Insurance claims estimate, text, and graphics network and method

• US 5,504,674 A
• Filed: 05/19/1993
• Issued: 04/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CCC Information Services, Inc.
• Original Assignee: CCC Information Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Wong, David C., Chen, Jeff P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Application Number:
  US08/063,790
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 395/161, 395/147, 395/156, 395/153, 395/160, 395/200, 395/200.03, 395/200.04, 395/200.09, 364/401, 364/403, 364/424.03, 434/374
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/00 Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism healthcare informatics G16H

Abstract

A communications network for processing insurance claims of objects. The communications network including claim terminals and repair terminals, each having a processor, a display monitor, and a mass storage device, for inputting and sending object-identification data, parts graphics images, and images from the claims terminals to the repair terminals through a communications channel. The repair terminals compute repair and replacement estimates and send the estimates to the claim terminal. The object-identification data include information stored in digital form for a multiplicity of objects. The sum of the costs for repairing an object or a part of an object versus the cost for replacing the object or the part of a object is compared. An imaging device may be used for capturing an electronic image in digital form of the damaged object. The display monitor displays the electronic image along with lists of parts of the damaged object, a parts description, or with a selected first part and a parts graphics image. A method for processing insurance claims of objects is also provided.

Claims

1. A communications network for communicating vehicular information and repair estimates, said communications network comprising:

a communications channel;

imaging means for capturing an electronic image in digital form of a damaged vehicle;

a claim terminal, operatively coupled to said imaging means, operatively coupled to said communications channel, for sending assignment data, including customer information, vehicle information, damage information, and the electronic image, through said communications channel, the claim terminal comprising;

a display;

a data port;

a memory for storing digital data for a multiplicity of vehicles, said digital data including a data base of a plurality of groups of parts and a plurality of associated parts graphics images;

means for inputting vehicle-identification data of said damaged vehicle to said claim terminal;

first means responsive to the vehicle-identification data for displaying, on said display, said electronic image and a list of groups of parts for said damaged vehicle;

second means responsive to selecting a first group of parts from said list of groups of parts for displaying, on said display, said electronic image and a parts description from said data base of the first group of parts;

graphics means responsive to selecting a first part from the parts description for retrieving from said memory a first parts graphics image, stored in digital form and associated with said first part, said graphics means for loading said first parts graphics image into a first memory buffer, said graphics means for generating, in digital form, a first magnified graphics image from said first parts graphics image, and said graphics means for loading said first magnified graphics image into a second memory buffer;

third means responsive to loading said first parts graphics image into said first memory buffer for displaying, on said display, said electronic image and said first parts graphics image; and

fourth means responsive to selecting said first magnified graphics image for swapping said first magnified graphics image from said second memory buffer with said first parts graphics image on said display, and displaying said electronic image with said first magnified graphics image;

interface means, operatively coupled to said imaging means, operatively coupled to said data port of said claim terminal, for transferring said electronic image from said imaging means through said data port to said memory means of said claim terminal;

a body shop terminal, operatively coupled to said claim terminal through said communications channel, responsive to assignment data from said claim terminal, for sending a cost estimate and a supplemental estimate through said communications channel to said claim terminal, for sending first parts information, parts order information, and parts graphics images through said communication channel, the body shop terminal comprising;

a display;

a data port;

a memory storing digital data for a multiplicity of vehicles, said digital data including a data base of a plurality of groups of parts and a plurality of associated parts graphics images;

means for inputting vehicle-identification data of said damaged vehicle to said body shop terminal;

first means responsive to the vehicle-identification data for displaying, on said display, said electronic image and a list of groups of parts for said damaged vehicle;

second means responsive to selecting a first group of parts from said list of groups of parts for displaying, on said display, said electronic image and a parts description from said data base of the first group of parts;

graphics means responsive to selecting a first part from the parts description for retrieving from said memory a first parts graphics image, stored in digital form and associated with said first part, said graphics means for loading said first parts graphics image into a first memory buffer, said graphics means for generating, in digital form, a first magnified graphics image from said first parts graphics image, and said graphics means for loading said first magnified graphics image into a second memory buffer;

third means responsive to loading said first parts graphics image into said first memory buffer for displaying, on said display, said electronic image and said first parts graphics image; and

fourth means responsive to selecting said first magnified graphics image for swapping said first magnified graphics image from said second memory buffer with said first parts graphics image on said display, and displaying said electronic image with said first magnified graphics image;

a vendor terminal, operatively coupled to said body shop terminal through said communications channel, responsive to said parts graphics images and said parts order information from said body shop terminal, for sending to said body shop terminal an acknowledgement signal and back order parts invoice information; and

a salvage terminal, operatively coupled to said body shop terminal through said communications channel, responsive to the first parts information, for sending information of used parts to said body shop terminal.

2. The communications network as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fourth means of said at least one body shop terminal, responsive to selecting said first parts graphics image, swaps said first parts graphics image with said first magnified graphics image on said display, and displays said first parts graphics image.

3. The communications network as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one body shop terminal further includes text means, responsive to selecting said first part from said parts description, for retrieving from said memory text information, stored in digital form and associated with said first part;

and

wherein said third means of said at least one body shop terminal displays, on said display, said text information on top of said parts graphics image.

4. The communications network as set forth in claim 3 wherein said text means of said at least one body shop terminal scrolls a text window over said first parts graphics image.

5. The communications network as set forth in claim 1, wherein said claim terminal further includes:

cost means responsive to selecting a first part from the parts description for retrieving from said memory a first cost for repairing said first part, said cost means responsive to selecting a second part from the parts description for retrieving from said memory a second cost for repairing said second part;

wherein said cost means responsive to selecting said first part and said second part retrieves from said memory a replacement cost for said first group and compares said replacement cost with a sum of said first cost and said second cost for determining which of said replacement cost and said sum have a lower cost; and

wherein said third means displays on said display said lower cost.

6. The communications network as set forth in claim 5, wherein said claim terminal further includes:

overlap means responsive to said first cost and said second cost for determining any overlap cost and subtracting from a sum of said first cost and said second cost the overlap cost to produce a net cost; and

wherein said third means displays on said display said net cost.

7. The communications network as set forth in claim 1, wherein said body shop terminal further includes:

cost means responsive to selecting a first part from the parts description for retrieving from said memory a first cost for repairing said first part, said cost means responsive to selecting a second part from the parts description for retrieving from said memory a second cost for repairing said second part;

wherein said cost means responsive to selecting said first part and said second part retrieves from said memory a replacement cost for said first group and compares said replacement cost with a sum of said first cost and said second cost for determining which of said replacement cost and said sum have a lower cost; and

wherein said third means displays on said display said lower cost.

8. The communications network as set forth in claim 7, wherein said body shop terminal further includes:

overlap means responsive to said first cost and said second cost for determining any overlap cost and subtracting from a sum of said first cost and said second cost the overlap cost to produce a net cost; and

wherein said third means displays on said display said net cost.

9. A communications network for communicating vehicular information and repair estimates, comprising:

a communications channel;

at least one claim terminal, operatively coupled to said communications channel, for sending assignment data through said communication channel, the at least one claim terminal comprising;

a display;

a memory for storing digital data for a multiplicity of vehicles, said digital data including a data base of a plurality of groups of parts and a plurality of associated parts graphics images;

means for inputting vehicle-identification data of a damaged vehicle to said at least one claim terminal;

first means responsive to the vehicle-identification data for displaying, on said display, a list of groups of parts for said damaged vehicle;

second means responsive to selecting a first group of parts from said list of groups of parts for displaying, on said display, a parts description from said data base of the first group of parts;

graphics means responsive to selecting a first part from the parts description for retrieving from said memory a first parts graphics image, stored in digital form and associated with said first part, said graphics means for loading said first parts graphics image into a first memory buffer, said graphics means for generating, in digital form, a first magnified graphics image from said first parts graphics image, and said graphics means for loading said first magnified graphics image into a second memory buffer;

third means responsive to loading said first parts graphics image into said first memory buffer for displaying, on said display, said first parts graphics image; and

fourth means responsive to selecting said first magnified graphics image for swapping said first magnified graphics image from said second memory buffer with said first parts graphics image on said display, and displaying said first magnified graphics image; and

at least one body shop terminal, operatively coupled to said at least one claim terminal through said communications channel, responsive to assignment data from said at least one claim terminal, for sending a cost estimate to one of said at least one claim terminal, the at least one body shop terminal comprising;

a display;

a memory for storing digital data for a multiplicity of vehicles, said digital data including a data base of a plurality of groups of parts and a plurality of associated parts graphics images;

means for inputting vehicle-identification data of said damaged vehicle to said body shop terminal;

first means responsive to the vehicle-identification data for displaying, on said display, a list of groups of parts for said damaged vehicle;

second means responsive to selecting a first group of parts from said list of groups of parts for displaying, on said display, a parts description from said data base of the first group of parts;

graphics means responsive to selecting a first part from the parts description for retrieving from said memory a first parts graphics image, stored in digital form and associated with said first part, said graphics means for loading said first parts graphics image into a first memory buffer, said graphics means for generating, in digital form, a first magnified graphics image from said first parts graphics image, and said graphics means for loading said first magnified graphics image into a second memory buffer;

third means responsive to loading said first parts graphics image into said first memory buffer for displaying, on said display, said first parts graphics image; and

fourth means responsive to selecting said first magnified graphics image for swapping said first magnified graphics image from said second memory buffer with said first parts graphics image on said display, and displaying said first magnified graphics image.

10. The communications network as set forth in claim 9 further comprising:

at least one vendor terminal, operatively coupled to said at least one body shop terminal, responsive to parts order information received from said at least one body shop terminal, for sending to said at least one body shop terminal a corresponding acknowledgement signal.

11. The communications network as set forth in claim 10 further comprising:

at least one salvage terminal, operatively coupled to said at least one body shop terminal to receive first parts information, for sending information of used parts to said at least one body shop terminal.

12. The communications network as set forth in claim 9 wherein said fourth means of said at least one body shop terminal, responsive to selecting said first parts graphics image, swaps said first parts graphics image with said first magnified graphics image on said display, and displays said first parts graphics image.

13. The communications network as set forth in claim 9 wherein said at least one body shop terminal further include text means, responsive to selecting said first part from said parts description, for retrieving from said memory text information, stored in digital form and associated with said first part;

and

wherein said third means of said at least one body shop terminal displays, on said display, said text information on top of said parts graphics image.

14. The communications network as set forth in claim 13 wherein said text means of said at least one body shop terminal scrolls a text window over said first parts graphics image.

15. The communications network as set forth in claim 9 further comprising:

imaging means for capturing an electronic image in digital form of said damaged vehicle;

interface means, operatively coupled to said imaging means, operatively coupled to the data port of the at least one claim terminal, for transferring said electronic image from said imaging means through said data port to the memory of the at least one claim terminal;

wherein the assignment data sent from the at least one claim terminal to the body shop terminals includes said electronic image; and

wherein a display of the at least one body shop terminal displays said electronic image on the display with said list of groups of parts for said damaged vehicle.

16. The communications network as set forth in claim 9 further comprising:

imaging means for capturing an electronic image in digital form of said damaged vehicle;

interface means, operatively coupled to said imaging means, operatively coupled to the data port of at least one claim terminal, for transferring said electronic image from said imaging means through said data port to the memory of the at least one claim terminal;

wherein the assignment data sent from the at least one claim terminal to the at least one body shop terminal includes said electronic image; and

wherein a display of the at least one body shop terminal displays said electronic image on the display with said parts description.

17. The communications network as set forth in claim 9 further comprising:

imaging means for capturing an electronic image in digital form of said damaged vehicle;

interface means, operatively coupled to said imaging means, operatively coupled to the data port of the at least one claim terminal, for transferring said electronic image from said imaging means through said data port to the memory of the at least one claim terminal;

wherein the assignment data sent from the at least one claim terminal to the at least one body shop terminal includes said electronic image; and

wherein a display of the at least one body shop terminal displays said electronic image on the display with said first parts graphic image.

18. The communications network as set forth in claim 9, wherein said at least one claim terminal further includes:

cost means responsive to selecting a first part from the parts description for retrieving from said memory a first cost for repairing said first part, said cost means responsive to selecting a second part from the parts description for retrieving from said memory a second cost for repairing said second part;

wherein said cost means responsive to selecting said first part and said second part retrieves from said memory a replacement cost for said first group and compares said replacement cost with a sum of said first cost and said second cost for determining which of said replacement cost and said sum have a lower cost; and

wherein said third means displays on said display said lower cost.

19. The communications network as set forth in claim 18, wherein said at least one claim terminal further includes:

overlap means responsive to said first cost and said second cost for determining any overlap cost and subtracting from a sum of said first cost and said second cost the overlap cost to produce a net cost; and

wherein said third means displays on said display said net cost.

