System for Identification of Tires and Ongoing Communication Concerning Safety Issues Therewith

Abstract

A system for tire identification is provided which continuously compares tires mounted on vehicles with tires known to have safety issues. Where a match is discerned for a vehicle mounted tire and a tire having safety issues, warnings are issued to one or all of the vehicle owner, the vehicle dealer, or the vehicle service center.

Claims

1. A system for tire identification and notification of defects therewith, comprising: one or more computer processors having memory communicably coupled thereto; a computer program product tangibly embodied in a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, including instructions that, when executed by said one or more computer processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of: compiling a tire safety information database with tire identifiers assigned to tires having safety issues; capturing digital images of individual tire sidewalls of tires mounted upon individual vehicles visiting vehicle dealers or vehicle service providers; assigning a vehicle identifier to each said individual vehicle based on a VIN number or license plate of said individual vehicle; associating each said vehicle identifier to a said dealer or a said vehicle service provider for each said vehicle; from said digital images of individual tire sidewalls, discerning a scanned tire identifier from alphanumeric characters within said digital images; associating each said scanned tire identifier with a said vehicle identifier; comparing each said scanned tire identifier with said tire identifiers assigned to tires having safety issues for a match; and upon discerning a said match, communicating a warning to said dealer or service provider associated with said vehicle identifier having said match of said scanned tire identifier with said tire identifiers assigned to tires having safety issues.

2. The system for tire identification and notification of defects therewith of claim 1, additionally comprising the steps of: continuously searching government, industry and private sources of tire safety information for newly identified tires having safety issues; and assigning a new said tire identifier to each of said newly identified tires having said safety issues; and adding each said new tire identifier as a said tire identifier to said tire safety information database.

3. The system for tire identification and notification of defects therewith of claim 1, additionally comprising the step of: upon said discerning of a said match, communicating a warning to any of a servicer of said vehicle, a manufacturer of said vehicle or an owner of said vehicle.

4. The system for tire identification and notification of defects therewith of claim 2, additionally comprising the step of: upon said discerning of a said match, communicating a warning to any of a servicer of said vehicle, a manufacturer of said vehicle or an owner of said vehicle.

5. The system for tire identification and notification of defects therewith of claim 3, additionally comprising the step of: communicating said warning to said owner of said vehicle in the form of one or both of an electronic message communicated to said vehicle of said owner which is depicted on a graphic display in said vehicle or audibly announced in said vehicle.

6. The system for tire identification and notification of defects therewith of claim 4, additionally comprising the step of: communicating said warning to said owner of said vehicle in the form of one or both of an electronic message communicated to said vehicle of said owner which is depicted on a graphic display in said vehicle or audibly announced in said vehicle.

7. The system for tire identification and notification of defects therewith of claim 1, additionally comprising the steps of: employing a drone having a digital imager thereon for capturing said digital images of said individual tire sidewalls of tires mounted upon said individual vehicles visiting said vehicle dealers or said vehicle service providers; and discerning said VIN number or said license plate number of said individual vehicle from a digital image thereof taken by said drone.

8. The system for tire identification and notification of defects therewith of claim 2, additionally comprising: employing a drone having a digital imager thereon for capturing said digital images of said individual tire sidewalls of tires mounted upon said individual vehicles visiting said vehicle dealers or said vehicle service providers; and discerning said VIN number or said license plate number of said individual vehicle from a digital image thereof taken by said drone.

9. The system for tire identification and notification of defects therewith of claim 3, additionally comprising: employing a drone having a digital imager thereon for capturing said digital images of said individual tire sidewalls of tires mounted upon said individual vehicles visiting said vehicle dealers or said vehicle service providers; and discerning said VIN number or said license plate number of said individual vehicle from a digital image thereof taken by said drone.

10. The system for tire identification and notification of defects therewith of claim 4, additionally comprising: employing a drone having a digital imager thereon for capturing said digital images of said individual tire sidewalls of tires mounted upon said individual vehicles visiting said vehicle dealers or said vehicle service providers; and discerning said VIN number or said license plate number of said individual vehicle from a digital image thereof taken by said drone.

11. The system for tire identification and notification of defects therewith of claim 5, additionally comprising: employing a drone having a digital imager thereon for capturing said digital images of said individual tire sidewalls of tires mounted upon said individual vehicles visiting said vehicle dealers or said vehicle service providers; and discerning said VIN number or said license plate number of said individual vehicle from a digital image thereof taken by said drone.

12. The system for tire identification and notification of defects therewith of claim 6, additionally comprising: employing a drone having a digital imager thereon for capturing said digital images of said individual tire sidewalls of tires mounted upon said individual vehicles visiting said vehicle dealers or said vehicle service providers; and discerning said VIN number or said license plate number of said individual vehicle from a digital image thereof taken by said drone.

