COMPLIANCE MANAGER

• US 20080109128A1
• Filed: 11/08/2006
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitchell International Incorporated (Mitchell International Holding, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mitchell International Incorporated (Mitchell International Holding, Inc.)
• Inventors: Emmerson, Michael, Littooy, Hans, Pugliese, Vincent
• Granted Patent: US 8,200,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

An estimate compliance tool to specify estimate compliance criteria is presented. In one embodiment, the tool can be provided using hardware, software or a combination thereof, and can be configured to include functionality to facilitate creation of rules to outline criteria for estimate creation or invoicing. In one embodiment, a user interface is provided to a user to provide the opportunity to enter vehicle and parts identification to which a rule will apply. The user can also be prompted to enter a rule requirement or suggestion such as, for example, the type of parts required. The system can include a first module configured to accept user input specifying vehicle criteria; a second module configured to accept user input specifying parts criteria; and a third module configured to create an estimate compliance rule based on the entered vehicle selection criteria and parts criteria. The system can further include a storage medium configured to store a plurality of created estimate compliance rules and a profile module configured to create a rules profile comprised of a plurality of estimate compliance rules. Additionally, a compatibility module configured to check a plurality of created rules for conflicting rule criteria can be provided.

Claims

1. An estimate compliance tool to specify estimate compliance criteria, comprising:

a first module configured to accept user input specifying vehicle criteria;

a second module configured to accept user input specifying parts criteria;

a third module configured to create an estimate compliance rule based on the entered vehicle selection criteria and parts criteria.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the first module is further configured to present the user with predefined vehicle criteria from which the input can be selected.

3. The tool of claim 1, wherein the second module is further configured to present the user with predefined parts criteria from which the input can be selected.

4. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a profile module configured to create a rules profile comprised of a plurality of estimate compliance rules.

5. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a compatibility module configured to check a plurality of created rules for conflicting rule criteria.

6. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a communication module configured to provide the created estimate compliance rule to a remediation facility.

7. The tool of claim 1, wherein the vehicle criteria comprises vehicle year or vehicle mileage.

8. The tool of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first module and the second module is configured to further accept a criteria range.

9. The tool of claim 1, wherein the vehicle criteria comprises a vehicle class, vehicle make/model, vehicle type, or vehicle duty.

10. The tool of claim 1, wherein the first module is further configured to accept user input of a Boolean operator.

11. The tool of claim 1, wherein the parts criteria comprises identification of a part, component, assembly, subassembly or category of parts.

12. The tool of claim 1, wherein the parts criteria comprises a specification of part type.

13. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a module configured to accept user input specifying a non-compliance message.

14. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a module configured to accept user input to specify whether an identified criteria is excluded from or included in the estimate rule.

15. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic embodied therein for enabling a computer system to, specify compliance criteria, said computer program logic comprising:

first computer readable program code for enabling the computer to accept user input specifying vehicle criteria;

second computer readable program code for enabling the computer to accept user input specifying parts criteria;

third computer readable program code for enabling the computer to create an estimate compliance rule based on the entered vehicle selection criteria and parts criteria.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the computer program logic further comprises computer readable program code for enabling the computer to present the user with predefined vehicle criteria from which the input can be selected.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the computer program logic further comprises computer readable program code for enabling the computer to present the user with predefined parts criteria from which the input can be selected.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the computer program logic further comprises medium computer readable program code for enabling the computer to create a rules profile comprised of a plurality of estimate compliance rules.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the computer program logic further comprises medium computer readable program code for enabling the computer to check a plurality of created rules for conflicting rule criteria.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the computer program logic further comprises medium computer readable program code for enabling the computer to provide the created estimate compliance rule to a remediation facility.

21. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the vehicle criteria comprises vehicle year or vehicle mileage.

22. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first and second computer readable program code further comprises program code for enabling the computer to at further accept a criteria range.

23. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the vehicle criteria further comprises a vehicle mileage condition configured to accept user input to specify a range of applicable mileage.

24. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the vehicle criteria comprises a vehicle class, vehicle make/model, vehicle type or vehicle duty.

25. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the first computer readable program code further comprises computer readable program code for enabling the computer to accept user input of a Boolean operator.

26. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the parts criteria comprises identification of a part, component, assembly, subassembly or category of parts.

27. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the parts criteria comprises a specification of part type.

28. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the computer program logic further comprises medium computer readable program code for enabling the computer to accept user input specifying a non-compliance message.

29. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the computer program logic further comprises medium computer readable program code for enabling the computer to accept user input to specify whether an identified criteria is excluded from or included in the estimate rule.

30. An estimate compliance method, comprising the steps of:

prompting a user for input specifying vehicle criteria and parts criteria;

accepting vehicle criteria and parts criteria selected by the user;

creating a rule based on the vehicle criteria and parts criteria entered by the user; and

sending the created rule to a remediation facility.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of creating a rules profile comprised of a plurality of estimate compliance rules.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of checking the created rule for conflicting rule criteria.