Vehicle Repair Cost Estimate Acquisition System and Method
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A computer-based method for obtaining repair cost estimates for a vehicle, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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10. A network server, comprising:
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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.
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Specification