The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 17, 2001
Filed:
Jul. 07, 1998
Tom Kirkevold, Elk Grove, CA (US);
Mark Erdrich, Elk Grove, CA (US);
Steven F. Johnson, Kalamazoo, MI (US);
Scott E. McIntyre, Carpinteria, CA (US);
Robert J. Pfistor, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Nicholas J. Colarelli, Creve Coeur, MO (US);
Timothy A. Larson, Ferguson, MO (US);
Timothy A. Strege, Ballwin, MO (US);
Arthur J. Blumenthal, West Chester, PA (US);
Christopher H. Johnson, Valley Park, MO (US);
Ken Brookings, Sandpoint, ID (US);
Roger Butler, Allentown, PA (US);
Hunter Engineering Company, Bridgeton, MO (US);
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. Each computerized diagnostic and repair device provides updated information to the repair shop management system upon the completion of a diagnostic routine, enabling other computerized diagnostic and repair devices to access the most current vehicle parameters. Completed repair orders are stored in a customer information database for rapid retrieval and display of the prior work history for each vehicle serviced.