Patent ID: 6993421

Claim:
A system comprising: (A) an equipment service vehicle comprising (1) a communication network, (2) a plurality of vehicle subsystems, each vehicle subsystem comprising a mechanical system and an electronic control system that controls the mechanical system, each respective electronic control system being connected to the communication network and transmitting information pertaining to the health and operation of the mechanical system on the communication network, (3) an on-board computer system including (a) a test control module, the test control module being coupled to the plurality of vehicle subsystems by way of to communication network, the test control module being programmed to acquire at least some of the information pertaining to the health and operation of the mechanical system, and (b) an operator interface, the operator interface being coupled to the test control module, the operator interface comprising a display that displays the at least some information pertaining to the health and operation of the mechanical system, the operator interface displaying a menu of test options to an operator of the equipment service vehicle and receiving an operator input, the operator input being indicative of a menu selection made by the operator, the menu selection indicating a zest selected by the operator; and (B) an off-board computer system; wherein the on-board computer system performs the selected test on the vehicle and displays results of the test to the operator using the operator interface, the results of the test indicating that a vehicle part is in need of replacing; and wherein the on-bard computer is capable of establishing a wireless radio-frequency communication link with the off-board computer system to place an order for a replacement part to replace the vehicle part.