13. The system for tire identification and notification of defects therewith of claim 7, additionally comprising: employing a drone having a digital imager thereon for capturing said digital images of said individual tire sidewalls of tires mounted upon said individual vehicles visiting said vehicle dealers or said vehicle service providers; and discerning said VIN number or said license plate number of said individual vehicle from a digital image thereof taken by said drone.

14. The system for tire identification and notification of defects therewith of claim 6, additionally comprising the step of: continuously communicating said warning until a response is received acknowledging receipt of said warning.

15. A system for inspecting tires, comprising: at least one digital camera to capture a digital image of a sidewall of a tire; a computing device having one or more computer processors having memory communicably coupled thereto, said computing device having a connection to a computer network; a computer-program product tangibly embodied in a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium running upon said computing device which includes instructions that, when executed by said one or more computer processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of: compiling a tire safety information database with tire identifiers assigned to tires having safety issues; capturing digital images of individual tire sidewalls of tires mounted upon individual vehicles visiting vehicle dealers or vehicle service providers; assigning a vehicle identifier to each said individual vehicle based on a VIN number or license plate of said individual vehicle; associating each said vehicle identifier to a said dealer or a said vehicle service provider for each said vehicle; from said digital images of individual tire sidewalls discerning a scanned tire identifier from alphanumeric characters within said digital images; associating each said scanned tire identifier with a said vehicle identifier; comparing each said scanned tire identifier with said tire identifiers assigned to tires having safety issues for a match; and upon discerning a said match, communicating a warning to said dealer or service provider associated with said vehicle identifier having said match of said scanned tire identifier with said tire identifiers assigned to tires having safety issues.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURE

[0073] FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of the method and system herein, showing the steps employed in the disclosed system herein.

[0074] FIG. 2 depicts an example of the system herein, employing a flying drone with a digital camera for image capturing of indicia embossed or imprinted on vehicle tires.

[0075] FIG. 3 depicts an example of a drone vehicle which is equipped with a digital camera configured to capture indicia embossed or imprinted to vehicle tires.

[0076] FIG. 4 shows a sidewall of a typical conventional tire and the indicia concerning the tire, brand, manufacturer, and the like positioned thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0077] Referring now to the system, the steps therein, and system components, such are shown in simple format in the drawing depictions of FIGS. 1-4 herein. It should be noted that in all modes of the system 10 herein, the system provider will employ a computer or server with accessible electronic memory in operational communication over a computer network, such as the internet, which is accessible for electronic communications with and between the computing devices of tire manufacturers, auto manufacturers, government regulatory agencies, tire and vehicle retailers, vehicle servicers, vehicle owners, and other entities which relate to and report on the sale and use of vehicle tires.

[0078] The system provider, in the system herein described, as noted above and further described below, will employ one or a plurality of computing devices, such as computers and servers which have network communications, such as the internet or private networks. The computing devices have accessible electronic memory in which software, configured for the tasks herein, or non-transitory computer readable medium, will operate which employs computer executable instructions stored thereon. Such instructions include the steps herein, such as discerning and/or assembling electronically storable alphanumeric tire identifiers from one or a plurality of digital images and/or manual inputs, and/or available databases thereof, and then storing such discerned tire identifiers in electronic memory in a database relating each tire identifier to the respective vehicles on which the scanned tires are mounted.

[0079] A non-transitory computer readable medium having an executable computer program stored thereon, has executable code which will run in electronic memory which operates to perform all the steps and the tasks noted herein. Such electronic memory, in communication with the computing device or server or the like, will also hold, in electronically accessible fashion, one or a plurality of relational databases of tires manufactured, and any safety issues related thereto, as well as any specific vehicle on which a tire with safety issues is discerned as being engaged.

[0080] As noted above in detail, the system 10 herein is described in FIG. 1.

[0081] In order to enable the system 10 herein, to initially operate and to operate on an ongoing basis, the system operator will compile a tire safety information database 12 having tire identifiers matched to tires known to have safety issues. Such is described in detail above and will continuously provide a searchable relational database held in electronic memory, which will allow users, or software licensed by users, and/or the system operator to automatically query the system concerning scanned tire identifiers, with regard to tires being sold for mounting on vehicles or tires already mounted on vehicles, which are being serviced by the user or licensee.

[0082] As noted in detail above, it is highly preferred that the tire information database be continuously updated 14 using searching software operating to the task of data mining for information concerning tires and safety issues related thereto. Such would employ non-transitory computer readable medium operating an executable computer searching program, wherein the searching program includes computer executable code for first locating upon known websites, new websites, and existing network accessible government and industry sources, new information concerning tires identified as having safety issues.

