SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING AND AUTHENTICATING THE PRESENCE OF HIGH VALUE ASSETS AT REMOTE LOCATIONS

• US 20140207629A1
• Filed: 01/21/2014
• Published: 07/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TB Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: TB Group, Inc.
• Inventors: McCord, Keith W., Bradley, A.W. (Tony)
• Application Number:
  US14/159,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20140207629A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A method includes providing an electronic module configured to retrieve vehicle specific data associated with a vehicle, obtaining the vehicle specific data from the vehicle using the electronic module, and wirelessly bi-directionally communicating the vehicle specific data with a mobile device(s) near the vehicle. A system includes providing an electronic module configured to retrieve vehicle specific data associated with a vehicle, wherein the electronic module bi-directionally communicates the vehicle specific data while the electronic module is interfaced with the vehicle and only while the electronic module is interfaced with the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing an electronic module configured to retrieve vehicle specific data associated with a vehicle;

obtaining the vehicle specific data from the vehicle using the electronic module;

wirelessly bi-directionally communicating the vehicle specific data with one or more mobile devices near the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic module is configured to retrieve data from an OBD port of the vehicle through the OBD port.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the vehicle specific data comprises vehicle identification number (VIN).

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the vehicle specific data comprises calibration identification (CALID) data.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

inserting the electronic module into the vehicle;

sending vehicle specific data to the electronic module;

storing the vehicle specific data in the electronic module while the electronic module is in the vehicle such that the vehicle specific data is not present when the electronic module is removed from the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the vehicle provides power to the electronic module while the electronic module is connected to the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising analyzing the vehicle specific data.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the analyzing comprises determining whether or not a party to a financing agreement is in compliance with the financing agreement using the vehicle specific data.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the analyzing comprises performing at least one of inventory control, inventory mapping, and theft deterrence using the vehicle specific data.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a mobile app for use on the one or more mobile devices, wherein the mobile app is configured to use the vehicle specific data as input.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising receiving the vehicle specific data as input into the mobile app and communicating the vehicle specific data over a communications network to a remote server.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising performing a remote audit using the vehicle specific data.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising acquiring photographs or videos of the vehicle using one or more of the mobile devices near the vehicle and communicating the photographs or videos of the vehicle to the remote server.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising performing a remote audit using the vehicle specific data and the photographs or the videos.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the server provides a lender portal and a borrower portal.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the step of bi-directionally communicating the vehicle specific data from the vehicle to the cloud-based server comprises bi-directional, wirelessly communicating the vehicle specific data to the cloud-based server through a wireless router in operative communication with the electronic module.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the step of bi-directionally communicating the vehicle specific data from the vehicle to the cloud-based server comprises bi-directional, wirelessly communicating the vehicle specific data to a mobile device executing a mobile app and wirelessly communicating the vehicle specific data through the mobile app to the cloud-based server.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the mobile app is further configured to receive photos and/or videos of the vehicle and communicate the photos and/or videos of the vehicle to the cloud-based server.

16. A system comprising:

providing an electronic module configured to retrieve vehicle specific data associated with a vehicle, wherein the electronic module bi-directionally communicates the vehicle specific data while the electronic module is interfaced with the vehicle and only while the electronic module is interfaced with the vehicle;

interfacing the electronic module to the vehicle; and

communicating the vehicle specific data from the vehicle to a cloud-based server.