Multiple-platform estimating and automatic quoting for network-based parts resale with transferable reports

• US 8,190,487 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2011
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Claims Services Group LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: PS Holdings LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Scruton, Jay F., Davis, Orson P., Davis, Deathe
• Primary Examiner(s): Airapetian, Mila
• Application Number:
  US13/107,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20110218875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26.1
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A part location system is described that utilizes computer-based techniques for bringing together repair facilities and suppliers to increase the efficiency of locating recycled, used or aftermarket parts using a computer network, such as the Internet. The part location system receives an estimate from a first user over a communication network. The part location system then parses the estimate to extract information that identifies a list of parts needed by the first user and automatically generates a request for quote (RFQ) using the information extracted from the estimate. The part location system then sends the RFQ to suppliers via the communication network. Subsequently, the part location system receives quotations from at least one of the suppliers via the communication network in response to the RFQ and presents the quotations received in response to the RFQ to a repair facility via the communication network.

Claims

1. An estimating platform for preparing an estimate for a claim to repair an automobile, the estimating platform comprising:

a computing device having a processor;

an estimating software platform executing on the processor,

wherein the estimating software platform presents an input screen to receive and initial estimate from a user to repair an automobile, wherein the initial estimate includes a list of parts needed to repair the automobile,

wherein the estimation software platform provides the initial estimate to a part location system via a communication network

wherein the estimating platform receives one or more electronic quotations from the part location device in response to an RFQ automatically generated by the part location device based on the initial estimate and sent from the part location device to one or more supplier computers via the communication network,

wherein the estimating platform automatically incorporates one or more of the quotations received from the parts location device into the initial estimate to form a final estimate.

2. The estimating platform of claim 1, wherein the estimating platform receives the quotations from the part location system as one or more extensible markup language (XML) documents.

3. The estimating platform of claim 1, wherein the estimating platform performs a compliance check on the quotations received from the part location system prior to forming the final estimate.

4. The estimating platform of claim 3, wherein the estimating platform accesses one or more databases to check whether parts specified by the quotations are optimal parts to repair the automobile.

5. The estimating platform of claim 1, wherein the estimating platform presents the final estimate to the user for review and, upon receiving approval from the user, communicates the final estimate to one or more of repair facilities via the communication network.

6. A method for preparing an estimate for a claim to repair an automobile comprising:

receiving an initial estimate with an estimating software platform executing on a computing device, wherein the initial estimate includes a list of parts needed to repair the automobile;

electronically communicating the initial estimate from the estimation software platform to a part location system via a communication network;

receiving one or more electronic quotations from the part location device estimating platform in response to an RFQ automatically generated by the part location device based on the initial estimate and sent from the part location device to one or more supplier computers via the communication network; and

processing the electronic quotations with the estimating platform to automatically incorporate one or more of the quotations received from the parts location device into the initial estimate to form a final estimate.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein receiving one or more electronic quotations comprises receiving the quotations from the part location system as one or more extensible markup language (XML) documents.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising performing a compliance check on the quotations received from the part location system with the estimating platform prior to forming the final estimate.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising accessing one or more databases with the estimating platform to check whether the parts specified by the quotations are optimal parts to repair the automobile.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

presenting the final estimate to the user for review; and

upon receiving approval from the user, communicating the final estimate from the estimating platform to one or more of repair facilities via the communication network.