Abstract:
A property damage assessment tool is a cloud based, user-friendly property damage assessment tool designed to create a quick property damage estimate within minutes and requires no prior knowledge of insurance or public adjusting. The property damage assessment tool includes granting a user with electronic access, wherein the tool electronically provides, generates, receives, processes and updates the property damage assessment information to produce a comprehensive property damage estimate report within minutes. The property damage assessment tool further includes a marketplace that features an online community of service providers and other users, wherein the user can interact with the service providers and other members.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention is directed to a cloud based, time-saving, user-friendly property damage assessment tool that accurately processes property damage claims to generate a comprehensive property damage estimate report within five minutes or less. The present invention is a must have for homeowners, commercial property owners, professional servicers, law firms, accounting firms, and claims preparation firms. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    One of the shortcomings of the existing property damage assessment tools is that they are long and exhaustive in their operative abilities and take up to several hours if not days to generate property damage estimates. 
         [0006]    One of the other shortcomings of the existing property damage assessment tools is that they are expensive to purchase and cannot be easily afforded by the general public. 
         [0007]    Another one of the shortcomings of the existing property damage assessment tools is that they are not user-friendly and can only be used by the most experienced public adjusters, insurance experts, attorneys and contractors in the industry. 
         [0008]    Another one of the shortcomings of the existing property damage assessment tools is that they create a great burden on personnel of insurance adjusters, law firms, accounting firms and claim preparation firms, especially in critical times of natural disasters, when many claims are filed at the same time. 
         [0009]    Another one of the shortcomings of the existing property damage assessment tools is that they have complex contents and require hours of training, knowledge and experience in trade and insurance coverage. 
         [0010]    Another one of the shortcomings of the existing property damage assessment tools is that they do not provide comprehensive estimate results to the user. 
         [0011]    Yet another one of the shortcomings of the existing property damage assessment tools is that they do not incorporate an online community of service providers, public adjusters, actual members and legal service providers all in one place, and are readily available with their services. 
         [0012]    The property assessment tool of the present invention alleviates the burdens of the existing property damage appraisal tools by its simplicity and accuracy of use. 
         [0013]    The property damage assessment tool of the present invention significantly reduces the processing time of estimating property damage by creating a property damage estimate report within approximately five minutes or less. 
         [0014]    The property damage assessment tool of the present invention is inexpensive to use and is available at reasonably priced comparable plans. 
         [0015]    The property damage assessment tool of the present invention no longer requires extensive user intervention other than answering easy-to-use questions to generate comprehensive results. It vastly reduces the overall claim processing time for the user through automated computation and there is no longer a need to sift through countless hours of data interpretation to yield a property damage estimate. 
         [0016]    The property damage assessment tool of the present invention requires no prior experience or expertise as a public adjuster, an engineer, an insurance expert, an attorney or a contractor. There is no experience necessary to use the present invention effectively, thus eliminating the need for experts. 
         [0017]    The property damage assessment tool of the present invention is accurate in its results and can yield a dollar-for-dollar estimate on the property damage for the user. The user can take the said estimate to their insurance adjuster for a stress-free claim filing experience. 
         [0018]    The property damage assessment tool of the present invention allows the user to know if the claims are inaccurate by granting access to an online community, where the user can then find local reviews, interact with other members, and find validated reviews on local service providers. 
         [0019]    The property damage assessment tool of the present invention incorporates an online community property damage assessment tool marketplace. The marketplace permits the user to have added access to a stream of actual members, claim filers and expert service providers in the industry within the set geographical locale of the user. The service providers are given access only after qualified recommendations are given for them by said members, thus ensuring the best quality in their service and workmanship. Additionally, the service providers cannot pay for a positive or negative feedback and are validated strictly by the reviews of said members. 
         [0020]    There is no other comprehensive property damage estimate tool currently available in the market, which is fast, accurate, inexpensive to use, requires no experience in claim filing, and is backed by an online community of actual members and service providers. 
         [0021]    Therefore, there is a dire need for a quick, precise and automated property damage estimate tool that is simple to use, comprehensive in its results, requires no experience, relieves burdens on users, and is incorporated by a wide range of online community members and validated service providers. 
         [0022]    For the foregoing reasons, the all-inclusive, cloud based, user-friendly property damage assessment tool can be used by all members of the general public with ease and efficiency. The property damage assessment tool is easily accessible, easily available, easily affordable, inexpensive to create, robust in its services, comprehensive in its algorithms and aesthetic in its features. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    According to the aspects illustrated herein, the property damage assessment tool of the present invention relates to a cloud based, user-friendly, property damage assessment tool designed to create a seamless and comprehensive property damage estimate report within a matter of five minutes or less. The present invention requires no knowledge or experience in filing insurance claims, interpretation of insurance coverage, or other relevant experience related to the field. 
