SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO ASSESS THE CONDITION OF A VEHICLE

• US 20150100504A1
• Filed: 10/07/2013
• Published: 04/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Original Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Inventors: Binion, Todd, Minter, Kelly S., Brown-McCreery, Heidi, Harris, Michael, Myers, Jeremy, Fields, Brian, Harr, Joe
• Granted Patent: US 10,423,989 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/306
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0278 Product appraisal

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes receiving a vehicle condition query via a computer network and retrieving condition data corresponding to a vehicle from a vehicle condition database. Further, the method includes determining a condition of the vehicle based on a collective analysis of the condition data, wherein the condition of the vehicle relates to at least one of a quality or a value of the vehicle, and developing one or more condition descriptors reflecting the condition of the vehicle. Still further, the method includes generating a vehicle condition report including an indication of the one or more condition descriptors and communicating, via the computer network, the vehicle condition report to a remote computing device for presentation to a user of the remote computing device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for assessing a condition of a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a vehicle condition query via a computer network, wherein the vehicle condition query includes an identification of a vehicle;

retrieving, by one or more processors, condition data corresponding to the vehicle from a vehicle condition database,

wherein a first portion of the condition data is generated by one of a smartphone or tablet computer temporarily disposed in the vehicle,

wherein a second portion of the condition data is generated by two or more of a geopositioning receiver, a motion sensor, a camera, or an audio sensor disposed in the vehicle, and

wherein the first portion of the condition data and the second portion of the condition data are generated while the vehicle is being operated;

determining, by the one or more processors, a condition of the vehicle based on a collective analysis of the condition data, wherein the condition of the vehicle includes one of a market value of the vehicle or a trade-in value of the vehicle and an overall quality level of the vehicle;

generating, by the one or more processors, a vehicle condition report including the one or more visual condition descriptors indicative of the condition of the vehicle; and

communicating, via the computer network, the vehicle condition report to a remote computing device for presentation to a user of the remote computing device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the identification of the vehicle includes at least one of a license plate number, license plate state, manufacturer name, year of manufacture, model name or number, color, vehicle identification number (VIN), registered owner name, owner contact information, or insurance policy number.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the condition of the vehicle further includes a state of mechanical operation of the vehicle.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the condition data includes one or more of indications of current or prior geographic locations, mileages of the operated vehicle, times, dates, behaviors of the user while operating the operated vehicle, collisions in which the operated vehicle was involved, repairs of the operated vehicle, information from a vehicle title corresponding to the operated vehicle, usage patterns of the operated vehicle, recalls corresponding to the operated vehicle, preferences of the user, or driving violations.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a third portion of the condition data is generated by an on-board vehicle computer.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining a condition of the vehicle includes:

determining, by the one or more processors, the condition of the vehicle at a point in time for which the condition data is available and that is proximate to a current point in time; and

executing a simulation algorithm by the one or more processors to predict or simulate the condition of the vehicle at the current point in time or a future point in time.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein executing the simulation algorithm by the one or more processors to predict or simulate the condition of the vehicle at the current point in time or the future point in time includes at least one of:

(i) predicting a current market value or a future market value,

(ii) predicting a current need or a future need for vehicle maintenance or repair,

(iii) determining one or more financially advantageous points in time to buy or sell the vehicle, or

(iv) developing suggestions for improving the overall quality of the vehicle.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more visual condition descriptors include one of text, image, graph, plot, chart, or table based representations of the condition of the vehicle.

