Electronic vehicle identification apparatus and vehicle identification system

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic vehicle identification apparatus and system that serves as an alternative to traditional license plates, enhancing vehicle security and identification. The apparatus includes a processing module, storage module, communication module, global navigation satellite system (GNSS) module, indicator module, and user interface, housed in a tamper-resistant casing. It dynamically displays vehicle-related information and allows real- time tracking via GNSS. The communication module facilitates data exchange with a central server, enabling remote updates and commands. The system integrates with traffic infrastructure and employs machine learning for data analysis, optimizing traffic flow and identifying anomalies. It enhances law enforcement efficiency, improves compliance, and reduces the risks of theft and forgery. The apparatus offers resilience against environmental damage and automates data collection, promoting accuracy and reducing manual intervention. This innovative solution provides a secure, efficient, and versatile method for modern vehicle identification and management.

Description

[0001] ELECTRONIC VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION APPARATUS AND VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION

[0002] SYSTEM

[0003] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The invention pertains to an electronic vehicle identification apparatus and a vehicle identification system which incorporates the electronic vehicle identification apparatus. More particularly, the invention pertains to an electronic vehicle identification apparatus and system that serves as an alternative to traditional license plates, and which can be used by an authorized agent or agency to identify and / or track vehicles.

[0005] BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0006] Traditional vehicle license plates, typically made of metal or durable plastic, have been used globally for vehicle identification for many decades. These plates are usually affixed to the front and rear of a vehicle and display a unique alphanumeric code that is registered with the relevant transportation authority. The primary function of license plates is to provide a visible means of identifying vehicles for law enforcement, toll collection, and other regulatory purposes. Despite their widespread use, traditional vehicle license plates have several inherent disadvantages and limitations: i) Susceptibility to Theft: One of the major issues with traditional license plates is their vulnerability to theft. Stolen plates can be used for illegal activities, including vehicle theft, evasion of law enforcement, and fraudulent activities. Replacing stolen plates is inconvenient and can result in significant delays and costs for vehicle owners. ii) Forgery and Counterfeiting: Traditional license plates can be easily duplicated or forged, leading to issues with vehicle identification and security. Counterfeit plates can be used on stolen or unregistered vehicles, making it difficult for authorities to track and manage vehicle data accurately. iii) Limited Information Display: Traditional plates are limited to displaying a static alphanumeric code, which provides minimal information about the vehicle or its owner. Additional details such as registration status, insurance validity, or vehicle history cannot be conveyed through the plate itself. iv) Inability to Track Vehicles in Real-Time: Traditional plates do not have any built-in tracking capabilities. As a result, they cannot provide real-time location data or assist in tracking the movement of vehicles. This limitation is particularly problematic in cases of vehicle theft, where quick recovery of the vehicle is essential. v) Weather and Environmental Damage: Traditional license plates are exposed to the elements and can suffer from wear and tear over time. Fading, rusting, and physical damage can render the plates unreadable, necessitating their replacement and potentially leading to difficulties in vehicle identification. vi) Manual Data Collection: The process of collecting and verifying vehicle information using traditional plates is often manual and time-consuming. Law enforcement officers and other authorities must visually inspect and record plate numbers, which can be prone to human error and inefficiencies.

[0007] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic vehicle identification apparatus and system with which the applicant believes the above-mentioned disadvantages would at least partially be addressed or which would provide a useful alternative to known vehicle identification apparatuses and systems.

[0009] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic vehicle identification apparatus for installation on a vehicle, the electronic vehicle identification apparatus including: a processing module on which computer-readable instructions are executable to control the operation of electronic components forming part of the electronic vehicle identification apparatus; a storage module for storing the computer-readable instructions which are executable by the processing module and vehicle- related information, the storage module being in data communication with the processing module; a communication module that is configured to transmit output data to a central server and receive input data in the form of a command from the central server, the communication module being in data communication with the processing module; a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) module for determining the positional coordinates of the vehicle, the global navigation satellite system module being in data communication with the processing module; and an indicator module that is configured to display vehicle-related information, wherein, in use, the communication module receives a command from the central server, the processing module processes said command, and the indicator module displays relevant vehicle-related information in response to the command.

