Method of providing diagnostic information in connection with the sale of pre-owned vehicles

• US 8,032,419 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2009
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innova Electronics Corporation (Innova Telematics Solutions)
• Original Assignee: Innova Electronics Corporation (Innova Telematics Solutions)
• Inventors: Chenn, Ieon C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Champagne; Luna
• Application Number:
  US12/558,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20100005010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: N/A
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification

Abstract

A method of assisting sellers and buyers in the sale and purchase of a vehicle is provided. The method may comprise the steps of communicating a vehicle'"'"'s diagnostic data (e.g., OBD codes, etc.) with a provider. The method may further comprise the step of analyzing the communicated diagnostic data. The method may also comprise the step of preparing a vehicle diagnostic report based on the communicated diagnostic data. The method may also comprise the step of uploading the prepared report to a report database retrievable by a buyer.

Claims

1. A method of selling a vehicle based on information stored in a vehicle on-board computer, the method comprising the steps of:

a) downloading to a code reader diagnostic data stored in the on-board computer of a vehicle being offered for sale;

b) providing a diagnostic report associated with the vehicle offered for sale, the diagnostic report including diagnostic data represented to be the diagnostic data downloaded to the code reader from the on-board computer of the vehicle being offered for sale; and

b) conditioning the sale of the vehicle upon post-sale confirmation of conformance between diagnostic data downloaded from the vehicle on-board computer after sale and the diagnostic data included in the diagnostic report.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing a diagnostic report is implemented through a website.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic report includes OBD codes downloaded from the vehicle'"'"'s computer before sale.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of determining a condition of the vehicle before sale, based on comparison of the diagnostic data included in the report to a database, and including vehicle condition information in the diagnostic report.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of conditioning the sale of the vehicle upon post-sale confirmation of conformance between the vehicle condition after sale and the vehicle condition information included in the diagnostic report.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the diagnostic report further comprises an estimated cost of repairs associated with the vehicle condition information included in the diagnostic report.

7. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of:

i) downloading diagnostic data from the vehicle to a code reader after sale of the vehicle; and

ii) comparing diagnostic data downloaded to the code reader to the diagnostic data included in the diagnostic report.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of comparing diagnostic data from the vehicle after purchase of the vehicle further includes the steps of:

i) downloading the diagnostic data from the code reader to a computer; and

ii) comparing diagnostic data uploaded from the code reader to the diagnostic data included in the diagnostic report.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of providing a diagnostic report, and conditioning the sale of the vehicle proceed independent of any inspection of the vehicle by a mechanic.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of renting a hand held code reader to a vehicle seller for accessing the vehicle'"'"'s diagnostic data.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of renting a hand held code reader to a vehicle buyer for accessing the vehicle'"'"'s diagnostic data.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of requiring the buyer to pay to access the diagnostic report.

13. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of charging the buyer to access the vehicle condition information.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic data includes OBD trouble codes.

15. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of wirelessly communicating the diagnostic data from the code reader to a computer.

16. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of comparing the diagnostic data is implemented by a vehicle buyer.

17. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of comparing the diagnostic data is implemented by a third party.

18. The method of claim 5 wherein conformance between the vehicle condition after sale and the vehicle condition information included in the diagnostic report is evaluated by a third party.

19. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of downloading the diagnostic data to a computer, further comprises the step of uploading the diagnostic data to a vehicle retailer website;

and wherein the step of comparing diagnostic data uploaded from the code reader is implemented on the vehicle retailer website.