         [0024]    According to another aspect illustrated herein, the property damage assessment tool of the present invention can alleviate property damage estimation frustrations by increasing the accuracy of the estimates, by eliminating the need to buy other expensive tools and by decreasing the amount of time a user spends to yield a property damage estimate report. 
         [0025]    According to another aspect illustrated herein, the property damage assessment tool of the present invention features a solution tool for property damage appraisal which can be accessed by the user by creating a user account through registration process via the Internet. The registration process includes: inputting user name, inputting user email, inputting user password and re-inputting user password 
         [0026]    According to another aspect illustrated herein, the property damage assessment tool of the present invention allows the user to select a comparable plan based on the number of claims to be filed by the user as part of the purchasing software license process. The purchasing software license process includes: selecting an appropriate claim from the available comparable plans based on the number of claims that fit the user&#39;s claim filing needs. 
         [0027]    According to yet another aspect illustrated herein, the user accesses the user account and answers a set of easy-to-use questions, which are assisted with pictures and visual aids. The purpose of the assisted pictures and visual aids is to simplify the complex insurance and public adjusting concepts. 
         [0028]    According to additional aspects illustrated herein, the property damage assessment tool of the present invention outputs a comprehensive property damage estimate report based on information provided by the user through the easy-to-use questions. 
         [0029]    According to yet other additional aspects illustrated herein, the property damage assessment tool of the present invention redirects the user to a welcome screen of the property damage assessment tool marketplace. Once in the property damage assessment tool marketplace, the user has the opportunity to find, review, and research expert service providers within a locale. The purpose of such resources is to assist the user in repairing the damage to the property and to represent the user against the insurer if needed. The said providers do not have a review board other than each state&#39;s government agency and/or the United States Department of Insurance. 
         [0030]    To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]    The subject matter, which is regarded as the invention, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated and apparent when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. Additionally, the left-most digit of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appear, and wherein: 
           [0032]      FIG. 1  is one embodiment of the property damage assessment tool providing for property damage estimates; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2 . is a flow chart illustrating the methods of using the property damage assessment tool; 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  is a sample web page screen description shown on the user&#39;s computer or other computing devices prompting the user to register and create an account, in accordance with one embodiment; 
           [0035]      FIG. 4  is a sample web page screen description shown on the user&#39;s computer or other computing devices displaying various pricing plans of the software license, in accordance with one embodiment; 
           [0036]      FIG. 5  is a sample web page screen description shown on the user&#39;s computer or other computing devices displaying interactive questions within the property description field shown on the user&#39;s computer or other computing devises in reference to the first section of the property damage assessment tool, in accordance with one embodiment; 
           [0037]      FIG. 6  is a sample web page screen displaying interactive questions within the basic insurance coverage information shown on the user&#39;s computer or other computing devices in reference to the second section of the property damage assessment tool, in accordance with one embodiment; 
           [0038]      FIG. 7  is a sample web page screen displaying interactive questions within the basic insurance coverage information shown on the user&#39;s computer or other computing devices in reference to the third section of the property damage assessment tool, in accordance with one embodiment; 
           [0039]      FIG. 8  is a sample web page screen displaying interactive questions within the property description information shown on the user&#39;s computer or other computing devices in reference to the fourth section of the property damage assessment tool, in accordance with one embodiment; 
           [0040]      FIG. 9  is a sample web screen displaying the property damage estimate report shown on the user&#39;s computer or other computing devices in reference to the fifth section of the property damage assessment tool, in accordance with one embodiment. 
           [0041]      FIG. 10 . is a sample web screen displaying the welcoming screen of the property damage assessment tool marketplace shown on the user&#39;s computer or other computing devices, in accordance with one embodiment; 
           [0042]      FIG. 11 . is a sample web screen displaying the property damage assessment tool marketplace as shown on the user&#39;s computer or other computing devices, after the user elects to enter into the marketplace, in accordance with one embodiment. 
           [0043]      FIG. 12  is a sample web screen displaying service providers in the property damage assessment marketplace as shown on the user&#39;s computer or other computing devices, after the user elects to enter into the marketplace, in accordance with one embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0044]    The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or similar elements. While embodiments of the invention may be described, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. For example, substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to the elements illustrated in the drawings, and the methods described herein may be modified by substituting, reordering, or adding stages to the disclosed methods. Accordingly, the following detailed description does not limit the invention. Instead, the proper scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims. 
         [0045]    In accordance with the embodiments described herein, a property damage assessment tool is disclosed that overcomes the problems with the prior art as discussed above, by providing the user with a cloud-based, user-friendly property damage assessment tool designed to create a quick and comprehensive property damage estimate report within five minutes or less and requiring no prior knowledge or experience in the field. 
