Patent ID: 8548968
Filing Date: 2013-10-01
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for decoding a vehicle identification number (VIN), the method comprising: receiving a vehicle identification number (VIN); searching a database that relates a plurality of vehicle types with a plurality of VIN structures for a vehicle type associated with the received VIN, wherein a VIN structure defines a type of VIN element and a location of the VIN element within the VIN, wherein each VIN element defines attributes associated with the vehicle type, wherein a first VIN structure in the database defines a location for a VIN element associated with a first attribute to be in a first location, and a second VIN structure in the database defines a location for a VIN element associated with a same attribute to be in a location that is different than the first location; determining a VIN structure associated with the vehicle type; parsing the received VIN according to the VIN structure to identify one or more VIN elements of the received VIN; determining one or more VIN element descriptions associated with values of the one or more VIN elements; and communicating search results that include at least some of the one or more VIN element descriptions to a user.