Vehicle Repair Cost Estimate Acquisition System and Method

• US 20110313951A1
• Filed: 06/20/2011
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SHzoom, LLC
• Original Assignee: SHzoom, LLC
• Inventors: Cook, Ingrid
• Granted Patent: US 9,721,301 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/400
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

A computer-based method for obtaining repair estimates for a vehicle, and a related network server, are provided. The method comprises receiving a vehicle identification number (VIN) over a network from a customer computer, retrieving vehicle information, associated with the VIN, from a database, sending the vehicle information and a graphical representation of the vehicle, including a plurality of selectable vehicle damage locations, over the network to the customer computer, receiving a selection of at least one vehicle damage location over the network from the customer computer, receiving at least one image of the vehicle over the network from the customer computer, storing the vehicle information, the selected damage location and the vehicle image as a repair job in a non-volatile memory or the database, and sending a notification, indicating that the new repair job is available for review, over the network to at least one repair provider computer.

Claims

1. A computer-based method for obtaining repair cost estimates for a vehicle, comprising:

receiving a vehicle identification number (VIN) over a network from a customer computer;

retrieving vehicle information, associated with the VIN, from a database;

sending the vehicle information and a graphical representation of the vehicle, including a plurality of selectable vehicle damage locations, over the network to the customer computer;

receiving a selection of at least one vehicle damage location over the network from the customer computer;

receiving at least one image of the vehicle over the network from the customer computer;

storing the vehicle information, the selected damage location and the vehicle image as a repair job in a non-volatile memory or the database; and

sending a notification, indicating that the new repair job is available for review, over the network to at least one repair provider computer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle information includes the year, make and model of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the database is hosted by a network database server and the vehicle information is retrieved over the network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical representation of the vehicle is displayed on the customer computer as an overhead image of the vehicle with a plurality of selectable icons surrounding, and/or superimposed on, the image.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising for each selected damage location received over the network from the customer computer:

sending a list of components associated with the selected damage location over the network to the customer computer; and

receiving a selection of at least one component over the network from the customer computer.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the list of components associated with each selected damage location is displayed on the customer computer as a list of selectable icons.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending at least one repair job over the network to the repair provider computer;

receiving a selection of the repair job over the network from the repair provider computer;

receiving a bid amount and an estimated time to complete for each selected repair job over the network from the repair provider;

storing the bid amount and the estimated time to complete as a repair bid in a non-volatile memory or the database;

sending a notification, indicating that the repair bid is available for review, over the network to the customer computer;

receiving an acceptance of the repair bid over the network from the customer computer; and

sending a notification that the repair bid has been accepted over the network to the repair provider computer.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising for each selected repair job:

receiving a request for additional information over the network from the repair provider computer; and

sending the additional information over the network to the repair provider computer.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the notifications are text messages.

11. The network server of claim 1, wherein the vehicle information includes the year, make and model of the vehicle.

12. The network server of claim 1, wherein the database is hosted by a network database server and the vehicle information is retrieved over the network.

13. The network server of claim 1, wherein the graphical representation of the vehicle is displayed on the customer computer as an overhead image of the vehicle with a plurality of selectable icons surrounding, and/or superimposed on, the image.

14. The network server of claim 1, wherein for each selected damage location received over the network from the customer computer, the instructions further comprise instructions for:

sending a list of components associated with the selected damage location over the network to the customer computer; and

receiving a selection of at least one component over the network from the customer computer.

15. The network server of claim 5, wherein the list of components associated with each selected damage location is displayed on the customer computer as a list of selectable icons.

16. The network server of claim 1, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:

sending at least one repair job over the network to the repair provider computer;

receiving a selection of the repair job over the network from the repair provider computer;

receiving a bid amount and an estimated time to complete for each selected repair job over the network from the repair provider;

storing the bid amount and the estimated time to complete as a repair bid in a non-volatile memory or the database;

sending a notification, indicating that the repair bid is available for review, over the network to the customer computer;

receiving an acceptance of the repair bid over the network from the customer computer; and

sending a notification that the repair bid has been accepted over the network to the repair provider computer.

17. The network server of claim 7, wherein, for each selected repair job, the instructions further comprise instructions for:

receiving a request for additional information over the network from the repair provider computer; and

sending the additional information over the network to the repair provider computer.

18. The network server of claim 7, wherein the notifications are text messages.

10. A network server, comprising:

a processor coupled to a network and a database; and

a memory, coupled to the processor, storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to perform a method for obtaining repair cost estimates for a vehicle, the instructions including instructions for;

receiving a vehicle identification number (VIN) over the network from a customer computer;

retrieving vehicle information, associated with the VIN, from the database;

sending a graphical representation of the vehicle, including a plurality of selectable vehicle damage locations, over the network to the customer computer;

receiving a selection of at least one vehicle damage location over the network from the customer computer;

receiving at least one image of the vehicle over the network from the customer computer;

storing the vehicle information, the selected damage location and the vehicle image as a repair job in a non-volatile memory or the database; and

sending a notification, indicating that the new repair job is available for review, over the network to at least one repair provider computer.