A system for tire identification and ongoing communication regarding tire safety issues

Abstract

A tire identification system is provided that continuously compares tires installed on a vehicle with tires known to have safety issues, and matches are determined between the tires installed on the vehicle and the tires with safety issues, and an alert is issued to one or all of the vehicle owner, the vehicle dealer, and / or a vehicle service center.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 114,717, filed November 17, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] The invention disclosed herein relates generally to vehicle tires. More specifically, the invention relates to a computer and software enabled system by which tires are individually identified and continuously associated with any defects or safety issues associated with each individually identified tire, and then a notification is sent to a dealer, distributor, vehicle maintenance facility, and / or vehicle owner if any such safety issues are identified. [Background technology]

[0003] Over the decades, the prevalence of motor-driven vehicles has been brought about and facilitated by the evolution of modern vehicle tires. Modern vehicle tires are mounted on vehicle rims or wheels that are coupled to the particular vehicle to allow the tire to rotate on the roadway. Most vehicle tires, such as automobile and bicycle tires, are inflated with air pressure, which in turn provides a flexible cushion that helps absorb shock as the tire rotates on the road surface.

[0004] Modern pneumatic tires are made from synthetic and natural rubber and contain fabric and metal reinforcements. Traditionally, such tires are made up of a body and an interlocking tread. The tread provides traction, while the interlocking body provides containment for the compressed air that inflates the tire. Traditionally, such pneumatic tires are utilized on many types of vehicles, including cars, bicycles, motorcycles, buses, trucks, heavy equipment, and aircraft. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, because tires are the only part of a vehicle that contacts the road, the continued performance of tires is crucial to the safe movement of vehicles on roadways. Vehicle tires can suffer from not only manufacturing and design defects, but also life-related defects. While manufacturing and design defects tend to be reported once identified, undiagnosed tire defects may go unreported for years, and hidden dangers invisible to the human eye, such as separation inside the tire wall, can occur as a result of these defects with continued use and over the life of the tire. As tires age, small cracks in the rubber that forms the tire can develop over time, potentially causing separation issues between the tread, steel belt, and body. Therefore, it is important for motorists, vehicle dealers, tire retailers, and vehicle maintenance businesses to be vigilant against tire problems that could escalate into serious safety issues.

[0006] In view of the above, before describing at least one preferred embodiment of the method herein for identifying tire safety issues and communicating such concerns, it should be understood that the invention of the system herein is not limited in its application to the details of use, nor is it limited to the arrangement of steps set forth in the following drawing descriptions or illustrations. The various methods and steps of the system and method operations disclosed herein are capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways that will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the information herein.

[0007] It should also be understood that the terms and terminology used herein are for descriptive purposes and should not be regarded as limiting. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will recognize that the concepts upon which the present disclosure is based may readily be utilized as the basis for other tire identification, monitoring, and warning systems. It is therefore important that the embodiments, objects, and claims of this specification be regarded as including such equivalent structures and methods insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The system disclosed herein provides a software-enabled system and method for obtaining tire information and tire data regarding tires installed and sold on passenger vehicles. The software operates on a computer, such as one or more processors having communicatively coupled electronic memory, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions, configured for the task of providing real-time communication regarding tire safety. To provide ongoing information regarding tires identified by the system, the system communicates with automobile dealers, vehicle service departments, automobile retailers, automobile service providers, tire service providers, vehicle fleet owners, tire manufacturers, automobile manufacturers, and the owners' individual vehicles.

[0009] In all modes of the system herein, the non-transitory computer-readable medium contains instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the indicated functions or operations or tasks. An electronic and searchable tire safety information database is formed by first collecting and organizing currently available industry information on tires with safety issues, recall information from U.S. and government data, websites and updates on known issues involving tire safety for specific tires, searching for information on tires in public or court records, and by collecting tire information along with tire failure history and scanning tire data at dealers and distributors for purposes of conducting forensic analysis.

[0010] Utilizing software on a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that operate to perform the tasks of capturing and assigning a tire identifier to each tire in or added to the tire safety information database, each tire is assigned or otherwise associated with a tire identifier for each tire initially included in the database or later added to the database. The utilized tire identifiers relate to each particular tire in the collected data and are stored and associated within the tire information database.

[0011] Such assigned tire identifiers are preferably alphanumeric, allowing them to be easily retrieved using a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions operative to perform the task of determining and identifying any stored tire safety information for each tire having a tire identifier in the database. For example, the tire identifier may be a tire code or a permutation thereof as defined by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), since all tires sold in the United States and most industrialized countries are required to carry such a code. However, the tire identifier may also be another alphanumeric identifier combined with a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that utilize the DOT tire code in combination with other collected tire information and then combine the alphanumeric tire identifier.

[0012] The tire identifier may then be correlated to individual tire identification information for the identified tire that is electronically stored in a tire safety database. Additionally, included in or otherwise associated with the tire identification information may be additional tire identification information, such as indicia or symbols and alphanumeric characters, traditionally placed on the tire sidewall in addition to the DOT code. For example, the brand name and tire model may be embossed on the sidewall along with the DOT code, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that operate to perform the tasks of gathering such additional tire identification information and associating it with each tire identifier may be utilized.

[0013] This additional tire information, when associated with or related to the tire identifier of the tire with the safety issue, would then allow a user searching the scanned tire identifier and stored tire identifier for a match in the tire safety information database to enter the brand name and manufacturer name and other indicia and know or confirm that the scanned tire identifier substantially matches the tire identifier and DOT code of the tire with the safety issue, allowing a reverse lookup of the scanned tire.