[0011] The command may take the form of a request for vehicle-related information. The command may also take the form of an alarm signal which causes the indicator of the electronic vehicle identification apparatus to indicate specific vehicle-related information. For example, the central server may determine that a specific vehicle has been stolen and, in response thereto, send a command to the electronic vehicle identification apparatus which causes its indicator to indicate that the vehicle has been stolen, by, for example, causing the indicator module to emit a red light. In another example, the central server may determine that a registration license of a specific vehicle has expired and, in response thereto, send a command to the electronic vehicle identification apparatus which causes its indicator to indicate that the vehicle’s registration license has expired. It will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that the command may pertain to any type of vehicle-related information and includes information such as the real-time traveling speed of a vehicle.

[0012] The processing module may be a central processing unit, a microcontroller, or a microprocessor.

[0013] The storage module may be a transient or a non-transient storage module. The storage module may be a hard disk drive, a solid-state disk module, a NOR flash memory, a NAND flash memory, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a ferroelectric RAM memory, an SD-, SDHC, or SDXC card memory, an embedded multimedia card memory, or a universal flash storage module.

[0014] Vehicle-related information may be stored on the storage module. The vehicle-related information may be stored on the storage module prior to installing it on the vehicle or updated during use on a vehicle by wirelessly transmitting updated information from the central server to the communication module of the electronic vehicle identification apparatus. Examples of relevant vehicle-related information include:

[0015] - a unique vehicle identification code comprising an alphanumeric code or identifier that distinguishes the vehicle from others;

[0016] - vehicle registration information; - information on the registered owner of the vehicle, such as the owner’s name, address, and contact information;

[0017] - vehicle specifications such as the vehicle’s make, model, year of manufacture, color, and vehicle identification number (VI N);

[0018] - insurance information, including details of the vehicle’s insurance policy, the insurance provider, the insurance policy number, and insurance coverage dates;

[0019] - emissions and compliance data;

[0020] - inspection and maintenance records;

[0021] - warranty information, including details of any manufacturer or extended warranties applicable to the vehicle, including coverage terms and expiration dates;

[0022] - information on individuals who are authorized to use the vehicle; and

[0023] - emergency contact information.

[0024] The communication module may comprise a cellular transceiver, a Wi-Fi transceiver, a radio transceiver, or a combination thereof. The communication module may transmit the output data in encrypted form to the central server and the central server may be configured to decrypt the output data. A command sent to the electronic vehicle identification apparatus may also be encrypted and the processing module may be configured to decrypt the command.

[0025] The communication module may be further configured to communicate with a communication module of another electronic vehicle identification apparatus to permit vehicle-to-vehicle communication.

[0026] The GNSS module may be a single-frequency GNSS module, a dual-frequency GNSS module, a multi-frequency GNSS module, a high-sensitive GNSS module, a low-power GNSS module, an integrated GNSS module, or two or more of these GNSS modules. The GNSS module may also be a RTK GNSS module that is in data communication with pre-existing reference base stations.

[0027] The processor module may be configured to cause the GNSS module to determine the vehicle’s real-time location continuously or intermittently. The processor may then also be configured to cause the communication module to wirelessly transmit the vehicle’s real-time location continuously, or intermittently by means of the communication module, to the central server. The processor module may be further configured to cause the vehicle’s real-time location to be stored continuously or intermittently on the storage module.

[0028] The indicator may take the form of a light emitting device. For example, the indicator may comprise a light emitting diode, or a plurality of light emitting diodes. The light emitting diode or diodes may be constructed using multiple layers of materials that emit different colors of light. The indicator may also be an electronic ink display, an LED display, an LCD display, an OLED display, a reflective LCD display, a micro-LED display, an electrophoretic display, or a quantum dot display. These displays may be attached to the vehicle. The displays may be attached to a body panel of the vehicle such that it is visible to observers outside the vehicle.

[0029] The electronic vehicle identification apparatus may also include a user interface. The user interface may be configured to permit a user of the electronic vehicle identification apparatus to interact with it. The functionality of the user interface may be controlled by the computer- readable instructions which are stored on the storage module. The indicator or a plurality of indicators may form part of the user interface.

[0030] The electronic vehicle identification apparatus may further include a power source for providing electrical power to the processing unit, the storage module, the communication module, the GNSS module, and the indicator module. The power source may be configured to function as a back-up power source. In other words, the electronic vehicle identification apparatus may be configured to be powered by the vehicle’s battery during normal operation and the power source when the vehicle’s battery is depleted or disconnected from the electronic vehicle identification apparatus.

[0031] The electronic vehicle identification apparatus may include a housing for enclosing and protecting the processing module, the storage module, the communication module or a part thereof, the GNSS module or a part thereof, and the power source. The housing may be affixed to the vehicle. The housing may be a tamper-resistant housing and the computer-readable instructions may include a functionality that causes the communication module to transmit an alarm to the central server and / or the indicator to indicate an alarm when a tamper event is detected.

[0032] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle identification system including: an electronic vehicle identification apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention; a central server that is accessible by an authorized entity, the central server being configured to store historical vehicle-related information and vehicle-related information received from the communication module of the electronic vehicle identification apparatus; a portable electronic device that is configured to interact wirelessly with the central server, the portable electronic device including: o a communication module for wirelessly connecting to the central server, sending a command to the central server, and receiving a response in the form of vehicle-related information from the central server; o a display module for presenting the vehicle- related information to a user of the portable electronic device; and o a user interface for interacting with the central server; wherein the central server is configured to: receive vehicle-related information transmitted by the communication module of the electronic vehicle identification apparatus; process the vehicle-related information received from the electronic vehicle identification apparatus; update vehicle-related information stored on the central server; respond to a command from the portable electronic device by transmitting relevant vehicle-related information to the portable electronic device and / or the electronic vehicle identification apparatus; and respond to a command generated by the central server by transmitting relevant vehicle-related information to the portable electronic device and / or the electronic vehicle identification apparatus; and wherein the portable electronic device is configured to: receive real-time updates and vehicle-related information from the central server; and enable a user of the portable electronic device to remotely access vehicle-related information.

[0033] The central server may include a database management system for managing, retrieving and updating vehicle-related information stored on the central server and / or received from the electronic vehicle identification apparatus and / or the portable electronic device.

[0034] The central server may include a machine learning module for analyzing vehicle-related information and identifying patterns in said vehicle-related information. The machine learning module may be configured to analyze the historical vehicle-related information and to compare it with vehicle-related information received from the electronic vehicle identification apparatus. The machine learning module may also be configured to provide extrapolated output data to the electronic vehicle identification apparatus and / or the portable electronic device. The extrapolated output data may take the form of a command which is transmitted to the electronic vehicle identification apparatus and / or the portable electronic device. The command may cause the indicator module to indicate relevant vehicle-related information and / or vehicle- related information to be presented on the display of the portable electronic device. The extrapolated output data may also take the form of a prediction.

[0035] For example, the machine learning module may be configured to: analyze historical itineraries of a specific vehicle to identify a historical itinerary pattern or patterns for the relevant vehicle; receive vehicle-related updates in the form of positional coordinates from the relevant vehicle to determine and / or predict a present itinerary of the vehicle; compare the historical itinerary pattern or patterns with the present and / or predicted itinerary of the vehicle; determine if there are any anomalies between the vehicle’s historical itinerary pattern or patterns and its present and / or predicted itinerary; and cause the central server to: o transmit a command to the electronic vehicle identification apparatus that causes its indictor to indicate that the vehicle could be stolen; and / or o transmit a notification to the portable electronic device that causes its display to indicate that the vehicle could be stolen.

