In-vehicle infotaintment systems allow vehicle users to performa number of tasks including making/receiving phone calls,send/receive text messages, utilizing navigation, access socialmedia and internet services while driving. Bluetooth technologyand/or smartphones can assist drivers to use the capabilities ofinfotainment systems while driving. Infotaintment system ElectronicControl Modules (ECM's) can store information including vehicleinformation, user data and navigation data which can be useful forforensic investigations and accident reconstruction.

Imagine automobile claims where cell phone usage while drivingis suspected, or a vehicle theft or a hit and run where the driverof the subject vehicle states he/she was not near the accidentlocation on the date of the accident. Berla Corporation hasdeveloped a tool, known as iVe, which can assist in investigatingclaims related to vehicle fraud, cell phone use while driving,vehicle theft and other forensic investigations.

The benefits of using iVe include retrieving and analyzing userinformation and navigation data stored in a vehicle's infotainmentsystem hardware. iVe currently covers a variety of vehicle brandsmanufactured as early as 2008. Examples of vehicles currentlysupported by the iVe technology include: Ford vehicles equippedwith Sync modules and Navigation Radio infotainment systems, GMvehicles furnished with OnStar modules, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles(FCA) outfitted with different generations of the Uconnectinfotaintment system, Toyotas with Entune systems, BMWs equippedwith Car Information Computer (CIC) systems and Volkswagen withRadio Navigation Systems (RNS 510).

Using iVe hardware user data such as phone call and text messagehistory can be retrieved and further analyzed by the iVe software.Also, navigation data with GPS coordinates, physical addressesand/or routes with date and time stamps can be tracked down usingiVe; thus, a vehicle's location may be determined at a specificdate and time.

Using iVe to acquire and analyze information from vehicles'infotaintment systems can also assist in investigating suspectedvehicle fraud, such as Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) orodometer readings tampering.

What about a vehicle theft claim? Think of a claimant reportinghis/her vehicle was stolen while in his/her private garage with alldoors securely locked. It is crucial to establish the legitimacy ofthis claim. How can iVe technology assist in investigating such aclaim? Information on both navigation data and vehicle events suchas doors opened/closed, lights on/off and gearshift position can beacquired and examined using the iVe tool; thus, an assessment ofthe claim can be made to determine its validity. Let's illustratethe benefit of using iVe to investigate the above claim: navigationdata retrieved by iVe indicated that on the date and time of thereported theft, the subject vehicle was stationary in a parkinglot, not in a private garage as claimed. Also, data analyzed usingiVe software indicated that the driver's door was opened for asignificant time as opposed to reportedly securely locked. In thisparticular case, the evidence obtained by using the iVe tool didnot support the claimant's description of the incident.

Envision a claim involving a tractor-trailer which wasreportedly impacted by an unknown vehicle. The driver of thetractor-trailer claimed that the unknown vehicle struck the rearleft of his 53 foot trailer, then fled the scene. The drivermanaged to identify the unknown vehicle's license plate numberwhich further assisted police to locate the suspect vehicle.Retrieval and further analysis of navigation data with date andtime stamps from the suspect vehicle can be used to determine thevehicle's location at the time of the reported collision.

The iVe tool is available to gather a wide range of vehicle anduser data to assist forensic investigators and accidentreconstructionists investigating the facts in automobile accidents,claims and legal disputes.