20. The communications network as set forth in claim 9, wherein said at least one body shop terminal further includes:

cost means responsive to selecting a first part from the parts description for retrieving from said memory a first cost for repairing said first part, said cost means responsive to selecting a second part from the parts description for retrieving from said memory a second cost for repairing said second part;

wherein said cost means responsive to selecting said first part and said second part retrieves from said memory a replacement cost for said first group and compares said replacement cost with a sum of said first cost and said second cost for determining which of said replacement cost and said sum have a lower cost; and

wherein said third means displays on said display said lower cost.

21. The communications network as set forth in claim 20, wherein said at least one body shop terminal further includes:

overlap means responsive to said first cost and said second cost for determining any overlap cost and subtracting from a sum of said first cost and said second cost the overlap cost to produce a net cost; and

wherein said third means displays on said display said net cost.

22. A method using a communications network including a claim terminal, a body shop terminal, and a communications channel, each of the claim terminal and the body shop terminal having a display and a memory for storing digital data including a parts graphics image, comprising the steps of:

inputting vehicle-identification data of a damaged vehicle into the claim terminal;

sending the vehicle-identification data from the claim terminal through the communications channel to the body shop terminal;

displaying, on the body shop terminal, a list of groups of parts for the damaged vehicle;

selecting from the list of groups of parts a first group of parts for display;

displaying, on the display of the body shop terminal, the first group of parts;

selecting from the first group of parts a first part for display;

retrieving from the memory of the body shop terminal, in response to selecting the first part, a first cost for repairing the first part;

loading, in response to selecting the first part, the parts graphics image into a first memory buffer;

generating from the parts graphics image a magnified graphics image in digital form;

loading the magnified graphics image into a second memory buffer;

displaying, from the first memory buffer onto the display, the parts graphics image;

selecting the magnified graphics image for display;

swapping the magnified graphics image, from the second memory buffer onto the display of the body shop terminal, with the parts graphics image;

selecting from the first group of parts a second part for display;

retrieving from the memory of the body shop terminal, in response to selecting the second part, a second cost for repairing the second part;

loading, in response to selecting the second part, the parts graphics image into the first memory buffer;

generating from the parts graphics image a magnified graphics image in digital form;

loading the magnified graphics image into the second memory buffer;

displaying, from the first memory buffer onto the display of the body shop terminal, the parts graphics image;

selecting the magnified graphics image for display;

swapping the magnified graphics image, from the second memory buffer onto the display, with the parts graphics image;

computing a sum of the first cost and the second cost;

retrieving from the memory means of the body shop terminal a replacement cost for the first group;

determining a lower cost of the replacement cost and the sum;

displaying the lower cost on the display of the body shop terminal; and

sending the lower cost as an estimate from the body shop terminal through the communications channel to the claim terminal.

23. The method as set forth in claim 22 further comprising, using the body shop of:

retrieving from the memory of the body shop terminal text information, stored in digital form and associated with the first part; and

displaying onto the display of the body shop terminal the text information on top of the parts graphics image.

24. The method as set forth in claim 23 further comprising the step of:

scrolling a text window over the parts graphics image.

25. The method as set forth in claim 22 further comprising the steps of:

capturing with imaging means, coupled to the claim terminal, an electronic image in digital form of the damaged vehicle;

transferring the electronic image from the imaging means to the memory of the claim terminal;

sending assignment data, including the electronic image and the vehicle-identification data, from the claim terminal through the communications channel to the body shop terminal; and

displaying the electronic image on the display of the body shop terminal with the list of groups of parts for the damaged vehicle.

26. The method as set forth in claim 25 further comprising the step of:

sending parts order information from the body shop terminal through the communications channel to a vendor terminal.

27. The method as set forth in claim 26 further comprising the step of:

sending graphics images from the body shop terminal through the communications channel to the vendor terminal.

28. The method as set forth in claim 26 further comprising the step of:

sending from the vendor terminal an acknowledgement signal through the communications channel to the body shop in response to the sending of parts order information from the body shop.

29. The method as set forth in claim 26 further comprising the step of:

sending from the vendor terminal a back order parts invoice through the communications channel to the body shop in response to the sending of parts order information from the body shop.

30. The method as set forth in claim 26 further comprising the steps of:

sending first parts information from the body shop terminal through the communications channel to a salvage terminal; and

sending used parts information from the salvage terminal through the communications channel to the body shop terminal.