[0014] The system preferably utilizes software or non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions for searching for tire information, and the system operates to continuously monitor the Internet and other online sources of tire information to search for, combine, and add tire safety information in the tire safety database. By continuously monitoring, we mean that the non-transitory computer-readable media stores computer-executable instructions for searching for tire information in known and newly discovered electronic and other tire information locations, such as websites, new sites, telephone numbers, and other locations where tire safety information is known or becomes known to be available. The operation of searching for such new and additional tire information occurs based on a default or input time, at which time the non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions for continuously searching for tire information electronically contacts or reads each of such information locations on a scheduled basis to continuously search for new tire safety information. In addition, as noted below, experts employed by the system operator may also search for non-public tire safety information.

[0015] Tire safety information means determined tire life, recalled tires, tires with a history of potential tire failures, defective tire investigations, expired tires, aged tires, technical service notices, tire service department warnings, and other tire facts and hazards. Rather than waiting for input of tire safety issues, the system operates to continuously locate such information, as noted above, and captures tire safety information, such as information issued by manufacturers or government agencies or industry communications that contain warnings or information regarding tire safety issues. Thus, the non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions operates to perform the task of continuously retrieving additional tire safety information for each tire, and new tire identifiers are added to the tire safety database in substantially the same format, continuously updating it.

[0016] Using this tire safety database of tires having tire identifiers stored in electronic memory accessible to the system computer or server that identifies individual tires associated with tire identifiers and that are associated with tire brands and models with any determined tire safety issues, the non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions operates to find matches with scanned tire identifiers that are identified as tires mounted on a particular vehicle.

[0017] Once a match is found between the tire identifier of the tire with a safety issue and one or more scanned tire identifiers of tires installed on the vehicle, the system operates using a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions to communicate a tire safety notification. Such notification may be via mail, fax, email, SMS text, or other communication means. Such notification may be sent to determined appropriate parties, which may include the vehicle owner, the automobile dealer's service department, the tire distributor, the vehicle service center, and other individuals or businesses that handle the tire identified as having a safety issue or the vehicle that has that tire.

[0018] Upon determining, utilizing a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions configured to operate to perform the task of communicating an alert, that one or more tires having an optically scanned, imaged, manually entered, or otherwise identified as being installed on a particular vehicle, in a tire dealer's inventory, or the like, have scanned tire identifiers that are associated with tire identifiers in a database having tire safety issues, the system operates to communicate the identified tire safety issue to one or more determined intended parties. Such intended parties may be, for example, but not limited to, an automobile dealer's service department, where a service manager receives a "service department notification." Such notification instructs the manager to notify customers and owners of vehicles identified as having one or more tires associated with a safety issue, and to return the vehicles to the service department, where the tire safety issue can be addressed.

[0019] In the response determination step, utilizing a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for monitoring responses received from the notified parties, the system continuously monitors for communication from the notified parties to confirm that each party has received the safety notification and acknowledged that they have resolved the issue. If no response communication is received to act on this response determination, the system herein attempts to transmit continuous automated notifications to parties associated with the tire deemed to have a safety issue. Such continuous communication may continue to dealers, tire distributors, vehicle service centers, and even vehicle owners if the following parties are associated with the database when servicing, installing, manufacturing, or are the owner of the tire with the safety issue. In this manner, the safety of the vehicle owner is deemed paramount, and the vehicle owner is prompted to address the safety issue with the appropriate parties.

[0020] In the system herein, for tires sold by a dealer where a vehicle is being serviced, and for scanned tires, individual tire identification information from each tire is preferably captured from an image of each tire sidewall taken from each respective tire. Utilizing a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions, the captured information for each scanned or photographed tire is electronically stored and associated in a database with the scanned tire identifier, which is assigned to the specific vehicle (VIN) on which each tire is mounted. This action is performed on a vehicle-by-vehicle basis at a car dealer's location where inventory is available, or at a service center's location where service is performed, or on a vehicle where a tire dealer installs new tires, or on a vehicle being transported to any other vehicle facility where the vehicle is serviced or sold, or for a vehicle whose owner decides to notify the tire monitoring service.

[0021] As noted herein, this individual tire identification information, used in the same manner for both the tire identifiers of safety-issue tires and the scanned tire identifiers, is determined by imaging or scanning and reading the DOT tire code indicia and other symbols and alphanumeric characters embossed on the sidewall of each tire. Such DOT tire codes are required by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Furthermore, tire identification information may include additional indicia or symbols and alphanumeric characters traditionally placed on the tire sidewall in addition to the DOT code, such as brand name, manufacturer identifier, etc.

[0022] As described herein, all modes herein utilize a computer having software that uses a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions that operate to perform the tasks identified for the software. With regard to image identification and input of either scanned tire identifiers or tire identifiers of tires with safety issues, combining and storing individual tire identification information for each such tire is accomplished in the same manner, using an identifier combined from some or all of the alphanumeric symbols on the tire sidewall. Thus, the tire identifiers of tires with safety issues and any scanned tire identifiers are combined from imaging such DOT codes and additional indicia or alphanumeric characters located on the tire sidewall, imaged by the imaging step or steps described below. All of this tire identification information associated with each tire can be used to identify specific information about each of the individual tires. The specific information is contained in the DOT codes, other images, and alphanumeric characters placed on the sidewall during manufacture. A match between the tire identifiers of tires with safety issues and the scanned tire identifiers is verifiable by a substantial match between both, although a 100 percent match of every character of each identifier is not required. The reason for this is that the scanned tire identifier and the tire identifier of the tire with the known safety issue are combined using the same alphanumeric sequence for the tire.

