Method for auditing product damage claims utilizing shock sensor technology

• US 20080243530A1
• Filed: 03/27/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: James Stubler
• Original Assignee: James Stubler
• Inventors: Stubler, James
• Application Number:
  US11/728,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20080243530A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

There is provided a method for auditing product damage claims by a warranty service department on consumer products subject to manufacturer warranty guidelines. The method comprises the steps of receiving a product damage claim on a consumer product from a consumer, detecting/downloading product impact sensor data from a product impact sensor on the consumer product, and determining the coverage available for a product damage claim under manufacturer warranty guidelines based upon a comparison of the product impact sensor data to a warranty level impact.

Claims

1. A method for auditing product damage claims by a warranty service department on consumer products subject to manufacturer warranty guidelines, the method comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a product damage claim on a consumer product from a consumer;

b) detecting/downloading product impact sensor data from a product impact sensor on the consumer product;

c) determining the coverage available for a product damage claim under manufacturer warranty guidelines based upon a comparison of the product impact sensor data to a warranty level impact.

2. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 1 further including a step of processing the product impact sensor data into coded product impact data.

3. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 2 further including a step of generating a product impact report from the coded product impact data, the product impact report including product impact level data and product impact occurrence data, the product impact level data corresponding to a first state indicating authorization for warranty service under manufacturer warranty guidelines when the product level impact data does not exceed the warranty level impact, and a second state indicating a denial of authorization for warranty service under manufacturer warranty guidelines when the product impact level data exceeds the warranty level impact.

4. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 3, wherein product impact level data in the second state creates an irrebuttable presumption that authorization for warranty service should be denied.

5. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 3, wherein product impact level data in the second state creates a rebuttable presumption that authorization for warranty service should be denied.

6. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the product impact sensor is a piezoelectric sensor.

7. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the product impact sensor is a strain gauge sensor.

8. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the product impact sensor is embedded inside the consumer product.

9. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the product impact sensor is partially embedded inside the consumer product.

10. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the product impact sensor data collected by the product impact sensor is viewable from the exterior of the consumer product.

11. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 10, wherein the product impact sensor is characterized by a first color indicator corresponding to a first state and by a second color indicator corresponding to a second state.

12. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 10, wherein the product impact sensor is a meter.

13. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 12, wherein the product impact sensor data from the meter corresponds to a first range indicating authorization for warranty service under manufacturer warranty guidelines, and a second range indicating denial of authorization for warranty service under manufacturer warranty guidelines.

14. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 1 further including a step of calibrating the product impact sensor for a portable consumer product, wherein authorization for warranty service is indicated when the product impact sensor data does not exceed a portable warranty level impact.

15. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 1 further including a step of calibrating the product impact sensor for a home electronics consumer product, wherein authorization for warranty service is indicated when the product impact sensor data does not exceed a home electronics warranty level impact.

16. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 1 further including a step of calibrating the product impact sensor for a category-specific consumer product, wherein authorization for warranty service is indicated when the product impact sensor data does not exceed a category-specific warranty level impact.

17. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 1 further including a step of callibrating the product impact sensor to allow authorization for warranty service when the product impact sensor data exceeds the warranty level impact.

18. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 17, further including a step of calibrating the product impact sensor such that a consumer is charged a first allowance pricing level up to a first warranty level impact.

19. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 18, further including a step of calibrating the product impact sensor such that a consumer is charged a second allowance pricing level up to a second warranty level impact.

20. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 18, wherein the second allowance pricing level is greater than the first allowance pricing level.

21. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 19, further including a step of calibrating the product impact sensor such that a consumer is charged a third allowance pricing level up to a third warranty level impact.

22. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 1 further including a step of collecting product impact sensor data by a plurality of product impact sensors.

23. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 22, wherein the product impact sensor data collected by each of the product impact sensors is viewable from the exterior of the consumer product.

24. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 22, wherein each of the product impact sensors emit a first color indicator corresponding to a first state and a second color indicator corresponding to a second state.

25. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 3, wherein the product impact report is generated using a product impact detection software program.

26. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 3, wherein the coded product impact data is received in electronic form.

27. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 3, wherein the coded product impact data is processed via a computer network.

28. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 3, wherein the coded product impact data is processed via an impact data reader.

29. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 28, wherein the impact data reader is portable.

30. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the product impact sensor data is collected on an integrated circuit chip.

31. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 1 further includes a step of charging the consumer for evaluating the product impact level data.

32. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 31, wherein the customer is charged at a first pricing level for product impact sensor data that does not exceed the warranty level impact, and a second pricing level for product impact sensor data that exceeds the warranty level impact.

33. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 32, wherein the first pricing level is less than the second pricing level.

34. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 32, wherein the first pricing level is at no charge.

35. The method for auditing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the product impact report data is in Random Access Memory (RAM).