31. The method as set forth in claim 22 further comprising the steps of:

capturing with imaging means, coupled to the claim terminal, an electronic image in digital form of the damaged vehicle;

transferring the electronic image from the imaging means to the memory of the claim terminal;

sending assignment data, including the electronic image and the vehicle-identification data, from the claim terminal through the communications channel to the body shop terminal; and

displaying the electronic image on the display of the body shop terminal with the first group of parts.

32. The method as set forth in claim 22 further comprising the steps of:

capturing with imaging means, coupled to the claim terminal, an electronic image in digital form of the damaged vehicle;

transferring the electronic image from the imaging means to the memory of the claim terminal;

sending assignment data, including the electronic image and the vehicle-identification data, from the claim terminal through the communications channel to the body shop terminal; and

displaying the electronic image on the display of the body shop terminal with the selected first part.

33. A communications network for communicating insurance claim information and repair estimates for a damaged object, said communications network comprising:

a communications channel;

imaging means for capturing an electronic image in digital form of the damaged object;

a claim terminal, operatively coupled to said imaging means, operatively coupled to said communications channel, for sending assignment data, including customer information, object information, damage information, and the electronic image, through said communications channel, the claim terminal comprising;

a display;

a data port;

a memory for storing digital data for a multiplicity of objects, said digital data including a data base of a plurality of groups of parts and a plurality of associated parts graphics images;

means for inputting object-identification data of said damaged object to said claim terminal;

first means responsive to the object-identification data for displaying, on said display, said electronic image and a list of groups of parts for said damaged object;

second means responsive to selecting a first group of parts from said list of groups of parts for displaying, on said display, said electronic image and a parts description from said data base of the first group of parts;

graphics means responsive to selecting a first part from the parts description for retrieving from said memory a first parts graphics image, stored in digital form and associated with said first part, said graphics means for loading said first parts graphics image into a first memory buffer, said graphics means for generating, in digital form, a first magnified graphics image from said first parts graphics image, and said graphics means for loading said first magnified graphics image into a second memory buffer;

third means responsive to loading said first parts graphics image into said first memory buffer for displaying, on said display, said electronic image and said first parts graphics image; and

fourth means responsive to selecting said first magnified graphics image for swapping said first magnified graphics image from said second memory buffer with said first parts graphics image on said display, and displaying said electronic image with said first magnified graphics image;

interface means, operatively coupled to said imaging means, operatively coupled to said data port of said claim terminal, for transferring said electronic image from said imaging means through said data port to said memory means of said claim terminal;

a repair terminal, operatively coupled to said claim terminal through said communications channel, responsive to assignment data from said claim terminal, for sending a cost estimate and a supplemental estimate through said communications channel to said claim terminal, for sending first parts information, parts order information, and parts graphics images through said communications channel, the repair terminal comprising;

a display;

a data port;

a memory for storing digital data for a multiplicity of objects, said digital data including a data base of a plurality of groups of parts and a plurality of associated parts graphics images;

means for inputting object-identification data of said damaged object to said repair terminal;

first means responsive to the object-identification data for displaying, on said display, said electronic image and a list of groups of parts for said damaged object;

second means responsive to selecting a first group of parts from said list of groups of parts for displaying, on said display, said electronic image and a parts description from said data base of the first group of parts;

graphics means responsive to selecting a first part from the parts description for retrieving from said memory a first parts graphics image, stored in digital form and associated with said first part, said graphics means for loading said first parts graphics image into a first memory buffer, said graphics means for generating, in digital form, a first magnified graphics image from said first parts graphics image, and said graphics means for loading said first magnified graphics image into a second memory buffer;

third means responsive to loading said first parts graphics image into said first memory buffer for displaying, on said display, said electronic image and said first parts graphics image; and

fourth means responsive to selecting said first magnified graphics image for swapping said first magnified graphics image from said second memory buffer with said first parts graphics image on said display, and displaying said electronic image with said first magnified graphics image; and

a supplier terminal, operatively coupled to said repair terminal through said communications channel, responsive to said parts graphics images and said parts order information from said repair terminal, for sending to said repair terminal an acknowledgement signal and back order parts invoice information.

34. The communications network as set forth in claim 33 wherein said fourth means of said repair terminal, responsive to selecting said first parts graphics image, swaps said first parts graphics image with said first magnified graphics image on said display, and displays said first parts graphics image.

