Method for vehicle repair estimate and scheduling
First Claim
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1. A method for producing a repair estimate for repairing one or more defects on a vehicle of a customer, said method comprising the steps of, in any workable order:
- a) entering a vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle into a portable computing device, wherein the portable computing device comprises an interactive input-display member, a processor and a memory member;
b) retrieving vehicle data from a first database accessible from the portable computing device based on the VIN;
c) inspecting the vehicle to obtain individual damage data of said defects;
d) entering the individual damage data into the portable computing device through the interactive input-display member;
e) retrieving individual cost data from a second database based on the individual damage data;
f) displaying the individual cost data on the interactive input-display member;
g) generating a repair selection by specifying whether each of said defects is to be repaired; and
h) generating the repair estimate from the portable computing device based on the individual damage data, the individual cost data and the repair selection.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to a method for producing a repair estimate and scheduling for repairing a vehicle having one or more defects using a portable computing device. The invention is also directed to a system for producing such estimate and scheduling.
116 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A method for producing a repair estimate for repairing one or more defects on a vehicle of a customer, said method comprising the steps of, in any workable order:
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a) entering a vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle into a portable computing device, wherein the portable computing device comprises an interactive input-display member, a processor and a memory member; b) retrieving vehicle data from a first database accessible from the portable computing device based on the VIN; c) inspecting the vehicle to obtain individual damage data of said defects; d) entering the individual damage data into the portable computing device through the interactive input-display member; e) retrieving individual cost data from a second database based on the individual damage data; f) displaying the individual cost data on the interactive input-display member; g) generating a repair selection by specifying whether each of said defects is to be repaired; and h) generating the repair estimate from the portable computing device based on the individual damage data, the individual cost data and the repair selection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for producing a repair estimate for repairing one or more defects on a vehicle of a customer, said system comprising:
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a) a portable computing device comprising an interactive input-display member, a processor and a memory member, wherein the interactive input-display member is capable of displaying and inputting data; b) a first database accessible from the portable computing device, wherein the first database contains vehicle data retrievable based on a vehicle identification number; c) a second database accessible from the portable computing device, wherein the second database contains repair cost data retrievable based on damage data; d) a computing program product operatively residing in the memory member that causes the portable computing device to perform a computing process comprising the steps of, in any workable order; i) receiving a vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle; ii) retrieving vehicle data from a first database accessible from the portable computing device based on the VIN; iii) receiving individual damage data of said defects; iv) retrieving individual cost data from a second database based on the individual damage data; v) displaying the individual cost data on the interactive input-display member; vi) receiving input for generating a repair selection specifying whether each of said defects is to be repaired; and vii) generating the repair estimate based on the individual damage data, the individual cost data and the repair selection; and e) optionally, one or more additional data input and/or data output members operatively coupled to the portable computing device; and f) optionally, one or more communication members operatively coupled to the portable computing device enabling the portable computing device to communicate with one or more electronic devices through wired or wireless connections. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for producing a repair estimate for repairing one or more defects on an article of a customer, said method comprising the steps of, in any workable order:
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a) entering a article identification number (AIN) of the article into a portable computing device, wherein the portable computing device comprises an interactive input-display member, a processor and a memory member; b) retrieving article data from a first database accessible from the portable computing device based on the AIN; c) inspecting the article to obtain individual damage data of said defects; d) entering the individual damage data into the portable computing device through the interactive input-display member; e) retrieving individual cost data from a second database based on the individual damage data; f) displaying the individual cost data on the interactive input-display member; g) generating a repair selection by specifying whether each of said defects is to be repaired; and h) generating the repair estimate from the portable computing device based on the individual damage data, the individual cost data and the repair selection. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A system for producing a repair estimate for repairing one or more defects on an article of a customer, said system comprising:
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a) a portable computing device comprising an interactive input-display member, a processor and a memory member, wherein the interactive input-display member is capable of displaying and inputting data; b) a first database accessible from the portable computing device, wherein the first database contains article data retrievable based on an article identification number; c) a second database accessible from the portable computing device, wherein the second database contains repair cost data retrievable based on damage data; d) a computing program product operatively residing in the memory member that causes the portable computing device to perform a computing process comprising the steps of, in any workable order; i) receiving an article identification number (AIN) of the article; ii) retrieving article data from a first database accessible from the portable computing device based on the AIN; iii) receiving individual damage data of said defects; iv) retrieving individual cost data from a second database based on the individual damage data; v) displaying the individual cost data on the interactive input-display member; vi) receiving input for generating a repair selection specifying whether each of said defects is to be repaired; and vii) generating the repair estimate based on the individual damage data, the individual cost data and the repair selection; and e) optionally, one or more additional data input and/or data output members operatively coupled to the portable computing device; and f) optionally, one or more communication members operatively coupled to the portable computing device enabling the portable computing device to communicate with one or more electronic devices through wired or wireless connections. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification