Vehicle diagnostics

• US 9,672,665 B1
• Filed: 08/26/2015
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Inventors: Kraft, Daniel, Sankovsky, Jenny, Hayes, Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, SHARDUL D
• Application Number:
  US14/836,473
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 701 1, 701 291, 701 293, 701 294, 705 2, 705 4, 705347, 455 7, 4554221
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/3844 equipped with means to indicate wear or usage of blade
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• 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: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

Computing systems for vehicle diagnostics are provided. In accordance with some aspects, a computing system may receive, from a vehicle (e.g., from a computing device installed in and/or at the vehicle), a diagnostic code generated by an on-board diagnostic (OBD) system of the vehicle. The computing system may determine an issue with the vehicle based on the diagnostic code and may determine, based on the issue, a remedial action for addressing the issue and a timeframe for performing the remedial action. The computing system may store data identifying the issue, the remedial action, and the timeframe in a record associated with the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a communication interface;

at least one processor; and

a memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to;

receive, via the communication interface and from a computing device installed in or at a vehicle, a first diagnostic code generated by an on-board diagnostic system of the vehicle;

determine, based on the first diagnostic code, an issue with the vehicle;

determine, based on the issue, a remedial action for addressing the issue and a recommended timeframe for performing the remedial action to address the issue, wherein the timeframe is determined based at least in part on insurance policy information and a number of incentives associated with the insurance policy information;

store, in a record associated with the vehicle, data identifying the issue, the remedial action, and the timeframe;

receive, via the communication interface and from the computing device installed in or at the vehicle, a second diagnostic code generated by the on-board diagnostic system of the vehicle; and

determine, based on the second diagnostic code, whether the remedial action was performed within the timeframe.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

receive, via the communication interface and from the computing device, an identifier associated with the vehicle; and

identify, based on the identifier, an auto-insurance policy associated with the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

generate a notification identifying the issue, the remedial action, and the timeframe;

identify, based on the auto-insurance policy, a recipient associated with the vehicle; and

communicate, to the recipient, the notification.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

identify, based on a storage address of the vehicle indicated by the auto-insurance policy, one or more service locations equipped to perform the remedial action, and wherein the notification identifies the one or more service locations.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

identify, based on the auto-insurance policy, one or more discounts available to holders of the auto-insurance policy at the one or more service locations, and wherein the notification identifies the one or more discounts.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

identify, based on a storage address of the vehicle indicated by the auto-insurance policy, a cost estimate for the remedial action, and wherein the notification comprises the cost estimate.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

determine, based on information indicated by the auto-insurance policy, at least one of the issue, the remedial action, or the timeframe.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the diagnostic code is specific to a make and model of the vehicle, and wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

determine, based on a make and model of the vehicle indicated by the auto-insurance policy, the at least one of the issue, the remedial action, or the timeframe.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

determine, based on information from one or more claims previously filed under the auto-insurance policy, at least one of the issue, the remedial action, or the timeframe.

10. The system of claim 3, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

determine, based on a make and model of the vehicle indicated by the auto-insurance policy, that the issue is associated with a recall issued by a manufacturer of the vehicle, and wherein the notification indicates that the issue is associated with the recall.

11. The system of claim 3, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

determine, based on a make and model of the vehicle indicated by the auto-insurance policy, that the issue is covered by a warranty on the vehicle, and wherein the notification indicates that the issue is covered by the warranty.

12. The system of claim 3, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

determine, based on a make and model of the vehicle indicated by the auto-insurance policy, that the issue is not covered by a warranty on the vehicle, and identify, based on the make and model, an extended-coverage warranty that would have covered the issue, and wherein the notification identifies the extended-coverage warranty.

13. The system of claim 3, wherein the timeframe indicates that the remedial action should be performed immediately, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

determine that the auto-insurance policy covers roadside assistance, and wherein the notification indicates that the remedial action should be performed immediately and that the auto-insurance policy covers roadside assistance.

14. The system of claim 3, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

receive, via the communication interface and from the computing device, an odometer reading for the vehicle;

determine, based on the odometer reading and a make and model of the vehicle indicated by the auto-insurance policy, that the vehicle is due for scheduled maintenance;

generate a reminder regarding the scheduled maintenance; and

communicate, to the recipient, the reminder.

15. The system of claim 3, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

identify, based on the identifier, a maintenance history for the vehicle; and

communicate, to the recipient, at least a portion of the maintenance history.

16. The system of claim 3, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

alter the auto-insurance policy based on whether the remedial action was performed within the timeframe.

17. The system of claim 3, wherein the memory stores further computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

determine, based on whether the remedial action was performed within the timeframe, a renewal premium for the auto-insurance policy.

18. A method, comprising:

receiving, by one or more computers, data comprising;

an identifier associated with a vehicle, and a first diagnostic code generated by an on-board diagnostic system of the vehicle;

identifying, by the one or more computers and based on the identifier, an auto-insurance policy associated with the vehicle; and

determining, by the one or more computers and based on the first diagnostic code and information indicated by the auto-insurance policy, at least one of an issue with the vehicle, a remedial action for addressing an issue with the vehicle, or a timeframe for addressing an issue with the vehicle;

receiving, by the one or more computers, a second diagnostic code generated by the on-board diagnostic system of the vehicle;

determine, based on the second diagnostic code, whether the remedial action was performed within the timeframe; and

determine, by the one or more computers, an incentive for the auto-insurance policy based on whether the remedial action was performed within the timeframe.

19. A system, comprising:

an on-board diagnostic system of a vehicle;

a computing device associated with the vehicle;

a communication interface;

at least one processor; and

a memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to;

receive data comprising an identifier associated with a vehicle and a first diagnostic code generated by the on-board diagnostic system of the vehicle;

identify, by the one or more computes and based on the identifier, an auto-insurance policy associated with the vehicle;

determine, based on the diagnostic code generated by the on-board diagnostic system, an issue with the vehicle, a remedial action for addressing the issue, and a timeframe for performing the remedial action;

communicate, via the communication interface and to the computing device, a notification identifying the issue, the remedial action, and the timeframe;

receive a second diagnostic code generated by the on-board diagnostic system of the vehicle;

determine based on the second diagnostic code whether the remedial action was performed within the timeframe; and

modify, based on whether the remedial action was performed within the timeframe, an auto-insurance policy that includes coverage for the vehicle.