Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02818826 2013-06-14
DESCRIPTION
Field of invention:
This invention relates to using technology focuses on virtually logging the
maintenance performed
throughout a vehicles lifetime. This method uses unique barcode technology as
well as wireless
information technology. The updated information for the vehicle is sent to a
data center or held on a
users smartphone storage device.
Background of the invention :
Standing in a sellers used car lot or an private sellers laneway staring at a
vehicle it is extremely difficult
to know for sure if it has been maintaned regularly, somewhat or just plain
neglected throughout its
lifetime and quickly shined up just for the sale. A buyer in the market for a
used vehicle can quickly be
decieved by a quick exterior wash and hand wax, oil change and some tires with
one season left on
them.
In some provences a "safety" inspection is mandatory in order to be able to
register and properly plate
the vehicle to a new owner. These safety inspections are only a breif check by
a mechanic to suggest
that the car is safe enough to be driven on the road for another 200-1000kms.
Needless to say, vehicles roll of the newcar lot everyday with factory
warrenties. Maintainaing the
warrenty means that vehicle must be maintained by the factories reccomended
maintence schedule.
Present day, new car dealerships are just about the only service centers that
are able to log the history
of work completed to a vehicle, and not always. Any history logged is usually
for the manufacture to
seek information on warrenty and/or recalls. Ontop of that, it's sometimes
deleted once warrenty
expires. This has no benefit to the everyday buyer and/or other dealerships.
This means if you go to your trusted independant mechanic with his own shop to
have your oil changed,
new exhaust installed or get your serpentine belt replaced, guess what'?
You will most likey only a
breif receipt and no record of that valuable service being properly documented
to your specific
vehicle. If the work was done in that dealership, they should be able to look
up the history on their
computers. If it was done elsewhere, they would not have access unless the
sellar gave them their
own personal records.
Think about resale value from an individuals perspective if you can offer your
vehicle with proper
legitimate records since day 1 of buying your car compared to the same car
around the corner with a
mysterious past. This will be possible by having a scannable I.D tag equipped
to any servicable vehicle.
Their are some applications that are being released that allow the owner to
enter their own form of
service history, the problem with that is anybody can make the error of a
false service entry. This
invention method allows users to have their service confirmed by a mechanic
and/ or service center.
CA 02818826 2013-06-14
The method of this invention will reduce and potentially eliminate fraudulent
or fake service records. By
this method of validating the service performed by the actual mechanic or
service center, this creates a
true log that future buyers can rest assured that the service in claim was
really completed.
Barcode has evolved greatly,it is very common and if you take a look around
you can probably find many
barcodes on ordinary everyday items. Barcode technology can be traced back in
time to at least
around the early 1970s to i.d railroad cars, today they're used almost
everywhere and for almost every
item. The purpose of barcodes are to accuratly track and identfy almost
something.
Barcoding has many different forms. It's a protocol for arranging bars and
spaces and has evolved
greatly. Proven to greatly reduce human error and at the same time improve
productivity. There are
many different types of barcodes but broken down into two catagories which are
Linear Barcodes and
2D barcodes. Linear barcodes are the traditional ones that we usually see on
daily items at the grocery
store and everyday household items. 2d barcodes are usually square and
resemble square ink blots, this
type of barcode can hold much more data then a linear barcode.
Summary:
A method that will allow activities such as maintanence, service, parts
changed & work completed on a
vehicle to be digitally logged to any vehicle, wirelessly by using a unique
I.D tag. The data will be
available to be reviewed in an organized account at any time via computer or
smartphone application
and stored on the device.
A mechanism will create a scannable code that identifies the
activites/services performed on a
perticular vehicle. That code will be entered and wirelessly sent to the
vehicles account database using
an internet connection or a smartphone application.
The data, is held at a data center via cloud technology. The user or owner of
the vehicle can simply
retreive and review via online or smartphone or web application using a login
& password through an
internet connection.
Among simplicity and convenience the vehicles owner to log the history, the
object of this patent is to
have a clear history of the vehicles past maintance/activities and services
performed. When an I.D tag
is assigned to a vehicle, a user account can be created and associated with it
and includes storage
database.
When potential buyers that are seeking a to buy a pre-owned car are aware that
the main risk
involved is ending up paying for a vehicle that starts breaking down shortly
after you purchased it. This
usually means that it was not properly maintained with the prior owner(s). In
an organized, simple was
of displaying the vehicles maintenance history allows the seller and buyer to
have value in what they're
selling, helping aleviate leery potential buyers.
CA 02818826 2013-06-14
From having purchased many used cars, it is very rare to find a seller with
full history of maintenance.
When a car has full a history documented its a greatly appreciated.
Benefits:
Resale value of a vehicles are easier to justify.
With a majority of the population having smartphones, it's convient to be able
to open your application
if you ever need to reference what work was done in the past. The appliaction
method is more likely
then the manually finding paperwork and putting it back, that is if the
individual even saves their
autowork.
Reducing human error of losing or misplacing vehicle activity documents. Great
for the next user or even
your taxes.
Onging manufacture warrenty coverage by providing documentation of a service
was performed will be
appreciated.
Creates a paperless, orgainized log of automotive records.
The idea is to overcome the stressful gamble of assuming, if a car has been
properly maintained during
it's lifetime, when purchasing a used vehicle and by doing this in a very
simple way. Also help
aleiveiate the error of losing or misplacing automotive records.
The object of this patent is to create a virtual vehicle journal that can be
simply documented and saved
as an organized data entry into an database that can then be simply accessed
using a smartphone or
computer with internet.
Decsription of Drawings
Fig.1 Breifing of methods
Fig.2 Example of user account screen
Fig.3 Overview of methods
Detailed Description
Methods and systems for making vehicle service/maintenance history easliy
stored from a point of sale
location and readily available via mobile device or computer.
Once a vehicle is equipped with a unique I.D (ex. 2d code, RFID). Their is a
digital data space and account
CA 02818826 2013-06-14
set up ready receive information sent to it and able to be accessed.
The technology used to generate a scannable code that identifies perfomed
service will be located at the
automotive center, instructions will appear on screen for the user and to
follow. The software can be
downloaded or installed manually.
This invention includes software at the automotive center that can create,
scan, upload the services
performed directly onto the wireless database after scanning the corresponding
vehicle ID.
Along with a verified service activity report, users can have an option to
have a full digital invoice
uploaded to their wireless account(example is a pdf file) that can be be
clicked on to open the file and
display a digital invoice. This will reduce paper, ink and be considered eco-
freindly. This service option
can be selected by the user through their application account settings.
The mobile device application will be available for download and will provide
access to the users verified
vehicle maintenance logs.
With this invention, Automotive service centers will be able to provide a
symbol (ex. 2d code ,RFID)
corresponding with the service that has been completed. The staff simply
enters the vehicle I.D along
with the completed service. Software will generate a scannable code. It can be
wirelessly sent then
received to a database, onto the cars virtual log.
The information is sent to a data center where it is collected and saved into
the cars digital log sheet.
Their are several ways to view the vehicle data. Internet based using a
computer,smartphone,
smartphone app or other devices that can support the application.
Vehicle data can be passed on to the next owner of the vehicle and continue to
add to the vehicle
service log.
Users/Vehicle owners can permit others to gain limited access to be able to
access their vehicles activity
information using the website or downloaded application.
The activity performed on the vehicle will be inputed and tracked via unique
i.d tag that is assigned to
the perticular vehicle.
