AUTOMATION OF AUDITING CLAIMS

• US 20120059678A1
• Filed: 11/15/2011
• Published: 03/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HyperQuest, Inc. (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: HyperQuest, Inc. (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hogan, Dennis M., Hogan, Jeffrey J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,543,431 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for automation of auditing claims. Data indicative of a vehicle make and model is received, the data comprising one or more make fields and one or more model fields. The one or more model fields are prepared for translation. The one or more make fields are prepared for translation by applying one or more rules from the plurality of rules. Each field of the one or more make fields is associated with one or more make model entries from a plurality of predetermined make model entries. Each field of the one or more model fields is associated with one or more make model entries from the plurality of predetermined make model entries. The data is automatically translated into one or more vehicle identifiers based on the associated make model entries.

Claims

1. A computerized method comprising:

receiving data, via a processor, indicative of a vehicle make and model, the data comprising one or more make fields and one or more model fields;

preparing, using the processor, the one or more model fields for translation by;

applying one or more rules from a plurality of rules; and

associating each field of the one or more model fields with a class from a list of classes;

preparing, using the processor, the one or more make fields for translation by applying one or more rules from the plurality of rules;

associating, using the processor, each field of the one or more make fields with one or more make model entries from a plurality of predetermined make model entries;

associating, using the processor, each field of the one or more model fields with one or more make model entries from the plurality of predetermined make model entries; and

automatically translating, using the processor, the data into one or more vehicle identifiers based on the associated make model entries.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more make fields comprise a claim make field and an estimate block make field; and

the one or more model fields comprise a claim model field and an estimate block model field.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein preparing the one or more model fields for translation by applying one or more rules from a plurality of rules comprises:

identifying a model in the one or more model fields that does not need processing;

identifying two words that must be combined into one word, and combining the two words into one word;

identifying a first word that must be separated into two words, and separating the first word into two words;

or

identifying a second word as a descriptive classification word, and standardizing a spelling of the second word, or any combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein preparing the one or more model fields for translation by associating each field of the one or more model fields with the class from the list of classes comprises:

identifying a vehicle make of a make field of the one or more make fields is improper for translation, and terminating the translation;

or

determining a model field of the one or more model fields comprises a truck, and applying one or more rules to identify the truck, or any combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein preparing the one or more make fields for translation by applying one or more rules from the plurality of rules comprises:

converting a make abbreviation in a make field of the one or more make fields to an expanded spelling;

or

inserting a space between each two word pair of all words of the one or more make fields, the one or more model fields, or both.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more predetermined make model entries comprises manufacturer information, make information, and model information.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more vehicle identifiers each include a numeric value corresponding to a vehicle make and model.

5. The method of 4, further comprising:

determining a make field of the one or more make fields comprises a numeric value and a model field of the one or more model fields does not comprise the numeric value; and

inserting the numeric value in the model field.

6. The method of 4, wherein applying one or more rules to identify the truck comprises inserting one or more words, removing one or more words, or both.

9-14. -14. (canceled)

15. An apparatus comprising:

an auditing system configured to receive data indicative of a vehicle make and model, the data comprising one or more make fields and one or more model fields; and

a make model translator in communication with the auditing system configured to;

prepare the one or more model fields for translation by;

applying one or more rules from a plurality of rules; and

associating each field of the one or more model fields with a class from a list of classes;

prepare the one or more make fields for translation by applying one or more rules from the plurality of rules;

associate each field of the one or more make fields with one or more make model entries from a plurality of predetermined make model entries;

associate each field of the one or more model fields with one or more make model entries from the plurality of predetermined make model entries; and

automatically translate the data into one or more vehicle identifiers based on the associated make model entries.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more vehicle identifiers each include a numeric value corresponding to a vehicle make and model.

16. A computer program product, tangibly embodied in a computer readable storage medium, the computer program product including instructions being operable to cause a data processing apparatus to:

receive data indicative of a vehicle make and model, the data comprising one or more make fields and one or more model fields;

prepare the one or more model fields for translation by;

applying one or more rules from a plurality of rules; and

associating each field of the one or more model fields with a class from a list of classes;

prepare the one or more make fields for translation by applying one or more rules from the plurality of rules;

associate each field of the one or more make fields with one or more make model entries from a plurality of predetermined make model entries;

associate each field of the one or more model fields with one or more make model entries from the plurality of predetermined make model entries; and

automatically translate the data into one or more vehicle identifiers based on the associated make model entries.

20. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the one or more vehicle identifiers each include a numeric value corresponding to a vehicle make and model.

17. An apparatus comprising:

means for computing a translation of auditable items;

means for receiving data indicative of a vehicle make and model, the data comprising one or more make fields and one or more model fields; and

means for;

preparing the one or more model fields for translation by;

applying one or more rules from a plurality of rules; and

associating each field of the one or more model fields with a class from a list of classes;

preparing the one or more make fields for translation by applying one or more rules from the plurality of rules;

associating each field of the one or more make fields with one or more make model entries from a plurality of predetermined make model entries;

associating each field of the one or more model fields with one or more make model entries from the plurality of predetermined make model entries; and

automatically translating the data into one or more vehicle identifiers based on the associated make model entries.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the one or more vehicle identifiers each include a numeric value corresponding to a vehicle make and model.

22. A computerized method comprising:

receiving data, via a processor, indicative of a vehicle make and model, the data comprising one or more make fields and one or more model fields;

associating, using the processor, each field of the one or more make fields with one or more make model entries from a plurality of predetermined make model entries, the associating including generating a temporary translation table, wherein each row of the temporary translation table comprises a manufacturer field, a make field, a model superset field, and a model subset field;

identifying a match of a make field of the one or more make fields with a predetermined make model entry; and

populating a row of the temporary translation table with match information;

associating, using the processor, each field of the one or more model fields with one or more make model entries from the plurality of predetermined make model entries; and

automatically translating, using the processor, the data into one or more vehicle identifiers based on the associated make model entries.

23. A computerized method comprising:

receiving data, via a processor, indicative of a vehicle make and model, the data comprising one or more make fields and one or more model fields;

preparing, using the processor, the one or more model fields for translation by;

applying one or more rules from a plurality of rules; and

associating each field of the one or more model fields with a class from a list of classes;

preparing, using the processor, the one or more make fields for translation by applying one or more rules from the plurality of rules;

associating, using the processor, each field of the one or more make fields with one or more make model entries from a plurality of predetermined make model entries, the associating including generating a temporary translation table, identifying a match of a make field of the one or more make fields with a predetermined make model entry, and populating a row of the temporary translation table with match information;

associating, using the processor, each field of the one or more model fields with one or more make model entries from the plurality of predetermined make model entries; and

automatically translating, using the processor, the data into one or more vehicle identifiers based on the associated make model entries.