Systems and methods for remote monitoring of vehicle inspections

Systems and methods for remote monitoring of vehicle inspections are provided. Using a wireless, network-enabled device, an inspection monitor may access a centralized vehicle inspection database, such as a motor vehicle administration and/or transportation department computer system tied into all the vehicle inspection stations in a jurisdiction. The inspection monitor may access the real time inspection records for a particular station and analyze the data for suspicion of fraudulent inspection practices.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Due to concerns over air pollution and global climate change as well as general highway safety, most jurisdictions in the United States now require regular vehicle inspections. In addition to checking vehicles for obvious items such as brakes, lights, mirrors, and tire tread, many jurisdictions also perform emission analysis of vehicle exhaust. In addition to checking for visible smoke, emission tests are now typically performed using automated sensing equipment that check for hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, and other possible emissions. This equipment in many cases is connected directly to a jurisdiction-owned computer system that allows the jurisdiction to obtain a complete inspection record including the vehicle identification information and relevant emissions data for that vehicle.

Automated inspection systems allow the state to maintain statistics on vehicles in the jurisdiction and in theory also reduce fraudulent inspection practices—that is, passing vehicles without actually confirming that they should be passed or in some cases ignoring detected violations.

Inspection criteria and fees are usually set by legislation and/or agency order. Therefore, inspection stations are limited as to what they can charge for performing inspections and are thus incentivized to perform them as quickly as possible to maximize total revenue. This may lead to sloppy and even fraudulent practices despite the use of automated systems.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is intended to convey a thorough understanding of the embodiments described by providing a number of specific embodiments and details involving remote monitoring of vehicle inspections. It should be appreciated, however, that the present disclosure is not limited to these specific embodiments and details, which are exemplary only. It is further understood that one possessing ordinary skill in the art, in light of known systems and methods, would appreciate the use of the inventions for its intended purposes and benefits in any number of alternate embodiments, depending upon specific design and other needs.

At least one embodiment of the disclosure may provide a user interface adapted to communicate with a remote data server via a communications medium, to obtain vehicle inspection information corresponding to a vehicle inspection facility and to output vehicle inspection information to an inspection monitor's remote interface device.

At least one embodiment according to the disclosure may provide a method of performing remote vehicle inspection monitoring. The method according to this embodiment may comprise connecting a user to a remote vehicle inspection database via a computing device coupled to a communication medium, accessing vehicle inspection information in the remote database, and outputting real time vehicle inspection information to the user via an interface on the computing device.

Another embodiment according to the disclosure may provide a system. The system according to this embodiment may comprise an interface module, adapted to receive user input and present user output, a communications module adapted to connect to a remote vehicle inspection information database and retrieve information from the database, and an analysis module adapted to analyze vehicle inspection information obtained from the remote database and to present an analysis summary to the user via the interface module.

Referring now toFIG. 1, this Figure is a schematic diagram of a system for performing remote monitoring of vehicle inspections in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The system may comprise one or more inspection facilities11, each including at least one inspection facility computer system12in communication with a centralized inspection database14via communications network13. In various embodiments the communication network13may comprise a wide area network such as the Internet, however, the communication network13may also be a conventional public switched telephone network (PSTN) or other suitable network. Also, another network13A may be used by the inspection computer system12to connect to the network13. This may comprise a wireless local area network (WLAN), DSL connection, peer network, or other suitable network, as is well known.

Similarly, the centralized inspection database14may be connected directly to the network13. Also, an interface network, such as network13B, may provide “the last mile” of the connection to the network13. In various embodiments, the centralized inspection database14may be maintained by a governmental agency such as a department of motor vehicles (DMV), department of transportation (DOT) or other agency.

