System and method for providing a vehicle condition report

• US 9,536,254 B1
• Filed: 06/13/2013
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Condition Report, LLC
• Original Assignee: Condition Report, LLC
• Inventors: David, Alex E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chio, Tat
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mung, On S
• Application Number:
  US13/916,746
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• Field of Search: 348/148
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0278 Product appraisal
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A system and method for providing a current, standardized and comprehensive vehicle condition report while also creating lead generation data. Embodiments described herein can process vehicle information, vehicle appraisal, and computerized arrangements that enable shoppers to investigate, locate, specify, requisition, purchase, or otherwise exchange information concerning vehicles.

Claims

1. A method for generating a standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report comprising:

receiving, by a server, a request to generate a standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report for a vehicle from a first user using a first user terminal over a communication network;

transmitting, by the server, a notification to a computer terminal associated with a vehicle inspector notifying the vehicle inspector that a request by the first user has been made to have the vehicle inspected;

receiving, by the server, vehicle inspection data from the computer terminal associated with the vehicle inspector after the vehicle inspector has inspected the vehicle, wherein the vehicle inspection data includes information describing a current mechanical and aesthetic condition of the vehicle;

compiling, by the server, the vehicle inspection data with vehicle identification data to produce the standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report for the vehicle;

analyzing, by the server, the information describing the current mechanical condition to generate a mechanical score for the vehicle;

analyzing, by the server, the information describing the current aesthetic condition to generate an aesthetic score for the vehicle; and

combining, by the server, the mechanical score and the aesthetic score to generate a standardized, consistent, and comprehensive rating for the vehicle, wherein the compiling further comprises combining the vehicle inspection data, the vehicle identification data, and the rating to produce the standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report for the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, by the server, the standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report to the first user terminal over the communication network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report includes an assessment of repair work the vehicle requires and an estimate of the repair work.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the estimate of the repair work is generated by the inspector.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

referencing, by the server, a market-rate repair work price for a designated repair in a database; and

transmitting, by the server, the market-rate repair work price to the first user terminal when transmitting the standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an automobile, boat, motorcycle, RV, truck, service vehicle, or construction machinery.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the server, vehicle history data from a third party computer server; and

compiling, by the server, the vehicle history data into the standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report includes photographs of the interior and exterior of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report includes at least one photograph of the vehicle'"'"'s interior, each wheel of the vehicle, the vehicle'"'"'s fender, the vehicle'"'"'s bumper, the vehicle'"'"'s side, the vehicle'"'"'s top, the vehicle'"'"'s back end, the vehicle'"'"'s dashboard, and the vehicle'"'"'s odometer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report includes current vehicle mechanical condition, condition of the vehicle'"'"'s body and interior, and the rating for the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating, by the server, a validity period having an expiration event for the standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report based on the age of the vehicle, mileage of the vehicle, or the vehicle inspection data.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the expiration event is either an expiration time or an amount of miles accumulated by the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, by the server, location data of nearby inspectors to the first user terminal over the communication network before transmitting a notification to the inspector; and

receiving, by the server, a selection for the inspector from the first user terminal.

14. A system for generating a standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report comprising:

a server configured to;

receive a request to generate a standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report for a vehicle from a first user using a first user terminal over a communication network;

transmit a notification to a computer terminal associated with a vehicle inspector notifying the vehicle inspector that the request by the first user has been made to have the vehicle inspected;

receive vehicle inspection data from the computer terminal associated with the vehicle inspector after the vehicle inspector has inspected the vehicle, wherein the vehicle inspection data includes information describing a current mechanical and aesthetic condition of the vehicle;

compile the vehicle inspection data with vehicle identification data to produce the standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report for the vehicle; and

transmit the standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report to a user terminal requesting the standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report;

analyze the information describing the current mechanical condition to generate a mechanical score for the vehicle;

analyze the information describing the current aesthetic condition to generate an aesthetic score for the vehicle; and

combine the mechanical score and the aesthetic score to generate a standardized, consistent, and comprehensive rating for the vehicle, wherein the compiling further comprises combining the vehicle inspection data, the vehicle identification data, and the rating to produce the standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report for the vehicle; and

a database configured to receive the standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report from the server, and to store the standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report.

15. A method for generating a standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report comprising:

receiving, by a server, a request to generate a standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report for a vehicle from a first user using a first user terminal over a communication network;

transmitting, by the server, a notification to a computer terminal associated with a vehicle inspector notifying the vehicle inspector that a request by the first user has been made to have the vehicle inspected;

receiving, by the server, vehicle inspection data from the computer terminal associated with the vehicle inspector after the vehicle inspector has inspected the vehicle, wherein the vehicle inspection data includes quantitative mechanical data and aesthetic condition data describing a current mechanical and aesthetic condition of the vehicle;

analyzing, by the server, the quantitative mechanical data included in the vehicle inspection data to generate a mechanical score for the vehicle;

analyzing, by the server, the aesthetic condition data included in the vehicle inspection data to generate an aesthetic score for the vehicle;

combining, by the server, the mechanical score and the aesthetic score to generate a standardized, consistent, and comprehensive rating for the vehicle; and

compiling, by the server, the vehicle inspection data with vehicle identification data and the rating to produce the standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report for the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

transmitting, by the server, the standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report to the first user terminal over the communication network.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

analyzing, by the server, vehicle history data and adjusting the rating as a result of the vehicle history data.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the aesthetic condition data includes photographs of the interior and exterior of the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein generating the aesthetic score comprises analyzing, by the server, the photographs using image processing to search for dents, scratches, or blemishes.