[0023] Such DOT tire cords may utilize, for example, the following 1 to 6: 1. The factory or manufacturer code and the date of manufacture of each tire to which the code is assigned. 2. Tire manufacturer name. 3. Information regarding passenger vehicle tire data, which may include one or more of the following: tire width (in millimeters), tire height-to-width ratio (aspect ratio), radial tire markings, diameter of the wheel the tire is mounted on (in inches), tire load index, and tire speed symbol. 4. Information on maximum cooling load and expansion load limits. 5. Information on tread wear, traction and temperature grade for each marked tire. 6. Information regarding the tire ply construction and materials used in the manufacture of each marked tire.

[0024] Such additional indicia or images and alphanumeric characters that may be captured during sidewall imaging and included in the tire identification information may include, for example, but are not limited to, the following: 7. The system captures and determines any other suitable information that appears in the symbols or alphanumeric characters on each tire sidewall, such as the brand name under which the tire is sold. That information is frequently different from the manufacturer name and can be captured and determined from the sidewall image and correlated to generate additional information about each tire.

[0025] The alphanumeric tire code and any additional alphanumeric characters and images on each tire may be imaged and read, preferably by automated means, which may be a camera or imaging scanner located at the facility where the tires are transported or where vehicles having such tires are taken for maintenance or other reasons.

[0026] Such tire image or imaging scanners may, for example, capture an image of the sidewall and, using digital photography technology, capture additional images of each tire code and alphanumeric characters located on each tire sidewall. Because tire DOT codes are embossed into or on the tire sidewall material, the color of the embossed DOT code is often essentially the same color as the rubber or other material forming the sidewall. Additional alphanumeric characters and symbols, such as the tire brand name and model, also tend to be the same color as the tire sidewall.

[0027] As a result, such captured and / or combined digital images of the DOT code and additional indicia or letters and images on the sidewall can be captured and determined using multiple digital images of each sidewall having the DOT tire code and additional alphanumeric characters on the sidewall relating to the manufacturer and other tire elements, resulting in a scanned tire identifier formed in the same manner as the tire identifier assigned to the tire with the safety issue. The multiple digital images can be taken at different angles while flash or other lighting is transmitted to the tire sidewall.

[0028] A tire identifier is generated from the one or more digital images utilizing software in the form of a non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions that operates to perform the tasks of reviewing and distinguishing alphanumeric characters from digital image information from one or more images of the DOT tire code image, and / or from digital images of those other characters and images of the sidewall that are digitally imaged and captured from one or more angles, and / or at multiple optical frequencies.

[0029] Such a final digital image of the tire sidewall may generate a software readable DOT tire code and additional software readable indicia, such as image and alphanumeric characters, positioned on the sidewall that are combined from multiple such images to form a scanned tire identifier, which is combined by such software operating to perform tasks using the individual tire identification information for each tire.

[0030] For example, in one mode of the system herein, sidewall images, such as DOT codes and other indicia, or a final digital image that generates software-determinable tire identification information, such as alphanumeric characters, can be captured using multi-band imaging (MBI), which is commercially available and utilizes multiple images taken using visible light, ultraviolet-induced visible fluorescence (UVF), ultraviolet reflectance (UVR), IRR, and visible-induced infrared luminescence (VIL) imaging. Using image combination and subtraction software with the multiple captured images, such as software available from ADOBE, the multiple captured images can be combined to more clearly show and distinguish the alphanumeric tire code for each tire.

[0031] A similar photography system for capturing visually difficult-to-distinguish alphanumeric characters utilizes visible and / or projected light in different light spectrums during capture of multiple digital images of the DOT tire code and other images and alphanumeric characters located on the sidewall. The multiple digital images of the sidewall, captured at different angles relative to the tire code and other indicia locations, are then combined by digital image stitching software into a final combined digital image of each DOT tire code and any other indicia, such as text or images, located on the tire sidewall. This captured and combined final digital image can be converted into alphanumeric characters and text that can be stored in a database by optical character recognition software that examines each captured final digital image. The conversion of alphanumeric characters into tire identifiers or scanned tire identifiers uses the same method to photograph the scanned alphanumeric characters on each tire and combine the tire identifiers in the same manner, allowing for a substantial match when the tire identifier is compared to known tire identifiers of tires with safety issues. Single or multiple digital images of all modes of the system can be captured by an aerial or ground drone for the vehicle positioned in the car park, and by a fixed digital imaging component for the vehicle at the vehicle maintenance shop or dealer location.

[0032] The text and optical characters, such as numbers and / or images, identified by the optical character recognition software in the final digital image can then be stored in a scanned tire database as individual tires associated with a tire dealer's inventory or, in the case of vehicles with tires, as individual tires associated with a specific vehicle (VIN) stored in the scanned tire database. Using parameters similar to those used to combine and assign tire identifiers in the tire safety information database, the software operating to perform the task can assign a scanned tire identifier to each scanned tire. Thus, such information so stored in the scanned tire database is associated with each scanned tire and each specific vehicle on which each scanned tire is mounted. The term scanned tire database can also include tire information captured by human and manual input. However, due to the potential for error and the time required, input from captured images is preferred.

[0033] In some vehicle sales and service facilities where vehicles are brought to a parking stall or bay or other location, one or more digital cameras positioned to capture one or more digital tire sidewall images of each tire can be positioned to automatically capture images of the vehicle's tires, after which a final digital image of each tire can be formed in the manner noted above.

[0034] Using these captured and / or combined final digital images, the sidewall DOT code and other indicia, such as images or alphanumeric characters, are then converted into electronically storable alphanumeric characters by software running in electronic memory to perform the task of optical character recognition of the electronic image. Optical character recognition software refers to a non-transitory computer readable medium operating in a computer accessible memory that stores an executable computer program, the program including computer executable code for recognizing alphanumeric characters from a single image or multiple combined images of embossed characters on the tire image, and computer executable code for determining tire identifiers that are stored in electronic memory into a relational database of tire identifiers.

[0035] This alphanumeric information so captured and converted from the image or images of the tire indicia is therefore made available to software adapted for the task of combining and assigning scanned tire identifiers using the same combination method as the software that operates to use the information to assign tire identifiers in the tire safety information database.

[0036] In the system, the tire information and scanned tire identifier for each scanned tire can also be associated with each vehicle on which the tire is installed. This can be accomplished using the system using a digital image of the vehicle's VIN number and / or license plate, or by keyboard or other input to the system, or by matching the newly recognized vehicle's tire identifier with a pre-stored VIN number set in the scanned tire database. The vehicle owner or operator of each VIN and / or license plate number can be identified by a service center or dealer, or by a search of DMV records, and associated with each individual vehicle in the scanned tire database for future communications to the vehicle.

[0037] In a particularly preferred mode of the system herein, a final digital image of each tire on each vehicle in a dealership parking lot or other facility with many vehicles can be captured by an aerial drone. The drone is equipped with a digital camera configured to take one or more of the above-mentioned images directly or from multiple angles, and may also use lighting components capable of projecting the indicated light spectrum onto the tire sidewall. In this mode, a drone enabled with navigation software operating to move the drone around each individual vehicle can be utilized to image each tire. In this drone mode, the drone can be released to operate autonomously, thereby capturing images of all tire codes and any other indicators or images or alphanumeric characters on all tires on all vehicles in the parking lot or other facility.

[0038] The drone operation software also operates the drone to further capture digital images of the vehicle identification number (VIN number) and / or license plate number from each such vehicle whose tire sidewall is imaged. Using the above-noted steps and optical character recognition software operating to combine or otherwise distinguish the final digital image of each tire's sidewall, the alphanumeric DOT and other alphanumeric information located on the sidewall is converted into an individual tire identification and, as noted above, a scanned tire identifier for each tire. The software operating to associate each individual tire identification and / or each scanned tire identifier with the VIN number of the vehicle on which the tire is mounted is then utilized to store the individual tire identification and / or scanned tire identifier, associated with the vehicle-identifying VIN number, in a scanned tire database.

[0039] As noted, following capture and / or combination of the captured digital images of the tire codes, optical character recognition software operates to read the final tire code images and / or VIN number images, if captured. This optical character recognition software converts the alphanumeric graphics from each of the final digital tire images into individual tire identification information. Software operating to perform tasks using this individual tire identification information may combine or assign the scanned tire identifiers for each tire using the same operations as the software operating to assign tire identifiers in the tire safety information database. This scanned tire identifier and individual tire identification information are then associated with each VIN number, and such information is communicated for storage in the system server's electronic memory for retention in association with the scanned tire data.

[0040] In this manner, each tire on each vehicle is scanned, and the final individual tire identification for each tire is determined and associated with the individual vehicle VIN number and / or license plate number. The individual tire identification for each tire associated with the identified vehicle is stored by the system operator in a scanned tire database where it is available for review, search, and comparison in electronic memory on a system server or computer. The server or computer may be on-site or may operate in a cloud environment over a computer network.

[0041] For each tire associated with each vehicle in the scanned tire database, the system utilizes tire comparison software, such as a non-transitory computer-readable medium, that operates the task of comparing each scanned tire identifier and / or individual captured tire identification information for each tire stored in the scanned tire database with tire identifiers stored in the tire safety information database, and thereafter to determine any matches for each tire identified as having a safety issue that is stored in the system tire safety database.

[0042] As noted, such tire safety information pertains to known safety issues in tires manufactured and sold that have been identified by government agencies and / or manufacturers, industry, or other owner information as having safety issues associated with the tires. Safety issues may refer to recalled tires, tires with a history of possible tire failures, defective tire investigations, expired tires, technical service announcements, tire service department warnings, and other tire facts and hazards.

[0043] Using the captured tire codes, additional possible safety issues can be identified by determining the manufacturer and manufacturing date of each tire. By comparing the current date with the determined manufacturing dates, the age of each identified tire can be determined and whether the determined age exceeds a safe age. For example, tires that are more than six years old are traditionally considered to have exceeded their safe lifespan.

[0044] The system also preferably includes tire information searching software running in the electronic memory of a computer connected to a network, such as the Internet. Such tire information searching software, utilizing a non-transitory computer-readable medium, operates to perform the task of continuously searching networked databases of government agencies and manufacturers for tire safety information regarding tires sold and manufactured, rather than simply waiting for such information to be transferred to the software by government agency and manufacturer sources. This sought tire safety information is continuously added to a tire safety database of defective or compromised tires associated with individual tire identifiers. The tire information searching software can also continuously search the Internet for other sources of information regarding defective tires, such as information identified in lawsuits regarding defective tires, newspaper articles about defective tires, and warnings issued by government agencies regarding newly determined defective tires.

[0045] Additionally, tire information retrieval software that operates to perform the task of combining tire information in relational databases to enable tire recommendations by users such as dealers and auto service centers may also locate reviews and ratings and positive news articles about individual tires and store such information for retrieval. As well as retrieving and storing data about defective and unsafe tires as tire safety information, software operating on positive tire information by monitoring auto magazines, tire magazines, and other publications and websites that review and rate tires will operate to continuously locate such tire recommendation information.

