicle  104 . As another example, vehicle service tool  102  may be arranged as a desktop personal computer placed on a roll-around cart that may be rolled in proximity to vehicle  104 . Other exemplary arrangements of vehicle service tool  102  are also possible. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , exemplary arrangement  150  also includes vehicle service tools  112 ,  114 . Vehicle service tool  102  may have a manufacturer-assigned model number and a software version indicating a particular revision level of program instructions contained in vehicle service tool  102 . Vehicle service tools  112 ,  114  may be substantially similar to vehicle service tool, such as vehicle service tools that have the same model number and the same software version as vehicle service tool  102 . Alternatively, one or more of vehicle service tools  112 ,  114  may be a different vehicle service tool, such as a vehicle service tool having a different model number and/or a different software version. Arrangement  150  may function without vehicle service tools  112 ,  114 . Alternatively, arrangement  150  may function with one or more additional vehicle service tools (not shown) and/or one or more additional remote devices (not shown). 
     Vehicle  104  is an automobile. Alternatively, and by way of example, a vehicle of the exemplary embodiment may comprise a truck, a boat or ship, a motorcycle, a generator, or an airplane. Any of these vehicles may be a vehicle under service. Other examples of a vehicle are also possible. 
     Vehicle  104  may include a data link connector (DLC). Vehicle interface cable  108  may include a first connector that connects to a vehicle interface of vehicle service tool  102  and a second connector that connects to the DLC of vehicle  104 . 
     Remote vehicle service tool interface device  106  may comprise any of a variety of devices. For example, remote device  106  may comprise a network server and/or a desktop computer executing computer-readable program instructions to carry out service shop management functions and/or program instructions to provide vehicle reference data to vehicle service tools  102 ,  112 ,  114 . 
     Remote device  106  may be located in the same service facility as vehicle service tool  102  or may be located at a premises remote from the location of vehicle service tool  102 . Other examples of remote device  106  are also possible. 
     The embodiments described herein 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. 
     Additionally, the embodiments described herein may be used with any desired system or engine. Those systems or engines may comprises 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. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing details of vehicle service tool  102 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , vehicle service tool  102  comprises a processor  202 , data storage  204 , a user interface  206 , a vehicle interface  208 , and a network interface  210 , all linked together via a system bus, network, or other connection mechanism  212 . 
     Processor  202  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  202  may execute computer-readable program instructions, such as program instructions to carry out any of the functions described in this description. 
     Data storage  204  comprises a computer readable medium. A computer readable 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 a processor, such as processor  202 . Alternatively, the entire computer readable medium may be remote from processor  202  and coupled to processor  202  by connection mechanism  212  and/or network cable  110 . 
     Data storage  204  may store various types of data. For instance, data storage  204  may store vehicle identifiers and vehicle service data received from vehicle  104  and computer-readable program instructions executable by processor  202 . 
     The computer-readable program instructions may comprise a variety of instructions. For example, the computer-readable program instructions may comprise instructions that cause processor  202  to categorize vehicle data received via vehicle interface  208  from vehicle  104 . As another example, the computer-readable program instructions may comprise instructions that cause processor  202  to generate a transfer file including one or more categories of vehicle service data and including a vehicle identifier associated with vehicle  104 . As yet another example, the computer-readable program instructions may comprise instructions that cause network interface  210  to transmit the transfer file to a network (e.g., a communication link) for transmission, in turn, to remote device  106 . 
     User interface  206  may comprise any of a variety of user interface components. For example, user interface  206  may comprise a display for displaying data to a user, such as vehicle reference data and/or a message for prompting a user to enter data via the user interface  206 . The display may comprise a liquid crystal display (LCD) display, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display, a plasma display, or another type of display. As another example, user interface  206  may comprise a data entry component, such as a keyboard in a QWERTY keyboard arrangement, a touch screen such as a resistive or capacitive touch screen, or another type of data entry component. 
     Vehicle interface  208  provides means for vehicle service tool  102  to connect to vehicle  104  via vehicle interface cable  108 . Alternatively, vehicle interface  208  may provide means for vehicle service tool  102  to interface with vehicle  104  via an air interface. Vehicle interface  208  may transmit to vehicle  104  messages for requesting vehicle service data. For example, vehicle interface  208  may transmit to vehicle  104  a request for a vehicle identifier and/or a request for vehicle service data. Vehicle interface  208  may receive a vehicle identifier or vehicle service data from vehicle  104 . After receiving a vehicle identifier, vehicle service data, or some other data from vehicle  104 , vehicle interface  208  may provide the received data to processor  202 . 
