SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RECALL COMPLIANCE VIA BLOCKCHAIN
The present embodiments relate to systems and methods for using a blockchain to record information related to the lifecycle of a vehicle associated with a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), or other vehicle identifier. For example, the VIN lifecycle process may be used to facilitate compliance when an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) conducts a recall. The systems and methods may include receiving a recall notice indicating a vehicle type has been recalled, and updating a VIN record for a vehicle matching the vehicle type to associate the VIN record with the recall notice. The systems and methods described herein may allow for using a blockchain which gives the option for private information, and permissioned participants in the blockchain. In particular, the systems and methods may allow for a distributed consensus amongst businesses, consumers, and authorities, as to the validity of information and transactions stored on the blockchain.
1 . A computer-implemented method for tracking recall compliance for a plurality of vehicles, the plurality of vehicles corresponding to a respective Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) record tracked by a blockchain maintained by a plurality of participants, the method comprising:
receiving, from a participant of the blockchain associated with a vehicle manufacturer, a set of public keys published to the blockchain for vehicles manufactured by the vehicle manufacturer;
receiving, at one or more processors coupled with a network interface, a recall notice from a first participant, the recall notice indicating that a vehicle type has been recalled, a date of the recall, the vehicle type indicating a make, a model, and a year;
verifying, by one or more processors, the recall notice by applying a public key associated with the first participant to decrypt at least one of (i) recall notice or (ii) a digital signature included in the recall notice;
accessing, at a memory coupled with the one or more processors, the blockchain using the vehicle type to retrieve a VIN record for vehicles in the plurality of vehicles that match the vehicle type;
updating, at the memory, a block stored at the memory to associate the VIN record for the vehicles matching the vehicle type with the recall notice;
transmitting, via the one or more processors coupled with the network interface, the block to at least one other participant;
after a threshold amount of time since the date of the recall, accessing, at the memory coupled with the one or more processors, the blockchain using the vehicle type to generate a set of VIN records associated with the recall notice and not associated with a repair notification in compliance with the recall notice;
obtaining, via the one or more processors, one or more addresses from VIN records included in the set of VIN records;
responsive to obtaining the set of VIN records, automatically causing, via the one or more processors, a recall letter to be mailed to the one or more addresses included in the set of VIN records;
receiving, at the one or more processors coupled with a network interface, a repair notification from a second participant, the repair notification indicating that a particular vehicle of the plurality of vehicles has been repaired in compliance with the recall notice, wherein the particular vehicle is manufactured by the vehicle manufacturer; and
verifying, by one or more processors, the repair notification by applying a public key in the set of public keys to decrypt at least one of (i) repair notification or (ii) a digital signature included in the repair notification.
2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein accessing the blockchain using the vehicle type comprises:
identifying, at the one or more processors, one or more entries in the blockchain corresponding to the VIN records for the vehicles matching the vehicle type; and
accessing, at the memory, the one or more entries in the blockchain corresponding to the VIN records for the vehicles matching the vehicle type.
3 . (canceled)
4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying, at the one or more processors, an entry in the blockchain corresponding to the VIN record for the particular vehicle; and
updating, at the memory, the entry in the blockchain corresponding to the VIN record for the particular to indicate that the particular vehicle has been repaired in compliance with the recall notice.
5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , further comprising:
verifying, at the one or more processors, a notification source for the repair notification by applying a public key associated with the second participant to decrypt at least one of (i) the repair notification or (ii) a digital signature included in the title repair notification.
6 . (canceled)
7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the recall notice includes an indication of a date of recall.
8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , further comprising:
determining, by the one or more processors, that a threshold amount of time has elapsed since the date of recall;
accessing, at the memory coupled with the one or more processors, the blockchain using the vehicle type to generate a set of VIN records associated with the recall notice and still not associated with a repair notification; and
automatically causing, at the one or more processors, a follow-up recall letter to be mailed to the one or more addresses included in the set of VIN records.
