SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VALIDATION OF AUTO INSURANCE THROUGH A DRIVERS MOBILE DEVICE

1 . A system comprising:

a data processor;

an in-vehicle control system in data communication with the data processor, the in-vehicle control system being resident in a vehicle; and

an insurance status processing module being configured to:

pair a mobile device with the in-vehicle control system;

transfer an electronic insurance certificate retained on the mobile device to the in-vehicle control system;

authenticate the electronic insurance certificate, the authenticating including comparing data in the electronic insurance certificate against related insurance data in a valid insurance certificate; and

enable, disable, or modify the operation of the vehicle based on the authentication of the electronic insurance certificate.

2 . The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electronic insurance certificate is a proof of insurance document including vehicle insurance information in a secure digital form.

3 . The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the valid insurance certificate is either stored on the in-vehicle control system or obtained via a data network access performed by the in-vehicle control system.

4 . The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electronic insurance certificate forms a link between the vehicle and a driver pairing the mobile device with the in-vehicle control system.

5 . The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein authenticating the electronic insurance certificate includes validating vehicle insurance coverage.

6 . The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein enabling, disabling, or modifying the operation of the vehicle includes a denial of vehicle service based on the electronic insurance certificate status.

7 . The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein enabling, disabling, or modifying the operation of the vehicle includes a modification or limitation of vehicle service based on electronic insurance certificate status.

8 . The system as claimed in claim 1 being further configured to dynamically configure or modify a status or condition of the vehicle based on preferences of a driver pairing the mobile device with the in-vehicle control system.

9 . The system as claimed in claim 1 being further configured to automatically transmit an electronic message to a third party when the insurance status processing module detects a particular status or condition.

10 . A method comprising:

pairing a mobile device with an in-vehicle control system having an insurance status processing module, the in-vehicle control system being resident in a vehicle;

transferring an electronic insurance certificate retained on the mobile device to the in-vehicle control system;

authenticating the electronic insurance certificate by use of the insurance status processing module, the authenticating including comparing data in the electronic insurance certificate against related insurance data in a valid insurance certificate; and

enabling, disabling, or modifying the operation of the vehicle based on the authentication of the electronic insurance certificate.

11 . The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the electronic insurance certificate is a proof of insurance document including vehicle insurance information in a secure digital form.

12 . The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the valid insurance certificate is either stored on the in-vehicle control system or obtained via a data network access performed by the in-vehicle control system.

13 . The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the electronic insurance certificate forms a link between the vehicle and a driver pairing the mobile device with the in-vehicle control system.

14 . The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein authenticating the electronic insurance certificate includes validating vehicle insurance coverage.

15 . The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein enabling, disabling, or modifying the operation of the vehicle includes a denial of vehicle service based on the electronic insurance certificate status.

16 . The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein enabling, disabling, or modifying the operation of the vehicle includes a modification or limitation of vehicle service based on electronic insurance certificate status.

17 . The method as claimed in claim 10 including dynamically configuring or modifying a status or condition of the vehicle based on preferences of a driver pairing the mobile device with the in-vehicle control system.

18 . The method as claimed in claim 10 including automatically transmitting an electronic message to a third party when the insurance status processing module detects a particular status or condition.

19 . A non-transitory machine-useable storage medium embodying instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

pair a mobile device with the in-vehicle control system;

transfer an electronic insurance certificate retained on the mobile device to the in-vehicle control system;

authenticate the electronic insurance certificate, the authenticating including comparing data in the electronic insurance certificate against related insurance data in a valid insurance certificate; and

enable, disable, or modify the operation of the vehicle based on the authentication of the electronic insurance certificate.

20 . The machine-useable storage medium as claimed in claim 19 wherein the electronic insurance certificate forms a link between the vehicle and a driver pairing the mobile device with the in-vehicle control system.