     Network interface  210  may comprise any of a variety of devices that function to provide vehicle service tool  102  with an interface to a wired network, such as a network including network cable  110 , or to a wireless network, such as a wireless network functioning according to an IEEE 802.11 standard, a cellular telephone standard such as a code division multiple access standard, or another standard. Network interface  210  may comprise a network interface card including a transceiver for transmitting data to remote device  106  and for receiving data from remote device  106 . 
     3. Exemplary Operation 
       FIG. 3  depicts a flow chart provided to illustrate a set of the functions that may be carried out in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Processor  202  may execute computer-readable program instructions, stored in data storage  204 , so as to carry out the functions shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The functions shown in  FIG. 3  may be carried out in a sequence as shown in  FIG. 3 . Alternatively, the functions shown in  FIG. 3  may be carried out according to another sequence (not shown). Additionally, two or more of the functions shown in  FIG. 3  may be carried out at substantially the same time. For example, the functions shown in blocks  300  and  302  may be carried out at substantially the same time. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , block  300  includes receiving a vehicle identifier associated with a vehicle, such as vehicle  104 . The vehicle identifier is received at a vehicle service tool, such as vehicle service tool  102 . The vehicle identifier may be any of a variety of identifiers useable to identify vehicle  104 . Alternatively, the vehicle identifier may be a combination of two or more identifiers that in combination, or separately, may be used to identify vehicle  104 . 
     As an example, the vehicle identifier may comprise a vehicle identification number (VIN) associated with vehicle  104 . For some motor vehicles, such as automobiles, the VIN comprises 17 alpha-numeric characters. As an example, a VIN may be a 17 character identifier that is arranged according to ISO standard 3770 or ISO standard 3880. Other examples of a VIN are also possible. 
     As another example, the vehicle identifier may comprise a customer name associated with vehicle  104 . For instance, the customer name may be a name of a rental company that owns a fleet of vehicles including vehicle  104  or the name of a man or woman that owns vehicle  104 . 
     As yet another example, the vehicle identifier may comprise a customer number associated with vehicle  104 . As an example, a service writer of a service facility may assign a unique customer number for each vehicle that is brought to the service facility for service. Customer numbers may be used by the service facility, for example, as a way to maintain customer privacy. 
     As still yet another example, the vehicle identifier may comprise a repair order number associated with vehicle  104 . The repair order number may be a number that is pre-printed on a repair order used by a service facility to record information pertaining to the servicing of vehicle  104 . 
     In one respect, the vehicle identifier may be received via user interface  206 . In this regard, for example, after connecting vehicle service tool  102  to vehicle  104 , user interface  206  may display a prompt requesting a user of vehicle service tool  102  to enter the vehicle identifier. The user may enter the vehicle identifier via a data entry device of user interface  206 . User interface  206  may provide the received vehicle identifier to processor  202 . 
     In another respect, the vehicle identifier may be received from remote device  106 . In this regard, for example, remote device  106  may transmit the vehicle identifier to network cable  110  for transmission, in turn, to vehicle service tool  102 . Remote device may transmit the vehicle identifier in response to receiving from vehicle service tool  102  a request for the vehicle identifier and/or a request for a repair order for vehicle  104 . Alternatively, remote device  106  may comprise program logic executable to “push” the vehicle identifier to vehicle service tool  102  (i.e., without the vehicle service tool  102  requesting the vehicle identifier). 
     Next, block  302  includes receiving vehicle service data from a vehicle. The vehicle service data is received at vehicle service tool  102 . In order to receive the vehicle service data, vehicle service tool  102  may be connected to vehicle  104 , and then operated to cause vehicle service tool  102  to send vehicle  104  a request for the vehicle service data. In response to this request, vehicle  104  may transmit the vehicle service data to vehicle service tool  102 . 
     The vehicle service data may comprise data arranged in a vehicle manufacturer&#39;s format. For example, if vehicle  104  is a vehicle manufactured by General Motors (GM), Detroit, Mich., the vehicle service data may be arranged in a vehicle manufacturer&#39;s format such as Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Specification J-1850, a GMLAN protocol, or some other protocol used by GM. Other examples of a vehicle manufacturer&#39;s format for vehicle service data are also possible. 
     Next, block  304  includes categorizing the vehicle service data received from the vehicle. Categorizing the received vehicle service data may comprise interpreting the vehicle service data in the vehicle manufacturer&#39;s format and determining which of one or more categories of a transfer file the vehicle service data should be populated. 
     The transfer file may include any of a variety of categories, such as a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) category, a screen shot category, a calibration data category, a trouble shooting data category, a vehicle identification number category, and/or a parameter identification (PID) category. The screen shot category may be data that is captured while displayed on a display screen of vehicle service tool  102 . Other examples of transfer file categories are also possible. 
     As an example, if the vehicle service data received from vehicle  104  comprises DTC data (e.g., a DTC indicating a fault with an engine oxygen sensor) for an engine controller electronic control unit (ECU) in vehicle  104 , processor  202  may execute program instructions to interpret the vehicle service data as DTC data and determine that a DTC category of a transfer file should be populated with the DTC data. Other examples of categorizing the vehicle service data received from the vehicle are also possible. 
     The categories of the transfer file may be defined as standard categories. As an example, a defined standard category may be a category for air flow sensor data. In this way, any vehicle service data related to an air flow sensor may be populated in the air flow sensor data category, even though the manufacturer of the vehicle under service may refer to the data as mass air flow sensor data, air flow data, or by some other name or characteristic. 
     Next, block  306  includes generating a transfer file including the vehicle identifier and one or more categories of vehicle service data. Generation of the transfer file may comprise populating the one or more categories of vehicle service data with the categorized vehicle service data. The transfer file may be any of a variety of standard file formats, such as an extensible markup language (XML) file format or a hypertext markup language (HTML) format, or a format customized for vehicle service tools  102 ,  112 ,  114  and remote device  106 . The transfer file is in a format readable by remote device  106 . 
     The transfer file may be associated with an attachment file. The attachment file may comprise a graphical media file, such as a media file showing an oscilloscope pattern captured by vehicle service tool  102 , or a video media file, such as an Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) file captured by vehicle service tool  102 . 
     The transfer file may include data indicating a destination (e.g., the remote device  106 ) and data indicating the source that sent the transfer file (i.e., the vehicle service tool  102 ). Other examples of data that may be included in the transfer file are also possible. 
     Next, block  308  includes transmitting the transfer file to a network for transmission, in turn, to a remote device. Processor  202  may transmit the transfer file to network interface  210 . Thereafter, network interface  210  transmits the transfer file to a wireless or wired network. In order to transmit the transfer file to the network, network interface  210  may establish a data session (e.g., a data session according to a point-to-point protocol, or a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) data session). The network transports the transfer file to remote device  106 . 
     Additionally, if an attachment file is associated with the transfer file, transmitting the transfer file may be carried out in combination with transmitting the attachment file to the remote device  106 . For example, the attachment file and the transfer file may be transmitted to the network at substantially the same time and/or one of the files may be transmitted after the other file is transmitted. 
       FIG. 4  depicts a flow chart provided to illustrate another set of functions that may be carried out in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Processor  202  may execute computer-readable program instructions, stored in data storage  204 , so as to carry out the functions shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , block  400  includes connecting a vehicle service tool to a given vehicle having a service condition. Connecting the vehicle service tool  102  may include connecting the vehicle interface cable  108  to a DLC of vehicle  104  and to vehicle service tool  102 . Vehicle interface cable  108  may be removably connected to vehicle service tool  102  such that connecting the vehicle service tool  102  merely requires connecting the vehicle interface cable  108  to vehicle  104 . In another embodiment, connecting the vehicle service tool may include operating the vehicle service tool  102  so as to establish a wireless data session between the vehicle service tool  102  and vehicle  104 . 
     The vehicle service condition may comprise any of a variety of service conditions, such as a DTC being set in an ECU of vehicle  104 , or a programming mode to download software (e.g., calibration software) to an ECU of vehicle  104 . Other examples of the vehicle service condition are also possible. 
     Next, block  402  includes receiving vehicle service data associated with the service condition of the given vehicle. As an example, vehicle service tool  102  may transmit to vehicle  104  a request for DTC data for the engine controller ECU, and vehicle  104  (i.e., the engine controller ECU) transmits the requested DTC data via the vehicle interface cable  108  for receipt by vehicle service tool  102 . 
     Next, block  404  includes interpreting the vehicle service data and responsively categorizing at least a portion of the interpreted vehicle service data. Interpreting the vehicle service data may include determining that portions of the vehicle service data, such as DTCs, are associated with the vehicle service condition. The portions of the vehicle service data associated with the vehicle service condition may be identified as being data to be populated in specific categories (related to the vehicle service condition) of a transfer file. Processor  202  may execute program instructions to interpret the vehicle service data and to categorize the vehicle service data. 
