Systems and methods for accident notification

• US 8,249,899 B1
• Filed: 04/04/2008
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Medina, III, Reynaldo, Oakes, III, Charles L.
• Primary Examiner(s): JOHNSON, GREGORY L
• Application Number:
  US12/098,005
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence

Abstract

The described embodiments contemplate a system, method and computer-readable medium with computer-executable instructions for accident notification. The novel system includes subsystems for testing an automobile, or a part of an automobile, and comparing the result of the test with a baseline result. The test may use various detectors, including radio frequency identification tags embedded in the paint of an automobile, magnetic variances caused by metal deformation, or electrical changes in a circuit. The test may be used for various purposes, including determining that an accident has occurred, verifying the authenticity of a repair part, or for processing an insurance claim.

Claims

1. A method for an insurance company to process an insurance claim submitted by a customer, comprising:

executing program code on one or more machines to perform;

receiving an insurance claim to perform a repair of a part on an automobile;

determining an amount of the insurance claim;

depending on the amount of the insurance claim, sending a request to test the automobile, wherein the test comprises;

transmitting a first testing signal to the part;

determining a first response to the first testing signal, wherein the first response indicates a first number of radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags mixed in with paint applied to a surface of the part;

comparing the first response to a first expected value, wherein the first expected value indicates an expected number of remaining RFID tags;

transmitting a second testing signal to the part;

determining a second response to the second testing signal, wherein the second response indicates a second number of radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags mixed in with paint applied to the surface of the part; and

comparing the first number of RFID tags to the second number of RFID tags to determine whether a minor deviation exists between the first and second numbers; and

approving the insurance claim when the first and second numbers are within a predefined range of the first expected value, and when the minor deviation exists between the first and second numbers; and

processing the insurance claim.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the part is a body panel of the automobile.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first expected value is a value that indicates that the body panel is damaged.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first expected value is a value created when the automobile was tested proximate to the time of manufacturing.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein executing program code on the one or more machines causes the one or more machines to perform testing a replacement part for the part, wherein the testing the replacement part comprises:

transmitting a third testing signal to the replacement part;

determining a third response to the third testing signal;

comparing the third response to a second expected value; and

authenticating the replacement part if the third response is within a certain range from the second expected value.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein executing program code on the one or more machines causes the one or more machines to perform denying the insurance claim if the first response is not within a certain range from the first expected value.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the test further comprises:

comparing the first response to a test pattern of RFID tags to determine whether an arrangement of RFID tags has changed;

identifying a change in the arrangement of RFID tags; and

recommending replacement of the part based on the change.

8. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon for an insurance company to process an insurance claim submitted by a customer, the computer-readable instructions comprising instructions to:

receive an insurance claim to perform a repair of a part on an automobile;

determine an amount of the insurance claim;

depending on the amount of the insurance claim, send a request to test the automobile, wherein the test comprises;

transmitting a first testing signal to the part;

determining a first response to the first testing signal, wherein the first response indicates a first number of radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags mixed in with paint applied to a surface of the part;

comparing the first response to a first expected value, wherein the first expected value indicates an expected number of remaining RFID tags;

transmitting a second testing signal to the part;

determining a second response to the second testing signal, wherein the second response indicates a second number of radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags mixed in with paint applied to the surface of the part; and

comparing the first number of RFID tags to the second number of RFID tags to determine whether a minor deviation exists between the first and second numbers; and

approve the insurance claim when the first and second numbers are within a predefined range of the first expected value, and when the minor deviation exists between the first and second numbers; and

process the insurance claim.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the part is a body panel of the automobile.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the first expected value is a value that indicates that the body panel is damaged.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the first expected value is a value created when the automobile was tested proximate to the time of manufacturing.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, further comprising instructions to:

transmit a third testing signal to a replacement part;

determine a third response to the third testing signal;

compare the third response to a second expected value; and

authenticate the replacement part if the third response is within a certain range from the second expected value.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, further comprising instructions for denying the insurance claim if the first response is not within a certain range from the first expected value.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions to test further comprise instructions to:

compare the first response to a test pattern of RFID tags to determine whether an arrangement of RFID tags has changed;

identify a change in the arrangement of RFID tags; and

recommend replacement of the part based on the change.

15. A system for an insurance company to process an insurance claim submitted by a customer, comprising at least one subsystem that:

receives an insurance claim to perform a repair of a part on an automobile;

determines an amount of the insurance claim;

depending on the amount of the insurance claim, sends a request to test the automobile, wherein the test comprises;

transmitting a first testing signal to the part;

determining a first response to the first testing signal, wherein the first response indicates a first number of radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags mixed in with paint applied to a surface of the part;

comparing the first response to a first expected value, wherein the first expected value indicates an expected number of remaining RFID tags;

transmitting a second testing signal to the part;

determining a second response to the second testing signal, wherein the second response indicates a second number of radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags mixed in with paint applied to the surface of the part; and

comparing the first number of RFID tags to the second number of RFID tags to determine whether a minor deviation exists between the first and second numbers; and

approves the insurance claim when the first and second numbers are within a predefined range of the first expected value, and when the minor deviation exists between the first and second numbers; and

processes the insurance claim.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the part is a body panel of the automobile.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first expected value is a value that indicates that the body panel is damaged.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the first expected value is a value created when the automobile was tested proximate to the time of manufacturing.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising at least one subsystem that:

transmits a third testing signal to a replacement part;

determines a third response to the testing signal;

compares the third response to a second expected value; and

authenticates the replacement part if the third response is within a certain range from the second expected value.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising at least one subsystem that denies the insurance claim if the first response is not within a certain range from the first expected value.

21. The system of claim 15, further comprising at least one subsystem that:

compares the first response to a test pattern of RFID tags to determine whether an arrangement of RFID tags has changed;

identifies a change in the arrangement of RFID tags; and

recommends replacement of the part based on the change.