Systems and methods for hit and run detection based on intelligent micro devices

• US 9,799,076 B1
• Filed: 01/16/2015
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Bueche, Jr., Michael P., Medina, III, Reynaldo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunnings, Travis
• Application Number:
  US14/598,613
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/22 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence

Abstract

A system, method, and computer-usable medium are disclosed for providing information relating to damage incurred by a vehicle in an accident. A first plurality of markers with a first set of identifiers is embedded in a coating applied to a component of a first vehicle and a second plurality of markers with a second set of identifiers is embedded in a coating applied to a component of a second vehicle. Markers from the first vehicle are transferred to the second vehicle upon impact during an accident. The transferred markers are read by a marker reader and then processed to determine the identity of the first vehicle.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor, the instructions causing the processor to:

obtain first marker identification data corresponding to a first vehicle, wherein the first marker identification data includes vehicle identity data stored in a plurality of markers on the first vehicle,

wherein a first one of the plurality of markers is a visual identifier comprising a carbon nanotube signature and indicating that the first one of the plurality of markers is associated with the first vehicle, and

wherein a second one of the plurality of markers is associated with a second vehicle;

correlate the first marker identification data corresponding to the first vehicle with second marker identification data in a database, the second marker identification data comprising data indexed to a plurality of vehicles, to provide identity information corresponding to the plurality of markers;

determine a component of the first vehicle from where the first one of the plurality of markers was obtained;

receive a vehicle repair history information of the first vehicle; and

compare the first marker identification data and the vehicle repair history information to determine new damage to the component of the first vehicle caused by the second vehicle.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of markers that is applied to a particular component of the first vehicle has a like identifier.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first marker identification data comprises a vehicle identification number (VIN).

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first one of the plurality markers is embedded in a coating on the first vehicle.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the vehicle repair history information comprises at least one of a date of reported repairs, a name of repaired or replaced components, a part number of repaired components, or a manufacturer of repaired components.

4. A system for providing information relating to damage incurred by a first vehicle, comprising:

a database comprising first marker identification data associated with a plurality of vehicles; and

an analysis module configured to correlate second marker identification data corresponding to a first vehicle with the first marker identification data to provide identity information corresponding to the first vehicle;

wherein the second marker identification data comprises data stored in a plurality of markers on the first vehicle, wherein a first one of the plurality markers is a visual identifier comprising a carbon nanotube signature, and

wherein the second marker identification data indicates that the first one of the plurality of markers is associated with the first vehicle and a second one of the plurality of markers is associated with a second vehicle.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of markers that is applied to a particular component of the first vehicle has a like identifier.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the second marker identification data corresponding to the first vehicle comprises a vehicle identification number (VIN).

12. The system of claim 4, wherein the first one of the plurality of markers is embedded in a coating on the first vehicle.

13. The system of claim 4, wherein the analysis module is further configured to:

determine a component of the first vehicle from where the first one of the plurality of markers was obtained;

receive a vehicle repair history information of the first vehicle; and

compare the second marker identification data and the vehicle repair history information to determine new damage to the component of the first vehicle caused by the second vehicle.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the vehicle repair history information comprises at least one of a date of reported repairs, a name of repaired or replaced components, a part number of repaired components, or a manufacturer of repaired components.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a computer to:

associate first identification data with a plurality of vehicles; and

associate second identification data corresponding to a first vehicle with the first identification data to provide identity information corresponding to the first vehicle;

wherein the second identification data comprises identity data stored in a plurality of markers on the first vehicle, wherein a first one of the plurality markers is a visual identifier comprising a carbon nanotube signature, and

wherein the second identification data indicates that the first one of the plurality of markers is associated with the first vehicle and a second one of the plurality of markers is associated with a second vehicle.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of markers that is applied to a particular component of the first vehicle has a like identifier.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the first marker identification data comprises a vehicle identification number (VIN).

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the first one of the plurality of markers is embedded in a coating on the first vehicle.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, the instructions further comprising:

determine a component of the first vehicle on which the first one of the plurality of markers and was located;

receive a vehicle repair history information of the first vehicle, wherein the vehicle repair history information comprises one of a date of reported repairs, a name of repaired or replaced components, a part number of repaired components, or a manufacturer of repaired components; and

compare the first identification data and the vehicle repair history information to determine new damage to the component of the first vehicle caused by the second vehicle.