System and method for automatic identification of vehicle identification number

• US 7,421,322 B1
• Filed: 05/02/2005
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CARFAX Incorporated (S&P Global Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CARFAX Incorporated (S&P Global Inc.)
• Inventors: Ayrault, Renan, Silversmith, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Dalena
• Application Number:
  US11/118,775
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/29, 701/33, 701/35, 701/32, 707/104.1, 707/200, 307/10.5, 709/217, 705/1
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A vehicle history information system is provided for obtaining vehicle history information associated with a vehicle identification number (VIN). The vehicle history information system includes a VIN identification module adapted to identify at least one VIN in an electronic file, a database having vehicle history records relating to vehicle history of one or more vehicles, and a vehicle history report module adapted to retrieve vehicle history records associated the VIN identified. A method and a computer readable storage medium having instructions for obtaining vehicle history information are also provided.

Claims

1. A vehicle history information system for obtaining vehicle history information associated with a vehicle identification number (VIN) comprising:

a VIN identification module adapted to automatically electronically search an electronically displayable file, containing a plurality of vehicle information, to identify at least one VIN in the electronically displayable file;

a database having vehicle history records relating to a vehicle history of one or more vehicles; and

a vehicle history report module adapted to retrieve vehicle history records associated with said at least one VIN identified by said VIN identification module.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said VIN identification module identifies said at least one VIN by identifying a character string having 17 characters.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said VIN identification module is further adapted to perform at least one verification check to verify that said identified character string is a VIN.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said at least one verification check includes determining whether said identified character string has letters and digits.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said at least one verification check includes determining whether a character in a predetermined position of said identified character string is consistent with a VIN.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said VIN identification module is further adapted to automatically submit said at least one VIN identified to said vehicle history module.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said VIN identification module is further adapted to copy said at least one VIN identified into a search field.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said VIN identification module is further adapted to store a copy of said at least one VIN identified.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one VIN identified is a plurality of VINs, and said VIN identification module is further adapted to provide a listing of said plurality of VINs.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said VIN identification module is further adapted to allow user selection of at least one of said plurality of VINs identified.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said VIN identification module is further adapted to automatically submit said at least one user selected VIN to said vehicle history module.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said VIN identification module is at least one of a software plug-in and an applet associated with a computer application.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said computer application is at least one of a browser application, an e-mail application and a word processing application.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein said VIN identification module is embedded as part of a toolbar with an associated button or icon in said computer application.

15. A method of obtaining vehicle history information associated with a vehicle identification number (VIN) comprising:

providing a database having vehicle history records relating to vehicle history of one or more vehicles;

automatically electronically parsing an electronically displayable file, containing a plurality of vehicle information, to identify at least one VIN in said electronically displayable file; and

retrieving from said database, vehicle history records associated with said at least one VIN identified in said electronic file.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said electronically parsing includes identifying a character string having 17 characters in said electronic file.

17. The method of claim 16, further including electronically performing at least one verification check to verify that said identified character string is a VIN.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said at least one verification check includes determining whether said identified character string has letters and digits.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said at least one verification check includes determining whether a character in a predetermined position of said identified character string is consistent with a VIN.

20. The method of claim 15, further including electronically copying said at least one VIN identified into a search field.

21. The method of claim 15, further including electronically storing a copy of said at least one VIN identified.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein said at least one VIN is a plurality of VINs, said method further including providing a listing of said plurality of VINs.

23. The method of claim 22, further including electronically receiving a user selection of at least one of said plurality of VINs.

24. A computer readable storage medium comprising:

instructions for automatically electronically parsing an electronically displayable file containing a plurality of vehicle information; and

instructions for identifying at least one VIN in said electronically displayable file while parsing said electronically displayable file by identifying a character string having 17 characters in said electronically displayable file.

25. The storage medium of claim 24, further including instructions for retrieving vehicle history records associated with said at least one VIN identified from a database having vehicle history records relating to vehicle history of one or more vehicles.

26. The storage medium of claim 25, wherein said computer application is at least one of a browser application, an e-mail application and a word processing application.

27. The storage medium of claim 24, further including instructions for performing at least one verification check to verify that said identified character string is a VIN.