9 . A system for ensuring transferability of title for a vehicle, the vehicle corresponding to a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) record tracked by a blockchain maintained by a plurality of participants, the system comprising:
a network interface configured to interface with one or more processors;
a memory configured to store non-transitory computer executable instructions and configured to interface with the one or more processors; and
the one or more processors configured to interface with the memory, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the system to:
receiving, from a participant of the blockchain associated with a vehicle manufacturer, a set of public keys published to the blockchain for vehicles manufactured by the vehicle manufacturer;
receive a recall notice from a first participant, the recall notice indicating that a vehicle type has been recalled, a date of the recall, the vehicle type indicating a make, a model, and a year;
verify the recall notice by applying a public key associated with the first participant to decrypt at least one of (i) recall notice or (ii) a digital signature included in the recall notice;
accessing the blockchain using the vehicle type to retrieve a VIN record for vehicles in the plurality of vehicles that match the vehicle type;
update a block stored at the memory to associate the VIN record for the vehicles matching the vehicle type with the recall notice;
generate a solution to a cryptographic puzzle involving the block;
transmit the block to at least one other participant;
after a threshold amount of time since the date of the recall, access the blockchain using the vehicle type to generate a set of VIN records associated with the recall notice and not associated with a repair notification in compliance with the recall notice;
obtain one or more addresses from VIN records included in the set of VIN records;
responsive to obtaining the set of VIN records, automatically cause a recall letter to be mailed to the one or more addresses included in the set of VIN records;
receive a repair notification from a second participant, the repair notification indicating that a particular vehicle of the plurality of vehicles has been repaired in compliance with the recall notice, wherein the particular vehicle is manufactured by the vehicle manufacturer; and
verify the repair notification by applying a public key in the set of public keys to decrypt at least one of (i) repair notification or (ii) a digital signature included in the repair notification.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein to access the blockchain using the vehicle type, the instructions, when executed, cause the system to:
identify one or more entries in the blockchain corresponding to the VIN records for the vehicles matching the vehicle type; and
access the one or more entries in the blockchain corresponding to the VIN records for the vehicles matching the vehicle type.
11 . (canceled)
12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the system to:
identify an entry in the blockchain corresponding to the VIN record for the particular vehicle; and
update the entry in the blockchain corresponding to the VIN record for the particular to indicate that the particular vehicle has been repaired in compliance with the recall notice.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the system to:
verify a notification source for the repair notification by applying a public key associated with the second participant to decrypt at least one of (i) the repair notification or (ii) a digital signature included in the repair notification.
14 . (canceled)
15 . The system of claim 9 wherein the recall notice includes an indication of a date of recall.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the system to:
determine that a threshold amount of time has elapsed since the date of recall;
access the blockchain using the vehicle type to generate a set of VIN records associated with the recall notice and still not associated with a repair notification;
automatically cause a follow-up recall letter to be mailed to the one or more addresses included in the set of VIN records.
17 . A computer-implemented method for tracking recall compliance for a plurality of vehicles, the plurality of vehicles corresponding to a respective Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) record tracked by a blockchain maintained by a plurality of participants, the method comprising:
receiving, from a participant of the blockchain associated with a vehicle manufacturer, a set of public keys published to the blockchain for vehicles manufactured by the vehicle manufacturer;
receiving, at one or more processors coupled with a network interface, a recall notice from a first participant, the recall notice indicating that a vehicle type has been recalled, a date of the recall, the vehicle type indicating a make, a model, and a year;
verifying, by one or more processors, the recall notice by applying a public key associated with the first participant to decrypt at least one of (i) recall notice or (ii) a digital signature included in the recall notice;
accessing, at a memory coupled with the one or more processors, the blockchain using the vehicle type to retrieve a VIN record for vehicles in the plurality of vehicles that match the vehicle type;
updating, at the memory, a block stored at the memory to associate the VIN record for the vehicles matching the vehicle type with the recall notice;
generating, by the one or more processors, a solution to a cryptographic puzzle involving the block;
transmitting, via the one or more processors coupled with the network interface, the block to at least one other participant;
after a threshold amount of time since the date of the recall, accessing, at the memory coupled with the one or more processors, the blockchain using the vehicle type to generate a set of VIN records associated with the recall notice and not associated with a repair notification in compliance with the recall notice;
obtaining, via the one or more processors, one or more addresses from VIN records included in the set of VIN records;
responsive to obtaining the set of VIN records, automatically causing, via the one or more processors, a recall letter to be mailed to the one or more addresses included in the set of VIN records;
receiving, at the one or more processors coupled with a network interface, a repair notification from a second participant, the repair notification indicating that a particular vehicle of the plurality of vehicles has been repaired in compliance with the recall notice, wherein the particular vehicle is manufactured by the vehicle manufacturer; and
verifying, by one or more processors, the repair notification by applying a public key in the set of public keys to decrypt at least one of (i) repair notification or (ii) a digital signature included in the repair notification.
18 . The computer-implemented method of claim 17 , further comprising:
identifying, at the one or more processors, an entry in the blockchain corresponding to the VIN record for the particular vehicle; and
updating, at the memory, the entry in the blockchain corresponding to the VIN record for the particular to indicate that the particular vehicle has been repaired in compliance with the recall notice.
19 . (canceled)
20 . (canceled)