Direct repair program management systems and methods thereof

• US 20080046261A1
• Filed: 08/17/2006
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mitchell International Incorporated (Mitchell International Holding, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scene Genesis, Inc. (Mitchell International Holding, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cunningham, Ian
• Application Number:
  US11/505,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20080046261A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

A method and system for managing a direct repair program includes receiving one or more estimates of repair cost from one or more shops and determining which of the received one or more estimates are in compliance with one or more requirements. The one or more compliant estimates from the one or more shops and stored feedback on the one or more shops associated with the compliant estimates are provided to the source of the claim. A selection of one of the compliant estimates based on the compliant estimates and the stored feedback is received and the claim is awarded to the selected one of the one or more shops.

Claims

1. A method for managing a direct repair program, the method comprising:

receiving one or more estimates of repair cost for damage reported in a claim from one or more shops;

determining which of the received one or more estimates are in compliance with one or more requirements;

providing the one or more compliant estimates and stored feedback on the one or more shops associated with the compliant estimates to the source of the claim;

receiving a selection of one of the compliant estimates based on the compliant estimates and the stored feedback; and

awarding the claim to the selected one of the one or more shops.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising providing the estimate for the claim to one or more shops.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the provided estimate includes one or more images of the damage reported in the claim.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the receiving one or more estimates further comprises:

receiving an estimated time for completion of the claim for each of the one or more compliant estimates; and

providing the received estimated time for completion for each of the one or more compliant estimates to the source of the claim;

wherein the receiving a selection of one of the one or more compliant estimates is further based on the received estimated time for completion for each of the one or more compliant estimates.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising receiving at least notification of payment of a first compensation from the one of the one or more shops awarded the claim.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

receiving new feedback from the source of the claim on the selected one of the one or more shops; and

storing the new feedback in the stored feedback.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a request for a supplement to the estimate from the one of the one or more shops awarded the claim;

determining whether the request for the supplement is needed; and

outputting the determination on the supplement to the one of the one or more shops awarded the claim.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

receiving notification when work on the claim is completed by the one of the one or more shops awarded the claim; and

providing at least notification of payment of the estimate to the one of the one or more shops awarded the claim based on the received notification.

9. A computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for managing a direct repair program comprising machine executable code which when executed by at least one processor, causes the processor to perform steps comprising:

receiving one or more estimates of repair cost for damage reported in a claim from one or more shops;

determining which of the received one or more estimates are in compliance with one or more requirements;

providing the one or more compliant estimates and stored feedback on the one or more shops associated with the compliant estimates to the source of the claim;

receiving a selection of one of the one or more compliant estimates based on the one or more compliant estimates and the stored feedback; and

awarding the claim to the selected one of the one or more shops.

10. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 9 further comprising providing the estimate for the claim to one or more shops.

11. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 10 wherein the provided estimate includes one or more images of the damage reported in the claim.

12. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 9 wherein the receiving one or more estimates further comprises:

receiving an estimated time for completion of the claim for each of the one or more compliant estimates; and

providing the received estimated time for completion for each of the one or more compliant estimates to the source of the claim;

wherein the receiving a selection of one of the one or more compliant estimates is further based on the received estimated time for completion for each of the one or more compliant estimates.

13. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 9 further comprising at least notification of payment of a first compensation from the one of the one or more shops awarded the claim.

14. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 9 further comprising:

receiving new feedback from the source of the claim on the selected one of the one or more shops; and

storing the new feedback in the stored feedback.

15. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 9 further comprising:

receiving a request for a supplement to the estimate from the one of the one or more shops awarded the claim;

determining whether the request for the supplement is needed; and

outputting the determination on the supplement to the one of the one or more shops awarded the claim.

16. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 9 further comprising:

receiving notification when work on the claim is completed by the one of the one or more shops awarded the claim; and

providing at least notification of payment of the estimate to the one of the one or more shops awarded the claim based on the received notification.

17. A direct repair program management system comprising:

a communication system that receives one or more estimates of repair cost for damage reported in a claim from one or more shop management systems; and

a management processing system that determines which of the received one or more estimates are in compliance with one or more requirements;

wherein the communication system provides the one or more compliant estimates from the one or more shop management systems and stored feedback on the one or more shop management systems associated with the one or more compliant estimates to a claim source system and receives a selection of one of the one or more compliant estimates based on the one or more compliant estimates and the stored feedback;

wherein the management processing system awards the claim to the selected one of the one or more shop management systems.

18. The system as set forth in claim 17 wherein the communication system provides the estimate for the claim to one or more shop management systems.

19. The system as set forth in claim 18 wherein the provided estimate includes one or more images of the damage reported in the claim.

20. The system as set forth in claim 17 wherein the communication system receives an estimated time for completion of the claim for each of the one or more compliant estimates and provides the received estimated time for completion for each of the one or more compliant estimates to the claim source system, wherein the received selection of one of the one or more compliant estimates is further based on the received estimated time for completion for each of the one or more compliant estimates.

21. The system as set forth in claim 17 wherein the communication system receives at least at least notification of payment of a first compensation from the one of the one or more shop management systems awarded the claim.

22. The system as set forth in claim 17 wherein the communication system receives new feedback from the source of the claim on the selected one of the one or more shop management systems and the management processing system stores the new feedback in the stored feedback.

23. The system as set forth in claim 17 wherein the communication system receives a request for a supplement to the estimate from the one of the one or more shop management systems awarded the claim, the management processing system determines whether the request for the supplement is needed, and the communication system outputs the determination on the supplement to the one of the one or more shop management systems awarded the claim.

24. The system as set forth in claim 17 wherein the communication system receiving notification when work on the claim is completed by the one of the one or more shop management systems awarded the claim and provides at least notification of payment of the estimate to the one of the one or more shop management systems awarded the claim based on the received notification.