AUTO REPAIR QUOTE PLATFORM

• US 20160307247A1
• Filed: 01/21/2016
• Published: 10/20/2016
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,217,150 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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:

storing, on a server, for each of a plurality of automotive service providers, a service provided by the automotive service provider, and quote information provided by the automotive service provider and corresponding to that particular service, wherein each stored service is selected from a set of predefined services, and wherein the quote information is individual to each automotive service provider;

maintaining, by the server, 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, by the server, scheduling information for an automotive service provider, said automotive service provider scheduling information being provided in the form of available unfilled timeslots and automotive service provider operating hours,

storing, by the server, 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, by the server, new automotive service provider scheduling information indicating a booked appointment, and

updating, by the server, the available service provider appointment data in the aggregator database by modifying at least one unfilled timeslot to a filled timeslot indicating the booked appointment;

receiving, by the server and from a user interface, a service request from a customer identifying a service selected from the set of predefined services;

processing, by the server, 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,

displaying, on the user interface, the plurality of individual start times, and

determining if there is quote information corresponding to the identified service and the selected automotive service provider, and if so displaying said quote information on the user interface;

receiving, on the server, a customer-selected automotive service provider and a customer-selected start time; and

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

receiving, by the server and from a user interface, a customer address for an electronic communication,

sending, via the server, an electronic communication providing information on the appointment, and

updating the available service provider appointment data in the aggregator database by modifying at least one unfilled timeslot to a filled timeslot indicating the booked appointment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each stored service is associated with a particular make, model, and year of automobile;

and

wherein the service request from a customer further includes the make, model, and year of an automobile.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each stored service is nonexclusively associated with a particular make, model, and year of automobile.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

forwarding, from the server, the booked appointment to at least one parts supplier;

identifying parts likely to be required by the requested service; and

sending said parts from the parts supplier to the customer-selected automotive service provider.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein quote information provided by an automotive service provider includes at least one of:

an hourly rate, a parts markup, a supply charge, a flat fee, or a special offer including qualification information about the special offer.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, on the server, an appointment cancellation request; and

updating, by the server, the available service provider appointment data in the aggregator database by modifying at least one filled timeslot to an unfilled timeslot indicating the cancelled appointment. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of processing, by the server, the service request, for each automotive service provider having the identified service stored in the aggregator database further comprises;

determining if there is duration information corresponding to the identified service and the selected automotive service provider, and if so displaying, on the user interface, those start times followed by at least one timeslot, the sum of the at least one timeslot being equal in length to the duration of the identified service.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the quote information comprises a specific dollar value quote for a particular service, and further comprising:

receiving, by the server and from a user interface, a quote acceptance from a customer; and

receiving, by the server, payment in the amount of the specific dollar value quote.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

creating a customer account, on the server, storing customer information identifying a specific customer, said stored customer information including a customer address for an electronic communication; and

verifying the customer address for an electronic communication, said verification comprising contacting the customer via the customer address prior to booking an appointment.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein stored customer information further includes a vehicle associated with the customer.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing, on a server, for each of a plurality of automotive service providers, automotive service provider geographic information;

receiving, on a server, customer geographic information; and

displaying, to the customer, a plurality of automotive service providers sorted by the proximity of each of the automotive service providers to the customer.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving, by the server and from a user interface, a service request from a customer identifying a service selected from the set of predefined services further comprises receiving, by the server and from a user interface, a comment provided by the user.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the server and from a user interface, a customer rating for an automotive service provider.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying, on a service provider user interface, a secondary interface, said secondary interface displaying a plurality of services from a list of services, said list of services being stored on and maintained by the server;

receiving, on a server, from the secondary interface and corresponding to a specific automotive service provider, new service information, said new service information comprising at least one of;

a service provided by the automotive service provider, or quote information provided by the automotive service provider and corresponding to that particular service; and

updating, on a server, the stored service information corresponding to the specific automotive service provider.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the new service information comprises at least one of an hourly rate, a parts markup, or a shop supply fee.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the new service information further comprises a customer eligibility limitation.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the customer eligibility limitation is at least one of:

a customer vehicle manufacturer, a customer vehicle model, or a customer vehicle year.