Purpose And Scope: Notes

This document describes a standardized application program interface (API) for personal computer (PC) to onboard vehicle ECU communications under the Microsoft Windows™ family of operating systems. It establishes a standard API interface between the physical datalink (i.e., CAN/J1939), a VDA, and Windows™-based software applications running on a PC.

Current and future hardware requirements have been carefully considered in developing this software API. This promotes the development of software applications for fleet maintenance, ECU reprogramming, and vehicle diagnostics using a standard common software interface. Anyone is welcome to employ this RP in implementing software systems for ECU communications or VDA devices.

A list of terms and accompanying definitions used in this document appears in TERMINOLOGY Section 33, Terminology .

NOTE: Other operating systems (e.g., iOS, Android) are covered in MOBILE PLATFORM ADDENDUM (I.E., IOS, ANDROID) and in TMC RP 1227 - MOBILE DEVICE COMMUNICATION API .