     Next, block  406  includes generating a transfer file including the vehicle identifier and one or more categories of vehicle service data. Processor  202  may execute program instructions to populate the transfer file with the vehicle identifier associated with vehicle  104  and to populate one or more categories of the transfer file with the categorized vehicle service data associated with the vehicle service condition. The transfer file may be automatically generated based on vehicle service tool  102  detecting the vehicle service condition or in response to a user requesting generation of the transfer file upon the user determining that the vehicle service condition is occurring or has occurred. In the case in which a user requests generation of the transfer file, the user may select categories to be included in the transfer file. In the case in which the transfer file is automatically generated, the categories of the transfer file may be categories pre-selected by a manufacturer of vehicle service tool  102 . 
     Next, block  408  includes transmitting the transfer file to a network for transmission, in turn, to a remote device. Transmitting the transfer file at block  408  may be carried out as described at block  308 . 
     Additionally, the remote device  106  may carry out various functions after receiving a transfer file with or without an attachment file. For example, after receiving a transfer file and an attachment file, remote device  106  may cause the received files to be stored in data storage accessible to remote device  106 . This data storage may be included at remote device  106  or remote from remote device  106 . Additionally the data storage accessible to remote device  106  may contain a database including a data record associated with vehicle  104 . The data record may comprise a plurality of fields including a field containing the vehicle identifier associated with vehicle  104  or an empty field for storing the vehicle identifier if the data record is a new data record being created for vehicle  104 . 
     The remote device  106  may extract the vehicle identifier from the received transfer file so as to determine that the categorized vehicle service data contained within the transfer file is from vehicle  104 . The remote device  106  may then extract the categorized vehicle service data or a portion of the categorized vehicle service data contained within the transfer file and then store the extracted vehicle service data into one or more fields of the data record associated with vehicle  104 . 
     After storing the vehicle service data extracted from the transfer file, the remote device  106  may delete the transfer file from the data storage accessible to the remote device  106 . In this way, the data storage accessible to the remote device  106  may continue to maintain the attachment file even though the transfer filed has been deleted. 
     After transmitting the transfer file, one of vehicle service tools  102 ,  112 ,  114  or some other remote device may transmit to remote device  106  a request for at least a portion of the data record associated with vehicle  104 . The portion of the data record may comprise the data stored into the one or more fields of the data record (i.e., the data extracted from the transfer file). In response to receiving the request, remote device  106  may transmit to the requesting device (e.g., one of vehicle service tools  102 ,  112 ,  114 ) the requested portion of the data record. The requesting device may receive the data and display the portion of the data record. As an example, vehicle service tool  112  may display DTC data (e.g., a DTC) that was captured by vehicle service tool  102  while connected to vehicle  104 . 
     The remote device  106  or the device requests the data extracted from the transfer file may analyze this data along with data extracted from a plurality of other transfer files for the same or other vehicles. The analysis may be carried out to detect trends such as a trend that cars of a certain make, model, and model year that set a given DTC require replacement of a certain part to fix the problem that causes the given DTC to be set. As another example, the remote device  106  or the device requests the data extracted from the transfer file may analyze the data extracted from the transfer file to determine which service technician at the service repair facility or which service repair stall at the service repair facility should be used for servicing the vehicle under service. 
     Additionally, after storing an attachment file at the data storage accessible to remote device  106 , one of the vehicle service tools  102 ,  112 ,  114  or another remote device may transmit to remote device  106  a request for the attachment file. In response to receiving the request, remote device  106  may transmit the attachment file to the requesting device (e.g., one of vehicle service tools  102 ,  112 ,  114 ). The requesting device may receive the attachment file and thereafter display the attachment file received from the remote device  106 . As an example, vehicle service tool  112  may display (e.g., play) the attachment file captured by vehicle service tool  102  while connected to vehicle  104 . Other examples of functions remote device  106  can carry out after receiving the transfer file with or without an attachment file are also possible. 
     4. Conclusion 
     Example embodiments of a system and method have been described above. Those skilled in the art will understand, however, that changes and modifications may be made to these examples without departing from the true scope and spirit of the described systems and methods. The embodiments described in this description and the accompanying drawings are set forth for illustration and not as a limitation. 
     Finally, the word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.