Automated damage assessment and claims processing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, from a device chosen from at least one of a first display and a keypad associated with an enhanced claims processing server, loss information associated with an insurance claim of an insured item;
directing, at a claims processor associated with the enhanced claims processing server, a plurality of cameras to capture images of the insured item;
determining, at the claims processor, at least one damaged area of the insured item by applying an edge filter to the captured images of the insured item and a reference image of another item of a same type as the insured item and subtracting image data of the insured item from the reference image of the other item of the same type as the insured item to isolate an image portion containing only damage to the insured item;
further processing the image portion containing only the damage to the insured item to fill any missing links in edges of the at least one damaged area;
based on the determination, directing, at the claims processor, a plurality of lasers to capture additional data of the at least one damaged area, the additional data including raw depth data, the directing the plurality of lasers further including;
identifying a location of the at least one damaged area by;
overlaying a first grid on at least one captured image of the insured item and a second grid on the reference image; and
comparing grid numbers of the at least one damaged area on the first grid to the second grid; and
directing the plurality of lasers to capture the additional data of the at least one damaged area based on the compared grid numbers;
mapping, based on the additional data captured from the plurality of lasers and the further processed image portion, a depth of damage to the at least one damaged area and identifying, based on the mapping, a type of damage to the at least one damaged area; and
outputting, through a communication module associated with the enhanced claims processing server, damage information to an insurance consumer associated with the insured item, the damage information including the depth of damage and type of damage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods provide for an automated system for analyzing damage and processing claims associated with an insured item, such as a vehicle. An enhanced claims processing server may analyze damage associated with the insured item using cameras and lasers for determining the extent and severity of the damage. To aid in this determination, the server may also interface with various internal and external databases storing reference images of undamaged items and cost estimate information for repairing previously analyzed damages of similar items. Further still, the server may generate a payment for compensating a claimant for repair of the insured item.
148 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, from a device chosen from at least one of a first display and a keypad associated with an enhanced claims processing server, loss information associated with an insurance claim of an insured item; directing, at a claims processor associated with the enhanced claims processing server, a plurality of cameras to capture images of the insured item; determining, at the claims processor, at least one damaged area of the insured item by applying an edge filter to the captured images of the insured item and a reference image of another item of a same type as the insured item and subtracting image data of the insured item from the reference image of the other item of the same type as the insured item to isolate an image portion containing only damage to the insured item; further processing the image portion containing only the damage to the insured item to fill any missing links in edges of the at least one damaged area; based on the determination, directing, at the claims processor, a plurality of lasers to capture additional data of the at least one damaged area, the additional data including raw depth data, the directing the plurality of lasers further including; identifying a location of the at least one damaged area by; overlaying a first grid on at least one captured image of the insured item and a second grid on the reference image; and comparing grid numbers of the at least one damaged area on the first grid to the second grid; and directing the plurality of lasers to capture the additional data of the at least one damaged area based on the compared grid numbers; mapping, based on the additional data captured from the plurality of lasers and the further processed image portion, a depth of damage to the at least one damaged area and identifying, based on the mapping, a type of damage to the at least one damaged area; and outputting, through a communication module associated with the enhanced claims processing server, damage information to an insurance consumer associated with the insured item, the damage information including the depth of damage and type of damage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A claims processing system comprising:
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an input module configured to receive loss information related to an insured item; a claims processor configured to direct a camera processor associated with a plurality of cameras to image the insured item, to generate a reproduced image of the insured item via stitching together first images generated by the plurality of cameras, and to determine at least one damaged area of the insured item based on the reproduced image, the claims processor further configured to direct a laser processor associated with a plurality of lasers to capture additional data to evaluate the at least one damaged area, the additional data including raw depth data, the laser processor configured to; identify a location of the at least one damaged area by; overlaying a first grid on at least one captured image of the insured item and a second grid on a reference image; and comparing grid numbers of the at least one damaged area on the first grid to the second grid; and directing the plurality of lasers to capture the additional data of the at least one damaged area based on the compared grid numbers; the plurality of cameras configured to communicate with the camera processor to generate the first images of the insured item; and the plurality of lasers configured to communicate with the laser processor to map a depth of damage to the at least one damaged area and, based on the mapping, identify a type of damage to the at least one damaged area. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus comprising:
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a processor; and a memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus at least to; direct a plurality of cameras to generate a plurality of first images of an insured vehicle; access a first database storing a plurality of reference images depicting undamaged vehicles similar to the insured vehicle; compare the plurality of first images to the plurality of reference images to determine at least one damaged area on the insured vehicle; based on the determination, direct at least one laser to the at least one damaged area to capture additional data of the at least one damaged area to evaluate the at least one damaged area, the additional data including raw depth data, directing the at least one laser including; identifying a location of the at least one damaged area by; overlaying a first grid on at least one captured image of the insured vehicle and a second grid on a reference image; and comparing grid numbers of the at least one damaged area on the first grid to the second grid; and directing the at least one laser to capture the additional data of the at least one damaged area based on the compared grid numbers; map, based on the additional data captured from the plurality of lasers, a depth of damage to the at least one damaged area and identify, based on the mapping, a type of damage to the at least one damaged area; access a second database storing repair cost information for other vehicles similar to the insured vehicle that have similar damage to the insured vehicle; determine a confidence factor for the repair cost information based on a similarity between the other vehicles and the insured vehicle; and using the repair cost information, the depth of damage and type of damage, and the confidence factor, generate a cost estimate for repairing the at least one damaged area of the insured vehicle and a list of service providers for performing the repair. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A vehicle damage assessment system comprising:
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a plurality of cameras, including; a first camera configured to create at least an image of a first portion of a damaged vehicle, and a second camera configured to create at least an image of a second portion of the damaged vehicle; a plurality of lasers, including; a first laser configured to image at least a first part of a first damaged area of the first portion of the damaged vehicle, and a second laser configured to image at least a second part of a second damaged area of the second portion of the damaged vehicle; an input entry portal comprising at least one of a graphic user interface, a keypad and a mouse; a camera processor in communication with the plurality of cameras and configured to direct the plurality of cameras to image the first portion of the damaged vehicle and the second portion of the damaged vehicle; a laser processor in communication with the plurality of lasers and configured to direct the plurality of lasers to image the first part of the first damaged area of the first portion of the damaged vehicle and the second part of the second damaged area of the second portion of the damaged vehicle, the directing the plurality of lasers including; identifying a location of at least one damaged area by; overlaying a first grid on at least one captured image of the insured vehicle and a second grid on a reference image; and comparing grid numbers of the at least one damaged area on the first grid to the second grid; and directing the plurality of lasers to capture additional data of the at least one damaged area based on the compared grid numbers; the laser processor further configured to capture additional data including raw depth data to map, based on the additional data captured from the plurality of lasers, a depth of damage to the first portion of the damaged vehicle and the second portion of the damaged vehicle and identify, based on the mapping, a type of damage to the first portion of the damaged vehicle and a type of damage to the second portion of the damaged vehicle; a claims processor configured to; receive at least a first reference image to an undamaged first portion of a reference vehicle that is undamaged and otherwise similar to the first portion of the damaged vehicle; receive at least a second reference image to an undamaged second portion of a reference vehicle that is undamaged and otherwise similar to the second portion of the damaged vehicle; compare the at least a first reference image of the undamaged first portion of the reference vehicle to the image of the first portion of the damaged vehicle, receive information regarding the image from the first laser of the at least the first part of the first damaged area of the first portion of the damaged vehicle, determine a first severity of damage to the first portion of the damaged vehicle, compare the at least a second reference image of the undamaged second portion of the reference vehicle to the image of the second portion of the damaged vehicle, receive information regarding the image from the second laser of the at least the second part of the second damaged area of the second portion of the damaged vehicle, determine a second severity of damage to the second portion of the damaged vehicle, determine cost estimate information for repair of the first portion of the damaged vehicle and repair of the second portion of the damaged vehicle based on a confidence factor incorporating a similarity between the reference vehicle and the damaged vehicle; a data store that includes information regarding a cost to repair the first portion of the reference vehicle and a cost to repair the second portion of the reference vehicle; a graphic user interface configured to display the cost estimate information; a payment processor configured to determine a payment based at least in part on the cost estimate information; and a payment transfer processor configured to direct the payment to a customer associated with the damaged vehicle.
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26. A claims processing system comprising:
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an input module configured to receive loss information related to an insured item; a claims processor configured to; direct a camera processor associated with a plurality of cameras to image the insured item from a first side of the insured item and from a second side of the insured item; and determine at least one damaged area of the insured item based on a comparison of images from the first side and second side; the claims processor further configured to direct a laser processor associated with a plurality of lasers to capture additional data by; identifying a location of the at least one damaged area by; overlaying a first grid on at least one captured image of the insured item and a second grid on the reference image; and comparing grid numbers of the at least one damaged area on the first grid to the second grid; and directing the plurality of lasers to capture the additional data of the at least one damaged area based on the compared grid numbers; the captured additional data including raw depth data to map a depth of damage to the at least one damaged area and, based on the mapping, identify a type of damage to the at least one damaged area; and the plurality of lasers configured to communicate with the laser processor to map the depth of damage to the at least one damaged area.
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Specification