[0046] Upon capturing tire identification information from tires on a vehicle or otherwise transported to a service center or the like that communicates with the Scanned Tire Database, tire identifier comparison software running on a computer or server operates using a non-transitory computer-readable medium to perform matching tasks to match the scanned tire identifier and / or individual tire identification information from each of the tires stored in the Scanned Tire Database with tire identifiers and / or tire information in the Tire Safety Database. In doing so, the comparison software operates to compare individual tires in the Scanned Tire Database with tires in the Tire Safety Database and identifies any matches between tires in the Scanned Tire Database and those tires in the Tire Safety Database. In addition to searching for matches between tire identifiers in the Tire Safety Database and scanned tire identifiers in the Scanned Tire Database, the tire identifier comparison software may also search for DOT codes, brand names, and other information stored in both databases for matches.

[0047] If a match is found between any individual tire in the scanned tire database and a tire in the tire safety information database associated with any identified vehicle regarding a tire safety issue, the system utilizing communication software utilizing a non-transitory computer readable medium or code operative to perform the task of communicating an alert operates to communicate a safety alert to the dealer, mechanic, and / or owner of the vehicle whose identified VIN number or license plate is associated with the tire code identified as having a safety issue.

[0048] In this manner, tires located in a dealer's parking lot or on vehicles transported to a vehicle dealer or other service center, or to a tire distributor or any other vehicle maintenance, sales, or repair facility, can be individually scanned, identified, and passed to a scanned tire database, at which time they can be checked for safety issues.

[0049] Additionally, if the system determines a match for a vehicle having a tire associated with a safety concern, it may send a tire safety notification to the vehicle owner or customer, if known, and subsequently to the automobile dealer's service department, etc., whereupon a service department manager receives a service department notification regarding the tire identified as a safety concern, instructing the manager to notify the customer or vehicle owner to return the tire to the service department.

[0050] Furthermore, in another step, the communication software noted above can operate to send a notification to communicate to the actual vehicle identified as having the problem tire installed on the vehicle. The message can be sent either directly to the vehicle using the VIN number and any known electronic communication means for that vehicle, or the message can be sent to the vehicle's manufacturer or a known dealer or repair shop, which then transmits the message to the vehicle. A warning will then be conveyed to the driver either visually on a display or by an audio message, or both. A notification sent to the vehicle's dashboard will encourage the vehicle owner to immediately return the vehicle to their dealer's service department for safety reasons. This effectively increases service department traffic and generates additional revenue for the automobile manufacturer and its dealer's service department, thereby encouraging the service department to notify the vehicle and owner. Additionally, this may avoid potential tire failures that could lead to litigation and damages to both the manufacturer and the dealer.

[0051] For example, an automobile manufacturer downloads the VIN, DOT, and OEM tire information into its database and into each vehicle's computer system at the time of manufacture, so that a tire safety notice may be sent from the automobile manufacturer's database to each affected vehicle. Such a notice may be sent when the manufacturer receives a notice from a third party that communicates the "Tire Safety Notice" to the manufacturer. In some cases, both the third-party database and the automobile manufacturer's database may also send alerts to each vehicle that a tire safety issue exists. The notice sent to the vehicle's dashboard may be communicated to the driver either visually on the display or by an audio message, or both. Additionally, the "Tire Safety Notice" communication may be branded by the third party.

[0052] Thereafter, the ongoing notification software running on the computer or server operates in an ongoing message transmission routine using a computer-readable medium storing an executable computer program, the program including computer-executable code for determining whether the problem with the identified tire for which the communication is being sent has been resolved by installing a new tire or the like on the vehicle, and if not, the computer-executable code continues to operate either a fixed or default schedule of notification tasks, transmitting successive automated service department notifications to the vehicle owner, making an appointment, and / or returning to the service department on behalf of the service department and manager. Such service department notifications continue until the system determines that the customer has had the identified tire(s) serviced, or until that information is entered. This determination may occur by manual input by a service department manager or operator, or by the next scan of the tire when so transported in the manner noted above.

[0053] In addition to notifying vehicle owners of tire defects, the system allows dealers and repair shops to promote tire safety while providing the vehicle owner or purchaser with the perception that customer safety is a top priority. The system also provides dealers and repair shops with an incentive to promote such tire safety to their customers in that it encourages returns to the dealer or repair shop, which may also provide additional sales opportunities.

[0054] In an additional step, the captured tire identification information and / or scanned tire identifiers associated with a particular tire may be added to a tire safety database used to compare the captured tire identification information and / or scanned tire identifiers in the scanned tire database associated with the particular tire. In the ongoing determination of actual or potential tire safety issues, the forensic expert / analyst acts to continually identify defective tires or aged / expired tires. To perform the task of determining ongoing tire safety issues, the analyst uses the LexisNexis database, online and through other research, to continually attempt to identify particular tires that have not been recalled or identified by government agencies and / or manufacturer, industry or other owner information as having a safety related issue, and particular tires identified as having undergone or having a history of tire failure.

[0055] The determined safety issue for each identified tire is added as an individual tire identification for the tire determined to have a safety issue, in association with the tire identifier for the tire held in the tire safety database, and the software then operates to perform the task of comparing each tire identification with the tire identifications stored in the system tire safety database that have been identified as having a safety issue.

[0056] Additionally, as part of continuous updates to a tire safety database that stores tire safety information regarding individual tire identification information, the operator of the system herein may also have a team of forensic analysts, experts, or investigators who identify and publish investigations, inspect, and forensically test potentially defective tires that have experienced or have a history of tire failure.

