Capture highly refined claim evaluation information across multiple web interfaces

• US 7,406,427 B1
• Filed: 09/22/2000
• Issued: 07/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DUCK Creek Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Accenture LLP (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Michaels, Nicole K., Guyan, G. Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): Florian; Zeender Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Frenel; Vanel
• Application Number:
  US09/667,611
• Time in Patent Office: 2,867 Days
• Field of Search: 705/4, 705/10, 705/40, 705/35, 705/26, 364/401.R, 709/203, 707/10
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention use a data processing system for capturing line item data. The method involves receiving claim identification information from a claimant, where the claim identification information comprises, at least, one line level; providing the client with an item tree of line item level data based on the line level and aggregating line item level data collected from the claimant; and storing the line item level data in an insurance host server.

Claims

1. A method for capturing line item data by a data processing system, comprising:

receiving claim identification information from a client computer, said claim identification information identifying an insurance claim;

presenting the client computer with an option to enter line item data regarding the claim through a web-based process or through a spreadsheet;

when the spreadsheet option is selected at the client computer;

querying the client computer to determine whether a spreadsheet appropriate for the type of insurance claim needs to be downloaded to the client computer, the spreadsheet receives the line item data;

downloading the spreadsheet appropriate for the type of insurance claim to the client computer;

inserting line item data into the spreadsheet appropriate for the type of insurance claim;

aggregating the line item data collected from the client computer;

storing the line item data in an insurance host server; and

when the web-based option is selected at the client computer;

providing the client computer with an item tree of line item data based on the line level;

aggregating the line item data collected from the client computer; and

storing the line item data in an insurance host server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving claim identification information further includes receiving a claim number.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the receiving claim identification information, further includes receiving a password.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the receiving claim identification information, further includes validating the password and the claim number.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving claim identification information further includes issuing a fraud warning.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving information into the spreadsheet when the spreadsheet option is selected.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the aggregating comprises aggregating line item data in the spreadsheet when the spreadsheet option is selected.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the aggregating further comprises uploading the spreadsheet to the insurance host server when the spreadsheet option is selected.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing comprises displaying an item tree of line item data based on the line level when the web-based process option is selected.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the providing further comprises tunneling through the item tree when the web-based process option is selected.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the providing further comprises receiving a selection of line item data from the item tree when the web-based process option is selected.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the aggregating comprises updating a display of line items based on claimant'"'"'s selected line items when the web-based process option is selected.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating a display of aggregated line item data from the insurance host server when either the spreadsheet or the web-based process option is selected.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising editing a listing of aggregated line item data from the insurance host server when either the spreadsheet or the web-based process option is selected.

43. The method of claim 1, wherein the querying performed when the spreadsheet option is selected comprises:

checking a cookie on the client computer; and

noting whether the client computer has a particular spreadsheet.

15. A system for capturing line item data, comprising:

a processor for executing programs; and

a memory for storing a program executable by the processor, the stored program including instructions for;

(i) receiving claim identification information from a client computer, said claim identification information comprising a line level identifying an insurance claim;

(ii) presenting the client computer with an option to enter line item data regarding the claim through a web-based process or through a spreadsheet;

(iii) when the web-based option is selected at the client computer;

(a) providing the client computer with an item tree of line item data based on a line level; and

(b) aggregating the line item data collected from the client computer;

(iv) when the spreadsheet option is selected at the client computer;

(a) querying the client computer to determine whether a spreadsheet appropriate for the type of insurance claim needs to be downloaded;

(b) downloading the spreadsheet appropriate for the insurance claim;

(c) inserting line item data into the spreadsheet appropriate for the type of insurance claim;

(d) aggregating the line item data collected from the client computer, and

(v) storing the line item data in an insurance host server when either the spreadsheet or the web-based process option is selected.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the receiving claim identification information includes receiving a claim number from the client computer.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the receiving claim identification information includes receiving a password from the client computer.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the receiving claim identification information includes validating the password and claim number.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the receiving claim identification information includes issuing a fraud warning.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising receiving information into the spreadsheet when the spreadsheet option is selected.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the aggregating the line item data includes aggregating line item data in the spreadsheet when the spreadsheet option is selected.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the aggregating the line item data includes uploading the spreadsheet to the insurance host server when the spreadsheet option is selected.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the providing includes displaying an item tree of line item data based on the line level when the web-based process option is selected.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the providing includes tunneling through the item tree when the web-based process option is selected.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the providing includes receiving a selection of a line item data from the item tree when the web-based process option is selected.

26. The system of claim 15, wherein the aggregating the line item data includes updating a display of line items based on a claimant'"'"'s selected line items when the web-based process is selected.

27. The system of claim 15, wherein the stored program further includes instructions for updating a display of aggregated line item data from the insurance host server.

28. The system of claim 15, wherein the stored program further includes instructions for editing a listing of aggregated line item data from the insurance host server.

44. The system of claim 15, wherein the querying performed when the spreadsheet option is selected comprises instructions for:

checking a cookie on the client computer; and

noting whether the client computer has a particular spreadsheet.

29. A computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method for capturing line item data, the method comprising:

receiving claim identification information from a client computer, said claim identification information comprising a line level identifying an insurance claim;

presenting the client computer with an option to enter line item data through a web-based process or through a spreadsheet;

when the spreadsheet option is selected at the client computer;

querying the client computer to determine whether a spreadsheet appropriate for the type of insurance claim needs to be downloaded to the client computer;

downloading the appropriate spreadsheet to the client computer;

inserting line item data into the spreadsheet appropriate for the type of insurance claim;

aggregating the line item data collected from the client computer;

storing the line item data in an insurance host server; and

when the web-based option is selected at the client computer;

providing the client computer with an item tree of line item level data based on a line level;

aggregating the line item data collected from the client computer; and

storing the line item data in an insurance host server.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein the receiving claim identification information includes receiving a claim number from the client computer.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 30, wherein the receiving claim identification information, further includes receiving a password from the client computer.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein the receiving claim identification information, further includes validating the password and the claim number.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein the receiving claim identification information, further includes issuing a fraud warning.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 29, further comprising receiving information into the spreadsheet when the spreadsheet option is selected.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein the aggregating comprises aggregating line item data in the spreadsheet when the spreadsheet option is selected.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein the aggregating comprises uploading the spreadsheet to the insurance host server when the spreadsheet option is selected.

37. The computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein the providing comprises displaying an item tree of line item data based on the line level when the web-based process option is selected.

38. The computer readable medium of claim 37, wherein the providing further comprises tunneling through the item tree when the web-based process option is selected.

39. The computer readable medium of claim 37, wherein the providing further comprises receiving a selection of a line item data from the item tree when the web-based process option is selected.

40. The computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein the providing comprises updating a display of line items based on a claimant'"'"'s selected line items when the web-based process option is selected.

41. The computer readable medium of claim 29, further comprising updating a display of aggregated line item data from the insurance host server.

42. The computer readable medium of claim 29, further comprising editing a listing of aggregated line item data from the insurance host server.

45. The computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein the querying performed when the spreadsheet option is selected comprises:

checking a cookie on the client computer; and

noting whether the client computer has a particular spreadsheet.