AUTOMOTIVE PICTURE AND DATA ACQUISITION CENTER AND METHOD

• US 20070021883A1
• Filed: 09/25/2006
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Suggs
• Original Assignee: Robert Suggs
• Inventors: Suggs, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,548,672 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2627 for providing spin image effect, 3D stop motion effect or temporal freeze effect 2D image animation in general G06T13/80

Abstract

An apparatus and method for the automatic or semi-automatic acquisition of multiple photographs and VIN-coded information about an automobile. In one embodiment, four height-adjustable, digital cameras are positioned on four corner posts defining a work center. A vehicle is pulled into the center until a stop indicator light is triggered, at which time an attendant scans the bar coded VIN number and reviews the proposed photographs of the vehicle at a work center computer. Once the photographs and data are acceptable, the attendant triggers a download of the information to local and industry databases. Alternate embodiments include Alternate embodiments include work centers with different post configurations, manual entry systems, and completely automated centers.

Claims

1-13. -13. (canceled)

14. A method for acquiring and making available vehicle information comprising the steps of:

capturing one or more images of a vehicle;

acquiring information about said vehicle; and

transmitting said captured one or more images and said acquired information about said vehicle simultaneously to one of a computer and a database.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein said captured one or more images and said acquired information about said vehicle is transmitted to one of said computer and said database via a network.

16. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein said one or more images of said vehicle are captured by a camera.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein said camera is a video camera.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein said camera is a digital camera.

19. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein said one or more images of said vehicle are captured and said information about said vehicle is acquired by a handheld data collection unit.

20. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein said one or more images of said vehicle are captured by an operator walking around said vehicle.

21. The method as recited in claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

acquiring an identification of said vehicle; and

associating said captured one or more images and said acquired information about said vehicle with said identification of said vehicle.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein said identification of said vehicle is a VIN number.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein said VIN number is acquired by a scanner.

24. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein said VIN number is acquired manually.