US 2018/0121888 A1Published application

System and method for improved vehicle collision damage estimating and repair

OwnerPatrick Richard O'Reillyinventor

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Abstract

A system and method is disclosed for reducing the time to estimate and repair a vehicle damaged in a collision. The system comprises a computer network where at least one component of the network is a portable computing device installed with software for speech activated data entry whereby an outside adjuster makes the estimate by speaking into the device. The method combines speech activated data entry with an iterative and incremental process resulting in real-time comparison of a first estimate to actual repair data for same or similar vehicles suffering same or similar damage under same or similar circumstances. The actual repair data, in the form of the parts and labor hours for the repair, provides a benchmark against which the outside adjuster can compare the first estimate and make an immediate update in the form of a final estimate. The resulting accuracy of the final estimate shortens the time for repair by reducing, or even eliminating, the need for supplemental estimates. After the final estimate is prepared, the damaged vehicle is repaired. The now-repaired vehicle, with its actual parts and labor hours to make the repair, is added to the set of vehicles comprising those suffering same or similar damage under same or similar circumstances to another vehicle that may be damaged sometime in the future; thereby implementing the incremental nature of the invention.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A system for reducing the time to estimate and repair a damaged vehicle, said system comprising:

(a) a plurality of computer servers, a first plurality of computer workstations, a second plurality of computer workstations, a plurality of portable computing devices, a plurality of network printers, a plurality of network switches, and a plurality of routers, wherein;
(1) said plurality of computer servers, said first plurality of computer workstations, said plurality of network printers, said plurality of network switches, and said plurality of routers are connected to each other by a plurality of computer network cables;
(2) said plurality of portable computing devices, and said second plurality of computer workstations are connected to an interne by a wireless technology to the plurality of routers and further connected to the plurality of computer servers by the plurality of the network switches and said plurality of computer network cables;
(b) the plurality of computer servers, the first plurality of computer workstations, the second plurality of computer workstations, and the plurality of portable computing devices, are installed with a network operating system;
(c) the plurality of computer servers, the first plurality of computer workstations, the second plurality of computer workstations, and the plurality of portable computing devices, are programmed with a software for database management;
(d) the plurality of portable computing devices is further programmed with a software for speech recognition;
(e) said software for database management is populated with a plurality of data sets;
(f) said software for database management is programmed with a first algorithm;
(g) the software for database management is programmed with a second algorithm;
(h) the software for database management facilitates a cooperation between said plurality of data sets;
whereby said cooperation results in said reducing the time to estimate and repair said damaged vehicle.

8 more elements

A method for reducing the time to estimate and repair a damaged vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) assembling a computer network, wherein;
(1) a least one member of said computer network is a portable computing device;
(b) installing the computer network with a network operating system;
(c) installing the computer network with a software for database management;
(d) populating said software for database management with a plurality of data sets;
(e) installing said portable computing device with a software for speech recognition;
(1) providing an outside adjuster with the portable computing device;
(g) enlisting said outside adjuster to make a first estimate to repair said damaged vehicle, wherein;
(1) said first estimate is made by the outside adjuster populating an at least one of said plurality of data sets;
(2) said at least one of the plurality of data sets is populated by the outside adjuster speaking to the portable computing device;
and
(3) the first estimate comprises;
(A) a set of first estimate parts, a first estimate of repair hours, a first estimate of refinish hours, and a first estimate of total repair cost;
(h) identifying a set of comparator vehicles based on a first algorithm, wherein;
(1) said set of comparator vehicles have been damaged;
(2) the set of comparator vehicles have been repaired;
(i) selecting a comparator vehicle from the set of comparator vehicles, wherein;
(1) said comparator vehicle is selected based on a second algorithm;
and
(2) a set of comparator parts, a set of comparator repair hours, a set of comparator refinish hours, and a total comparator repair cost are known for the comparator vehicle;
(j) enlisting the outside adjuster to iteratively and immediately make a final estimate to repair the damaged vehicle, wherein;
(1) said final estimate is made by the outside adjuster populating an at least another one of said plurality of data sets;
(2) said at least another one of the plurality of data sets is populated by the outside adjuster speaking to the portable computing device;
(3) the final estimate comprises;
(A) a set of final estimate parts, a final estimate of repair hours, a final estimate of refinish hours, and a final estimate of total repair cost;
(4) the final estimate is based in part on said set of comparator parts, said set of comparator repair hours, said set of comparator refinish hours, and said total comparator repair cost;
and
(5) the second estimate more accurately estimates the cost to repair the damaged vehicle;
(k) communicating the final estimate made by the outside adjuster to an inside adjuster;
(1) communicating the final estimate to a plurality of vehicle repair shops by said inside adjuster;
(m) selecting by the inside adjuster a vehicle repair shop from said plurality of vehicle repair shops;
(n) repairing the damaged vehicle by said vehicle repair shop, wherein;
(1) the vehicle repair shop makes the repair without a supplement;
(2) the vehicle repair shop records a set of actual parts, an actual number of repair hours, an actual number of refinish hours, and a total actual repair cost;
(o) returning the damaged vehicle to its owner;
(p) adding the damaged vehicle to the set of comparator vehicles, wherein;
(1) the set of comparator vehicles is incrementally increased by the addition of the damaged vehicle;
whereby reducing the time to estimate and repair the damaged vehicle.

35 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/732,754Filed 20 Dec 2017
Published: 3 May 2018
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

G06Q 10/20
Administration; Management: administration of product repair or maintenance
G06F 16/252
Integrating or interfacing systems involving database management systems: between a Database Management System and a front-end application
G06F 16/27
Of structured data, e.g. relational data: replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database…
G06Q 30/0283
Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising: price estimation or determination