[0036] In another example, the machine learning module may be configured to: receive positional coordinates of a plurality of vehicles on which an electronic vehicle identification apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention has been installed; analyze the positional coordinates of the plurality of vehicles; compare the positional coordinates received from the plurality of vehicles with the respective historical itineraries of the vehicles; determine an expected flow of vehicle traffic in an area; determine a proposed optimal itinerary for each vehicle that will mitigate the effects of vehicle traffic in the area; and cause the central server to transmit a command to at least some of the electronic vehicle identification apparatuses, the command taking the form of proposed directions to end-locations of the vehicles.

[0037] The central server may be connected to a network of traffic cameras and configured to correlate image and video data received from the traffic cameras with vehicle-related information which has been stored on a storage module of an electronic vehicle identification apparatus and / or vehicle-related information which has been stored on the central server.

[0038] The central server may be a restricted-access central server. For example, the central server may be configured to be accessible only by a law enforcement agency and / or agent.

[0039] The portable electronic device may include a camera for capturing images of vehicles and their surroundings, which are then transmitted to the central server for storage and analysis.

[0040] The portable electronic device may include a GNSS module for providing the real-time location of a user of the portable electronic device.

[0041] The portable electronic device may be a smart device, a personal computer, a tablet, a smartphone, a laptop computer, or the like.

[0042] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

[0043] The invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic identification apparatus of the present invention; and

[0044] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an environment in which a vehicle identification system of the present invention operates.

[0045] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0046] With reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like features, an electronic vehicle identification apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 10, and a vehicle identification system according to a second aspect of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 100.

[0047] As used in this specification, the term “and / or1’ means that one or more, or even all, of the cases it connects may occur. For example, the phrase “X and / or Y and / or Z’ should be interpreted as:

[0048] X, Y, or Z;

[0049] Xand Y;

[0050] Xand Z;

[0051] Y and Z; and

[0052] X, Y, and Z.

[0053] It will be appreciated that the terms “X’, “ Y’, and “Z’, as used above, represent any elements or variables in a general sense. Thus, these terms merely serve as placeholders in the above explanation.

[0054] As shown in figure 1 , the electronic vehicle identification apparatus 10 for installation on a vehicle (not shown in figure 1) includes: a processing module 30 on which computer-readable instructions are executable to control the operation of electronic components forming part of the electronic vehicle identification apparatus 10; a storage module 40 for storing the computer-readable instructions which are executable by the processing module 30 and vehicle-related information, the storage module 40 being in data communication with the processing module 30; a communication module 50 that is configured to transmit output data to a central server (not shown in figure 1) and receive input data in the form of a command from the central server, the communication module 50 being in data communication with the processing module 30; a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) module 60 for determining the positional coordinates of the vehicle, the GNSS module 60 being in data communication with the processing module 30; a power source 70 for providing back-up power to electronic components of the electronic vehicle identification apparatus 10; an indicator module 80 that is configured to display vehicle-related information; and a user interface 90 that is configured to permit a user of the electronic vehicle identification apparatus 10 to interact therewith and / or the central server.

[0055] The central server is a restricted-access central server. In other words, only an authorized agent or agency, such as a law enforcement agent or agency, has access to and control over the central server.

[0056] The electronic vehicle identification apparatus 10 is installed on the vehicle and configured to be powered during normal use by the vehicle’s battery. The power source 70 acts as a backup power source in an instance where the vehicle’s battery is depleted or disconnected. A tamper-resistant housing 20 encloses and protects the processing module 30, the storage module 40, at least a part of the communication module 50, at least a part of the GNSS module 60, and the power source 70. The computer-readable instructions include a functionality that causes the communication module 50 to transmit output data in the form of an alarm to the central server when a tamper event is detected. The computer-readable instructions include an additional functionality that causes the indicator module 80 to display vehicle-related information in the form of an alarm to an observer of the relevant vehicle.

[0057] The indicator module 80 may be affixed to the tamper-resistant housing 20 but is typically affixed to a portion of the vehicle where it is visible to an observer of the relevant vehicle. For certain applications it will also be advantageous to include a plurality of indicator modules 80 on the vehicle. Here, a first indicator module 80 is affixed to a portion of the vehicle where it is visible to an observer of the relevant vehicle, and a second indicator module 80 is provided inside the vehicle where it is visible to a driver of the vehicle. In this manner vehicle-related information can be displayed to observers and the driver of the vehicle.

