US 6,052,631 A · Method and system for facilitating vehicle inspection to detect previous damage and repairs

Abstract

Computer-based methods and systems for facilitating the inspection of a vehicle to detect the presence of prior damage and problems with previous repair are provided. Exemplary embodiments provide an inspection facilitator, which includes an inspection engine and an inspection interface. The inspection engine and inspection interface are implemented as an expert system, which directs a technician or apparatus to perform a uniform inspection process. The inspection facilitator, after receiving vehicle specific information, first directs and guides an inspection of the underbody of the vehicle to detect gross level damage or repair. The inspection facilitator then dynamically directs and guides an inspection of the outerbody of the vehicle based upon the nonconformities indicated in response to each directed inspection task. The areas to be inspected and inspection tasks are determined dynamically by comparing nonconformity input to facts and rules programmed into the inference engine of the inspection facilitator in combination with retrieved manufacturing specifications and industry standard repair procedures.

Claims56

Dependent claims

A method in a computer system for facilitating inspection of a vehicle to detect problems with unknown repair, the vehicle having an underbody portion and an outerbody portion, the method comprising:

(a) receiving vehicle identification information including an indication of vehicle type;
(b) retrieving, based upon the received vehicle type, repair specifications and vehicle specifications that include alignment tolerances and;
(c) determining whether damage has occurred to the vehicle by,
(c1) receiving a plurality of underbody alignment measurements;
(c2) comparing the received underbody alignment measurements to the retrieved alignment tolerances;
and
(c3) indicating a set of alignment nonconformities;
(d) when it is determined that damage has occurred to the vehicle, facilitating the detection and location of previously performed repair work to the vehicle by,
(d1) using an inference engine, requesting inspection of certain areas of the outerbody portion based upon the indicated alignment nonconformities;
(d2) for each of the requested certain areas of inspection, receiving an indication of a current condition of the certain area;
and
(d3) comparing the received indications of current conditions of the certain areas to the retrieved specifications to identify areas of repair;
(e) when repair areas have been identified,
(e1) using an inference engine, requesting inspection of further areas;
(e2) for each of the requested further areas of inspection, receiving an indication of the current condition of the further area;
and
(e3) comparing the received indications of current conditions of the further areas to the retrieved repair specifications to identify repair nonconformities and potential safety hazards;
(f) determining a conclusion as to whether the vehicle has been properly repaired;
and
(g) outputting the conclusion.

17 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for facilitating vehicle inspection to detect previous damage and repairs

Life of this patent

Method and system for facilitating vehicle inspection to detect previous damage and repairs

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims56