Broadleaf Acquires 8 Patents Related to Technologies for Improving Transparency in Automotive Maintenance

Broadleaf Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Kenji Oyama; hereinafter, Broadleaf) has acquired 8 patents related to technologies capable of detecting suspicious processes at each stage from estimate confirmation to work completion confirmation in automotive maintenance.

**[Background of this matter]** In recent years, in the mobility industry, against the backdrop of fraudulent cases related to automotive maintenance, sheet metal, and repair, there has been a growing social demand for ensuring operational transparency, including the proper conduct of operations, strengthening accountability, and improving the verifiability of operational records. In March 2024, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism published "Guidelines for Ensuring Transparency for Consumers in Vehicle Body Maintenance," requesting maintenance providers to store work records and obtain proper explanations and consent from customers.

In response to this increasing social demand, our company has been expanding its services, including the development of fraud detection functions in 2023*1, the launch of an evidence management service in 2025*2, and the introduction of cloud services to major mobility operators in 2026*3. Concurrently, we have been promoting technology development and intellectual property rights acquisition related to fraud detection in technological areas covering the entire business process, from validating estimate content to confirming work completion. This announcement is to inform about the acquisition of 8 patents that serve as the intellectual property foundation supporting this series of service deployments.

The main patents acquired enable the comparison of estimate contents related to maintenance, sheet metal, and repair, and can detect suspicious processes at each stage from estimate confirmation to work completion confirmation. These patents also relate to re-estimation utilizing diagnostic information obtained from on-board diagnostic (OBD) devices, estimate bidding by maintenance shops, judgment of estimate differences, work instructions, and retention of work evidence.

These patents cover various technological areas from estimate confirmation to work completion confirmation in automotive maintenance, sheet metal, and repair, and serve as a technological foundation contributing to ensuring transparency, strengthening accountability, and improving the verifiability of records in each process.

Broadleaf has a long track record of providing business support services in the mobility industry, accumulating knowledge and data regarding business processes at maintenance and repair sites. These patents were developed based on this on-site knowledge as technologies to address challenges such as transparency, accountability, and verifiability of records. Their characteristic feature is that they are not merely the development of individual functions but are provided in conjunction with services as a mechanism to support proper business operations in the mobility industry.

**[Overview of Acquired Patents]** The main target areas of the acquired patents and the corresponding patents are as follows:

① Grasping differences by comparing estimates Patent No. 7439335 "Management system, management method, and management program" Registration date: February 16, 2024

② Re-estimation utilizing OBD information Patent No. 7463607 "Instruction device, instruction method, and instruction program" Registration date: March 29, 2024

③ Estimate bidding by maintenance shops Patent No. 7475803 "Computer, method, and program" Registration date: April 19, 2024

④ Judgment of estimate differences Patent No. 7440693 "Management device, management method, and management program" Registration date: February 19, 2024

⑤ Work instruction linkage to work computers Patent No. 7494408 "Information processing device, information processing method, and information processing program" Registration date: May 24, 2024

⑥ Work instructions after agreement on differences Patent No. 7569465 "Information processing device, information processing method, and information processing program" Registration date: October 8, 2024

⑦ Retention of estimate evidence using hash values Patent No. 7508719 "Information processing device, information processing method, and information processing program" Registration date: June 21, 2024

⑧ Confirmation of work content using maintenance records Patent No. 7508720 "Information processing device, information processing method, and information processing program" Registration date: June 21, 2024

Broadleaf will continue to promote the development of technologies and services that support transparency and reliability in the mobility industry, as well as strengthen intellectual property, thereby contributing to the realization of an industry where car owners can entrust their beloved cars with peace of mind.

**[About Broadleaf Co., Ltd.]** Under the corporate philosophy of "Gratitude and Joy," Broadleaf provides business support solutions and services utilizing digital technology to various industries, including the mobility-related industry. Based on the knowledge cultivated in the industry and accumulated data, we support the improvement of on-site productivity and the advancement of management quality through the utilization of AI and the promotion of 2DX (Digital Transformation and Data Exchanger).

By repeatedly developing services and providing value tailored to our customers' practical operations, we aim to further enhance customer satisfaction.