Communications: electrical – Selective – Interrogation response
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-01
2001-07-10
Horabik, Michael (Department: 2635)
Communications: electrical
Selective
Interrogation response
C714S819000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06259354
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a method and system for validating vehicle identification numbers and in particular a system and method for inspecting and correcting vehicle identification numbers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
The tracking of vehicle titles, including liens and other financial interest in those titles, is an essential function of today's economy. Historically, paper vehicle titles have been used to track vehicle ownership and vehicle lien holders. However, paper vehicle titles have presented lien holders with several challenges. These challenges include tracking title status, lost collateral (actual paper titles), and quality control. Prior electronic vehicle tracking systems such as the vehicle title tracking system (VTTS) produced by FDI Consulting Version 4, have addressed these challenges by providing an electronic paperless method of tracking titles and financial interests in those titles. The VTTS provides easier access to the vehicle title record and lowers collateral losses due to less paper. Furthermore, the VTTS provides increased accuracy of title records, and more efficient interaction with the government agency responsible for the issuance of titles (hereinafter, “the Department of Motor Vehicles”). This increased efficiency has resulted in lower Department of Motor Vehicle fees and allows users to access vehicle title records anytime. Thus, VTTS increases title department efficiency and effectiveness and improves customer service levels. Since information is transferred electronically, there is less delay due to “lost” phone calls or use of incorrect forms.
In the VTTS, the vehicle title information is an electronic record rather than an actual paper title. Vehicle title information is confirmed electronically instead of on paper forms. The FDI VTTS provides electronic transfer, search, and storage of vehicle title records. The VTTS stores vehicle information from both the lien holder and the Department of Motor Vehicles. The VTTS can match information from the lien holder and the DMV records to compile a perfected vehicle title record. The vehicle identification number (VIN), a unique number assigned to every vehicle manufactured for sale in the United States, appears in both the DMV and the lien holder records, and therefore has been used as a “key” in matching DMV records with corresponding lien holder records.
However, the prior VTTSs have several disadvantages. One significant limitation of conventional systems is that a system had to be optimized on a state-by-state basis. This is because each state has its own file format and its own unique database format. Thus, VTTSs would have to be uniquely coded for each database format used by the 50 states. Alternatively, each state would have to agree to use a common format. However, because each state has unique needs, such agreement has not occurred.
Furthermore, when the VIN provided by the DMV fails to match the number provided by lien holder, the prior systems only perform rudimentary error detection and correction on the unmatched VIN number. For example, conventional systems were limited to interchanging a letter, such as an I or an O with a corresponding number, having an almost identical appearance, such as a 1 or a 0. Typically, no attempt is made to substitute one letter with another letter. Because only rudimentary attempts are made to correct an unmatched VIN, the VIN is frequently not successfully corrected by existing VTTSs. Thus, manual intervention by an operator is required to correct an unmatched VIN.
SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The present invention provides novel systems and methods for the automated inspection and correction of Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN). VIN numbers are often misentered by data entry personnel, causing significant problems in tracking the related vehicle title, and updating title information. The present invention allows an accurate detection of misentered VINs as well as the correction of the same. The need for human intervention in correcting VINs is thereby greatly reduced. Thus, one embodiment of the present invention inspects the different VIN fields or positions to detect data entry or transmission errors. If the VIN contains an illegal or incorrect character at a given position, one or more characters are replaced with alternate or substitute characters. In one embodiment, the VIN is then reinspected to determine if the VIN is now correct.
Thus, in one embodiment, a VIN's vehicle make code and year code are inspected to ensure that the codes are valid. Thus, by way of example, the make code may be compared against valid make codes. If the make code is not a valid make code, at least one character of the VIN make code is replaced with a likely substitute character. Similar operations may be performed for other invalid VIN codes.
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FDI Consulting, Inc.
Horabik Michael
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
Shimizu M
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