A novel and improved engine
data system for collecting, displaying and analyzing engine / vehicle data is provided. The
system have advantageously results in a more effective, convenient, portable and low cost method of monitoring and
processing vehicle data. The vehicle
data system includes a handheld computer containing
operating system software adapted to operate the handheld computer in accordance with a data protocol different from a
vehicle bus protocol and a handheld
microprocessor for executing the
operating system software. The
system importantly includes an adapter for creating a data pathway between a
vehicle bus connector and an
external data port provided on the handheld computer which is physically incompatible with the engine
bus connector. The adapter includes a
data port connector for connection with the
external data port, a
bus compatible connector for connection with the engine
bus connector, a battery power supply separate from the power supply of the handheld compuer and an adapter
microprocessor powered by the battery power supply and connected via the data pathway with the bus compatible connector for protocol conversion of the data received from the engine bus. An engine
data adapter system for creating a data pathway between the engine data bus and the handheld computer while determining the start and stop of messages received from the data bus and adding message identifiers to the engine data so as to minimize the required
data processing by the handheld computer.