Vehicle identification tracking system

• US 20070061362A1
• Filed: 11/22/2004
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: VIN Mark Security Services, LLC
• Original Assignee: VIN Mark Security Services, LLC
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Milton
• Application Number:
  US10/571,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20070061362A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 5/061 Special surface effect
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 5/063 Reflective effect B05D5/067 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/10 Registration, licensing, or like devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/165 obtained by a treatment of the support

Abstract

A method of assigning identification to and tracking objects comprises transmitting a unique identification for an object and a description of the object from a remote location to an approval location, and creating an approval code based on the unique identification and the object description. The method then includes recording the unique identification, the object description and the approval code in a database, using the approval code to create an identification label containing the unique identification for the object, and assigning a debit to the remote location for the identification label. The identification label is then used to mark the unique identification onto the object surface. The database containing the unique identification and object description may be accessed on a network by: i) an owner of the object to record information regarding theft of the object and ii) an authorized person to search for information regarding theft of the object.

Claims

1. A method of tracking objects comprising:

causing a unique identification to be marked onto a surface of an object at a location other than that marked by the manufacturer of the object;

recording the unique identification of the object in a database; and

maintaining the database containing the unique identification and object description for access on a network by;

i) an owner of the object to record information regarding theft of the object and ii) an authorized person to search for information regarding theft of the object.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the unique identification is a discrete alphanumeric identification caused to be marked at a selected location onto the object surface.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the unique identification is caused to be marked onto a selected location onto the object surface, and wherein the location of the discrete identification is recorded in the database.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the unique identification is a discrete alphanumeric identification caused to be marked onto a selected location onto the object surface, wherein the location of the discrete alphanumeric identification is recorded in the database, and wherein the database is maintained for searching by an authorized person for the object description, discrete alphanumeric identification, location of the discrete alphanumeric identification and owner.

5. The method of claim 1 further including, upon a request by an owner, editing the database for information on the object selected from the group consisting of object description, discrete alphanumeric identification, location of the identification and owner.

6. The method of claim 5 further including providing to the owner a password for access to the database.

7. The method of claim 1 further including, upon a request by an authorized person, searching of the database for information on the object comprising object description, discrete alphanumeric identification, location of the identification and owner.

8. The method of claim 7 further including contacting the owner, by the authorized person, upon obtaining a match for information on the object selected from the group consisting of object description, discrete alphanumeric identification, location of the identification and owner.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the object is a vehicle and the unique identification is the same identification assigned by a manufacturer of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1 further including creating and recording in the database an approval code based on the unique identification and the object description.

11. A method of assigning identification to objects comprising:

providing a unique identification for an object;

transmitting the unique identification and a description of the object from a remote location to a central approval location;

creating an approval code based on the unique identification and the object description;

recording the unique identification, the object description and the approval code in a database associated with the approval location;

using the approval code to authorize creation of an identification label containing the unique identification for the object; and

assigning a debit to the remote location for the identification label.

12. The method of claim 11 further including transmitting the approval code and the debit from the approval location to the remote location.

13. The method of claim 11 further including transmitting the approval code to the remote location, and wherein the approval code is used to create an identification label containing the unique identification for the object at the remote location.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the identification label comprises a single-use-only, label.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the single-use-only label comprises a stencil.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the single-use-only label comprises an adhesive label.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the approval code is used to create an identification label containing the unique identification for the object at a central location, and further including shipping the identification label to the remote location.

18. The method of claim 11 including transmitting and recording identification of the owner of the object, and further including transmitting acknowledgement of the recording of the unique identification and the object description to the owner of the object.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the database containing the unique identification and object description is accessible by an owner of the object to record information regarding theft of the object.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the database containing the unique identification and object description is accessible by an authority to search for information regarding theft of the object.

21. A method of assigning identification to and tracking objects comprising:

providing a unique identification for an object;

transmitting the unique identification and a description of the object from a remote location to an approval location;

creating an approval code based on the unique identification and the object description;

recording the unique identification, the object description and the approval code in a database associated with the approval location;

using the approval code to create an identification label containing the unique identification for the object;

assigning a debit to the remote location for the identification label;

using the identification label to mark the unique identification onto the object surface; and

maintaining the database containing the unique identification and object description for access on a network by;

i) an owner of the object to record information regarding theft of the object and ii) an authorized person to search for information regarding theft of the object.