Vehicle diagnostics

• US 10,347,057 B1
• Filed: 06/25/2018
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Inventors: Kraft, Daniel, Sankovsky, Jenny, Hayes, Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Shardul D
• Application Number:
  US16/017,284
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 701 1, 701 291, 701 293, 701 294, 705 2, 705 4, 705347, 455 7, 4554221
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/3844 equipped with means to indicate wear or usage of blade
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

Computing systems for vehicle diagnostics are provided. In accordance with some aspects, a computing system may receive, from a vehicle (e.g., from a computing device installed in and/or at the vehicle), a diagnostic code generated by an on-board diagnostic (OBD) system of the vehicle. The computing system may determine an issue with the vehicle based on the diagnostic code and may determine, based on the issue, a remedial action for addressing the issue and a timeframe for performing the remedial action. The computing system may store data identifying the issue, the remedial action, and the timeframe in a record associated with the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a communication interface;

at least one processor; and

a memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to;

receive, via the communication interface and from a computing device installed in or at a vehicle, a first diagnostic code generated by an on-board diagnostic system of the vehicle;

determine, based on the first diagnostic code, an issue with the vehicle;

determine, based on the issue, a remedial action for addressing the issue and one or more timeframes for performing the remedial action to address the issue;

receive, via the communication interface and from the computing device installed in or at the vehicle, a second diagnostic code generated by the on-board diagnostic system of the vehicle; and

determine, based on the second diagnostic code, whether the remedial action was performed within at least one of the one or more timeframes.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more timeframes are based on insurance policy information.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

identify, based on an identifier associated with the vehicle, an auto-insurance policy associated with the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

generate a notification identifying one or more of the issue, the remedial action, and at least one of the one or more timeframes; and

communicate, to a recipient associated with the vehicle, the notification.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

identify, based on a storage address of the vehicle, one or more service locations equipped to perform the remedial action, and wherein the notification identifies the one or more service locations.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

identify one or more discounts available to holders of an associated auto-insurance policy at the one or more service locations, and wherein the notification identifies the one or more discounts.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

identify, based on a storage address of the vehicle, a cost estimate for the remedial action, and wherein the notification comprises the cost estimate.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

determine, based on a make and model of the vehicle, that the issue is associated with a recall issued by a manufacturer of the vehicle, and wherein the notification indicates that the issue is associated with the recall.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

determine, based on a make and model of the vehicle, that the issue is not covered by a warranty on the vehicle; and

identify, based on the make and model, an extended-coverage warranty that would have covered the issue, wherein the notification identifies the extended-coverage warranty.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein each of the one or more timeframes indicates that the remedial action should be performed within a specified time period and at least one of the one or more timeframes corresponds to an immediate timeframe, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

determine that an associated auto-insurance policy covers roadside assistance, and wherein the notification indicates that the remedial action should be performed immediately and that an associated auto-insurance policy covers roadside assistance.

11. The system of claim 4, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

determine, based on a make and model of the vehicle, that the issue is covered by a warranty on the vehicle, wherein the notification indicates that the issue is covered by the warranty.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first diagnostic code is specific to a make and model of the vehicle, and wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

determine, based on a make and model of the vehicle, at least one of the issue, the remedial action, or at least one of the one or more timeframes.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

determine, based on information from one or more claims previously filed under an associated auto-insurance policy, at least one of the issue, the remedial action, or at least one of the one or more timeframes.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

determine, based on an odometer reading for the vehicle and based on a make and model of the vehicle, that the vehicle is due for scheduled maintenance; and

communicate, to a recipient associated with the vehicle, a reminder regarding the scheduled maintenance.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

identify a maintenance history for the vehicle; and

communicate, to a recipient associated with the vehicle, at least a portion of the maintenance history.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

alter an associated auto-insurance policy based on whether the remedial action was performed within a particular timeframe of the one or more timeframes.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

determine, based on whether the remedial action was performed within one or more of the one or more timeframes, a renewal premium for an associated auto-insurance policy.

18. A method, comprising:

receiving, by one or more computers, data comprising;

an identifier associated with a vehicle, and a first diagnostic code generated by an on-board diagnostic system of the vehicle;

determining, by the one or more computers and based on the first diagnostic code, an issue with the vehicle, a remedial action for addressing the issue with the vehicle, and one or more timeframes for performing the remedial action;

receiving, by the one or more computers, a second diagnostic code generated by the on-board diagnostic system of the vehicle;

determining, based on the second diagnostic code, whether the remedial action was performed within one of the one or more timeframes; and

determining, by the one or more computers, an incentive for an auto-insurance policy associated with the vehicle based on whether the remedial action was performed within the one of the one or more timeframes.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein a different incentive is associated with each of the one or more timeframes.

20. A system, comprising:

an on-board diagnostic system of a vehicle;

a computing device associated with the vehicle;

a communication interface;

at least one processor; and

a memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to;

receive data comprising an identifier associated with a vehicle and a first diagnostic code generated by the on-board diagnostic system of the vehicle;

determine, based on the first diagnostic code generated by the on-board diagnostic system, an issue with the vehicle, a remedial action for addressing the issue, and one or more timeframes for performing the remedial action;

communicate, via the communication interface and to the computing device, a notification identifying the issue, the remedial action, and the one or more timeframes;

receive a second diagnostic code generated by the on-board diagnostic system of the vehicle;

determine, based on the second diagnostic code, whether the remedial action was performed within at least one of the one or more timeframes; and

modify, based on whether the remedial action was performed within a particular one of the one or more timeframes, an auto-insurance policy that includes coverage for the vehicle.