35. The communications network as set forth in claim 33 wherein said repair terminal further includes text means, responsive to selecting said first part from said parts description, for retrieving from said memory text information, stored in digital form and associated with said first part;

and

wherein said third means of said repair terminal displays, on said display, said text information on top of said parts graphics image.

36. The communications network as set forth in claim 35 wherein said text means of said repair terminal scrolls a text window over said first parts graphics image.

37. The communications network as set forth in claim 33, wherein said claim terminal further includes:

cost means responsive to selecting a first part from the parts description for retrieving from said memory a first cost for repairing said first part, said cost means responsive to selecting a second part from the parts description for retrieving from said memory a second cost for repairing said second part;

wherein said cost means responsive to selecting said first part and said second part retrieves from said memory a replacement cost for said first group and compares said replacement cost with a sum of said first cost and said second cost for determining which of said replacement cost and said sum have a lower cost; and

wherein said third means displays on said display said lower cost.

38. The communications network as set forth in claim 37, wherein said claim terminal further includes:

overlap means responsive to said first cost and said second cost for determining any overlap cost and subtracting from a sum of said first cost and said second cost the overlap cost to produce a net cost; and

wherein said third means displays on said display said net cost.

39. The communications network as set forth in claim 33, wherein said repair terminal further includes:

cost means responsive to selecting a first part from the parts description for retrieving from said memory a first cost for repairing said first part, said cost means responsive to selecting a second part from the parts description for retrieving from said memory a second cost for repairing said second part;

wherein said cost means responsive to selecting said first part and said second part retrieves from said memory a replacement cost for said first group and compares said replacement cost with a sum of said first cost and said second cost for determining which of said replacement cost and said sum have a lower cost; and

wherein said third means displays on said display said lower cost.

40. The communications network as set forth in claim 39, wherein said repair terminal further includes:

overlap means responsive to said first cost and said second cost for determining any overlap cost and subtracting from a sum of said first cost and said second cost the overlap cost to produce a net cost; and

wherein said third means displays on said display said net cost.

41. A communications network for communicating object information and repair estimates, comprising:

a communications channel;

at least one claim terminal, operatively coupled to said communications channel, for sending assignment data, through said communications channel, the at least one claim terminal comprising;

a display;

a memory for storing digital data for a multiplicity of objects, said digital data including a data base of a plurality of groups of parts and a plurality of associated parts graphics images;

means for inputting object-identification data of a damaged object to said claim terminal;

first means responsive to the object-identification data for displaying, on said display, a list of groups of parts for said damaged object;

second means responsive to selecting a first group of parts from said list of groups of parts for displaying, on said display, a parts description from said data base of the first group of parts;

graphics means responsive to selecting a first part from the parts description for retrieving from said memory a first parts graphics image, stored in digital form and associated with said first part, said graphics means for loading said first parts graphics image into a first memory buffer, said graphics means for generating, in digital form, a first magnified graphics image from said first parts graphics image, and said graphics means for loading said first magnified graphics image into a second memory buffer;

third means responsive to loading said first parts graphics image into said first memory buffer for displaying, on said display, said first parts graphics image; and

fourth means responsive to selecting said first magnified graphics image for swapping said first magnified graphics image from said second memory buffer with said first parts graphics image on said display, and displaying said first magnified graphics image; and

at least one repair terminal, operatively coupled to said at least one claim terminal through said communications channel, responsive to assignment data from said at least one claim terminal, for sending a cost estimate to one of said at least one claim terminal, the at least one repair terminal comprising;

a display;

a memory for storing digital data for a multiplicity of objects, said digital data including a data base of a plurality of groups of parts and a plurality of associated parts graphics images;

means for inputting object-identification data of said damaged object to said repair terminal;

first means responsive to the object-identification data for displaying, on said display, a list of groups of parts for said damaged object;

second means responsive to selecting a first group of parts from said list of groups of parts for displaying, on said display, a parts description from said data base of the first group of parts;

graphics means responsive to selecting a first part from the parts description for retrieving from said memory a first parts graphics image, stored in digital form and associated with said first part, said graphics means for loading said first parts graphics image into a first memory buffer, said graphics means for generating, in digital form, a first magnified graphics image from said first parts graphics image, and said graphics means for loading said first magnified graphics image into a second memory buffer;

third means responsive to loading said first parts graphics image into said first memory buffer for displaying, on said display, said first parts graphics image; and

fourth means responsive to selecting said first magnified graphics image for swapping said first magnified graphics image from said second memory buffer with said first parts graphics image on said display, and displaying said first magnified graphics image.

