Patent ID: 8909416

Claim:
A diagnostic scan tool comprising: a) a connect/configure module for establishing a communication link between the scan tool and a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU); b) a vehicle specification module operative to identify operating parameters of a vehicle under test in response to receipt of a vehicle identification number (VIN) from the ECU; c) a trouble code module for receiving digital trouble codes (DTC's) from the ECU; d) a database disposed within the scan tool, the database including a listing of possible vehicle defect solutions indexed to DTC's and the vehicle operating parameters; e) a freeze frame data module for retrieving freeze frame data from the ECU, the retrieved freeze frame data being representative of the operation of a vehicle onboard device(s) associated with a DTC identified as the highest priority DTC; and f) a digital signal processor in electrical communication with the ECU, the vehicle specification module, the database, the DTC module and the freeze frame data module, the digital signal processor being operative to derive the highest priority received DTC from analysis of the retrieved freeze frame data, and to regulate selection of a most likely vehicle defect solution associated with the vehicle operating parameters, and the highest priority received DTC.