9. A computer-implemented method for reporting vehicle condition information on a computing device including a display device and a user interface, the method comprising:

receiving, via the user interface, information identifying a vehicle;

generating, by one or more processors, a vehicle condition query, wherein the vehicle condition query includes the information identifying the vehicle;

sending, via a network interface at the computing device, the vehicle condition query to a server;

receiving, via the network interface at the computing device, one or more visual condition descriptors indicative of a condition of the vehicle,

wherein the one or more condition descriptors are based on a collective analysis of condition data,

wherein a first portion of the condition data is generated by one of a smartphone or tablet computer temporarily disposed in the vehicle,

wherein a second portion of the condition data is generated by two or more of a geopositioning receiver, a motion sensor, a camera, or an audio sensor disposed in the vehicle,

wherein the first portion of the condition data and the second portion of the condition data are generated while the vehicle is being operated, and

wherein the condition of the vehicle includes one of a market value or a trade-in value of the vehicle and an overall quality level of the vehicle; and

rendering, with one or more processors, an image of the one or more visual condition descriptors for presentation on the display device.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the identification of the vehicle includes at least one of a license plate number, license plate state, manufacturer name, year of manufacture, model name or number, color, vehicle identification number (VIN), registered owner name, owner contact information, or insurance policy number.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the condition data includes one or more of indications of current or prior geographic locations, mileages of the operated vehicle, times, dates, behaviors of the user while operating the operated vehicle, collisions in which the operated vehicle was involved, repairs of the operated vehicle, information from a vehicle title corresponding to the operated vehicle, usage patterns of the operated vehicle, recalls corresponding to the operated vehicle, preferences of the user, or driving violations.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein a third portion of the condition data is generated by an on-board vehicle computer disposed in the vehicle.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the one or more visual condition descriptors include one of text, image, graph, plot, chart, or table based representations of the condition of the vehicle.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein rendering an image of the one or more visual condition descriptors for presentation on the display device includes:

rendering an interactive image of a first set of the one or more visual condition descriptors for presentation of the image on the display device;

receiving a selection, via the user interface, of one of the first set of the one or more visual condition descriptors; and

rendering an image of a second set of the one or more visual condition descriptors for presentation on the display device.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the second set of the one or more visual condition descriptors includes the first set of the one or more visual condition descriptors and additional condition descriptors.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving, via the user interface, a request for a report of the condition of the vehicle;

generating, by the one or more processors, the report of the condition of the vehicle, wherein the report includes rendered images of at least some of the one or more visual condition descriptors; and

exporting the report to a user of the computing device.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, further comprising sharing the report of the condition of the vehicle with a vehicle service and/or repair company via an electronic communication.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, further comprising receiving, via the user interface, an update to the one or more visual condition descriptors from the vehicle service and/or repair company.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein exporting the report to the user of the computing device includes at least one of saving the report to one or more memories of the computing device, printing the report, or electronically communicating the report via email.

20. A computer device for assessing the condition of a vehicle, the computer device comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more non-transitory memories coupled to the one or more processors;

wherein the one or more memories include computer executable instructions stored therein that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

receive a vehicle condition query via a computer network, wherein the vehicle condition query includes an identification of a vehicle;

retrieve condition data corresponding to the vehicle from a vehicle condition database,

wherein a first portion of the condition data is generated by one of a smartphone or tablet computer temporarily disposed in the vehicle,

wherein a second portion of the condition data is generated by two or more of a geopositioning receiver, a motion sensor, a camera, or an audio sensor disposed in the vehicle, and

wherein the first portion of the condition data and the second portion of the

condition data are generated while the vehicle is being operated;

determine a condition of the vehicle based on a collective analysis of the condition data, wherein the condition of the vehicle includes one of a market value of the vehicle or a trade-in value of the vehicle and an overall quality level of the vehicle;

generate a vehicle condition report including one or more visual condition descriptors indicative of the condition of the vehicle; and

communicate, via the computer network, the vehicle condition report to a remote computing device for presentation to a user of the remote computing device.

21. The computer device of claim 20, wherein the identification of the vehicle includes at least one of a license plate number, license plate state, manufacturer name, year of manufacture, model name or number, color, vehicle identification number (VIN), registered owner name, owner contact information, or insurance policy number.

22. The computer device of claim 20, wherein the condition of the vehicle further includes a state of mechanical operation of the vehicle.