GB2494911A

GB2494911A - A method of identifying a vehicle and issuing a roadworthiness certificate

Info

Publication number: GB2494911A
Application number: GB201116487A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lee Harvey Walden
Original assignee: MICHAEL FREDERICK WALDEN
Current assignee: MICHAEL FREDERICK WALDEN
Priority date: 2011-09-26
Filing date: 2011-09-26
Publication date: 2013-03-27
Also published as: GB201116487D0

Abstract

A method of testing a vehicle 14 which comprises the step of testing a vehicle's RFID response in a roadworthiness (MOT) test and/or in the course of manufacture of the vehicle. The test may comprise checking 16 the vehicle ID obtained from the RFID tag 20, and automatically recognising the vehicle number plate 26, so that the two can be compared in a database 30 before a decision is made whether or not to issue an MOT or roadworthiness certificate 32 . Apparatus for automatically carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Description

TITLE: VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to vehicle identification, and more particularly a related method of testing.

BACKGROUND

This application (applicant reference WLD/5/GB) is one of a group of co-pending patent applications, all lodged on the same day, the whole contents of the specifications of the others cf which are hereby imported into the present specification. The group of co-pending applications have the applicant references: WLD/1/GB, WLD/2/GB, WLD/3/GB, WLD/4/GB, WLD/5/GB, WLD/6/GB, WLD/7/GB.

It could be useful for authorities, enforcement agencies and so on if vehicles were to be provided with an RFID device. This could be made a requirement of the law.

THE INVENTION

The present inventor considers that, while the absence of such a device may be detected after there is a suspicious incident and a suspicious vehicle is examined, it would be much more useful to be able to determine, in advance of, or without, any such incident, whether a vehicle has an RFID device, and more particularly one that is adapted to work, e.g. a detectable RFID device.

One aspect of the present invention provides a method of testing a vehicle which comprises the step of testing whether the vehicle is provided (or alternatively is not provided) with an RFID device, preferably one adapted to work. Preferably, the test is carded out as all or part of a roadworthiness test or as a (usually late or final) part of the manufacturing process of the vehicle).

Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of testing a vehicle which comprises the step of testing whether the vehicle is provided (or alternatively is not provided) with a detectable RFID device.

Preferably, the process should comprise a roadworthiness test, e.g. a compulsory one, e.g. a test that is required regularly, e.g. annually, such as that known in the UK as an MoT Test.

The testing of the vehicle may be distinctly different from incidental recognition, in the course of other processes, that a vehicle has no detectable RFID device or produces a wrong' (unmatching) response. This may depend upon what use is made of the information.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of testing a vehicle which comprises the step of testing a vehicle's RFID response in a roadworthiness test and/or in the course of manufacture of the vehicle. The response may indicate that the vehicle has no detectable RFID or may indicate an ID of the vehicle that does not match other vehicle data obtained from the vehicle, e.g. its registration number or chassis number, according to records, e.g. held in an external database, e.g. an official or registration authority database, or e.g. held in the vehicle, e.g. in the vehicle's central computer and/or marked (e.g. stamped) on the vehicle chassis and/or in the vehicle's logbook. Part of the test may be use of an ANPR device to read the vehicle registration number and the aforesaid match may be a check between this and the indicated ID.

The test may comprise the issuing of a roadworthiness or other certificate, and this may be withheld in the event of failure of the test, e.g. by failure to detect that the vehicle is provided with an RFID device and/or by failure of said match.

The method may comprise any one or more of the following features: * the response tested for comprises the presence of a detectable RFID device.

* the response tested for comprises a match between the vehicle ID obtained from the RFID device and other data relating to the vehicle obtained from the vehicle and from an external database.

* said other data comprise the vehicle's registration number obtained from the vehicle by use of an ANPR device.

* the method comphses the issue of a roadworthiness or other certificate.

* the certificate is either not issued, or issued with a note of test failure, in the event of failure of the test.

