ESTIMATE METHOD AND GENERATOR

• US 20140229204A1
• Filed: 02/10/2014
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Symbility Solutions Incorporated (CoreLogic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Symbility Solutions Incorporated (CoreLogic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Huynh, Marc-Olivier, Robinson, Kenneth C., Kost, Jonathan E., Leonard, Guillaume
• Application Number:
  US14/176,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20140229204A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes

Abstract

A method and apparatus receive a graphic of the property, determine a characteristic of the property from the received graphic, modify a modifiable hierarchical scripted questionnaire based on the characteristic of the property determined based upon the received graphic, display the questionnaire as modified, based on the characteristic of the property determined from the received graphic and display an estimate pertaining to the property based on the graphic and the responses to the questionnaire.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a graphic of a property;

determining a characteristic of the property from the received graphic;

modifying a modifiable hierarchical scripted questionnaire based on the characteristic of the property determined based upon the received graphic;

displaying the questionnaire as modified based on the characteristic of the property determined from the received graphic; and

displaying an estimate pertaining to the property based on the graphic and responses to the questionnaire, as modified.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the property comprises a building and wherein the received graphic comprises a floor diagram.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein received graphic comprises a captured image of the property.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the property comprises a building and wherein the received graphic comprises a captured overhead image of a roof of the building.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the questionnaire comprises removing questions from the questionnaire.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the questionnaire is presented on a portable electronic device and wherein the method further comprises transmitting the estimate to a central server of an insurance entity.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the questionnaire comprises removing questions from the questionnaire.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a non-transient computer-readable medium containing software to direct processing unit to;

receive a graphic of the property;

determine a characteristic of the property from the received graphic;

modify a modifiable hierarchical scripted questionnaire based on the characteristic of the property determined based upon the received graphic;

display the questionnaire as modified, based on the characteristic of the property determined from the received graphic; and

display an estimate pertaining to the property based on the graphic and the responses to the questionnaire.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the property comprises a building and wherein the received graphic comprises a graphic selected from a group of graphics consisting of a floor diagram, a vector diagram, a wire frame and the like.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the received graphic comprises a captured image of the property.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the property comprises a building and wherein the received graphic comprises a captured overhead image of a roof of the building.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the software directs the processing unit to remove questions from the questionnaire.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the software directs the processing unit to:

present the questionnaire on a portable electronic device; and

transmit the estimate to a central server of an insurance entity.

13. A method comprising:

presenting a modifiable hierarchical scripted questionnaire regarding a characteristic of an unoccupied building;

receiving responses to the questionnaire;

modifying the questionnaire based upon the received responses; and

displaying maintenance and/or repair and protection steps for the unoccupied building based on the responses to the questionnaire as modified.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

receiving a graphic of at least a portion of the unoccupied building;

determining a characteristic of the unoccupied building based on the graphic; and

modifying the modifiable hierarchical scripted questionnaire based on the characteristic of the property determined based upon the received graphic.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the property comprises a building and wherein the received graphic comprises a flow diagram.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the received graphic comprises a captured image of the property.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the property comprises a building and wherein the received graphic comprises a captured overhead image of a roof of the building.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the questionnaire prompts for a response regarding the existence of an appliance and wherein the displaying of maintenance steps comprises displaying a recommended capping of a water or energy supply to the appliance or similar.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a non-transient computer-readable medium containing software to direct processing unit to;

present a modifiable hierarchical scripted questionnaire regarding a characteristic of an unoccupied building;

receive responses to the questionnaire;

modify the questionnaire based upon the received responses; and

display maintenance steps for the unoccupied building based on the responses to the questionnaire, as modified.