[0057] If a system defect is found in any faulty tire, the communication software operates to send notifications, sending automated, real-time expert faulty tire alerts or expired / aged tire alerts to auto dealers, auto service providers, manufacturers, vehicle owners, etc., including a (pdf) document that may contain documentation about the tire.

[0058] As another feature of the system herein, a vehicle owner or potential purchaser of a car or tire(s) obtained from an automobile dealer, tire distributor / dealer, or wholesale automobile or tire distributor, or a potential purchaser / seller of a car or tire, or a car with tires, obtained from a private party, may search online or using an app-based device and query tire database information before or during negotiation to buy and / or view or purchase tire(s) or tires for a car.

[0059] With reference to the above description, before describing at least one preferred embodiment of the tire identification, monitoring, and warning communication system method herein, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited in its application to the details of operation, nor to the arrangement of components or steps set forth in the following drawing descriptions or illustrations. The various methods of implementation and operation of the systems and methods herein are capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways that will become apparent to those skilled in the art once they have reviewed this disclosure. It should also be understood that the terms and terminology used herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0060] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other methods and systems for carrying out some of the purposes of the tire inspection and warning system of the present invention, and the intent and claims of this specification should accordingly be regarded as including such equivalent structures, steps and methods insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0061] It is an object of the present invention to provide an automated system for real-time tire identifier capture and identification and determination of tire safety issues associated with that identification.

[0062] It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a tire safety system and method that operates continuously to discriminate tire safety issues from multiple sources, determine upcoming safety issues for tires on vehicles that may remain at the facility, and provide notification to parties associated with any tires identified as having a safety issue.

[0063] These, together with other objects and advantages which will later become apparent in the details of the structure and operation of the system herein as more fully described and claimed below, should be referenced to the accompanying drawings which form a part of that system, like numerals referring to like parts throughout.

[0064] Further objects of the present invention will be understood by those skilled in the art as will become apparent from the following portions of this specification, and the detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the present invention without imposing limitations thereon. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0065] [Figure 1] 1 shows a flowchart of the method and system herein illustrating the steps utilized in the system disclosed herein. [Figure 2] An example of the system herein is shown that utilizes an aerial drone with a digital camera for image capture of indicia embossed or stamped on vehicle tires. [Figure 3] 1 illustrates an example of a drone vehicle equipped with a digital camera configured to capture indicia embossed or stamped on a vehicle tire. [Figure 4] Shown is a typical conventional tire sidewall, tire-related indicia, and brand, manufacturer, and equivalent indicia located on the tire. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0066] Referring now to the system, the system steps and system components are shown in simplified form in the pictorial depictions of Figures 1-4 herein. It should be noted that in all modes of the system 10 herein, the system provider utilizes a computer or server with electronic memory accessible for operational communication over a computer network, such as the Internet, which is accessible for electronic communication with and between computing devices of tire manufacturers, automobile manufacturers, government regulatory agencies, tire and vehicle dealers, vehicle maintenance businesses, vehicle owners, and other organizations involved in and reporting on the sale and use of vehicle tires.

[0067] In the systems described herein, the system provider utilizes one or more computing devices, such as computers and servers, having network communications, such as the Internet or a private network, as noted above and further described below. The computing devices have accessible electronic memory in which software or non-transitory computer-readable media configured to perform the tasks herein operate using computer-executable instructions stored thereon. Such instructions herein include, for example, determining and / or combining electronically storable alphanumeric tire identifiers from one or more digital images and / or manual inputs and / or from available databases thereof, and thereafter storing the tire identifiers so determined in electronic memory in a database that associates each tire identifier with each vehicle on which the scanned tire is mounted.

[0068] A non-transitory computer readable medium storing an executable computer program has executable code running in electronic memory that operates to perform all of the steps and tasks noted herein. Such electronic memory, in communication with a computing device or server or the like, also maintains, in an electronically accessible manner, one or more relational databases of tires manufactured and any safety issues associated with the tires, as well as any particular vehicles identified as involving tires with safety issues.

[0069] As noted in detail above, the system 10 herein is illustrated in FIG.

[0070] To enable initial and ongoing operation of the system 10 herein, the system operator compiles 12 a tire safety information database having tire identifiers that match tires known to have safety issues, as described in detail above, and continuously provides a searchable relational database maintained in electronic memory that allows a user, or software licensed by a user, and / or a system operator to automatically query the system for scanned tire identifiers for tires sold for installation on vehicles or tires already installed on vehicles being serviced by the user or licensee.

[0071] As noted in detail above, it is more preferred to continuously update the tire information database (14) using search software operative to perform data mining tasks related to tire information and tire-related safety issues. To do so, a non-transitory computer-readable medium operating an executable computer search program would be utilized. The search program would include computer-executable code for initially identifying new information related to tires identified as having safety issues from known websites, new websites, and existing government and industry sources accessible from the network.

[0072] Once the new information is so determined, the computer executable code operating to perform the task of searching government and industry sources for new information regarding newly discovered tires identified as having safety issues performs the step (12) of adding the tire identifiers associated with the newly discovered tires discovered as having safety issues, along with any tire identifiers determined to be associated with the tires, to the tire safety information database. Again, such may be performed manually. However, as noted above, it is preferred that the computer searches be performed serially and continuously.

