Systems and Methods for Using Sensors to Determine a Holistic Vehicle Characteristic and/or to Generate Parameters for a Vehicle Service

Abstract

Systems and methods for using a computing device with sensors to determine a holistic characteristic for a vehicle and/or to generate parameter(s) for a vehicle service. The computing device is configured to receive from a user device, via a first wireless data connection, a request to generate vehicle service parameters, based on a current condition of a feature of a vehicle. The computing device is configured to receive from the user device, via the first wireless data connection, vehicle-specific identifying information. The computing device is configured to determine data for a past condition for the feature of the vehicle, using the vehicle-specific identifying information. The computing device is configured to establish a second wireless data connection with an electronic system of the vehicle. The computing device is configured to receive, from the electronic system of the vehicle, via the second wireless data connection, data of a current condition for the feature. The computing device is configured to compare the data of the past condition and the data of the current condition. The computing device is configured to generate a vehicle service parameter based on the comparison.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a computing device having at least one processor and from a user device of a user via a first wireless data connection, a request to estimate a current holistic characteristic of a vehicle, wherein the current holistic characteristic is based at least on a first current condition of at least one of a plurality of features of the vehicle;   receiving, by the computing device and from the user device via the first wireless data connection, vehicle-specific identifying data of the vehicle, and the first current condition for the at least one of the plurality of features of the vehicle;   receiving and storing, by the computing device, an original holistic characteristic value of the vehicle as a hypothesized holistic characteristic value of the vehicle;   determining, by the computing device, a first original condition for the at least one of the plurality of features of the vehicle, using the vehicle-specific identifying data;   comparing, by the computing device, the first original condition and the first current condition for the at least one of the plurality of features of the vehicle; and   updating the hypothesized holistic characteristic value of the vehicle based on the comparing of the first original condition and the first current condition and the vehicle-specific identifying data to determine a first value for the current holistic characteristic of the vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 establishing, by the computing device, a second wireless data connection with an electronic system of the vehicle; and   receiving, by the computing device and from the electronic system of the vehicle via the second wireless data connection, a second current condition for at least another one of the plurality of features of the vehicle.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 determining, by the computing device, a second original condition for the at least another one of the plurality of features of the vehicle using the vehicle-specific identifying data;   comparing, by the computing device, the second original condition and the second current condition for the at least another one of the plurality of features of the vehicle; and   updating the hypothesized holistic characteristic value of the vehicle based on the comparing of the first original condition and the first current condition, the comparing of the second original condition and the second current condition, and the vehicle-specific identifying data to determine a second value for the current holistic characteristic of the vehicle.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein updating the hypothesized holistic characteristic value of the vehicle further comprises:
 determining, by the computing device, a quantifiable difference in condition between the first original condition and the first current condition of the at least one of the plurality of features of the vehicle; and   determining, by the computing device, a corresponding delta in the hypothesized holistic characteristic value of the vehicle based on the quantifiable difference in the condition.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle-specific identifying data includes an image of the vehicle showing at least one vehicle-specific identifying information. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one vehicle-specific identifying information includes one or more of:
 a vehicle identification number (VIN),   a vehicle manufacturer or make,   a vehicle model,   a vehicle manufacture year,   a current odometer reading,   a vehicle class,   a vehicle color,   a vehicle type, and   a license plate identification.   
     
