Automotive Diagnostic and Estimate System and Method

• US 20090062978A1
• Filed: 08/29/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DriverSide, Inc. (Advance Auto Parts Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: DriverSide, Inc. (Advance Auto Parts Incorporated)
• Inventors: Picard, Benjamin Clair
• Granted Patent: US 8,131,417 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

The method provides users with estimates for vehicle repairs. The user, typically the vehicle owner, provides details sufficient to identify the vehicle, and location details to enable the system to locate suitable mechanics and replacement parts, and determine labor costs and times. The user may provide symptoms of the problem, and the system provider automatically determines the likely cause of the symptoms. Once a diagnosis has been generated, local labor and replacement auto part prices are automatically located, and a repair estimate automatically calculated. The estimate, along with a list of local mechanics with interest or expertise in the particular type of repair, is then automatically communicated to the vehicle owner.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for providing users with estimates for vehicle repairs, the method comprising:

at a system provider server;

receiving vehicle information from a user including at least a location for vehicle repairs;

identifying a problem with the vehicle based on the vehicle information;

determining a repair estimate for repairing the problem based on the identified problem, the vehicle information, and vehicle repair estimate data; and

transmitting the repair estimate to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle information received from the user includes an identification of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle information received from the user includes symptoms of the problem with the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle information received from the user includes a self-identification of the problem with the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the vehicle information is received from an on-board computer in the vehicle of the user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before the identifying, receiving at the system provider, diagnostics information from a third party system provider.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before the identifying, receiving at the system provider, diagnostics information from a vehicle mechanic.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before the determining, receiving at the system provider, estimate information from a third party system provider.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before the determining, receiving at the system provider, estimate information from a vehicle mechanic.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a list of suitable mechanics at the system provider based on the identification of the problem, the vehicle information, and mechanic data; and

transmitting the list to the user.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the list includes contact information for at least one mechanic.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the list includes at least one incentive for using a particular mechanic.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one incentive includes a coupon.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising scheduling an appointment between the user and at least one mechanic on the list.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving at the system provider feedback from the user or the mechanic, where the feedback includes at least an indication whether (i) the estimate was accurate, or (ii) the diagnosis was accurate.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of identifying the problem or the step of determining the repair estimate utilizes the feedback from previous users or mechanics.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising predicting the need for routine or non-routine repairs without further user input.

18. A system for providing users with estimates for vehicle repairs, the system comprising:

one or more system provider servers comprising;

a processor;

communication circuitry for communicating with one or more mechanics and one or more users; and

a memory comprising;

communication procedures for communicating with the one or more mechanics and the one or more users;

a mechanic database containing a list of mechanics each associated with a particular geographic location;

a diagnostics database comprising multiple symptoms and associated vehicle problems;

a user database comprising information for multiple users, where each user is associated with a particular vehicle; and

a estimate module for determining a repair estimate for repairing a vehicle problem based on an identified problem, vehicle information received from a user, and vehicle repair estimate data stored in the diagnostics database.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a diagnostics module for diagnosing the problem based on problem symptoms received from the user.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the system is capable of providing the users with the estimates through an affiliate solution provide server.

21. A computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs for execution by a computer, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:

receiving vehicle information from a user including at least a location for vehicle repairs;

identifying a problem with the vehicle based on the vehicle information;

determining a repair estimate for repairing the problem based on the identified problem, the vehicle information, and vehicle repair estimate data; and

transmitting the repair estimate to the user.