System and methods for vehicle identification number validation

• US 6,259,354 B1
• Filed: 09/01/1998
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FDI Consulting, Inc.
• Original Assignee: FDI Consulting, Inc.
• Inventors: Underwood, Troy R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shimizu, M
• Application Number:
  US09/144,550
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.34, 340/10.6, 364/409, 714/785, 714/799, 714/800, 714/819
• US Class Current: 340/10.6
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A method and apparatus is used to of validate a vehicle identification number (VIN). At least a first VIN having a plurality of characters in a plurality of positions is received. At least a first character in a first position of the first VIN to inspected to determine if the first character is included in a first set of valid characters. The first character is identified as being in error when the first character is not in the first set of valid characters. The first character is replaced with a substitute character.

Claims

1. A method of validating a vehicle identification number (VIN), comprising the acts of:

receiving in a computer system at least a first VIN having a plurality of characters, including letters, in a plurality of positions;

inspecting a first letter in a first position of said first VIN to determine if said first letter is included in a first set of valid characters using said computer system;

identifying said first letter as being in error when said first letter is not in said first set of valid characters using said computer system;

replacing said first letter with a first substitute letter using said computer system;

inspecting a second letter in a second position of said first VIN to determine if said second letter is included in a second set of valid characters using said computer system;

identifying said second letter as being in error when said second letter is not in said second set of valid characters using said computer system; and

replacing said second letter with a second substitute letter using said computer system.

2. The method of validating a vehicle identification number (VIN) as defined in claim 1, wherein said VIN includes at least a vehicle make code, said act of inspecting further comprising the acts of:

comparing said vehicle make code with at least one valid vehicle make code; and

providing an indication and correcting said vehicle make code when comparison of said vehicle make code with said valid vehicle make code fails to find a match.

3. The method of validating a vehicle identification number (VIN) as defined in claim 1, wherein said VIN has at least a year code, said act of inspecting further comprising the acts of:

comparing said year code with a set of valid year codes; and

providing an indication and correcting said year code when comparison of said year code with said set of year codes fails to find a match.

4. The method of validating a vehicle identification number (VIN) as defined in claim 1, wherein said VIN has at least a check code associated with at some of said positions, and said act of inspecting further comprises the act of determining if said check code is correct.

5. The method of validating a vehicle identification number (VIN) as defined in claim 1, further comprising the act of selecting said first substitute letter from a group of letters, said group consisting of at least one of B, C, E, F, G, M, N, P, U, V, X, and Z.

6. The method of validating a vehicle identification number (VIN) as defined in claim 1, wherein said first substitute letter is an N when said first letter in error is an M.

7. The method of validating a vehicle identification number (VIN) as defined in claim 1, wherein said first substitute letter is an E when said first letter in error is a B.

8. The method of validating a vehicle identification number (VIN) as defined in claim 1, wherein said first substitute letter is an E when said first letter in error is an F.

9. The method of validating a vehicle identification number (VIN) as defined in claim 1, wherein said first substitute letter is an F when said first letter in error is a P.

10. The method of validating a vehicle identification number (VIN) as defined in claim 1, wherein said first substitute letter is a T when said first letter in error is a J.

11. The method of validating a vehicle identification number (VIN) as defined in claim 1, wherein said first substitute letter is a G when said first letter in error is a C.

12. The method of validating a vehicle identification number (VIN) as defined in claim 1, wherein said first substitute letter is a U when said first letter in error is a V.

13. The method of validating a vehicle identification number (VIN) as defined in claim 1, wherein said first substitute letter is a[n] V when said first letter in error is a U.

14. A method of validating a vehicle identification number (VIN), comprising the acts of:

comparing a VIN vehicle make code with at least one valid vehicle make code;

comparing a VIN year code with at least one valid year code;

comparing a VIN check code is correct with a calculated check code;

providing a first indication when a first of said comparisons fails to find a match;

automatically performing a first correction on said VIN at least partly in response to said first indication,

providing a second indication when a second of said comparisons fails to find a match; and

automatically performing a second correction on said VIN at least partly in response to said second indication.

15. An apparatus used to validate a vehicle identification number (VIN), said apparatus having memory to store instructions, said apparatus comprising:

at least a first instruction used to inspect a first letter in a first position of said VIN and a second letter in a second position in said VIN to determine if said first letter is included in a first set of valid letters and if said second letter is included in a second set of valid letters;

at least a second instruction used to identify said first letter as being in error when said first letter is not in said first set of valid letters and when said second letter is not in said second set of valid letters; and

at least a third instruction used to automatically replace said first letter with a first substitute letter upon said first letter being identified as being in error and to automatically replace said second letter with a second substitute letter upon said second letter being identified as being in error.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 15, said apparatus further comprising:

at least a fourth instruction used to compare a VIN vehicle make code with at least one valid vehicle make code;

at least a fifth instruction used to provide an indication when comparison of said vehicle make code with said at least one valid vehicle make code fails to find a match; and

at least a sixth instruction used to correct said vehicle make code in response to said indication.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 15, said apparatus further comprising:

at least a fourth instruction used to compare a VIN year code with at least one valid year code;

at least a fifth instruction used to provide an indication when comparison of said year code with said at least one valid year code fails to find a match and

at least a sixth instruction used to correct said year code in response to said indication.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 15, said apparatus further comprising at least a fourth instruction used to determine if a VIN check code is correct.

19. A method of validating a vehicle identification number (VIN), comprising the acts of:

inspecting at least a first VIN having a plurality of character positions;

determining if a first character in a first of said character positions is in a selection of valid characters;

indicating a first error condition when said first character is not in said selection of valid characters;

automatically replacing said first character with a first alternate character when said first error condition occurs;

determining if a second character in a second of said character positions is in a selection of valid characters;

indicating a second error condition when said second character is not in said selection of valid characters

automatically replacing said second character with a second alternate character when said second error condition occurs.

20. The method of validating a vehicle identification number (VIN) as defined in claim 19, further comprising the act of inspecting said VIN after after replacing said first character to determine if said VIN has an improper character at at least one character position.

21. A means for validating a vehicle identification number (VIN), said means comprising:

a means for receiving at least a first VIN having a plurality of positions;

a means for inspecting at least a first letter in a first position of said first VIN to determine if said first letter is included in a first set of valid letters;

a means for identifying said first letter as being in error when said first letter is not in said first set of valid letters; and

a means for automatically replacing said first letter with a substitute letter.