[0058] The indicator module 80 is typically one or more light emitting diodes which emit a pre-defined light upon receipt of a command from the central server 120. For example, upon detecting a possible theft of a vehicle on which the electronic vehicle identification apparatus 10 has been installed, the computer readable instructions may cause the indicator module to emit a flashing red light. As another example, upon detecting that a license of a vehicle on which the electronic vehicle identification apparatus 10 has been installed must be renewed, the computer readable instructions may cause the indicator module to emit an orange light. Thus, a specificcolored light may be assigned to specific vehicle- related information and displayed by the display module 80 for quick and easy observation.

[0059] Vehicle-related information is stored on the storage module 40 and includes: a unique vehicle identification code comprising an alphanumeric code or identifier that distinguishes the vehicle from others; vehicle registration information; information on the registered owner of the vehicle, such as the owner’s name, address, and contact information; vehicle specifications such as the vehicle’s make, model, year of manufacture, color, and vehicle identification number (VI N); insurance information, including details of the vehicle’s insurance policy, the insurance provider, the insurance policy number, and insurance coverage dates; emissions and compliance data; inspection and maintenance records; warranty information, including details of any manufacturer or extended warranties applicable to the vehicle, including coverage terms and expiration dates; information on individuals who are authorized to use the vehicle; and emergency contact information.

[0060] The vehicle-related information which is stored on the storage module 40 is also stored on the central server for comparison and analysis by the central server.

[0061] The vehicle-related information which is stored on the storage module 40 is updated periodically, or continuously, by means of commands received from the central server. Additionally, the computer readable instructions also permit an authorized user of the electronic vehicle identification apparatus 10 to update the vehicle-related information through the user interface 90.

[0062] In use, the communication module 50 receives a command from the central server, the processing module 30 processes said command, and the indicator module 80 displays relevant vehicle-related information in response to the command received from the central server. For example, a command to display a vehicle’s VI N can be sent from the central server to the communication module 50 of an electronic vehicle identification apparatus 10 which has been installed on the relevant vehicle. Upon receiving this command, the processor module 20 will process the command, retrieve the vehicle’s VI N from the storage module 40, and cause the indicator module 80 to display the vehicle’s VI N to an observer of the vehicle.

[0063] The operation and advantages of the electronic vehicle identification apparatus 10 will now be described further, with reference to figure 2 which shows an environment in which the electronic vehicle identification apparatus 10 operates.

[0064] As shown in figure 2, in operation, the electronic vehicle identification apparatus 10 forms part of a vehicle identification system 100. More particularly, a plurality of electronic vehicle identification apparatuses 10a, 10b, and 10c, which were installed on a plurality of vehicles 110a, 110b, and 110c, form part of the vehicle identification system 100. The plurality of electronic vehicle identification apparatuses 10a, 10b, and 10c are connected to the central server 120 by means of a wireless communication network 150.

[0065] A restricted-access central server 120 that is accessible by an authorized entity or agent forms part of the vehicle identification system 100. The central server 120 includes a database management system (not shown) that is configured to manage, retrieve, update, and store historical and / or new vehicle-related information of each vehicle on which an electronic vehicle identification apparatus 10a, 10b, and 10c has been installed. The database management system of the central server 120 is configured to manage, retrieve, update, and store historical and / or new vehicle-related information of vehicles 110a, 110b, and 110c and vehicle-related information sent by the respective communication modules of the electronic vehicle identification apparatuses 10a, 10b, and 10c. At least one portable electronic device 130 that is configured to interact wirelessly with the central server 120 over the wireless communication network 150 forms part of the vehicle identification system 100. An authorized agent or agency, such as a law enforcement agent or agency, has access to and control over the portable electronic device 130. The portable electronic device 130 includes a communication module (not shown) for wirelessly connecting to the central server 120, over the wireless communication network 150, sending a command to the central server 120, and receiving a response in the form of vehicle-related information from the central server 120. A display module (not shown) is provided for presenting the vehicle-related information to the authorized user of the portable electronic device 130. A user interface (not shown) is also provided to allow the authorized user to interact with the central server 120.