     
         7 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:
 receive, from a user device of a user via a first wireless data connection, a request to estimate a current holistic characteristic of a vehicle, wherein the current holistic characteristic is based at least on a first current condition of at least one of a plurality of features of the vehicle; 
 receive, from the user device via the first wireless data connection, vehicle-specific identifying data of the vehicle, and the first current condition for the at least one of the plurality of features of the vehicle; 
 receive and store an original holistic characteristic value of the vehicle as a hypothesized holistic characteristic value of the vehicle; 
 determine a first original condition for the at least one of the plurality of features of the vehicle, using the vehicle-specific identifying data; 
 compare the first original condition and the first current condition for the at least one of the plurality of features of the vehicle; and 
 update the hypothesized holistic characteristic value of the vehicle based on the comparing of the first original condition and the first current condition and the vehicle-specific identifying data to determine a first value for the current holistic characteristic of the vehicle. 
   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , the memory storing additional computer-executable instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:
 establish a second wireless data connection with an electronic system of the vehicle; and   receive, from the electronic system of the vehicle via the second wireless data connection, a second current condition for at least another one of the plurality of features of the vehicle.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , the memory storing additional computer-executable instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:
 determine a second original condition for the at least another one of the plurality of features of the vehicle using the vehicle-specific identifying data;   compare the second original condition and the second current condition for the at least another one of the plurality of features of the vehicle; and   update the hypothesized holistic characteristic value of the vehicle based on the comparing of the first original condition and the first current condition, the comparing of the second original condition and the second current condition, and the vehicle-specific identifying data to determine a second value for the current holistic characteristic of the vehicle.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , the memory storing additional computer-executable instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors for updating the hypothesized holistic characteristic value of the vehicle, further cause the system to:
 determine a quantifiable difference in condition between the first original condition and the first current condition of the at least one of the plurality of features of the vehicle; and   determine a corresponding delta in the hypothesized holistic characteristic value of the vehicle based on the quantifiable difference in the condition.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the vehicle-specific identifying data includes an image of the vehicle showing at least one vehicle-specific identifying information. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one vehicle-specific identifying information includes one or more of:
 a vehicle identification number (VIN),   a vehicle manufacturer or make,   a vehicle model,   a vehicle manufacture year,   a current odometer reading,   a vehicle class,   a vehicle color,   a vehicle type, and   a license plate identification.   
     
     
         13 . One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform steps comprising:
 receiving, from a user device of a user via a first wireless data connection, a request to estimate a current holistic characteristic of a vehicle, wherein the current holistic characteristic is based at least on a first current condition of at least one of a plurality of features of the vehicle;   receiving, from the user device via the first wireless data connection, vehicle-specific identifying data of the vehicle, and the first current condition for the at least one of the plurality of features of the vehicle;   receiving and storing an original holistic characteristic value of the vehicle as a hypothesized holistic characteristic value of the vehicle;   determining a first original condition for the at least one of the plurality of features of the vehicle, using the vehicle-specific identifying data;   comparing the first original condition and the first current condition for the at least one of the plurality of features of the vehicle; and   updating the hypothesized holistic characteristic value of the vehicle based on the comparing of the first original condition and the first current condition and the vehicle-specific identifying data to determine a first value for the current holistic characteristic of the vehicle.   
     
     
         14 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform steps further comprising:
 establishing a second wireless data connection with an electronic system of the vehicle; and   receiving, from the electronic system of the vehicle via the second wireless data connection, a second current condition for at least another one of the plurality of features of the vehicle.   
     
     
         15 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform steps further comprising:
 determining a second original condition for the at least another one of the plurality of features of the vehicle using the vehicle-specific identifying data;   comparing the second original condition and the second current condition for the at least another one of the plurality of features of the vehicle; and   updating the hypothesized holistic characteristic value of the vehicle based on the comparing of the first original condition and the first current condition, the comparing of the second original condition and the second current condition, and the vehicle-specific identifying data to determine a second value for the current holistic characteristic of the vehicle.   
     
     
         16 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors for updating the hypothesized holistic characteristic value of the vehicle, cause the one or more processors to perform steps further comprising:
 determining a quantifiable difference in condition between the first original condition and the first current condition of the at least one of the plurality of features of the vehicle; and   determining a corresponding delta in the hypothesized holistic characteristic value of the vehicle based on the quantifiable difference in the condition.   
     
     
         17 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 13 , wherein the vehicle-specific identifying data includes an image of the vehicle showing at least one vehicle-specific identifying information. 
     
     
         18 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one vehicle-specific identifying information includes one or more of:
 a vehicle identification number (VIN),   a vehicle manufacturer or make,   a vehicle model,   a vehicle manufacture year,   a current odometer reading,   a vehicle class,   a vehicle color,   a vehicle type, and   a license plate identification.