42. The communications network as set forth in claim 41 further comprising:

at least one supplier terminal, operatively coupled to said at least one repair terminal, responsive to parts order information received from said at least one repair terminal, for sending to said at least one repair terminal a corresponding acknowledgement signal.

43. The communications network as set forth in claim 42 further comprising:

at least one salvage terminal, operatively coupled to said at least one repair terminal, to receive first parts information, for sending information of used parts to said at least one repair terminal.

44. The communications network as set forth in claim 41 wherein said fourth means of said at least one repair terminal, responsive to selecting said first parts graphics image, swaps said first parts graphics image with said first magnified graphics image on said display, and displays said first parts graphics image.

45. The communications network as set forth in claim 41 wherein said at least one repair terminal further includes text means, responsive to selecting said first part from said parts description, for retrieving from said memory text information, stored in digital form and associated with said first part;

and

wherein said third means of said at least one repair terminal displays, on said display, said text information on top of said parts graphics image.

46. The communications network as set forth in claim 45 wherein said text means of said at least one repair terminal scrolls a text window over said first parts graphics image.

47. The communications network as set forth in claim 41 further comprising:

imaging means for capturing an electronic image in digital form of said damaged object;

interface means, operatively coupled to said imaging means, operatively coupled to the data port of the at least one claim terminal, for transferring said electronic image from said imaging means through said data port to the memory of the at least one claim terminal;

wherein the assignment data sent from the at least one claim terminal to the at least one repair terminal includes said electronic image; and

wherein a display of the at least one repair terminal displays said electronic image on the display with said list of groups of parts for said damaged object.

48. The communications network as set forth in claim 41 further comprising:

a data port operatively coupled to the at least one claim terminal;

imaging means for capturing an electronic image in digital form of said damaged object;

interface means, operatively coupled to said imaging means, operatively coupled to the data port of the at least one claim terminal, for transferring said electronic image from said imaging means through said data port to the memory of the at least one claim terminal;

wherein the assignment data sent from the at least one claim terminal to the repair terminals includes said electronic image; and

wherein a display of the at least one repair terminal displays said electronic image on the display with said parts description.

49. The communications network as set forth in claim 41 further comprising:

a data port operatively coupled to the at least one claim terminal;

imaging means for capturing an electronic image in digital form of said damaged object;

interface means, operatively coupled to said imaging means, operatively coupled to the data port of the at least one claim terminal, for transferring said electronic image from said imaging means through said data port to the memory of the at least one claim terminal;

wherein the assignment data sent from the at least one claim terminal to the repair terminals includes said electronic image; and

wherein a display of the at least one repair terminal displays said electronic image on the display with said first parts graphic image.

50. The communications network as set forth in claim 41, wherein said at least one claim terminal further includes:

cost means responsive to selecting a first part from the parts description for retrieving from said memory a first cost for repairing said first part, said cost means responsive to selecting a second part from the parts description for retrieving from said memory a second cost for repairing said second part;

wherein said cost means responsive to selecting said first part and said second part retrieves from said memory a replacement cost for said first group and compares said replacement cost with a sum of said first cost and said second cost for determining which of said replacement cost and said sum have a lower cost; and

wherein said third means displays on said display said lower cost.

51. The communications network as set forth in claim 50, wherein said at least one claim terminal further includes:

overlap means responsive to said first cost and said second cost for determining any overlap cost and subtracting from a sum of said first cost and said second cost the overlap cost to produce a net cost; and

wherein said third means displays on said display said net cost.

52. The communications network as set forth in claim 41, wherein said at least one repair terminal further includes:

cost means responsive to selecting a first part from the parts description for retrieving from said memory a first cost for repairing said first part, said cost means responsive to selecting a second part from the parts description for retrieving from said memory a second cost for repairing said second part;

wherein said cost means responsive to selecting said first part and said second part retrieves from said memory a replacement cost for said first group and compares said replacement cost with a sum of said first cost and said second cost for determining which of said replacement cost and said sum have a lower cost; and

wherein said third means displays on said display said lower cost.

53. The communications network as set forth in claim 52, wherein said at least one repair terminal further includes:

overlap means responsive to said first cost and said second cost for determining any overlap cost and subtracting from a sum of said first cost and said second cost the overlap cost to produce a net cost; and

wherein said third means displays on said display said net cost.

