METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING SERVICES PRICING

• US 20090313035A1
• Filed: 06/11/2009
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RepairPal, Inc.
• Original Assignee: RepairPal, Inc.
• Inventors: Esser, David, Tavistock, Aaron, Ellinwood, Matthew, Sturtz, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,650,068 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A method of determining services pricing, the method comprising: a server receiving vehicle identification information from a user via a network connection, wherein the vehicle identification information indicates a vehicle type; the server receiving service type information from the user via the network connection, wherein the service type information indicates a service type; the server determining an estimate range based on the vehicle identification information and the service type information, wherein the estimate range comprises a minimum value and maximum value for the indicated vehicle type and service type, and wherein determining the estimate range comprises determining a labor estimate and a parts estimate; and the server providing the estimate range to the user via the network connection.

Claims

1. A method of determining services pricing, the method comprising:

a server receiving vehicle identification information from a user via a network connection, wherein the vehicle identification information indicates a vehicle type;

the server receiving service type information from the user via the network connection, wherein the service type information indicates a service type;

the server determining an estimate range based on the vehicle identification information and the service type information, wherein the estimate range comprises a minimum value and maximum value for the indicated vehicle type and service type, and wherein determining the estimate range comprises determining a labor estimate and a parts estimate; and

the server providing the estimate range to the user via the network connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the labor estimate comprises a range having a minimum and maximum value.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the parts estimate comprises a range having a minimum and maximum value.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the labor estimate and the parts estimate each comprise a range having a minimum value and a maximum value.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of the server receiving location information from the user, wherein the server uses the location information to determine the estimate range.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the location information comprises a zip code.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the labor estimate comprises using an econometric model to forecast a base labor rate for the location received from the user.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein using the econometric model comprises employing an ordinary least squares estimator.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the labor estimate further comprises applying a ratio to the base labor rate, wherein the ratio is determined based on information received from the user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the ratio is determined based on location information received from the user.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle identification information comprises make, model, and year for a vehicle.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the server prompts the user to provide variant information in response to receiving particular predetermined vehicle identification information or service type information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the variant information comprises mileage or engine type.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the server uses the variant information to determine the estimate range.

15. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method of determining services pricing for use in a system over a network, the network connected to a server, thereby allowing communication between the server and a user on a client device, the method comprising the steps of:

the server receiving vehicle identification information from the user, wherein the vehicle identification information indicates a vehicle type;

the server receiving service type information from the user, wherein the service type information indicates a service type;

the server determining an estimate range based on the vehicle identification information and the service type information, wherein the estimate range comprises a minimum value and maximum value for the indicated vehicle type and service type, and wherein determining the estimate range comprises determining a labor estimate and a parts estimate; and

the server providing the estimate range to the user.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the labor estimate comprises a range having a minimum and maximum value.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the parts estimate comprises a range having a minimum and maximum value.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the labor estimate and the parts estimate each comprise a range having a minimum value and a maximum value.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises the step of the server receiving location information from the user, wherein the server uses the location information to determine the estimate range.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the location information comprises a zip code.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein determining the labor estimate comprises using an econometric model to forecast a base labor rate for the location received from the user.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein using the econometric model comprises employing an ordinary least squares estimator.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein determining the labor estimate further comprises applying a ratio to the base labor rate, wherein the ratio is determined based on information received from the user.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the ratio is determined based on location information received from the user.

25. The device of claim 15, wherein the vehicle identification information comprises make, model, and year for a vehicle.

26. The device of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises the server prompting the user to provide variant information in response to receiving particular predetermined vehicle identification information or service type information.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the variant information comprises mileage or engine type.

28. The device of claim 26, wherein the server uses the variant information to determine the estimate range.

29. A method of managing a services pricing determination system, wherein the method comprises:

a server providing an administrator with an administrative interface via a network connection to the administrator'"'"'s client device, wherein the administrative interface allows the administrator to save rules for labor information and part information at varying levels of specificity;

the server receiving vehicle identification information from a user via a network connection, wherein the vehicle identification information indicates a vehicle type;

the server receiving service type information from the user via the network connection, wherein the service type information indicates a service type;

the server determining an estimate range based on the vehicle identification information and the service type information, wherein the estimate range comprises a minimum value and maximum value for the indicated vehicle type and service type, wherein determining the estimate range comprises determining a labor estimate and a parts estimate, and wherein determining the labor estimate comprises applying the saved rules for labor information and determining the part estimate comprises applying the saved rules for part information; and

the server providing the estimate range to the user via the network connection.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein one level of specificity is across every vehicle for a particular make regardless of model and year, and another level of specificity is for a vehicle of a particular make, model, and year.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the level of specificity can vary between any permutation of make, model, and year.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the labor estimate and the parts estimate each comprise a range having a minimum value and a maximum value.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein determining the labor estimate comprises using an econometric model to forecast a base labor rate for a location, the location being based on location information received from the user.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein using the econometric model comprises employing an ordinary least squares estimator.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein determining the labor estimate further comprises applying a ratio to the base labor rate, wherein the ratio is determined based on either location information or vehicle identification information received from the user.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein the server prompts the user to provide variant information in response to receiving particular predetermined vehicle identification information or service type information according to one or more of the saved rules.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the server uses the variant information to determine the estimate range.

38. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method of determining services pricing for use in a system over a network, the network connected to a server, the method comprising the steps of:

the server providing an administrator with an administrative interface via a network connection to the administrator'"'"'s client device, wherein the administrative interface allows the administrator to save rules for labor information and part information at varying levels of specificity;

the server receiving vehicle identification information from a user via a network connection, wherein the vehicle identification information indicates a vehicle type;

the server receiving service type information from the user via the network connection, wherein the service type information indicates a service type;

the server determining an estimate range based on the vehicle identification information and the service type information, wherein the estimate range comprises a minimum value and maximum value for the indicated vehicle type and service type, wherein determining the estimate range comprises determining a labor estimate and a parts estimate, and wherein determining the labor estimate comprises applying the saved rules for labor information and determining the part estimate comprises applying the saved rules for part information; and

the server providing the estimate range to the user via the network connection.

39. The device of claim 38, wherein one level of specificity is across every vehicle for a particular make regardless of model and year, and another level of specificity is for a vehicle of a particular make, model, and year.

40. The device of claim 38, wherein the level of specificity can vary between any permutation of make, model, and year.

41. The device of claim 38, wherein the labor estimate and the parts estimate each comprise a range having a minimum value and a maximum value.

42. The device of claim 38, wherein determining the labor estimate comprises using an econometric model to forecast a base labor rate for a location, the location being based on location information received from the user.

43. The device of claim 42, wherein using the econometric model comprises employing an ordinary least squares estimator.

44. The device of claim 42, wherein determining the labor estimate further comprises applying a ratio to the base labor rate, wherein the ratio is determined based on either location information or vehicle identification information received from the user.

45. The device of claim 38, wherein the server prompts the user to provide variant information in response to receiving particular predetermined vehicle identification information or service type information according to one or more of the saved rules.

46. The device of claim 45, wherein the server uses the variant information to determine the estimate range.