Systems and methods for a virtual car advisor

• US 9,477,978 B1
• Filed: 04/04/2008
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Oakes, Charles Lee III, Medina, Reynaldo III
• Primary Examiner(s): PHILLIPS, III, ALBERT M
• Application Number:
  US12/062,593
• Time in Patent Office: 3,126 Days
• Field of Search: 707/769
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5846 using extracted text
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation

Abstract

A system for advising a user on the condition of a vehicle is described. Data can be collected from a vehicle in the form of images or reflected energy from a section or part of the vehicle, and the data can be analyzed to determine if repairs, damage, or other problems are present. The collected data may also be images of identifying panels or insignia on the car. A report with results of the analysis can be provided to the user. The results of the analysis may describe detected damage or repairs, provide vehicle history or identifying information, or report detection of repainting.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request from a user via a mobile device operated by the user, the request being for assistance in evaluating a vehicle condition;

remotely controlling the user'"'"'s mobile device to obtain information about a first vehicle;

receiving an image of the first vehicle from the user'"'"'s mobile device;

analyzing the image to create an analysis identifying at least one characteristic of the vehicle that is indicative of the vehicle condition;

generating at least one instruction from the analysis for at least a second image to be taken;

sending a response to the user, the response comprising instructions for a second image to be taken; and

receiving the second image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the image is a digital photograph obtained by a camera component of the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the first vehicle'"'"'s make and model;

searching a vehicle database to identify a second vehicle, the second vehicle being similar to the first vehicle; and

sending information to the user about the second vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the response to the user further comprises sending recommendations for further inquiries about specific aspects of the first vehicle'"'"'s history.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the response comprises a description of a problem when the problem is detected, an estimated repair cost for the problem and a recommended repair shop.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is a potential purchaser of the vehicle and wherein the response comprises a recommendation as to whether to purchase the vehicle based on the vehicle condition.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle condition comprises a different front-to-rear wheel measurement on a passenger side of the vehicle than a front-to-rear wheel measurement on a driver side of the vehicle, and wherein the detected problem comprises a problem with vehicle frame alignment.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle condition comprises uneven tire wear and wherein a detected problem comprises misaligned wheels, and wherein the response comprises a description of the problem.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sending a response to the user is based on the analysis of the image.

10. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory containing instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

receive a request from a user via a mobile device operated by the user, the request being for assistance in evaluating a vehicle condition;

remotely control the user'"'"'s mobile device to obtain information about a first vehicle;

receive an image of the first vehicle from the user'"'"'s mobile device;

analyze the image to create an analysis identifying at least one characteristic of the vehicle that is indicative of the vehicle condition;

generate at least one instruction from the analysis for at least a second image to be taken;

send a response to the user, the response comprising instructions for a second image to be taken; and

receive the second image.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the image is a digital photograph obtained by a camera component of the mobile device.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising instructions that cause the processor to:

determine the first vehicle'"'"'s make and model;

search a vehicle database to identify a second vehicle, the second vehicle being similar to the first vehicle; and

send information to the user about the second vehicle.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the instructions that send the response to the user comprise instructions that cause the processor to send recommendations for further inquiries about specific aspects of the first vehicle'"'"'s history.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the instructions that send the response to the user comprise instructions that cause the processor to:

determine the first vehicle'"'"'s make and model;

determine common repairs for vehicles having the same make and model as the first vehicle; and

send information about the common repairs to the user.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the response further comprises a description of a problem when the problem is detected, an estimated repair cost for the problem and a recommended repair shop.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the user is a potential purchaser of the vehicle and wherein the response comprises a recommendation as to whether to purchase the vehicle based on the vehicle condition.

17. A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-readable instructions, said computer-readable instructions comprising instructions for:

receiving a request from a user via a mobile device operated by the user, the request being for assistance in evaluating a vehicle condition, wherein the user is a potential purchaser of the vehicle;

remotely controlling the user'"'"'s mobile device to obtain information about a first vehicle;

receiving an image of the first vehicle from the user'"'"'s mobile device;

analyzing the image to create an analysis identifying at least one characteristic of the vehicle that is indicative of the vehicle condition;

generating at least one instruction from the analysis for at least a second image to be taken;

sending a response to the user, the response comprising instructions for a second image to be taken; and

receiving the second image.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the image is a digital photograph obtained by a camera component of the mobile device.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions for:

determining the first vehicle'"'"'s make and model;

searching a vehicle database to identify a second vehicle, the second vehicle being similar to the first vehicle; and

sending information to the user about the second vehicle.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions for sending the response to the user further comprise instructions for sending recommendations for further inquiries about specific aspects of the first vehicle'"'"'s history.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions for sending the response to the user further comprise instructions for:

determining the first vehicle'"'"'s make and model;

determining common repairs for vehicles having the same make and model as the first vehicle; and

sending information about the common repairs to the user.

22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the response comprises a description of a problem when the problem is detected, an estimated repair cost for the problem and a recommended repair shop.

23. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the user is a potential purchaser of the vehicle and wherein the response comprises a recommendation as to whether to purchase the vehicle based on the vehicle condition.