[0066] Advantageously, the vehicle identification system 100 is configured to integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure and systems to obtain additional information on the plurality of vehicles 110a, 110b, and 110c. For example, as shown in figure 2, a network of traffic cameras is connected to the central server 120. Here, the central server 120 is configured to correlate image and video data received from the network of traffic cameras 140 with vehicle-related information which has been stored on the respective storage modules of the plurality of electronic vehicle identification apparatuses 10a, 10b, and 10c and / or vehicle-related information which has been stored on the central server 120.

[0067] The central server 120 is configured to, in use, receive vehicle-related information transmitted by the respective communication modules of the plurality of electronic vehicle identification apparatuses 10a, 10b, and 10c. Upon receipt of the vehicle-related information, the database management system of the central server 120 processes the vehicle-related information received from the communication modules, compares it with historical vehicle-related information which has been stored on the central server 120, and updates the vehicle-related information stored on the central server 120. The central server 120 is further configured to transmit relevant vehicle-related information to the portable electronic device 130 and / or one of the electronic vehicle identification apparatuses 10a, 10b, and 10c upon receipt of a command from the portable electronic device 130.

[0068] Advantageously, if a law enforcement officer suspects that vehicle 110a has been stolen, the officer can send a command by means of the portable electronic device 130, over the wireless communication network 150, to the central server 120. The database management system of the central server 120 will then update the vehicle-related information for vehicle 110a to show that it has been stolen. Thereafter, the central server 120 will send input data in the form of a command, over the wireless communication network 150, to the communication module of electronic vehicle identification apparatus 10a. The processing module of electronic vehicle identification apparatus 10a will then process the command and cause its indicator module to display to an observer that vehicle 110a has been stolen. If the indicator module takes the form of a light emitting diode which has been affixed to a body panel of vehicle 110a, it will emit a flashing red light, or the like. If the indicator module takes the form of an electronic display screen which has been affixed to a body panel of vehicle 110a, it will display a theft warning in letters and / or numerals.

[0069] The central server 120 includes a machine learning module (not shown) for analyzing vehicle- related information received from the plurality of electronic vehicle identification apparatuses 10a, 10b, and 10c and identifying patterns in said vehicle-related information. This allows the machine learning model to provide predictions to the portable electronic device 130 and / or the plurality of electronic vehicle identification apparatuses 10a, 10b, and 10c.

[0070] For example, in use, the vehicle identification system 100 can be configured to cause the GNSS modules of the plurality of electronic vehicle identification apparatuses 10a, 10b, and 10c to continuously determine the respective vehicles’ 110a, 110b, and 110c positional coordinates. The processing modules of the plurality of electronic vehicle identification apparatuses 10a, 10b, and 10c can then be configured to cause the respective communication modules to continuously transmit the vehicles’ 110a, 110b, and 110c positional coordinates to the central server 120 to provide a current itinerary for each vehicle 110a, 110b, and 110c. At the same time, the central server 120 is configured to also receive vehicle-related information from the network of traffic cameras 140. The machine learning module on the central server 120 compares the current itineraries of the vehicles 110a, 110b, and 110c with their historical itineraries, analyzes vehicle-related information received from the network of traffic cameras 140, and identifies any anomalies between the vehicles’ 110a, 100b, and 110c current itineraries and their historical itineraries. This permits the machine learning module to identify patterns in vehicle- related information and to provide extrapolated output data thereon. The extrapolated output data takes the form of a prediction and, in the current instance, takes the form of a proposed itinerary which vehicles 110a, 110b, and 110c must follow to avoid traffic congestion in the area. The predictions are sent from the central server 120, over the wireless communication network 150, to the communication modules of the respective electronic vehicle identification apparatuses 10a, 10b, and 10c. The predictions are received by the communication modules as commands and these commands are processed by the respective processing modules of the electronic vehicle identification apparatuses 10a, 10b, and 10c. This causes the indicator modules of the electronic vehicle identification apparatuses 10a, 10b, and 10c to display the proposed itineraries to drivers of vehicles 110a, 110b, and 110c.

