Vehicle repair shop pre-inspection and post-inspection verification system
First Claim
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1. A method of determining a repair status of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving, at a database, diagnostic data generated by the vehicle at a first time, the diagnostic data including vehicle identification information associated with the vehicle;
identifying, at the database, stored component identification information associated with the vehicle identification information;
identifying an initial vehicle malfunction based on the diagnostic data generated by the vehicle at the first time;
receiving, at the database, one of;
diagnostic data generated by the vehicle at a second time indicating a subsequent vehicle malfunction; and
a signal indicating an absence of diagnostic data at the second time;
generating a first incomplete alert signal in response to receipt of diagnostic data generated by the vehicle at the second time indicating the subsequent vehicle malfunction;
receiving, at the database, installed component identification information associated with at least one electrical component installed on the vehicle;
comparing, at the database, the stored component identification information with the installed component identification information to determine if the at least one electrical component installed on the vehicle is compatible with the vehicle;
verifying, at the database, the vehicle identification information associated with the vehicle by comparing different sets of vehicle identification information retrieved from the vehicle at different times; and
generating, at the database, a verification signal based on the comparison of the different sets of vehicle identification information retrieved from the vehicle at different times.
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Abstract
A verification system for verifying the thoroughness of automotive repairs. The system is adapted to retrieve electronic data and information from an onboard automobile computer or electronic system after a purported repair has been completed. The presence of fault codes or other problem data is an indication that such repairs have not been completed, while the absence of such fault codes or problem data is an indication that the repairs have been completed thoroughly.
141 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of determining a repair status of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving, at a database, diagnostic data generated by the vehicle at a first time, the diagnostic data including vehicle identification information associated with the vehicle; identifying, at the database, stored component identification information associated with the vehicle identification information; identifying an initial vehicle malfunction based on the diagnostic data generated by the vehicle at the first time; receiving, at the database, one of; diagnostic data generated by the vehicle at a second time indicating a subsequent vehicle malfunction; and a signal indicating an absence of diagnostic data at the second time; generating a first incomplete alert signal in response to receipt of diagnostic data generated by the vehicle at the second time indicating the subsequent vehicle malfunction; receiving, at the database, installed component identification information associated with at least one electrical component installed on the vehicle; comparing, at the database, the stored component identification information with the installed component identification information to determine if the at least one electrical component installed on the vehicle is compatible with the vehicle; verifying, at the database, the vehicle identification information associated with the vehicle by comparing different sets of vehicle identification information retrieved from the vehicle at different times; and generating, at the database, a verification signal based on the comparison of the different sets of vehicle identification information retrieved from the vehicle at different times. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of verifying electrical components on a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving vehicle identification information associated with the vehicle; receiving, from the vehicle, installed component identification information associated with at least one electrical component installed on the vehicle; accessing a database having stored compatible component identification information associated with the vehicle; and comparing the compatible component identification information with the installed component identification information to determine if the at least one electrical component installed on the vehicle is compatible with the vehicle; generating, at the database, a component verification signal based on the comparison of the compatible component identification information with the installed component identification information; and verifying the vehicle identification information associated with the vehicle by comparing different sets of vehicle identification information retrieved from the vehicle at different times. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of verifying repair of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving diagnostic data generated by the vehicle at a first time; receiving a first component identification signal at a computer remote from the vehicle identifying electrical components on the vehicle at the first time; generating, at the database remote from the vehicle, a repair list based on the received diagnostic data, the repair list including at least one electrical component requiring repair or replacement; receiving diagnostic data generated by the vehicle at a second time; receiving a second component identification signal identifying electrical components on the vehicle at the second time; comparing, at the database remote from the vehicle, the first component identification signal with the second component identification signal to determine whether the at least one electrical component requiring repair or replacement has been repaired or replaced by a component compatible with the vehicle; comparing, at the database remote from the vehicle, the diagnostic data generated by the vehicle at the first time with the diagnostic data generated by the vehicle at the second time to determine a repair completion status; and verifying the vehicle identification information associated with the vehicle by comparing different sets of vehicle identification information retrieved from the vehicle at different times. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification