System and method for identifying component parts in an assembly

• US 20070103302A1
• Filed: 11/07/2005
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Brodine
• Original Assignee: Michael Brodine
• Inventors: Brodine, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,408,464 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A system and method for identifying stolen component parts contained within a product and/or identifying the origin of a component part. To utilize the system, an integrated transmitter assembly is attached to at least some component parts within a product. Each of the integrated transponder assemblies transmits an identification code. In a database, the identification codes of the integrated transponder assemblies are recorded along with the identification of the assembly into which they were originally installed. Products in the marketplace are periodically scanned. As products are scanned, the integrated transponders contained in those products transmit their identification codes. The identification codes are read and compared to the data in a database. If a scan reveals a component part listed as stolen. an indication is provided.

Claims

1. A method of identifying stolen component parts contained within a product, said method comprising the steps of:

attaching an integrated transmitter assembly to at least some component parts in a product, wherein each of said integrated transmitter assemblies transmits an identification code;

providing a database;

recording the identification codes of the integrated transmitter assemblies for said component parts in said database;

indicating in said database which identification codes belong to stolen component parts, as component parts are reported stolen;

scanning component parts, thereby reading identification codes transmitted by said integrated transmitters assemblies;

comparing said identification codes read during scanning to said database; and

providing an indication if an identification code read during scanning matches an identification code of a stolen component part.

2. The method according to claim 1, further including the step of determining if said integrated transmitter assemblies in a product are transmitting more than one identification code.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said step of comparing said identification codes read during scanning to said database only occurs if said integrated transmitter assemblies in a product transmit more than one identification code.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said product is a vehicle and said step of scanning occurs as a police scanner is driven past said vehicle.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said product is a vehicle and said step of scanning occurs during said vehicle being driven through a check point.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said passive integrated transmitters in said at least some component parts transmit a common identification code.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said assembly is a vehicle having a vehicle identification number and said common identification code corresponds to said vehicle identification number.

8. A method of identifying an origin of a component part in a product, comprising the steps of:

attaching integrated transmitter assemblies to at least some component parts in a product, wherein each of said integrated transmitter assemblies transmits an identification code;

providing a database;

recording the identification codes of the integrated transmitter assemblies of different parts in said database;

scanning a component part of a questionable origin that contains an integrated transmitter assembly. therein reading the identification code transmitted by said passive integrated transmitter; and

comparing the identification code read during scanning to said database to identify an origin of said component part.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein integrated transmitter assemblies of a common transmit a common identification code.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said product is a vehicle having a vehicle identification number and said common identification code corresponds to said vehicle identification number.

11. The method according to claim 8, further including the step of indicating in said database identification codes that correspond to component parts that are reported stolen.

12. The method according to claim 11, further including the step of providing an indication after a scan if the identification code transmitted by an integrated transmitter assembly corresponds to an identification code of a stolen component part in said database.

13. A vehicle comprised of component parts, wherein at least some of said component parts contain integrated transmitter assemblies that transmit an identification code.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein all said integrated transmitter assemblies in said vehicle transmit a common identification code.

15. The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein said vehicle has a vehicle identification code and said common identification code corresponds to said vehicle identification code.