Enhanced claims damage estimation using aggregate display

• US 8,712,893 B1
• Filed: 11/11/2013
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Inventors: Brandmaier, Jennifer A., Faga, Mark E., Johnson, Robert H., Stricker, Kurt M., Campbell, Joshua E., Ramirez, Philip Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Havan, Thu Thao
• Application Number:
  US14/076,435
• Time in Patent Office: 169 Days
• Field of Search: 705/4, 705 35- 40
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/51 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

Systems and methods provide for an automated system for analyzing damage to process claims associated with an insured item, such as a vehicle. An enhanced claims processing server may analyze damage associated with the insured item using photos/video transmitted to the server from a user device (e.g., a mobile device). The enhanced claims processing server may submit a signal that locks one or more portions of an application on the mobile device used to submit the photos/videos. The mobile device may receive feedback from the server regarding the acceptability of submitted photos/video. The photos may further be annotated using, for example, a touch screen display. An estimate, such as a cost estimate, may be determined for the damage associated with the insured item based on the photos and/or annotations.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at an agent processor, one or more photos related to damage of an item, wherein the received photos are associated with claim information;

receiving a first annotation associated with a first photo of the one or more photos and a second photo of the one or more photos, wherein the first annotation indicates damage to the item;

receiving estimate data associated with a damaged part of the item for the first annotation;

determining cost information for the first annotation based on the received estimate data;

calculating an estimate for the first annotation based on the received estimate data and the determined cost information;

receiving an indication for viewing data about the first annotation; and

displaying the calculated estimate, the first photo associated with the first annotation, and the second photo associated with the first annotation.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a clone annotation associated with the first photo, wherein the clone annotation is linked to the first annotation.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first annotation is associated with the first photo based on the clone annotation.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first annotation and the clone annotation indicate the same damage to the item.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the item comprises a vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the estimate data comprises a labor duration for at least one of repairing damage to the item and replacing the item.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the estimate data comprises a labor type for at least one of repairing damage to the item and replacing the item.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of photos related to damage of the item are received, and wherein a plurality of annotations are received for the plurality of photos such that the plurality of annotations indicate damage of the item.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein an estimate is calculated for each of the plurality of annotations.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein an aggregate of estimates for the plurality of annotations is calculated, and wherein the calculated aggregate of estimates for the plurality of annotations is displayed.

11. A system comprising:

a first computing device configured to;

receive one or more photos related to damage of an item, wherein the one or more photos are associated with claim information;

receive a first annotation associated with a first photo of the one or more photos and a second photo of the one or more photos, wherein the first annotation indicates damage to the item;

receive estimate data associated with a damaged part of the item for the first annotation;

determine cost information for the first annotation based on the received estimate data;

calculate an estimate for the first annotation based on the received estimate data and the determined cost information;

receive an indication for viewing data about the first annotation; and

display the calculated estimate, the first photo associated with the first annotation, and the second photo associated with the first annotation.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first computing device is further configured to:

receive a clone annotation associated with the first photo, wherein the clone annotation is linked to the first annotation.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first annotation is associated with the first photo based on the clone annotation.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the first annotation and the clone annotation indicate the same damage to the item.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the item comprises a vehicle.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the estimate data comprises a labor duration for at least one of repairing damage to the item and replacing the item.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the estimate data comprises a labor type for at least one of repairing damage to the item and replacing the item.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein a plurality of photos related to damage of the item are received, and wherein a plurality of annotations are received for the plurality of photos such that the plurality of annotations indicate damage of the item.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein an estimate is calculated for each of the plurality of annotations.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive one or more photos related to damage of an item, wherein the one or more photos are associated with claim information;

receive a first annotation associated with a first photo of the one or more photos and a second photo of the one or more photos, wherein the first annotation indicates damage to the item;

receive estimate data associated with a damaged part of the item for the first annotation;

determine cost information for the first annotation based on the received estimate data;

calculate an estimate for the first annotation based on the received estimate data and the determined cost information; and

receive an indication for viewing data about the first annotation.