Automotive picture and data acquisition center and method
OwnerRobert Suggsinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for the automatic or semi-automatic acquisition of multiple photographs and VIN-coded information about an automobile. In one embodiment, four height-adjustable, digital cameras are positioned on four corner posts defining a work center. A vehicle is pulled into the center until a stop indicator light is triggered, at which time an attendant scans the bar coded VIN number and reviews the proposed photographs of the vehicle at a work center computer. Once the photographs and data are acceptable, the attendant triggers a download of the information to local and industry databases. Alternate embodiments include Alternate embodiments include work centers with different post configurations, manual entry systems, and completely automated centers.
Claims4
A system for obtaining, processing, and transferring vehicle identification information, the system comprising:
- a first computer which is used to decode a VIN number to obtain vehicle data;
- at least one digital camera, such that the digital camera may provide at least one digital image of the vehicle to the first computer;
- a monitor in communication with the first computer, the monitor permitting review of the vehicle data, and permitting review of the digital image of the vehicle;
- and
- a communications link between the first computer and a second computer such that the digital image and the vehicle data can be collected, processed, and transferred from the first computer to the second computer substantially in real time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.