* the certificate issue is controlled by an automatic apparatus, which will not issue the certificate, or will issue it with a note of test failure, in the said event.

Another aspect of the invention provides apparatus for testing a vehicle, adapted to test a vehicle's RFID response in a roaorthiness test and/or in the course of manufacture of the vehicle. The apparatus may be located at a vehicle-testing station or at a vehicle-manufacturing location.

The apparatus may comprise any one or more of the following features: * means to test for the presence ot a detectable RFI D device.

* means to test for a match between the vehicle ID obtained from the RFID device and other data relating to the vehicle obtained from the vehicle and from an external database.

* the apparatus is connected to an ANPR device to obtain the vehicle's registration number and utilise this as part or all of said other data. The apparatus may comprise the ANFR devce.

* means to issue a roadworthiness or other certificate.

* automatic apparatus to control the certificate issue to ensure that the certificate is either not issued, or issued with a note of test failure, in the event of failure of the test.

Another aspect of the invention provides a vehicle testing station comprising any such apparatus.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of improving a vehicle in which there is retrofitted to the vehicle an RFID device suitable for any such method of testing.

Another aspect of the invention provides a vehicle tested or improved by any such method or apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWING

Reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a vehicle testing station comprising an embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings, identical references refer to the same item or items that are identical or similar or have similar functions, and references with the same first two digits refer to items that are identical or similar or have similar or related functions.

Reterring to the drawings, a vehicle testing station 10 comphses apparatus 12 for testing a vehicle 14, adapted to test a vehicles RFID response in a roadworthiness test and/or in the course of manufacture of the vehicle 14. The apparatus 12 comprises means 16, 18, comprising an RFID reader 16 and a control unit 18, to test for the presence of a detectable RFID device 20 aboard the vehicle 14. The reader 16 can read the vehicle's ID 24 from RFID device 20. An ANPR device 22 can read the vehicle's registration number 26. Control unit 18 can detect whether an ID 24 has been read and, if so, whether this matches the registration number 26. For the latter purpose, control unit 18 communicates, via vehicle testing console 28, with registration authority database 30 to obtain from the latter recorded data 261 for the particular vehicle 14 having the particular ID 24 which data 261 the registration number 26 should match. Thus the combination of control unit 18, console 28 and database 30 constitute means 18, 28,30 to test for a match between the vehicle ID 24 obtained from the RFID device 20 and other data 261,26 relating to the vehicle 14 obtained from external database 30 and from the vehicle 18.

As an alternative to use of ANPR device 22, or in addition, the vehicle's chassis number (VIN) 262 can be read manually and input manually into console 28, since other data relating to the vehicle's roadworthiness will also be fed manually or otherwise into console 28 in order to produce certificate 32.

The console 28 also serves as means to issue a roadworthiness or other certificate 32, and more particularly serves as automatic apparatus 28 to control the certificate issue to ensure that the certificate 32 is either not ssued, or issued with a note of test failure, in the event of failure of the test.

As part of the test, in the case of any vehicle 14 for which there is a test failure, an RFID device 20 can be retrofitted to the vehicle 14 and the device 20 can be individually coded (or may already have an individual code) and this code can be recorded in databank 30 via console 28. A suitable device 20 may simply be slipped into the vehicle's fuel tank 34 in accordance with ore of the other co-pending patent applications, or may otherwise be retrofitted to vehicle 14, e.g. as exemplified in the other co-pending patent applications.

Many vahations of the invention and embodiments herein described will be apparent to people skilled in the art. For example, features of the different embodiments disclosed herein (including the imported contents of the specifications of the co-pending applications) may be omitted, selected, combined or exchanged in order to form further embodiments. Again, where a preference or particularisation is stated, there is implicit the possibility of its negative. i.e. a case in which that preference or particularisation is absent. The invention is considered to extend to any new and inventive embodiments formed by said variations, further embodiments and cases.