Method and apparatus for insurance vertification

• US 20110046986A1
• Filed: 08/18/2009
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gravel Road Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Gravel Road Innovations LLC
• Inventors: Lambert, Arnie, Hignite, Gerald, Thomas, Tim
• Application Number:
  US12/583,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20110046986A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence

Abstract

A system and device provides an indication signal perceivable by an observer of a vehicle as to whether that vehicle is covered by a valid insurance policy. A database of policy information is consulted by a control system that, in turn, generates a control signal that is transmitted to an indicator device on vehicle to control whether the indicator device signals that a valid insurance policy is in place or is not.

Claims

1. An apparatus coupled with a vehicle, comprising:

an identification number uniquely identifying the apparatus;

a receiver configured to receive a signal;

a first display indicator configured to indicate, based on the signal, if the vehicle is covered by an insurance policy; and

a controller configured to determine if the signal is associated with the identification number and to control the first display indicator based on the signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display indicator includes:

a visible light, wherein the visible light is configured to be in a first state if the vehicle is covered by an insurance policy and in a second state if the vehicle is not covered by an insurance policy.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first state is a first color and the second state is a second color.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first state is “

on” and

the second state is “

off”

.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a second display indicator configured to indicate, based on the signal, if the vehicle has a valid registration; and

wherein the controller is further configured to control the second display indicator based on the signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display indicator includes:

a transmitter of nonvisible electromagnetic radiation at a first frequency if the vehicle is covered by an insurance policy and at a second frequency if the vehicle is not covered by an insurance policy.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a position tacking system configured to determine a location of the apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the position tracking system includes a global positioning system transceiver.

9. A system for verifying insurance coverage for a vehicle, comprising:

a database storing a plurality of records, each record having an associated identification number, associated insurance policy information and an associated vehicle identification number;

a controller configured to determine from the database whether a particular vehicle is covered by an insurance policy;

the controller further configured to determine the identification number associated with the particular vehicle based on the associated vehicle identification number and to determine a status of the insurance policy associated with the associated vehicle identification number; and

a transmitter configured to communicate a signal to a broadcast transmitter, wherein the signal includes the identification number associated with the associated vehicle identification number and an indication of the status of the insurance policy.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the broadcast transmitter is a satellite.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the broadcast transmitter is one of a radio network, a cellular network, a pager network, and a wireless network.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein each of the records further include, respectively:

contact information associated with the vehicle identification number.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein each of the records further include, respectively:

descriptive vehicle information associated with the vehicle identification number.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein each of the records further include, respectively:

vehicle registration information associated with the vehicle identification number.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the signal further includes the an indication of a status of the associated vehicle registration information.

16. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a receiver configured to receive updated insurance policy information from one or more insurance companies and update the database based on the updated insurance policy information.

17. A method for verifying insurance coverage for a vehicle, comprising:

storing in a database a plurality of records, each record having an associated identification number, associated insurance policy information and an associated vehicle identification number;

determining from the database whether a particular vehicle is covered by an insurance policy;

determining the identification number associated with the particular vehicle based on the associated vehicle identification number;

determining a status of the insurance policy associated with the associated vehicle identification number; and

transmitting a signal to a broadcast transmitter, wherein the signal includes the identification number associated with the associated vehicle identification number and an indication of the status of the insurance policy.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the broadcast transmitter is a satellite.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the signal further includes the an indication of a status of vehicle registration information associated with the particular vehicle.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the signal further includes an indication of a emergency condition associated with the particular vehicle.