US Patent 7684908 Vehicle identification key for use between multiple computer applications

A vehicle diagnostic system including a processor, a user interface including a display device and an input device both coupled to the processor for interactive control thereof and thereby, and a local storage library connected to the processor for storing at least one application to be performed on a vehicle. The processor is programmed to request vehicle identification information from a user through the display device, create a particular configuration identifier containing the vehicle identification information entered by the user through the input device, store the particular configuration identifier in the local storage library, retrieve at least one application from the library as the application is selected by the user through the input device, and provide the particular configuration identifier to the application.