# US 2020/0402178 A1 · Processing Insured Items Hollistically with Mobile Damage Assessment and Claims Processing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0402178 A1 - Document ID: US20200402178A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/586,008 - Filed: 2019-09-27 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-16 - Assignees: Allstate Insurance Company - Applicants: Allstate Insurance Company - Inventors: Jennifer A. Brandmaier; Mark E. Faga; Robert H. Johnson; Daniel Koza; William Loo; Clint J. Marlow; Kurt M. Stricker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200402178A1 ## CPC - G06Q 40/08: Insurance - H04N 1/00222: {details of image data generation or reproduction, e.g. scan-to-email or network printing} - H04N 1/00244: {with a server, e.g. an internet server (fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324)} - H04N 23/62: Control of parameters via user interfaces - H04N 23/631: {Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters} - H04N 23/632: {for displaying or modifying preview images prior to image capturing, e.g. variety of image resolutions or capturing parameters} - H04N 23/633: {for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera} - H04N 2013/0081: {Depth or disparity estimation from stereoscopic image signals} - H04N 2201/0055: By radio - H04N 2201/0084: Digital still camera - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract Systems and methods provide for an automated system for analyzing damage to process claims and pre-claim consultations associated with an insured item, such as a vehicle. An enhanced claims processing server may analyze damage associated with the insured item using photos/video transmitted to the server from a user device (e.g., a mobile device). The mobile device may receive feedback from the server regarding the acceptability of submitted photos/video, and if the server determines that any of the submitted photos/video is unacceptable, the mobile device may capture additional photos/video until all of the data are deemed acceptable. In addition, the server may interface with third party entities such as repair shops and may generate a payment for compensating a claimant for repair of the insured item. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mobile computing device comprising: a processor; a wireless network interface; a camera; a display screen; and a memory in signal communication with the processor and storing computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the mobile computing device at least to: present, on the display screen, a viewfinder that depicts a real-time image of a damaged object captured by the camera; display, within the viewfinder, a graphical visual aid overlaid on the real-time image, wherein the graphical visual aid indicates the real-time image of the damaged object is properly positioned within the viewfinder based on a portion of the damaged object aligning with at least a portion of the graphical visual aid; capture, via the camera, a first image of the damaged object; send, via the wireless network interface and to an insurance claim processing server, the first image; receive, via the wireless network interface, from the insurance claim processing server and in response to the insurance claim processing server determining that the first image is not acceptable, a request for a second image of the damaged object, the request comprising instructions associated with the requested second image; present, on the display screen and within the viewfinder, a second graphical visual aid that indicates a different position for the damaged object within the viewfinder based on the instructions; capture, via the camera and in response to the request, a second image of the damaged object; automatically process the second image by analyzing a blurriness level of the second image; and send, via the wireless network interface and to the insurance claim processing server, based on a result of the processing, the second image of the damaged object. ### Claim 2 (canceled) ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the mobile computing device to: present, on the display screen, an instruction describing a type of image to be captured. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the portion of the damaged object is a lateral side of the damaged object. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the mobile computing device to: present, on the display screen, a summary of one or more insurance claims initiated by a user. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the portion of the damaged object is a front side of the damaged object. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the damaged object comprises a vehicle. ### Claim at position 8 8-20. (canceled) ### Claim 21 A method comprising: presenting, by a mobile computing device and on a display screen of the mobile computing device, a viewfinder that depicts a real-time image of a damaged object captured by a camera of the mobile computing device; displaying, by the mobile computing device and within the viewfinder, a graphical visual aid overlaid on the real-time image, wherein the graphical visual aid indicates the real-time image of the damaged object is properly positioned within the viewfinder based on a portion of the damaged object aligning with at least a portion of the graphical visual aid; capturing, by the mobile computing device and via the camera, a first image of the damaged object; sending, by the mobile computing device and via a wireless network interface of the mobile computing device, and to an insurance claim processing server, the first image; receiving, by the mobile computing device and via the wireless network interface, from the insurance claim processing server and in response to the insurance claim processing server determining that the first image is not acceptable, a request for a second image of the damaged object, the request comprising instructions associated with the requested second image; presenting, by the mobile computing device, on the display screen and within the viewfinder, a second graphical visual aid that indicates a different position for the damaged object within the viewfinder based on the instructions; capturing, by the mobile computing device, via the camera and in response to the request, a second image of the damaged object; automatically process the second image by analyzing a blurriness level of the second image; and sending, by the mobile computing device, via the wireless network interface and to the insurance claim processing server, based on a result of the processing, the second image of the damaged object. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising: presenting, by the mobile computing device and on the display screen, an instruction describing a type of image to be captured. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the portion of the damaged object is a lateral side of the damaged object or a front side of the damaged object. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising: presenting, by the mobile computing device and on the display screen, a summary of one or more insurance claims initiated by a user. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the damaged object comprises a vehicle. ### Claim 26 A system comprising: an insurance claim processing server configured to receive one or more images from a mobile computing device; and the mobile computing device, wherein the mobile computing device is configured to: present, on a display screen, a viewfinder that depicts a real-time image of a damaged object captured by a camera of the mobile computing device; display, within the viewfinder, a graphical visual aid overlaid on the real-time image, wherein the graphical visual aid indicates the real-time image of the damaged object is properly positioned within the viewfinder based on a portion of the damaged object aligning with at least a portion of the graphical visual aid; capture, via the camera, a first image of the damaged object; send, via a wireless network interface of the mobile computing device, and to an insurance claim processing server, the first image; receive, via the wireless network interface, from the insurance claim processing server and in response to the insurance claim processing server determining that the first image is not acceptable, a request for a second image of the damaged object, the request comprising instructions associated with the requested second image; present, on the display screen and within the viewfinder, a second graphical visual aid that indicates a different position for the damaged object within the viewfinder based on the instructions; capture, via the camera and in response to the request, a second image of the damaged object; automatically process the second image by analyzing a blurriness level of the second image; and send, via the wireless network interface and to the insurance claim processing server, based on a result of the processing, the second image of the damaged object. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein the mobile computing device is further configured to: present, on the display screen, an instruction describing a type of image to be captured. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein the portion of the damaged object is a lateral side of the damaged object or a front side of the damaged object. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein the mobile computing device is further configured to: present, on the display screen, a summary of one or more insurance claims initiated by a user. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein the damaged object comprises a vehicle.