[0073] Simultaneously, the system operator continuously captures (16) scanned tire identifiers and identification information by utilizing a digital imaging device either operated by the system provider or provided to the system subscriber, and captures indicia of tire identification information 15 from tires 21 being sold for the vehicle 19, or from tires 21 already installed on the vehicle 19 to be serviced, or from tires 21 already installed on the vehicle being sold.

[0074] As noted above, such ongoing programs using such imaging devices to capture tire identification information and generate scanned tire identifiers may utilize fixed imaging devices capable of capturing tire indicia 15 information, such as digital cameras in vehicle mechanic garages and alignment racks. Tire information relating to scanned tire identifiers from tire indicia 15 may also be digitally captured using a drone 17 with on-board digital image capture capabilities to capture one or more images of indicia 15 on tires 21 mounted on vehicles 19 located at the dealer's or mechanic's facility, generating new tire identification information. The drone 17 may also be programmed to capture digital images of the VIN number and / or license plate number (not shown, but it is well known that both numbers are positioned to facilitate imaging) on ​​each such scanned tire 21 and on each vehicle 19 associated with the dealer or mechanic.

[0075] As shown in Figures 2-3, the drone 17 may be a flying drone or a wheeled drone 17, or both may be utilized. A conventional on-board controller, with software configured to operate the drone 17, will operate the drone 17 autonomously, appropriately moving to capture the indicia 15 from each of the tires 21, capturing the VIN number and / or license plate number, before moving on to the next vehicle 19.

[0076] The digital images so captured are communicated over the network to the system provider. Each of the drones 17 may have on-board conventional wired or wireless communication means and on-board electronic memory for storing the digital images and for later communicating to the system provider the digital images of the indicia 15 on the tires 21 and / or the VIN or license plate number of each vehicle 19 having the identified tires 21.

[0077] On an ongoing basis, using the tire identification information captured from tire indicia 15 associated with the VIN number and / or license plate number identifying each of the vehicles 19 associated with the identified tires 21, the system forms and adds such information to a scanned tire identification database 18. Each tire added to this scanned tire identification database is assigned a scanned tire identifier that is associated with the scanned tire mounted on the particular vehicle 19 by the VIN number and / or license plate number by which each of the tires 21 mounted on the vehicle is determined to be identified.

[0078] Software operative to perform the task of comparing scanned tire identifiers for tires 21 held in the scanned tire database with tire identifiers and tire information from the tire information database for tires with safety concerns is used to determine a match between those identifiers (20). This matching step is preferably ongoing as the tire information database is preferably continuously updated, so that tires in the scanned tire database that may not have matched in past comparisons may match in future comparisons.

[0079] If the ongoing comparison 20 determines a match between the scanned tire identifier and the tire identifier, the system, utilizing software configured to perform the task 22 of communicating via email, SMS text, fax, or mail, notifies interested parties, such as the vehicle owner, the vehicle manufacturer, the tire manufacturer, the vehicle dealer or service provider, and the vehicle owner.

[0080] By utilizing software that operates to search for owners in conventionally available DMV records, the system can identify the owner of a vehicle using each VIN and / or license plate number identified as having a tire 21 determined to have a safety issue and initiate notification to that owner. At the same time, the system requests receipt from the owner. Dealers and vehicle repair shops identified as associated with the VIN and / or license plate number of a vehicle 19 identified as having a tire 21 with a safety issue are also notified by communication so that they can also attempt to contact the vehicle owner.

[0081] If a response is received from the vehicle owner and / or vehicle dealer or manufacturer or repair shop, the system notes such, stores a copy of the response, and stops communication to retrieve the response. If no response is received within a defined period of time, such as a week or a month, the system re-tells the alert (24). This continuous communication of the alert continues until an acknowledgment is received and stored in system memory.

[0082] Thus, the system 10 herein attempts to identify tires 21 that have safety issues and continuously match the tire identifiers of such tires identified as having safety issues to scanned tire identifiers of tires 21 that have been scanned for vehicles 19 using the VIN number and / or license plate number that identifies the vehicle 19 and owner. By sending messages to manufacturers, owners, vehicle dealers, and vehicle maintenance businesses found to be associated with vehicles 19 identified as having tires 21 that have safety issues, the system helps reduce tire failures caused by defective or otherwise dangerous tires that often result in catastrophic injury or death.

[0083] Although all of the essential features and characteristics of the tire identification and notification system described herein with reference to specific embodiments thereof, and latitude in modification, variations, and substitutions is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure, it will be apparent that in some cases some features of the invention may be utilized without the corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as described. Other uses and / or features include app-based, non-commercial functionality for use by vehicle owners when shopping for tires or when private parties, such as potential buyers / sellers, negotiate vehicle and / or tire prices.

[0084] 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 present invention, and consequently, all such modifications, variations, and substitutions are included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. one or more computer processors having communicatively coupled memory; a computer program product tangibly embodied on a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium containing instructions that, when executed by the one or more computer processors, cause the one or more processors to: compiling a tire safety information database with tire identifiers assigned to tires having safety issues; capturing a digital image of each tire sidewall of each tire installed on each vehicle when the respective vehicle is delivered to a vehicle dealer or vehicle service provider; assigning a vehicle identifier to each of the individual vehicles based on the VIN number or license plate of the individual vehicle; and associating each of the vehicle identifiers with the vehicle dealer or the vehicle service provider for each of the vehicles; determining, from the digital image of each individual tire sidewall, a scanned tire identifier from alphanumeric characters within the digital image; associating each of the scanned tire identifiers with the vehicle identifier; comparing each of the scanned tire identifiers with the tire identifiers assigned to tires with safety issues to find a match; Upon determining the match, communicating an alert to the vehicle dealer or service provider associated with the vehicle identifier that resulted in the match between the scanned tire identifier and the tire identifier assigned to a tire having a safety issue; A system for identifying tires and notifying of defects therein.