In the exemplary system ofFIG. 1, an inspection monitor15may be located at any geographical location from which the network13may be accessed. The inspection monitor15may utilize an interface device16such a laptop computer, tablet computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), wireless phone, or other suitable interface device configured to display inspection information corresponding to one or more inspection facilities.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure permit the inspection monitor15to be located virtually anywhere that he/she is able to gain access to the remote inspection database14, rather than within visual proximity to the inspection facility. In various embodiments, the inspection monitor15may utilize a computing and/or communication interface device16that is configured to access the network13via a local connection12C. In one, this may be performed through a cellular network, wireless broadband network, wireless satellite network, or other suitable wireless network. In various embodiments, the remote inspection monitor15may access the centralized inspection database14via the interface device16in real time, to monitor the inspection practices of a particular inspection facility, such as facility11inFIG. 1. In another embodiment, the inspection monitor15may access the same system that the inspection facility11is supplying inspection data to, so that real time data input as well as historical data for that facility11may be accessed and analyzed by the inspection monitor15.

The inspection monitor15may still desire to be located relatively close to a target inspection facility, such as inspection facility11, in case, based on analysis of that facility's inspection data, it becomes necessary to intervene at the facility to issue citations, warnings or perform other investigative actions. However, the requirement of direct line of sight and data gathering solely through observation will be ideally eliminated. By accessing the centralized inspection database14, or even directly accessing the inspection facility computer system12, as will be discussed in greater detail in the context ofFIGS. 2-8, the inspection monitor15can see trends in a facility's inspection data, compare the data to aggregate data from within the jurisdiction, and even perform fraud analysis manually and/or with the assistance of automated software. Furthermore, in various embodiments, the inspection monitor15may switch from monitoring one inspection facility to another without having to change physical locations. This may be particularly beneficial in metropolitan areas where the density of inspection facilities may be relatively high.

Referring now toFIG. 2, this Figure is a flow chart of an exemplary method for monitoring vehicle inspections using conventional techniques. The method begins in step100. In step105, the vehicle inspection, that is the technician at the inspection facility that is performing the inspection, establishes a data link with a remote inspection database, such as the centralized database14ofFIG. 1. This may occur when a new vehicle enters the inspection facility. Also, the vehicle inspector may enter his/her identification information to the inspection facility computer system12as well as information identifying the vehicle to be inspected. This information may comprise a license plate number, a vehicle make, a vehicle model, a vehicle identification number (VIN), a vehicle registration number and/or other identification information. This information may be uploaded upon entry to establish a real time data record with the centralized inspection database computer system, as is well known.

In step110, after the data link has been established and the identification information has been entered, the inspection data (e.g., answers to the inspection questions) are input by the vehicle inspector. In some cases this data is input at the end of the inspection, while in other cases, some or all of the data may be input in real time, that is, as it is acquired. As is well known, this data may include pass—fail values for one or more questions/inspection points. In step115the data may be transmitted to the centralized inspection database14. In some cases this data may be transmitted at the end of the inspection, while in other cases, some or all of the data may be transmitted as it is acquired. In some jurisdictions, emissions sensing equipment is coupled directly to a centralized inspection database, such as centralized inspection database14, so that emissions results are transmitted directly as part of the emissions testing process. One purpose of this is to reduce fraud.

Referring now toFIG. 3, this Figure is a flow chart of an exemplary method for performing remote monitoring of vehicle inspections in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure. The method begins in block200. In block205, the centralized inspection database14is accessed. In various embodiments, this may comprise accessing the database14by an inspection monitor15with an access software program executing on the inspection monitor's interface device16. In various embodiments, the interface device16may comprise a laptop computer, tablet computer, or other computing device and the centralized database14may be accessed through a web browser interface executing on the interface device16.

In other embodiments a dedicated software client may be used to access the remote database. This may also comprise entering log-in credentials which may be validated either locally, that is at the inspection monitor's device16, or remotely at the centralized inspection database14itself In block210the inspection monitor15may perform an inspection query. In various embodiments, this may comprise inputting a name, id number, address, or other identifying information for a particular inspection facility, such as inspection facility11inFIG. 1. In step215, the query results may be received at the inspection monitor's interface device16. In various embodiments, the results may be displayed on an interface screen of a the inspection monitor's interface device16. As will be discussed in greater detail in the context ofFIGS. 6-8, this may comprise displaying information corresponding to a particular inspection facility, aggregate information for a particular jurisdiction or sub-jurisdiction (county, city, region, etc), information about a particular inspection record, that is, for a single vehicle, etc. In various embodiments, the interface screen may be adapted to permit the inspection monitor15to “drill down” through the data from a high level to a low level.