[0071] The advantages of the invention, an electronic vehicle identification apparatus 10 and system 100, include: i) Enhanced Security: The electronic vehicle identification apparatus reduces the susceptibility to theft and forgery that traditional license plates face. Its tamperresistant design and alarm functionality enhance vehicle security and deter fraudulent activities. ii) Real-Time Tracking: The integration of a GNSS module enables real-time tracking of vehicles, providing valuable location data that can assist in quick recovery in case of theft and allow for real-time monitoring of vehicle movements. iii) Dynamic Information Display: Unlike traditional license plates that display static information, the electronic vehicle identification apparatus can dynamically display various vehicle-related information such as registration status, insurance validity, and theft alerts, improving the visibility and management of essential data. iv) Data Integration and Analysis: The central server's ability to store and analyze historical and real-time vehicle data, enhanced by a machine learning module, allows for sophisticated analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive capabilities, which can optimize traffic flow and identify anomalies. v) Remote Access and Updates: Authorized entities can remotely access and update vehicle-related information through the portable electronic device, ensuring that the data is current and accurate without the need for manual intervention. vi) Improved Law Enforcement Efficiency: The system provides law enforcement agencies with advanced tools to verify vehicle information, detect stolen vehicles, and monitor traffic more efficiently, reducing manual errors and saving time. vii) Resilient to Environmental Damage: The apparatus is less susceptible to wear and tear from environmental exposure compared to traditional license plates, which can fade, rust, or become physically damaged over time. viii) Automated Data Collection: The system automates the collection and verification of vehicle information, reducing the need for manual data entry and minimizing human error, thus increasing the efficiency and accuracy of data handling. ix) Enhanced Compliance and Safety: By dynamically displaying critical information such as insurance status and emissions compliance, the system promotes adherence to regulatory requirements and enhances overall road safety. x) Seamless Integration: The vehicle identification system can integrate with existing infrastructure, such as traffic cameras, enhancing its capabilities in vehicle monitoring and traffic management. xi) Versatility and Adaptability: The apparatus can be customized with various types of indicators and communication modules to suit different applications and environments, making it a versatile solution for modern vehicle identification needs.

[0072] These advantages collectively provide a more secure, efficient, and technologically advanced solution for vehicle identification and management compared to traditional methods.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An electronic vehicle identification apparatus for installation on a vehicle, the electronic vehicle identification apparatus including: a processing module on which computer-readable instructions are executable to control the operation of electronic components forming part of the electronic vehicle identification apparatus; a storage module for storing the computer-readable instructions which are executable by the processing module and vehicle-related information, the storage module being in data communication with the processing module; a communication module that is configured to transmit output data in real-time to a central server and receive real-time input data in the form of a command from the central server, the communication module being in data communication with the processing module; a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) module for determining the realtime positional coordinates of the vehicle, the global navigation satellite system module being in real-time data communication with the processing module; and an indicator module that is configured to display vehicle-related information, wherein the central server includes a machine learning module configured to analyze historical and real-time vehicle-related information received from the electronic vehicle identification apparatus, identify patterns in said real-time vehicle-related information, provide predictions and generate extrapolated output data in the form of a command, and wherein, in use, the communication module receives a command from the central server, the processing module processes said command, and the indicator module displays relevant real-time vehicle-related information in response to the command.

2. The electronic vehicle identification apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the command received from the central server pertains to any type of vehicle-related information,including but not limited to, vehicle status, registration status, insurance validity, realtime traveling speed, and theft alerts.

3. The electronic vehicle identification apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing module is selected from the group consisting of a central processing unit (CPU), a microcontroller, and a microprocessor.

4. The electronic vehicle identification apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the storage module is selected from the group consisting of transient storage modules and non-transient storage modules, including hard disk drives, solid-state drives, NOR flash memory, NAND flash memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), ferroelectric RAM memory, SD-, SDHC, or SDXC card memory, embedded multimedia card memory, and universal flash storage modules.