54. A method using a communications network including a claim terminal, a repair terminal, and a communications channel, each of the claim terminal and the repair terminal having a display and a memory for storing digital data including a parts graphics image, comprising the steps of:

inputting object-identification data of a damaged object into the claim terminal;

sending the object-identification data from the claim terminal through the communications channel to the repair terminal;

displaying, on the repair terminal, a list of groups of parts for the damaged object;

selecting from the list of groups of parts a first group of parts for display;

displaying, on the display of the repair terminal, the first group of parts;

selecting from the first group of parts a first part for display;

retrieving from the memory of the repair terminal, in response to selecting the first part, a first cost for repairing the first part;

loading, in response to selecting the first part, the parts graphics image into a first memory buffer;

generating from the parts graphics image a magnified graphics image in digital form;

loading the magnified graphics image into a second memory buffer;

displaying, from the first memory buffer onto the display, the parts graphics image;

selecting the magnified graphics image for display;

swapping the magnified graphics image, from the second memory buffer onto the display of the repair terminal, with the parts graphics image;

selecting from the first group of parts a second part for display;

retrieving from the memory of the repair terminal, in response to selecting the second part, a second cost for repairing the second part;

loading, in response to selecting the second part, the parts graphics image into the first memory buffer;

generating from the parts graphics image a magnified graphics image in digital form;

loading the magnified graphics image into the second memory buffer;

displaying, from the first memory buffer onto the display of the repair terminal, the parts graphics image;

selecting the magnified graphics image for display;

swapping the magnified graphics image, from the second memory buffer onto the display, with the parts graphics image;

computing a sum of the first cost and the second cost;

retrieving from the memory means of the repair terminal a replacement cost for the first group;

determining a lower cost of the replacement cost and the sum;

displaying the lower cost on the display of the repair terminal; and

sending the lower cost as an estimate from the repair terminal through the communications channel to the claim terminal.

55. The method as set forth in claim 54 further comprising the steps of:

retrieving from the memory of the repair terminal text information, stored in digital form and associated with the first part; and

displaying onto the display of the repair terminal the text information on top of the parts graphics image.

56. The method as set forth in claim 55 further comprising the step of:

scrolling a text window over the parts graphics image.

57. The method as set forth in claim 54 further comprising the steps of:

capturing with imaging means, coupled to the claim terminal, an electronic image in digital form of the damaged object;

transferring the electronic image from the imaging means to the memory of the claim terminal;

sending assignment data, including the electronic image and the object-identification data, from the claim terminal through the communications channel to the repair terminal; and

displaying the electronic image on the display of the repair terminal with the list of groups of parts for the damaged object.

58. The method as set forth in claim 57 further comprising the step of:

sending parts order information from the repair terminal through the communications channel to a supplier terminal.

59. The method as set forth in claim 58 further comprising the step of:

sending graphics images from the repair terminal through the communications channel to the supplier terminal.

60. The method as set forth in claim 58 further comprising the step of:

sending from the supplier terminal an acknowledgement signal through the communications channel to a repair location in response to the sending of parts order information from the repair location.

61. The method as set forth in claim 58 further comprising the step of:

sending from the supplier terminal a back order parts invoice through the communications channel to the repair location in response to the sending of parts order information from the repair location.

62. The method as set forth in claim 58 further comprising the steps of:

sending first parts information from the repair terminal through the communications channel to a salvage terminal; and

sending used parts information from the salvage terminal through the communications channel to the repair terminal.

63. The method as set forth in claim 54 further comprising the steps of:

capturing with imaging means, coupled to the claim terminal, an electronic image in digital form of the damaged object;

transferring the electronic image from the imaging means to the memory of the claim terminal;

sending assignment data, including the electronic image and the object-identification data, from the claim terminal through the communications channel to the repair terminal; and

displaying the electronic image on the display of the repair terminal with the first group of parts.

64. The method as set forth in claim 54 further comprising the steps of:

capturing with imaging means, coupled to the claim terminal, an electronic image in digital form of the damaged object;

transferring the electronic image from the imaging means to the memory of the claim terminal;

sending assignment data, including the electronic image and the object-identification data, from the claim terminal through the communications channel to the repair terminal; and

displaying the electronic image on the display of the repair terminal with the selected first part.