In block220, fraud analysis may be performed on the query results received at the inspection monitor's device16. In various embodiments, this may comprise comparing the results for a particular vehicle inspection facility with aggregate results for the jurisdiction, sub-jurisdiction, city, etc., in which the vehicle inspection facility is situated, to see if the particular vehicle inspection facility's inspection data is inline, that is consistent with, data for the jurisdiction/sub-jurisdiction/city, etc. Fraudulent inspection practices may be inferred from deviations from aggregate numbers in one or more vehicle inspection fields. For example if the vehicle inspection time for a particular vehicle inspector or vehicle inspection facility is significantly less than the average time, and/or if the pass rate is more than a few points higher than the average pass rate, etc., fraud may be present. Also, if the values for a given vehicle differ from a known average for that type of vehicle by more than a predetermined percentage, fraud may be suspected.

In various embodiments, the inspection monitor15may analyze the data him/herself to look for evidence of potential fraudulent inspection practices. In various other embodiments, an interface program used to access the inspection data at the centralized inspection database may be adapted to analyze the inspection data automatically for evidence of fraud using one or more preprogrammed fraud analysis routines. In various embodiments, if fraud is suspected, in block225a particular piece of potentially incriminating data may be highlighted on an output screen of the interface device16, or an alert or other indicator may be triggered on the device16to alert the inspection monitor15to the presence of suspected fraud.

It should be appreciated that althoughFIGS. 1-3thus far describes systems and methods for performing remote monitoring of vehicle inspections whereby an inspection monitor15accesses a centralized inspection database14to obtain vehicle inspection data for a particular inspection facility, various embodiments, may operate differently. For example, in one embodiment, the inspection monitor15may access a vehicle inspection facility's inspection computer system12via the network13through a software interface provided by the inspection monitor's interface device16, without connecting to the centralized inspection database14. In another embodiment, the inspection monitor15may intercept communications between a inspection facility's vehicle inspection computer system12and the centralized inspection database14. In yet another embodiment, the inspection facility's vehicle inspection computer system12may be required as part of the normal inspection data upload process, to simultaneously transmit the inspection data to a network address. In such an embodiment, the inspection monitor15may access the same network address to obtain the inspection data for that facility using a software interface executing on the inspection monitor's interface device16.

Referring now toFIG. 4, a block diagram illustrating components of an exemplary system for performing remote monitoring of vehicle inspections in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure is depicted. The system300may be part of the inspection monitor's interface device16depicted inFIG. 1, and may comprise various modules that provide functionality enabling the inspection monitor15to interact with the centralized inspection database14to access vehicle inspection data and to perform queries of the vehicle inspection data stored therein. In the example ofFIG. 4there is a control module305, a user interface module310, a database interface module315, a fraud analysis module320and a communication module325. It should be appreciated that each module may be configured as a software application executing on computer hardware, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a combination of hardware and software, or other suitable configuration. Moreover, one or modules may be combined or broken into multiple additional modules.

The communication module325, such as, for example, a network interface card, wireless interface card, wireless broadband card, etc., and corresponding device drivers may enable two-way communication between the inspection monitor's interface device16and the network130from which the centralized inspection database130is accessible. In various embodiments, the user interface module310may serve as the primary interface between the interface device16and the inspection monitor15. The inspection monitor15may use the user interface module310of the interface device16to enter data including identification credentials and query fields and to view information retrieved from the centralized inspection database130.

In various embodiments, the database interface module315may comprise an application program interface (API) for interacting with the native language of the centralized inspection database130. Thus, in such embodiments, operation of the database interface module315may be transparent to the inspection monitor15. In various embodiments, the fraud analysis module320may comprise one or more preprogrammed routines configured to analyze data retrieved from the centralized inspection database130for the possible presence of fraud. As noted above, this may comprise searching for differences between data for a single vehicle inspection facility and/or vehicle inspector and aggregate data that exceeds a predetermined threshold for one or more inspection fields.

