REMOTE IDENTIFICATION OF VEHICLE STATUS

• US 20140149454A1
• Filed: 02/04/2014
• Published: 05/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gilbert Eid
• Original Assignee: Gilbert Eid
• Inventors: Eid, Gilbert
• Granted Patent: US 9,613,137 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/381 using identifiers, e.g. barcodes, RFIDs for URLs G06F16/9554
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Methods and systems for identification of vehicle statuses are provided. This technology requires installation of identification tags, such as, for example, RFID tags or Wi-Fi tags, on vehicles, which actively or passively emit identification signals conveying vehicle identifiers. Interested parties, such as members of the public or police officers, are equipped with electronic devices (e.g., a tablet computer) suitable for receiving and processing the identification signals and processing the signals to obtain a vehicle status. The vehicle status allows determining whether the vehicle was stolen, is wanted, should be classified as suspicious, or is associated with any offences. The vehicle status is obtained by querying a database of vehicle statuses. Once vehicle status is obtained by the electronic device, it is displayed to the interested party. The technology further enables locating vehicles that do not emit an identification signal and reporting their location to authorities.

Claims

1. A method for vehicle identification, the method comprising:

acquiring, by an electronic device having at least a processor and a memory storing processor-executable instructions, at least one identification signal emitted by an identification tag secured to a vehicle, wherein the at least one identification signal conveys a vehicle identifier associated with the vehicle;

sending an inquiry, by the electronic device, to at least one server maintaining a database of vehicle statuses, wherein the inquiry comprises the vehicle identifier;

receiving, by the electronic device, a response from the at least one server, the response comprising a vehicle status; and

displaying the vehicle status and a vehicle description on a display of the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending the inquiry, by the electronic device, to at least one server maintaining a database of registered vehicles;

receiving, by the electronic device, an additional response from the at least one server, the response comprising a vehicle information, wherein the vehicle information comprises a vehicle'"'"'s owner name, a plate number, a vehicle make, a vehicle model, a vehicle color, and a vehicle year, wherein the vehicle information is received according to a clearance level; and

displaying the vehicle information on a display of the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle status comprising information as to whether or not the vehicle is listed in the database of vehicle statuses.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a graphical user interface displayable by the portable electronic device and displaying a list of descriptions of vehicles within a range area; and

prompting, by the electronic device via the graphical user interface, a user to report the vehicle status associated with the vehicle to one or more authorities or choose an automatic reporting.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising transmitting, by the electronic device, a report to the one or more authorities via at least one communications network, wherein the report comprises the vehicle identifier.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the report further comprises vehicle registration information associated with the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising transmitting, by the electronic device, a report to the one or more authorities via at least one communications network, wherein the report comprises location information associated with the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising transmitting, by the electronic device, a report to the one or more authorities via at least one communications network, wherein the report comprises an image of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification signal further comprises a plate number associated with the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle status includes one of the following:

stolen, wanted, parked, on travel, unlisted (invalid ID), and pass (clear).

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the response further comprises information associated with vehicle registration and a vehicle inspection date.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the response further comprises a list of outstanding fines associated with the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the response further comprises a list of permits associated with the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification tag includes a Wi-Fi emitter tag.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises one or more of the following:

a portable electronic device, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone, a portable computer, and a tablet computer.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising prompting, by the electronic device via a graphical user interface, a user to make a report to one or more authorities, wherein the report is associated with a vehicle having no identification tag emitting an identification signal.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising transmitting, by the electronic device, the report to the one or more authorities via a communications network, wherein the report includes an electronic message conveying location information associated with the vehicle having no identification tag emitting an identification signal.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the electronic message further conveying a photo of the vehicle having no identification tag emitting an identification signal.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the database of vehicle statuses includes a crowdsourcing online service.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a graphical user interface displayable by the portable electronic device and displaying a list of description of vehicles, wherein the vehicles include one or more vehicles a user owns; and

prompting, by the electronic device via the graphical user interface, the user to check vehicle information of the one or more vehicles the user owns.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

prompting, by the electronic device via the graphical user interface, the user to set the vehicle status associated with the one or more vehicles the user owns.

22. A non-transitory processor-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement a method for vehicle identification, the method comprising:

acquiring at least one identification signal emitted by an identification tag secured to a vehicle, wherein the at least one identification signal conveys a vehicle identifier associated with the vehicle;

sending an inquiry to at least one server maintaining a database of vehicle statuses, wherein the inquiry comprises the vehicle identifier;

receiving a response from the at least one server, the response comprising a vehicle status;

providing a graphical user interface displayable by a portable electronic device;

displaying the vehicle status on a display of an electronic device; and

prompting a user to report the vehicle status associated with the vehicle to one or more authorities.