IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,748,888
Granted Patent B1
US 12,748,888 · App. 18/666,499 · Granted Sep 29, 2026

Data privacy and security in vehicles

Inventor: Andrea Amico (Marietta, GA)
Assignee: PRIVACY4CARS, Inc.
G06F21/6245G06F21/6227G06F21/73H04W12/02G06F2221/2143
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,748,888
App. No.
18/666,499
Granted
Sep 29, 2026
Kind
B1
Abstract

A system includes a user computing device with an application for removal of privacy data. The application obtains vehicle information associated with a target vehicle that has a target in-vehicle device from which privacy information of a user is to be removed. Using the vehicle information, the application determines vehicle parameters associated with the target vehicle. The application obtains a privacy information removal file comprising an instruction set associated with removing privacy data from candidate in-vehicle devices, and presents the instruction set. A user experience feedback associated with the candidate in-vehicle devices is obtained and stored in a database.

Claims (40)

1 . A method, comprising:

obtaining, by a computing device, vehicle information associated with a target vehicle comprising one or more in-vehicle devices which store privacy information;

presenting, by the computing device, an instruction set for removing privacy information from a target in-vehicle device of the one or more in-vehicle devices, wherein the instruction set is associated with the vehicle information;

obtaining, by the computing device, a user experience feedback associated with the target in-vehicle device;

recording, by the computing device, the user experience feedback in a database;

updating, by the computing device, the instruction set based on the user experience feedback; and

removing, by the computing device using one or more of an Application Programming Interface (API), a webserver, or a mobile application, the privacy information from the target in-vehicle device based on the updated instruction set.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

presenting, by the computing device, an image of each of the one or more in-vehicle devices; and

obtaining, by the computing device, a selection of the image of the target in-vehicle device for which the privacy information is to be removed.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the target vehicle comprises a car, a truck, a sport utility vehicle, a recreational vehicle, a tractor trailer, a motorcycle, or a hybrid vehicle.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle information comprises at least one of: a vehicle identification number (VIN), a partial vehicle identification number, a make, a model, a model year, a unit number, a plate number of the target vehicle, one or more images of a dashboard of the target vehicle, one or more images of the target in-vehicle device of the target vehicle, one or more images of an exterior of the target vehicle, or a video of the target in-vehicle device of the target vehicle.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein obtaining the vehicle information associated with the target vehicle comprises capturing, by a camera of the computing device, at least one of: a VIN code associated with the VIN, a partial VIN code associated with the partial VIN, a model code associated with the make, the model, and the model year, a unit code associated with the unit number, a plate code associated with the plate number of the target vehicle, one or more images of a dashboard of the target vehicle, one or more images of the target in-vehicle device of the target vehicle, one or more images of an exterior of the target vehicle, or a video of the target in-vehicle device of the target vehicle.

6 . A system, comprising:

a computing device; and

at least one application executable by the computing device, wherein the at least one application, when executed by the computing device, is configured to cause the computing device to:

obtain vehicle information associated with a target vehicle comprising one or more in-vehicle devices which store privacy information;

present an instruction set for removing privacy information from a target in-vehicle device of the one or more in-vehicle devices, wherein the instruction set is associated with the vehicle information;

obtain a user experience feedback associated with the target in-vehicle device;

record the user experience feedback in a database; update the instruction set based on the user experience feedback; and

remove, using one or more of an Application Programming Interface (API), a webserver, or a mobile application, the privacy information from the target in-vehicle device based on the updated instruction set.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one application is further configured to cause the computing device to:

present an image of each of the one or more in-vehicle devices; and

obtain a selection of the image of the target in-vehicle device for which the privacy information is to be removed.

8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the target vehicle comprises a car, a truck, a sport utility vehicle, a recreational vehicle, a tractor trailer, a motorcycle, or a hybrid vehicle.

9 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the vehicle information comprises at least one of: a vehicle identification number (VIN), a partial vehicle identification number, a make, a model, a model year, a unit number, a plate number of the target vehicle, one or more images of a dashboard of the target vehicle, one or more images of the target in-vehicle device of the target vehicle, one or more images of an exterior of the target vehicle, or a video of the target in-vehicle device of the target vehicle.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one application causes the computing device to obtain the vehicle information associated with the target vehicle by capturing, by a camera of the computing device, at least one of: a VIN code associated with the VIN, a partial VIN code associated with the partial VIN, a model code associated with the make, the model, and the model year, a unit code associated with the unit number, a plate code associated with the plate number of the target vehicle, one or more images of a dashboard of the target vehicle, one or more images of the target in-vehicle device of the target vehicle, one or more images of an exterior of the target vehicle, or a video of the target in-vehicle device of the target vehicle.

11 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a plurality of computer instructions executable by a computing device, the plurality of computer instructions being configured to cause the computing device to:

obtain vehicle information associated with a target vehicle comprising one or more in-vehicle devices which store privacy information;

present an instruction set for removing privacy information from a target in-vehicle device of the one or more in-vehicle devices, wherein the instruction set is associated with the vehicle information;

obtain a user experience feedback associated with the target in-vehicle device;

record the user experience feedback in a database;

update the instruction set based on the user experience feedback; and

remove, using one or more of an Application Programming Interface (API), a webserver, or a mobile application, the privacy information from the target in-vehicle device based on the updated instruction set.

12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of computer instructions are further configured to cause the computing device to:

present an image of each of the one or more in-vehicle devices; and

obtain a selection of the image of the target in-vehicle device for which the privacy information is to be removed.

13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the target vehicle comprises a car, a truck, a sport utility vehicle, a recreational vehicle, a tractor trailer, a motorcycle, or a hybrid vehicle.

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the vehicle information comprises at least one of: a vehicle identification number (VIN), a partial vehicle identification number, a make, a model, a model year, a unit number, or a plate number of the target vehicle, one or more images of a dashboard of the target vehicle, one or more images of an infotainment system of the target vehicle, one or more images of an exterior of the target vehicle, or a live feed of the infotainment system of the target vehicle.

15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein obtaining the vehicle information associated with the target vehicle comprises capturing, by a camera of the computing device, at least one of: a VIN code associated with the VIN, a partial VIN code associated with the partial VIN, a model code associated with the make, the model, and the model year, a unit code associated with the unit number, a plate code associated with the plate number of the target vehicle, one or more images of a dashboard of the target vehicle, one or more images of the target in-vehicle device of the target vehicle, one or more images of an exterior of the target vehicle, or a video of the target in-vehicle device of the target vehicle.

Continuity (4)
Continuation 18296022 · Apr 5, 2023
Continuation 17500002 · Oct 13, 2021
Continuation 16279389 · Feb 19, 2019
Provisional Application 62632707 · Feb 20, 2018
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