| CPC G07C 5/008 (2013.01) [G06K 7/1417 (2013.01); G07C 5/006 (2013.01); G07C 5/0808 (2013.01); G07C 2205/02 (2013.01)] | 34 Claims |
|
1. A drive-through diagnostic system for providing a user with vehicle-specific information while a vehicle traverses a path at a drive-through facility associated with a drive-through functionality, the drive-through diagnostic system comprising:
a dongle configured to:
facilitate connection with a vehicle electrical system to retrieve vehicle data therefrom;
implement at least one dongle functionality in response to receipt of a wireless dongle enabling signal;
remain in a disabled state unless and until the dongle receives the wireless dongle enabling signal, implementation of the at least one dongle functionality being disabled while the dongle is in the disabled state; and
disable the at least one dongle functionality after a prescribed period of time passes subsequent to receipt of the dongle enabling signal; and
a communication system configured to:
communicate the wireless dongle enabling signal when the dongle is within a defined area associated with the drive-through facility; and
generate a dongle return signal in response to return of the dongle to a prescribed return area, the generation of the dongle return signal being a precondition for transmission of a diagnostic report including the vehicle-specific information, the diagnostic report being derived from the retrieved vehicle data;
the communication system and the dongle being configured to implement the at least one dongle functionality concurrently with the vehicle traversing the path at the drive-through facility associated with the first functionality.
|