In various embodiments, if fraud is suspected by the fraud analysis module320, an indication may be provided to the inspection monitor15via the user interface module310. Also, as noted above, in embodiments, where the inspection monitor15accesses a vehicle inspection facility's inspection data from other than the centralized inspection database14, such as, for example, by accessing the vehicle inspection facility's inspection computer system12directly, by intercepting transmissions, or by accessing the data from another network site, the database interface module315may include necessary application program interfaces (APIs) and/or other software required to interface to such systems.

Each module listed in the system300ofFIG. 4may operate autonomously or under the control of the control module305. For example, in various embodiments, the control module305may be a CPU of the inspection monitor's interface device16. The control module305may also be a real time kernel of a control program of the inspection monitor's interface device15. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that the particular modules illustrated inFIG. 4are exemplary only and should not be construed as either necessary or exhaustive. In various embodiments, it may be desirable to use more, less or even different modules than those illustrated inFIG. 4. In various embodiments, access to the centralized inspection database130may occur in real or near real time so that an inspection monitor15may obtain vehicle inspection information corresponding to vehicle inspections that are in progress or recently completed.

FIG. 5is an exemplary screen of a remote monitoring interface including a login screen in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure. The exemplary interface screen400depicted inFIG. 5is shown as a browser-type interface screen. Although, it should be appreciated that in other embodiments the interface screen400may have a different “look and feel.” The inspection monitor15may, in various embodiments, access the log in screen400via his/her wireless computing device16that is configured to communicate over a wireless network with the remote vehicle inspection database.

FIG. 6is another exemplary screen of a remote monitoring interface including a home screen in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure. The screen500ofFIG. 6may be accessed after logging in to the centralized inspection database30. The interface screen500may in various embodiments comprise a home screen, that is, one initially displayed after logging in. In the example ofFIG. 5, the screen500includes information corresponding to the inspection monitor's jurisdiction, including the overall pass/fail rate and average inspection time across the jurisdiction. The screen500may also include a “start monitor” function. In various embodiments, the start monitor function may allow the inspection monitor15to input a station ID number of a vehicle inspection facility to monitor. In various embodiments the screen500may also include a vehicle inspection facility lookup function to permit an inspection monitor15to find a particular station using an address, name, city, etc., using well known techniques.

FIG. 7is yet another exemplary screen of remote monitoring interface including an vehicle inspection facility detail in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure. The exemplary interface window600includes an example of a station (vehicle inspection facility) detail page that may be displayed after an inspection monitor has requested to monitor a particular vehicle inspection station. For ease of illustration, the interface control buttons shown inFIGS. 5 and 6have been omitted.

The exemplary station detail page600may include information such as the statistics for the jurisdiction in combination with overall statistics for the particular station including historical statistics for that station as well as statistics on real-time, that is in-progress, inspections. Though the station detail page600is shown in this example as a single page, the inspection monitor15may have to scroll down to view the complete detail record or click on links to subsequent record pages using well known techniques.

In various embodiments of the disclosure, from a cursory analysis of this data, the inspection monitor15may be able to make a quick judgment of whether or not to suspect fraudulent inspection practices at the current vehicle inspection facility, for example, by comparing the pass rate and/or average vehicle inspection time for vehicle inspectors at the current vehicle inspection station versus the overall statistics for the jurisdiction. In various embodiments, any of the in-progress or recently completed vehicle inspections may be selected via the inspection monitor's interface device16to display a full detail for that particular vehicle inspection, such as, for example, the vehicle inspection detail screen ofFIG. 8.

FIG. 8is a further exemplary screen of a remote monitoring interface including a single vehicle inspection record detail in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure. The exemplary screen700ofFIG. 8includes detail information on a single vehicle inspection record. In various embodiments, this may include details about the particular vehicle inspected including identification information corresponding to the vehicle, the inspection results including emissions data and information identifying the inspector who performed the inspection.