Electronic accident estimating system
First Claim
1. An electronic system for the preparation, transmission and reception of information concerning accidented vehicles comprising a first station, at which said accidented vehicle is located, and a second station, said first station comprising:
- first processor means including first memory storage means;
means for acquiring video image signals representative of images of said accidented vehicles;
means for feeding said video image signals to said first processor means;
means for generating estimate data signals representative of cost estimates for fixing said accidented vehicles;
means for feeding said estimate data signals to said first processor means;
first means for compressing said video image signals and said estimate data signals to provide compressed image data and compressed estimate data;
first means for storing said compressed image data and said compressed estimate data in said first memory storage means; and
first means for transmitting said compressed image data and said compressed estimate data to said second station;
said second station comprising means for receiving said compressed image data and said compressed estimate data, for viewing said received compressed image data and said received compressed estimate data, for amending said received compressed image data and said received compressed estimate data to provide amended compressed image data and amended compressed estimate data, or for approving said received compressed image data and said received compressed estimate data;
said second station also including second means for transmitting said amended compressed image data and amended compressed estimate data to said first station;
said first station further including means for receiving said amended compressed image data and said amended compressed estimate data, said first processor means including means for amending said amended compressed image data and said amended compressed estimate data or for approving said amended compressed image data and said amended compressed estimate data;
whereby, said first and second stations are in continuing interactive communication with each other.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic accident estimating system has been produced by integrating commercially available electronic hardware with proprietary software developed expressly for the estimating system. Electronic images of accidented vehicles are taken by the bodyshop estimator. These images are then imported to a computer by using a color video digitizer. The images, once resident in the computer, provide the visual evidence substantiating the estimated accident damage. The bodyshop estimator fills in the accident estimate on the computer, highlighting areas on the various images as required. Once the estimate is completed, the estimate file is compressed in size and transmitted electronically to the insurance company. At the insurance company, an insurance estimator then decompresses the estimate file and begins to peruse the estimate. If further clarification is required, the insurance estimator can request more images to be taken and transmitted. Execution of repairs can also be easily audited by the insurance company by simply requesting that images be taken during the repairs at specific repair milestones (replacement of body panels, application of primer, etc.) and transmitted to their office. The system also provides on-line archiving of accident estimates.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An electronic system for the preparation, transmission and reception of information concerning accidented vehicles comprising a first station, at which said accidented vehicle is located, and a second station, said first station comprising:
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first processor means including first memory storage means; means for acquiring video image signals representative of images of said accidented vehicles; means for feeding said video image signals to said first processor means; means for generating estimate data signals representative of cost estimates for fixing said accidented vehicles; means for feeding said estimate data signals to said first processor means; first means for compressing said video image signals and said estimate data signals to provide compressed image data and compressed estimate data; first means for storing said compressed image data and said compressed estimate data in said first memory storage means; and first means for transmitting said compressed image data and said compressed estimate data to said second station; said second station comprising means for receiving said compressed image data and said compressed estimate data, for viewing said received compressed image data and said received compressed estimate data, for amending said received compressed image data and said received compressed estimate data to provide amended compressed image data and amended compressed estimate data, or for approving said received compressed image data and said received compressed estimate data; said second station also including second means for transmitting said amended compressed image data and amended compressed estimate data to said first station; said first station further including means for receiving said amended compressed image data and said amended compressed estimate data, said first processor means including means for amending said amended compressed image data and said amended compressed estimate data or for approving said amended compressed image data and said amended compressed estimate data; whereby, said first and second stations are in continuing interactive communication with each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of preparing and transmitting vehicle accident information from a first location to a second location, comprising:
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obtaining, at said first location, video image signals representative of images of an accidented portion of the vehicle; transforming the video image signals to digital image signals; graphically highlighting and textually annotating the digital image signals; compressing the digital image signals to provide compressed image signals; generating digital cost estimate signals; compressing said digital estimate signals to provide compressed estimate signals; and transmitting said compressed image signals and said compressed estimate signals to said second location. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. An electronic system for the preparation, transmission and reception of information concerning accidented vehicles, comprising a first station, said first station comprising:
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first processor means including first memory storage means; means for acquiring video image signals representative of images of said accidented vehicles; means for feeding said video image signals to said first processor means; first means for generating estimate data signals representative of cost estimates for fixing said accidented vehicles; means for feeding said estimate data signals to said first processor means; first means for compressing said video image signals and said estimate data signals to provide compressed image data and compressed estimate data; first means for storing said compressed image data and said compressed estimate data in said first memory storage means; first means for transmitting said compressed image data and said compressed estimate data; and further including first means for displaying images represented by said video image signals and estimates represented by said estimate data signals; and still further including a pointing device for graphically highlighting and textually annotating portions of said images; said printing device indicating whether a new image, or images from a different perspective, or a close-up image, are desired. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification