Auto repair quote platform

• US 10,559,017 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2019
• Issued: 02/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Top Brands Tire & Wheel, Co.
• Original Assignee: Top Brands Tire & Wheel, Co.
• Inventors: Sells, Boake, Seltzer, William, Goodwin, Richard, Szabo, John, Masters, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Stamber, Eric W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walker, III, George H
• Application Number:
  US16/569,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20200005374A1
• Time in Patent Office: 152 Days
• Field of Search: 705 711- 722
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes

Abstract

An auto repair quote platform may be provided. The platform may allow a user to enter a set of parameters and request quotes from service providers based on those parameters. Service providers may also enter parameters for matching their quotes to a request. The platform may further allow a user to accept a quote and schedule an appointment with the chosen service provider.

Claims

1. A method for providing auto repair quotes, comprising:

(a) storing a platform of providers with firm quotes, the platform of providers with firm quotes comprising a plurality of service provider profiles,

each of the plurality of service provider profiles being associated with at least one of a plurality of automotive service providers,

each of the plurality of service provider profiles comprising;

service provider geographic information,

at least one service provided by the service provider, wherein each service provided by the service provider corresponds to quote information,

wherein each of the plurality of service provider profiles is configured to be accessed and edited directly through a shop owner section by the associated service provider(s),

(b) displaying, on a user interface, a mode by which a service may be selected to directly generate a repair request form;

(c) receiving a service request from a customer identifying a selected service and further comprising customer geographic information;

(d) maintaining an aggregator database of updated available service provider appointment data that is associated with and individual to each automotive service provider, wherein maintaining the database comprises;

receiving scheduling information for an automotive service provider,

storing in the aggregator database, the received automotive service provider scheduling information and associating the received automotive service provider scheduling information with an automotive service provider,

receiving new automotive service provider scheduling information, and

updating the available service provider appointment data in the aggregator database;

(e) processing the service request for each automotive service provider having the identified service stored in the aggregator database, wherein processing comprises;

generating, from the stored automotive service provider scheduling information, a plurality of individual start times,

determining if there is quote information corresponding to the identified service and the selected automotive service provider, and if so, retrieving said quote information;

(f) dynamically displaying, to the customer, a limited list of data comprising a plurality of services offered by at least one automotive service providers and automatically populating the limited list of data based on a selection of services provided in the automotive service provider profile of each of the plurality of automotive service providers and based on retrieved quote information;

(g) booking a service appointment at a customer-selected automotive service provider at a customer-selected start time for the identified service request, wherein booking comprises;

receiving a customer address for an electronic communication, wherein the customer address is withheld prior to the booking step;

sending an electronic communication providing information on the appointment, and

updating the available service provider appointment data in the aggregator database.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the quote information is individual to each automotive service provider.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the quote information is individual to each service provider profile.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the quote information comprises an indication that further inspection is required.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each stored service is selected from a set of predefined services.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one stored service is associated with a particular make, model, and year of automobile.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the mode by which a service may be selected to directly generate a repair request form comprises a predefined set of individually selectable services.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the mode by which a service may be selected to directly generate a repair request form comprises a search engine.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the service request from a customer further comprises automobile information.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the new automotive service provider scheduling information indicates a booked appointment.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the new automotive service provider scheduling information indicates the service provider is unavailable.