20. A system for generating a standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report comprising:

a server configured to;

receive a request to generate a standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report for a vehicle from a first user using a first user terminal over a standardized, consistent, and comprehensive communication network;

transmit a notification to a computer terminal associated with a vehicle inspector notifying the vehicle inspector that a request by the first user has been made to have the vehicle inspected;

receive vehicle inspection data from the computer terminal associated with the vehicle inspector after the vehicle inspector has inspected the vehicle, wherein the vehicle inspection data includes quantitative mechanical data and aesthetic condition data describing a current mechanical and aesthetic condition of the vehicle;

analyze the quantitative mechanical data included in the vehicle inspection data to generate a mechanical score for the vehicle;

analyze the aesthetic condition data included in the vehicle inspection data to generate an aesthetic score for the vehicle;

combine the mechanical score and the aesthetic score to generate a rating for the vehicle; and

compile the vehicle inspection data with vehicle identification data and the rating to produce the standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report for the vehicle;

analyze the information describing the current mechanical data to generate a mechanical score for the vehicle;

analyze the information describing the current aesthetic data to generate an aesthetic score for the vehicle; and

combine the mechanical score and the aesthetic score to generate a standardized, consistent, and comprehensive rating for the vehicle, wherein the compiling further comprises combining the vehicle inspection data, the vehicle identification data, and the rating to produce a standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report for the vehicle; and

a database configured to receive the standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report from the server, and to store the standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report.

21. A handheld device comprising:

a camera configured to record images;

a memory unit configured to store information inputted by a user, information received from the camera, information generated by the handheld device, and a software application, wherein the software application is configured to;

receive a vehicle identification number (“

VIN”

) of a vehicle;

load an inspection protocol based on the vehicle'"'"'s VIN; and

generate instructions that guide the user through the inspection protocol, wherein the instructions include displaying pre-populated vehicle profile data based on the VIN, calling the camera so that the user uses the camera to record an image of designated areas of the vehicle, and generating a form where the user can input data about the vehicle;

analyze the information describing the current mechanical data to generate a mechanical score for the vehicle;

analyze the information describing the current aesthetic data to generate an aesthetic score for the vehicle; and

combine the mechanical score and the aesthetic score to generate a standardized, consistent, and comprehensive rating for the vehicle, wherein the compiling further comprises combining the vehicle inspection data, the vehicle identification data, and the rating to produce a standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report for the vehicle;

a network interface configured to connect the handheld device to a network and communicate with other computing devices;

an input/output device configured to receive information input by the user and display information to the user; and

a processor configured to execute the software application, process image information from the camera, and process all information inputted during the inspection protocol to generate vehicle inspection data to be sent through the network interface to a server.

22. The handheld device of claim 21, wherein the handheld receives the VIN by scanning the VIN on the vehicle using the camera.

23. The handheld device of claim 21, wherein the network interface is further configured to communicate with the engine control unit (“

ECU”

) of the vehicle to receive engine diagnostic information from the ECU.

24. A method for generating a standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report comprising:

receiving, by a server, a request to generate the standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report for a vehicle from a prospective buyer using a first computer terminal over a communication network;

transmitting, by the server, a notification to a vehicle owner using a second computer terminal notifying the vehicle owner that the prospective buyer requested the standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report for the vehicle;

receiving, by the server, a selection of a vehicle inspector from the vehicle owner using the second computer terminal;

transmitting, by the server, a notification to the vehicle inspector using a third computer terminal notifying the vehicle inspector that a request has been made to have the vehicle inspected;

receiving, by the server, vehicle inspection data from the third computer terminal after the vehicle inspector has inspected the vehicle, wherein the vehicle inspection data includes information describing a current mechanical and aesthetic condition of the vehicle;

compiling, by the server, the vehicle inspection data with vehicle identification data to produce the standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report for the vehicle;

analyzing, by the server, the information describing the current mechanical data to generate a mechanical score for the vehicle;

analyzing, by the server, the information describing the current aesthetic condition data to generate an aesthetic score for the vehicle; and

combining, by the server, the mechanical score and the aesthetic score to generate a standardized, consistent, and comprehensive rating for the vehicle, wherein the compiling further comprises combining the vehicle inspection data, the vehicle identification data, and the rating to produce a standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report for the vehicle.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

receiving, by the server, personal information from the first user terminal;

transmitting, by the server, the personal information and the standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report to a lead generation partner using a fourth computer terminal;

receiving, by the server, an offer based upon the personal information and the standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report from the lead generation partner using the fourth computer terminal; and

transmitting, by the server, the offer to the prospective buyer using the first user terminal.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the lead generation partner is selected from the group consisting of a bank, an insurance provider, a dealership, a broker, an operator of vehicle transportation services, and a lending institution.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the offer is an insurance plan attached to the standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report for the vehicle.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the offer is a loan from a bank for purchasing the vehicle.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the offer is presented to the prospective buyer with the standardized, consistent, and comprehensive vehicle condition report.