Embedded warranty management

• US 20060184377A1
• Filed: 02/28/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture Global Services GmbH (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Biltz, Michael J., Tan, George B.
• Application Number:
  US11/069,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20060184377A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/302
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/012 Providing warranty services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

Methods and systems for obtaining and analyzing data from embedded sensors in electronic products for warranty management. A data collection unit in an electronic product collects and reports data about environmental factors that is relevant about a warranty agreement and transmits the data over a communications link to a data interpretation unit. The data interpretation unit may obtain warranty information from an electronic product and query a database to determine if the electronic product has been exposed to environmental factors outside the ranges that are specified in the warranty agreement. The data interpretation unit may query a database to determine the product grade of the electronic product based on the sensor data and to determine an estimated product value. The data interpretation unit may query a database to determine an estimated warranty cost of an extended warranty based on the condition of the electronic product and historical warranty value.

Claims

1. A computerized method for processing a warranty claim of an electronic product, comprising:

(a) obtaining, by a processor, a first data input from a first sensor that is integrated with the electronic product;

(b) accessing, by the processor, a first warranty threshold corresponding to the first data input for the electronic product;

(c) if the first data input exceeds the first warranty threshold, rejecting the warranty claim; and

(d) if the first data input does not exceed the first warranty threshold, accepting the warranty claim.

2. The computerized method of claim 1, further comprising:

(e) obtaining, by the processor, a second data input from a second sensor;

(f) accessing, by the processor, a second warranty threshold corresponding to the second data input for the electronic product;

(g) if any data input exceeds a corresponding warranty threshold, rejecting the warranty claim; and

(h) if any said data input does not exceed the corresponding warranty threshold, accepting the warranty claim.

3. The computerized method of claim 1, further comprising:

(e) determining whether the first data input occurred during a warranty time period; and

wherein (b) comprises;

(b)(i) obtaining a timestamp that is associated with the first data input; and

(b)(ii) determining whether the timestamp is within the warranty time period.

4. The computerized method of claim 1, further comprising:

(e) in response to (d), submitting, by the processor, the warranty claim.

5. A computerized method for estimating a product grade of an electronic product, comprising:

(a) obtaining, by a processor, a first data input from a first sensor;

(b) accessing, by the processor, a first quality indicator corresponding to the first data input for the electronic product;

(c) determining a first quality parameter from the first indicator based on a first operating threshold; and

(d) estimating the product grade from the first quality parameter.

6. The computerized method of claim 5, further comprising:

(e) obtaining, by the processor, a second data input from a second sensor;

(f) accessing, by the processor, a second quality indicator corresponding to the second data input for the electronic product;

(g) determining a second quality parameter from the second indicator based on a second operating threshold;

(h) weighing the first quality parameter and the second quality parameter; and

(i) summing the weighted first and second quality parameters to estimate the product grade.

7. A computerized method for estimating a product value of an electronic product, comprising:

(a) obtaining, by a processor, a first data input from a first sensor;

(b) accessing, by the processor, a first quality indicator corresponding to the first data input for the electronic product;

(c) determining a first quality parameter from the first indicator based on a first operating threshold;

(d) estimating a product grade from the first quality parameter; and

(e) determining an estimated product value from the product grade.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein (e) comprises:

(e)(i) determining a quality estimate value of the electronic product;

(e)(ii) determining a historical resale value of the electronic product; and

(e)(iii) determining the estimated product value from the quality estimate value and the historical resale value.

9. A computerized method for determining an extended warranty cost, comprising:

(a) obtaining, by a processor, a first data input from a first sensor;

(b) accessing, by the processor, a first quality indicator corresponding to the first data input for the electronic product;

(c) determining a first quality parameter from the first indicator based on a first operating threshold;

(d) estimating a product grade from the first quality parameter; and

(e) estimating the extended warranty cost from the product grade.

10. The computerized method of claim 9, further comprising:

(f) obtaining, by the processor, a second data input from a second sensor;

(g) accessing, by the processor, a second quality indicator corresponding to the second data input for the electronic product;

(h) determining a second quality parameter from the second indicator based on a second operating threshold;

(i) weighing the first quality parameter and the second quality parameter; and

(j) summing the weighted first and second quality parameters to estimate the extended warranty cost.

11. The computerized method of claim 9, wherein (E) comprises:

(e)(i) determining a quality estimate value of the electronic product;

(e)(ii) determining a historical warranty value of the electronic product; and

(e)(iii) determining the estimated warranty cost from the quality estimate value and the historical warranty value.

12. A computerized method to determine a quality assurance issue for an electronic product, comprising:

(a) obtaining, by a processor, a data input from a sensor that is integrated with the electronic product;

(b) updating, by the processor, an audit trial of the electronic product in accordance with the data input;

(c) determining, from the audit trail, a potential malfunction; and

(d) identifying a cause of the potential malfunction.

13. A computerized method to determine a cause of a malfunction of a returned electronic product item, comprising:

(a) obtaining, by a processor, a data input from a sensor that is integrated with the returned electronic product, wherein the electronic product has a malfunction;

(b) determining, by the processor, whether the data input exceeds a corresponding warranty threshold;

(c) if the data input does not exceed a corresponding warranty threshold, accepting a warranty claim; and

(d) if the data input does not exceed the corresponding warranty threshold, determining whether a correlation exists between the malfunction of the returned electronic product and other electronic products having a similar design.

14. A method to exchange warranty information with an offering entity, comprising:

(a) uploading, by a processor, warranty information from an electronic product, wherein the warranty information includes a data input from a sensor that is integrated with the electronic product;

(b) in response to a indication from a user, establishing, by the processor, communications with the offering entity; and

(c) sending the warranty information to the offering entity.

15. An apparatus that collects warranty information for an electronic product, comprising:

a sensor that provides the warranty information that corresponds to an associated environmental factor;

a data acquisition unit that obtains the warranty information and that associates a time stamp with the input data; and

a communication module that transmits a signal over a communications channel, wherein the signal contains the warranty information and the associated time stamp.

16. An apparatus that analyzes warranty information from an electronic product, comprising:

a communications module that receives a signal over a communications channel from the electronic product, wherein the signal contains the warranty information and the warranty information includes a data input from a sensor integrated with the electronic product;

a rules engine that determines whether the data input complies to a warranty agreement for the electronic product; and

a processing component computer that obtains the warranty information from the communications module and that determines, by querying the rules engine, whether the warranty information complies to the warranty agreement.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

a product history service component that stores the warranty information.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the product history service component comprises a product value estimator that determines an estimated value of the electronic product from the warranty information.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the product history service component comprises an extended warranty cost estimator that determines an extended warranty cost from the warranty information.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the product history service component comprises a product grade estimator that determines a product grade from the warranty information.