Systems and methods for processing a request to repair or replace an item covered by insurance
First Claim
1. A method of processing a request that an item be repaired or replaced, said method comprising:
- receiving said request at a central claim processing facility;
determining whether said item requires replacement or repair due to;
an event covered under a service contract provided by a first provider, oran event covered under an insurance policy provided by a second provider;
in response to determining that said item requires replacement or repair due to an event covered under said service contract, submitting a request to said first provider to process said item according to said service contract; and
in response to determining that said item requires replacement or repair due to an event covered under said insurance policy, submitting a request to said second provider to process said item according to said insurance policy, wherein;
said determining whether said item requires replacement or repair due to an event covered under said service contract comprises;
determining whether said item has incurred a mechanical breakdown; and
in response to determining that said item has incurred a mechanical breakdown, determining that said item requires replacement or repair due to an event covered under said service contract;
said determining whether said item requires replacement or repair due to an event covered under said insurance policy comprises;
determining whether said item has been damaged; and
in response to determining that said item has been damaged, determining that said item requires replacement or repair due to an event covered under said insurance policy.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of providing insurance to a customer that comprises the steps of: (1) selling a service contract to the customer that provides protection against the mechanical breakdown or other failure of an item (and in some cases, accidental damage); and (2) in response to the customer purchasing the service contract, providing, at no cost to the customer, third-party-paid insurance coverage that protects the customer against damage to the item, which, in some cases, includes accidental damage. In one embodiment of the invention, the step of providing the third-party-paid insurance coverage is done in order to permit the provision of insurance without the use of a licensed insurance agent.
30 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of processing a request that an item be repaired or replaced, said method comprising:
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receiving said request at a central claim processing facility; determining whether said item requires replacement or repair due to; an event covered under a service contract provided by a first provider, or an event covered under an insurance policy provided by a second provider; in response to determining that said item requires replacement or repair due to an event covered under said service contract, submitting a request to said first provider to process said item according to said service contract; and in response to determining that said item requires replacement or repair due to an event covered under said insurance policy, submitting a request to said second provider to process said item according to said insurance policy, wherein; said determining whether said item requires replacement or repair due to an event covered under said service contract comprises; determining whether said item has incurred a mechanical breakdown; and in response to determining that said item has incurred a mechanical breakdown, determining that said item requires replacement or repair due to an event covered under said service contract; said determining whether said item requires replacement or repair due to an event covered under said insurance policy comprises; determining whether said item has been damaged; and in response to determining that said item has been damaged, determining that said item requires replacement or repair due to an event covered under said insurance policy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for processing a request that an item be repaired or replaced, said system comprising:
a computer network; and a customer service representative computer that is configured to; receive said request via said network; determine whether said item requires replacement or repair due to; an event covered under a service contract provided by a first provider, or an event covered under an insurance policy provided by a second provider; in response to determining that said item requires replacement or repair due to an event covered under said service contract, submitting submit a request via said computer network to said first provider to process said item according to said service contract; and in response to determining that said item requires replacement or repair due to an event covered under said insurance policy, submit a request via said network to said second provider to process said item according to said insurance policy, wherein; said determining whether said item requires replacement or repair due to an event covered under said service contract comprises the customer service representative computer being further configured to;
determine whether said item has incurred a mechanical breakdown; and
in response to determining that said item has incurred a mechanical breakdown, determine that said item requires replacement or repair due to an event covered under said service contract; andsaid step of determining whether said item requires replacement or repair due to an event covered under said insurance policy comprises the customer service representative computer being further configured to;
determine whether said item has been damaged; and
in response to determining that said item has been damaged, determine that said item requires replacement or repair due to an event covered under said insurance policy.- View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
Specification