28. The storage medium of claim 27, wherein said at least one verification check includes determining whether said identified character string includes letters and digits.

29. The storage medium of claim 27, wherein said at least one verification check includes determining whether a character in a predetermined position of said identified character string is consistent with a VIN.

30. The storage medium of claim 24, further including instructions for populating a search field with said at least one VIN identified.

31. The storage medium of claim 24, further including instructions for storing a copy of said at least one VIN identified.

32. The storage medium of claim 24, wherein said at least one VIN is a plurality of VINs, said storage medium further including instructions for listing of said plurality of VINs.

33. The storage medium of claim 24, further including instructions for receiving a user selection of at least one of said plurality of VINs.

34. A computer executable vehicle identification number (VIN) identification module adapted to automatically electronically search an electronically displayable file, containing a plurality of vehicle information, and identify at least one VIN in the electronically displayable file by identifying a character string having 17 characters, and performing at least one verification check to verify that said identified character string is a VIN.

35. The module of claim 34, wherein said at least one verification check includes determining whether said identified character string has letters and digits.

36. The module of claim 34, wherein said at least one verification check includes determining whether a character in a predetermined position of said identified character string is consistent with a VIN.

37. The module of claim 34, wherein said module is further adapted to copy said at least one VIN identified into a search field.

38. The module of claim 34, wherein said module is at least one of a software plug-in and an applet associated with a computer application.

39. The module of claim 38, wherein said computer application is at least one of a browser application, an e-mail application and a word processing application.

40. A method of identifying at least one vehicle identification number (VIN) in an electronic file comprising:

automatically electronically parsing an electronically displayable file, containing a plurality of vehicle information to identify a character string in said electronically displayable file having 17 characters; and

performing at least one verification check to verify that said identified character string is a VIN.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said at least one verification check includes determining whether said identified character string has letters and digits.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein said at least one verification check includes determining whether a character in a predetermined position of said identified character string is consistent with a VIN.

43. A vehicle history information system for obtaining vehicle history information associated with a vehicle identification number (VIN) comprising:

a VIN identification module adapted to identify a plurality of VINs in an electronic file, said VIN identification module further adapted to provide a listing of said plurality of VINs and to delete any duplicate VINs;

a database having vehicle history records relating to a vehicle history of one or more vehicles; and

a vehicle history report module adapted to retrieve vehicle history records associated with said plurality of VINs identified by said VIN identification module.

44. A vehicle history information system for obtaining vehicle history information associated with a vehicle identification number (VIN) comprising:

a VIN identification module adapted to identify a plurality of VINs in an electronic file, said VIN identification module further adapted to provide a listing of said plurality of VINs and to sort said plurality of VINs;

a database having vehicle history records relating to a vehicle history of one or more vehicles; and

a vehicle history report module adapted to retrieve vehicle history records associated with said plurality of VINs identified by said VIN identification module.

45. A method of obtaining vehicle history information associated with a vehicle identification number (VIN) comprising:

providing a database having vehicle history records relating to vehicle history of one or more vehicles;

electronically parsing an electronic file to identify a plurality of VINs in said electronic file;

providing a listing of said plurality of VINs and deleting any duplicate VINs; and

retrieving from said database, vehicle history records associated with said plurality VINs identified in said electronic file.

46. A method of obtaining vehicle history information associated with a vehicle identification number (VIN) comprising:

providing a database having vehicle history records relating to vehicle history of one or more vehicles;

electronically parsing an electronic file to identify a plurality of VINs in said electronic file;

providing a listing of said plurality of VINs and sorting said plurality of VINs; and

retrieving from said database, vehicle history records associated with said plurality of VINs identified in said electronic file.

47. A computer readable storage medium comprising:

instructions for parsing an electronic file;

instructions for identifying a plurality of VINs in said electronic file;

instructions for listing of said plurality of VINs; and

instructions for deleting any duplicate VINs.

48. A computer readable storage medium comprising:

instructions for parsing an electronic file;

instructions for identifying a plurality of VINs in said electronic file;

instructions for listing of said plurality of VINs; and

instructions for sorting said plurality of VINs.