INSPECTION REPORTING INCLUDING A 3D VEHICLE MODEL

• US 20140088819A1
• Filed: 05/13/2013
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobile Productivity, Inc. (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Service Repair Solutions (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Easterly, Darek, Boyle, David A., Preece, David Leland, Real, Jennifer Ada, Silver, Leslie J., Daley, Marcus Isaac
• Granted Patent: US 9,454,854 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/31.6
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/007 Wheeled or endless-tracked vehicles G01M17/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance

Abstract

In one embodiment, a visual reporting system generates a 3-dimensional (3D) interactive vehicle inspection report comprising 3D model data and inspection data for a particular vehicle. The inspection data, such as recommended repair items, are associated with graphical vehicle sections in the 3D model. Further, additional inspection data, such as instructional videos or inspection photographs, can be provided to a user desiring additional detail. By providing an interactive visual representation of inspection data, the 3D inspection report provides a report that can be customized to provide different levels of detail to different users. In addition, the 3D model can provide a visually compact summary of the inspection data by marking on the 3D model the repair items for the vehicle. Use of the 3D inspection report can raise the likelihood that the vehicle owner understands the need for repair, leading to more repair orders for repair facilities.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A method comprising:

accessing, by a computing system having one or more hardware computer processors, vehicle inspection data for a particular vehicle, the vehicle inspection data including one or more recommended repairs for the vehicle, wherein each of the recommended repairs is associated with one or more vehicle sections of a plurality of vehicle sections; and

generating, by the computing system, an interactive user interface including an inspection report listing at least some of the recommended repairs, and a graphical image of the vehicle, wherein the interactive user interface is configured to;

update the graphical image to depict different orientations of the vehicle in response to a user-provided input; and

in response to updating the graphical image to depict a particular orientation of the vehicle, update the inspection report to include a subset of recommended repairs associated with a subset of vehicle sections viewable in the graphical image at the particular orientation.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the interactive user interface further includes indications of vehicle sections having associated recommended repairs.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

associating, by the computing system, related vehicle inspection data to at least one recommended repair included in the inspection report, wherein a selection on the interactive user interface of the at least one recommended repair causes the related vehicle inspection data to be presented on the interactive user interface.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the related vehicle inspection data comprises at least one of an instructional video about the at least one recommended repair or an inspection image of the at least one recommended repair.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the related vehicle inspection data further comprises at least one of a repair estimate or a recommended repair status.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the user-provided input comprises a selection of a vehicle section.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the user-provided input comprises a selection of a repair item from the inspection report listing at least some of the recommended repairs.

9. A method of providing an interactive user interface associated with a vehicle inspection to a user, the method comprising:

receiving, by a computing device having one or more computer processors and one or more electronic storage devices, an interactive user interface including an inspection report listing one or more repair items and a graphical image of a vehicle that is representative of an inspected vehicle;

updating the graphical image to depict different orientations of the vehicle in response to input received on the computing device; and

in response to an input updating the graphical image to depict a particular orientation of the vehicle, updating the inspection report to include a subset of repair items associated with vehicle components viewable in the graphical image at the particular orientation.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein in response to receiving a selection of a repair item listed on the user interface, displaying a popup window having inspection data related to the selected repair item, the inspection data comprising at least one of an instructional video about the selected repair item or an inspection image of the selected repair item.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the inspection data further comprises at least one of a repair estimate or a status of the selected repair item.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein repair items are indicated on the graphical image using a plurality of indicators, wherein a first indicator indicates a low priority repair and a second indicator indicates a high priority repair.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first indicator is a first color and the second indicator is a second color.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the input comprises a selection of a repair item on the graphical image.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the input comprises a selection of a repair item on a repair list associated with the graphical image, wherein the repair list includes one or more repair items associated with the graphical image.

16. A system comprising:

a storage device configured to store electronic software instructions; and

one or more computer processors configured to execute the stored software instructions to cause the computing system to;

access inspection data for an inspected vehicle, the inspection data comprising one or more repair items corresponding to respective vehicle components of the inspected vehicle;

generate an interactive user interface including an inspection report listing at least some of the one or more repair items and a graphical image of a vehicle that is representative of the inspected vehicle, the graphical image having a plurality of graphical vehicle sections corresponding to physical vehicle sections of the inspected vehicle, the one or more repair items being associated with respective graphical vehicle sections, the graphical image configured to depict different views and/or orientations of the vehicle in response to input from a user of the system; and

in response to an input from the user, cause the inspection report to update by including a subset of repair items associated with a subset of vehicle components viewable in the graphical image at a particular view and/or orientation.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein graphical vehicle sections on the graphical image having associated repair items are indicated on the graphical image.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the interactive user interface is configured to receive a repair order specifying one or more repair items selected by the user for repair.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein graphical vehicle sections having associated repair items are configured to display inspection data related to the associated repair items in a popup window upon selection.