[0083] Once new information has been so determined, computer executable code operating to the task of searching government and industry sources for the new information concerning newly discovered tires identified as having safety issues will take the step to add the tire identifiers relating to newly discovered tires found to have safety issues to the tire safety information database 12 along with any determined tire identifiers related thereto. Such may also be conducted by human personnel. However, to be continuous and ongoing, the computer search, as noted above is preferred.

[0084] Concurrently, the system operator will, on an ongoing basis, capture scanned tire identifiers and identification information 16 through the employment of digital imaging devices, either operated by the system provider or provided to system subscribers to capture tire identification information indicia 15 from tires 21 being sold for a vehicle 19 or from tires 21 already mounted on a vehicle 19 being serviced, or from tires 21 already mounted on a vehicle being sold.

[0085] As noted above, such an ongoing program to capture tire identification information and to generate scanned tire identifiers, using such imaging devices, may employ fixed imaging devices which can capture tire indicia 15 information, such as digital cameras on vehicle servicers driveways and alignment racks. Tire information, for the scanned tire identifiers from tire indicia 15, may also be captured with digital photography using drones 17 with onboard digital image capturing capability to capture one or multiple images of indicia 15 on tires 21, mounted on vehicles 19 located at a dealer or servicers venue, to yield the new tire identification information. The drones 17 can also be programmed to capture a digital image of the VIN number and/or license plate number (not shown but both well known to be positioned for easy imaging) of each vehicle 19 to be associated with each tire 21, so scanned and with the dealer or servicer.

[0086] As shown in FIGS. 2-3 the drones 17 can be flying drones or wheeled drones 17, or both can be employed. A conventional onboard controller with software configured to operate the drone 17 to move appropriately to capture indicia 15 from each tire 21, and to capture the VIN number and or license plate number, before moving to the next vehicle 19, will operate the drones 17 autonomously.

[0087] Digital imaging, so captured, will be communicated to the system provider over the network. Each drone 17 may have conventional wired or wireless communications onboard and electronic memory onboard for storing digital imaging and later communicating the digital imaging of indicia 15 on the tires 21, and/or the VIN number or license plate number of the respective vehicle 19 having the identified tires 21, to the system provider.

[0088] On an ongoing basis, using the captured tire identification information from tire indicia 15 associated with the VIN number and/or license plate number identifying the respective vehicle 19 associated with identified tires 21, the system will form and add such information into a scanned tire identification database 18. Each tire added to this scanned tire identification database is assigned a scanned tire identifier which will be associated with the scanned tire mounted on a specific vehicle 19 by VIN number and or license plate number, which has been determined to have each respective tire 21 identified mounted thereon.

[0089] Using software operating to the task of comparing the scanned tire identifiers concerning tires 21 held in the scanned tire database, with the tire identifiers and tire information in the tire information database of tires with safety issues, matches therebetween are determined 20. It is preferred that this matching step be ongoing since the tire information database is preferably continuously updated, and tires in the scanned tire database, which may not have been matched in a past comparison, may be matched in a future comparison.

[0090] Where a match is determined between a scanned tire identifier and a tire identifier in the ongoing comparison 20, the system employing software configured to the task of email, SMS text, fax, or mail communication 22 will notify parties of interest, such as the vehicle owner, the vehicle manufacturer, the tire manufacturer, the vehicle dealer or service provider, and the owner of the vehicle.

[0091] The system may ascertain the owner of the vehicle with a respective VIN number and/or license plate number, identified as having tires 21 with determined safety issues, and begin notifications thereto, by employing software operating to search owners from conventionally available DMV records. The system will concurrently request a notification of receipt therefrom. The dealers and vehicle servicers, identified as related to the VIN number and/or license plate of the vehicle 19 identified as having tires 21 with safety issues, will also be notified with a communication, so they can also attempt contact with the vehicle owner.

[0092] Where a response is received from one or both of the vehicle owner and/or the vehicle seller or manufacturer or servicers, the system will note such and store a copy of that response and cease communications which elicited that response. Where no responses are received within a defined time period, such as a week or a month, the system will again communicate warnings 24. This ongoing communication of warnings will continue until a notification of receipt is received and stored in the system memory.

[0093] The system 10 herein, will, thus, identify tires 21 with safety issues and continuously attempt to match the tire identifiers of such tires identified with safety issues to the scanned tire identifiers of scanned tires 21 on vehicles 19 with VIN numbers and/or license plates identifying the vehicle 19 and the owners. By messaging manufacturers, owners, vehicle dealers and vehicle servicers found to be associated with an identified vehicle 19 having tires 21 having safety issues, the system will help to reduce tire failures, caused by defective or other dangerous tires, which often results in catastrophic injury or death.

[0094] While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the tire identification and notification system described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. Other uses and/or features will include an app based non-commercial feature for use by a vehicle owner when shopping for tires, or when private parties such as potential buyers/sellers negotiate the price of a vehicle and/or tires.

[0095] It should also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations and substitutions are included within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.