5. The electronic vehicle identification apparatus of claim 1, wherein vehicle-related information stored on the storage module includes a unique vehicle identification code, vehicle registration information, information on the registered owner, vehicle specifications, insurance information, emissions and compliance data, inspection and maintenance records, warranty information, authorized user information, and emergency contact information.

6. The electronic vehicle identification apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the communication module comprises at least one of a cellular transceiver, a Wi-Fi transceiver, or a radio transceiver, and is configured to transmit encrypted output data to the central server.

7. The electronic vehicle identification apparatus of claim 6, wherein the communication module is further configured to communicate with communication modules of otherelectronic vehicle identification apparatuses to permit vehicle-to-vehicle communication.

8. The electronic vehicle identification apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the GNSS module is selected from the group consisting of single-frequency GNSS modules, dualfrequency GNSS modules, multi-frequency GNSS modules, high-sensitive GNSS modules, low-power GNSS modules, integrated GNSS modules, and RTK GNSS modules.

9. The electronic vehicle identification apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the indicator module is selected from the group consisting of light emitting diodes, electronic ink displays, LED displays, LCD displays, OLED displays, reflective LCD displays, micro-LED displays, electrophoretic displays, and quantum dot displays, and is affixed to the vehicle where it is visible to observers outside the vehicle.

10. The electronic vehicle identification apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface configured to permit interaction with the apparatus, with the functionality of the user interface controlled by the computer-readable instructions stored on the storage module.11 . The electronic vehicle identification apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a tamperresistant housing enclosing and protecting the processing module, storage module, communication module, GNSS module, and power source, wherein the computer- readable instructions include a functionality that causes the communication module to transmit an alarm to the central server and / or the indicator module to indicate an alarm when a tamper event is detected.

12. A vehicle identification system including:an electronic vehicle identification apparatus according to claim 1 ; a central server that is accessible by an authorized entity, the central server being configured to store historical vehicle- related information and real-time vehicle-related information received from the communication module of the electronic vehicle identification apparatus; a portable electronic device that is configured to interact wirelessly in real-time with the central server, the portable electronic device including: o a communication module for wirelessly connecting to the central server, sending a command to the central server, and receiving a response in the form of ve hide- related information from the central server; o a display module for presenting the vehicle-related information to a user of the portable electronic device; and o a user interface for interacting with the central server; wherein the central server is configured to: receive real-time vehicle-related information transmitted by the communication module of the electronic vehicle identification apparatus; process the real-time vehicle-related information received from the electronic vehicle identification apparatus; update real-time vehicle- related information stored on the central server; respond to a command from the portable electronic device by transmitting relevant real-time vehicle- related information to the portable electronic device and / or the electronic vehicle identification apparatus; and respond to a command generated by the central server by transmitting relevant real-time vehicle-related information to the portable electronic device and / or the electronic vehicle identification apparatus; wherein the central server includes a machine learning module configured to analyze historical and real-time vehicle-related information received from the electronic vehicleidentification apparatus, identify patterns in said real-time vehicle-related information, provide predictions and generate extrapolated output data in the form of a command, and wherein the portable electronic device is configured to: receive real-time updates and vehicle-related information from the central server; and enable a user of the portable electronic device to remotely access vehicle- related information.

13. The vehicle identification system of claim 12, wherein the central server includes a database management system for managing, retrieving, and updating vehicle-related information, and a machine learning module for analyzing and identifying patterns in vehicle-related information, providing extrapolated output data, and sending commands to the electronic vehicle identification apparatus and / or portable electronic device.

14. The vehicle identification system of claim 12, wherein the central server is connected to a network of traffic cameras and configured to correlate image and video data with vehicle-related information stored on the storage modules of the electronic vehicle identification apparatuses and / or the central server.

15. The vehicle identification system of claim 12, wherein the portable electronic device includes a camera for capturing images of vehicles and surroundings, a GNSS module for providing the real-time location of the user and is selected from the group consisting of smart devices, personal computers, tablets, smartphones, and laptops.

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