2. continuously searching government, industry, and private sources of tire safety information regarding newly identified tires having safety issues; assigning a new tire identifier to each of the newly identified tires having the safety issue; adding each new tire identifier to the tire safety information database as the tire identifier; 10. The system for identifying and notifying defects about a tire of claim 1, further comprising:

3. 10. The system for identifying tires and notifying of defects regarding tires as described in claim 1, further comprising the step of communicating an alert to one of a maintenance facility for the vehicle, a manufacturer of the vehicle, or an owner of the vehicle upon said determination of said match.

4. 3. The system for identifying tires and notifying of defects regarding tires as described in claim 2, further comprising the step of communicating an alert to one of a maintenance facility for the vehicle, a manufacturer of the vehicle, or an owner of the vehicle upon said determination of said match.

5. 4. The system for identifying tires and notifying of defects therein as set forth in claim 3, further comprising the step of communicating said warning to said owner of said vehicle in the form of an electronic message conveyed to said vehicle of said owner, shown on a graphic display within said vehicle, or audibly announced within said vehicle, or both.

6. 5. The system for identifying tires and notifying of defects therein as set forth in claim 4, further comprising the step of communicating said warning to said owner of said vehicle in the form of an electronic message conveyed to said vehicle of said owner, shown on a graphic display within said vehicle, or audibly announced within said vehicle, or both.

7. utilizing a drone having a digital imager to capture the digital image of the individual tire sidewall of a tire mounted on the individual vehicle once the individual vehicle is delivered to the vehicle dealer or the vehicle service provider; 2. The system for identifying tires and notifying defects about tires of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining the VIN number or the license plate number of the individual vehicle from a digital image of the individual tire sidewall taken by the drone.

8. utilizing a drone having a digital imager to capture the digital image of the individual tire sidewall of a tire mounted on the individual vehicle once the individual vehicle is delivered to the vehicle dealer or the vehicle service provider; determining the VIN number or the license plate number of the individual vehicle from a digital image of the individual tire sidewall taken by the drone; 3. The system for identifying and notifying defects about a tire of claim 2, further comprising:

9. utilizing a drone having a digital imager to capture the digital image of the individual tire sidewall of a tire mounted on the individual vehicle once the individual vehicle is delivered to the vehicle dealer or the vehicle service provider; determining the VIN number or the license plate number of the individual vehicle from a digital image of the individual tire sidewall taken by the drone; 4. The system for identifying and notifying defects about a tire of claim 3, further comprising:

10. utilizing a drone having a digital imager to capture the digital image of the individual tire sidewall of a tire mounted on the individual vehicle once the individual vehicle is delivered to the vehicle dealer or the vehicle service provider; determining the VIN number or the license plate number of the individual vehicle from a digital image of the individual tire sidewall taken by the drone; 5. The system for identifying and notifying defects about a tire of claim 4, further comprising:

11. utilizing a drone having a digital imager to capture the digital image of the individual tire sidewall of a tire mounted on the individual vehicle once the individual vehicle is delivered to the vehicle dealer or the vehicle service provider; determining the VIN number or the license plate number of the individual vehicle from a digital image of the individual tire sidewall taken by the drone; 6. The system for identifying and notifying defects about a tire of claim 5, further comprising:

12. utilizing a drone having a digital imager to capture the digital image of the individual tire sidewall of a tire mounted on the individual vehicle once the individual vehicle is delivered to the vehicle dealer or the vehicle service provider; determining the VIN number or the license plate number of the individual vehicle from a digital image of the individual tire sidewall taken by the drone; 7. The system for identifying and notifying defects about a tire of claim 6, further comprising:

13. utilizing a drone having a digital imager to capture the digital image of the individual tire sidewall of a tire mounted on the individual vehicle once the individual vehicle is delivered to the vehicle dealer or the vehicle service provider; determining the VIN number or the license plate number of the individual vehicle from a digital image of the individual tire sidewall taken by the drone; 8. The system for identifying and notifying defects about a tire of claim 7, further comprising:

14. 7. The system for identifying tires and notifying of defects therein as set forth in claim 6, further comprising the step of continuously communicating said warning until a response acknowledging receipt of said warning is received.

15. 1. A system for inspecting tires, comprising: at least one digital camera that captures a digital image of the tire sidewall; a computing device having one or more computer processors with communicatively coupled memory, the computing device being connected to a computer network; a computer program product tangibly embodied in a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium executing on the computing device, the instructions including instructions that, when executed by the one or more computer processors, cause the one or more processors to: compiling a tire safety information database with tire identifiers assigned to tires having safety issues; capturing a digital image of each tire sidewall of each tire installed on each vehicle when the respective vehicle is delivered to a vehicle dealer or vehicle service provider; assigning a vehicle identifier to each of said individual vehicles based on the VIN number or license plate of said individual vehicle; associating each of the vehicle identifiers with the vehicle dealer or the vehicle service provider for each of the vehicles; determining, from the digital image of each individual tire sidewall, a scanned tire identifier from alphanumeric characters within the digital image; associating each of the scanned tire identifiers with the vehicle identifier; comparing each of the scanned tire identifiers with the tire identifiers assigned to tires with safety issues to find a match; Upon determining the match, communicating an alert to the vehicle dealer or service provider associated with the vehicle identifier that resulted in the match between the scanned tire identifier and the tire identifier assigned to a tire having a safety issue; A system that allows the following to be performed.

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