Just-in-time insurer's flooring evaluation and replacement system

• US 7,747,460 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2004
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tradepro Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Steven Vandrilla
• Inventors: Vandrilla, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeanty; Romain
• Application Number:
  US10/960,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20060080113A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,091 Days
• Field of Search: 705/10
• US Class Current: 705/7.35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/201 Price look-up processing, e.g. updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0206 Price or cost determination based on market factors
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0278 Product appraisal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

A system, and method for making and using the same, for an on-site evaluation of flooring materials, condition, and value, and further, for providing replacement flooring. The system includes an interconnected system which includes estimation logic, project management logic and installation logic for managing an insurance claim from start to finish in a just in time fashion.

Claims

1. A method for conducting an on-site evaluation for valuing at least at least one portion of a specified flooring to be replaced utilizing evaluation logic run by one or more computer of a flooring evaluation system, comprising the steps of:

receiving input indicative of a plurality of characteristic options, wherein the input is indicative of at least a portion of the specified flooring; and

calculating, automatically, using the evaluation logic, a current monetary market value for at least a portion of the specified flooring utilizing an assigned weighted value indicative of a relational market worth associated with the characteristic options upon which input was received, wherein the step of calculating, automatically, the current monetary market value for at least a portion of the specified flooring comprises utilizing an aggregate of the assigned weighted values of the characteristic options upon which input was received to form a characteristic option score which is scaled by a multiplier value to form the current monetary market value for at least a portion of the specified flooring, and wherein the multiplier value is derived from an average aggregate correlation between the assigned weighted value of each characteristic option and market value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic options define at least one characteristic of flooring selected from a group comprising:

material content, material density, material height, material thickness, area, color, pile height, pile twist per unit length, pile density, gauge, stitch rate, face weight per given area, total weight per given area, backing type, style elements, high style elements, hair type, felt type, product form, installation form, wear layer type, wear layer thickness, bonding material type, manufacturer, texture and formation.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting via the Internet a report including the current monetary market value for at least a portion of the specified flooring to an insurer from a flooring evaluator; and

conveying, by the insurer, authorization and/or instructions for restitution proceeding to the flooring evaluator in a just-in-time fashion.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

searching an electronic database of flooring for flooring falling within a predetermined category of flooring based upon at least one of the current monetary market value the specified flooring, one or more particular characteristics of flooring, possible delivery dates, and installation dates.

5. An article for valuing at least a portion of a specified flooring to be replaced, comprising a computer readable medium comprising at least one substrate having evaluation logic stored thereon, the evaluation logic adapted to cause one or more computer to:

receive input indicative of a plurality of characteristic options, wherein the input is indicative of at least a portion of the specified flooring; and

calculate, automatically, a current monetary market value for at least a portion of the specified flooring utilizing an assigned weighted value indicative of a relational market worth associated with the characteristic options upon which input was received, wherein the evaluation logic causes the one or more computer to calculate, automatically, the current monetary market value for at least a portion of the specified flooring utilizing an aggregate of the assigned weighted values of the characteristic options upon which input was received to form a characteristic option score which is scaled by a multiplier value to form the current monetary market value for at least a portion of the specified flooring, and wherein the multiplier value is derived from an average aggregate correlation between the assigned weighted value of each characteristic option and market value.

6. The article of claim 5, wherein the characteristic options define at least one characteristic of flooring selected from a group comprising:

material content, material density, material height, material thickness, area, color, pile height, pile twist per unit length, pile density, gauge, stitch rate, face weight per given area, total weight per given area, backing type, style elements, high style elements, hair type, felt type, product form, installation form, wear layer type, wear layer thickness, bonding material type, manufacturer, texture and formation.

7. The article of claim 5, wherein input indicative of a plurality of characteristic options includes data indicative of the plurality of characteristic options of at least a portion of the specified flooring generated by a portable evaluation apparatus evaluating at least a portion of the specified flooring.

8. The article of claim 7, wherein the portable evaluation apparatus is selected from the group consisting of:

a vehicle, a microscope, a digital or film camera, a computer, a scale, a ruler, a chemical, a container, a scanner, or combinations thereof.