         [0046]    The embodiments of the property damage assessment tool will be described heretofore with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 12  below.  FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of the property damage assessment tool  100  providing for property damage estimates including a combination of a user  101 , a computer system  102  or other computing devices  103 , an internet network  104 , a data set interface  105 , a property damage assessment processor  106 , a user account database  107  and a property damage assessment tool marketplace  108 . 
         [0047]    When a user  101 , also referred to herein as a property owner, may be one or more users  101  interacting or interfacing with the property damage assessment tool  100  as described below. The computer system  102  may be any suitable processing device including a desktop or laptop computer. The other computing devices  103  may be any suitable processing devices including a mobile phone or smart phone, a tablet computer, a video game controller, or any other suitable stationary or mobile processing device or devices providing for user interface activity as described. 
         [0048]    The internet network  104  may be any suitable network, including wired and/or wireless network(s). For example, the internet network  104  may be the Internet, but also can be a private network, or combination of networks, including a wireless network for mobile access to the Internet and routing of communications thereacross. 
         [0049]    The data set interface  105  may be any suitable internet browser like, but not limited to GOOGLE CHROME, APPLE SAFARI, MOZILLA FIREFOX or MICROSOFT EXPLORER. 
         [0050]    The property damage assessment processor  106  is one or more data storage devices performing processing operations described herein. The device(s) operate in relation to executable instructions from a computer based medium. The property assessment processor may be in a single processing environment or may be within a network of multiple processing environments. 
         [0051]    The user account database  107  is one or more data storage devices storing user account information. As described in further detail below, the user account information provides for user name, user account password, financial information and other data. 
         [0052]    The marketplace  108  is an online community of service providers, property owners, public adjusters, legal service providers and others. 
         [0053]    In one embodiment, when the property owner  101  has damage to a property due to any or all forces of nature, the property owner  101  accesses the property damage assessment processor  106  by connecting a computer system  102  or any other computing device  103  to the internet network  104  via any suitable data set interface  105  available on the property owner&#39;s  101  computer system  102  or other computing device  103 . 
         [0054]    Shown in  FIG. 2 ,  200 , is a flow chart illustrating the detailed method for assessing property damage estimates. The steps of the flowchart represent one exemplary embodiment and are not limiting in nature. Moreover, the computerized processing operations may be performed by the property damage assessment processor  106  of the property damage assessment tool  100 . A first step  201 , as part of the registration process, first time users  101  may create a new account, including entering user information such as username, password, re-entering password and populating other applicable information. Existing users  101 , who already have created a user account, may access the user account by re-entering user information such as username, password and/or other applicable user information. Wherein the user  101  has an existing account, the user may simply log in to the existing account. With a registered account, the user  101  becomes a member. A sample web input screen on the data set interface  105  via the internet network  104  prompting the user  101  to register is shown in  FIG. 3 ,  300 . 
         [0055]    A next step  202 , a user account is created and saved in the user account database  107  with all the user information, once the registration process is completed as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0056]    A next step  203 , the user  101  purchases the software license of the property damage assessment tool  100 . The purchasing process of step  203  is accomplished by the user  101  selecting license(s) from the available comparable plans,  FIG. 4 ,  400 . The pricing of the plans may be correlated to the number of claims to be filed. The user  101  may purchase a comparable plan or plans, including filling out the necessary financial payment information prompted to the user  101 . The final purchase is made by the user  101  by clicking on the “order now” button on the data set interface  105  to process the purchase. The purchase of a comparable plan or plans may be processed as final only when the financial information entered by the user or users  101  is valid. A sample input screen illustrating the purchasing options available to the user  101  on the data set interface  105  via the internet network  104  is shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0057]    A next step  204 , once the software license is granted, a user account is created and the user  101  has the opportunity to use the property damage assessment tool  100 . Existing users, who have unused software license(s), may use the said license(s) without having to necessitate step  202  and/or step  203 . However, if existing users have used all the license(s) in a given comparable plan, the existing users may be subject to the purchasing process as in step  203 , albeit not having to go through step  201 . 
         [0058]    A next step  205 , after the user  101  logs into the user account, the user  101  is engaged into a series of easy-to-use questions that are assisted with pictures and visual aids as illustrated in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 5 ,  500 ,  FIG. 6 ,  600 ,  FIG. 7 ,  700 , and  FIG. 8 ,  800 . The series of questions with pictures and visual aids may include, but are not limited to: step  205   a —choosing material and finishes applicable to the user, step  205   b —entering basic insurance coverage amounts applicable to the user, and step  205   c —itemizing damaged rooms and fixtures applicable to the user respectively. A sample input screen illustrating the said series of questions are shown in  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  respectively. 
         [0059]    A next step  206 , after the user  101  enters all the applicable information in steps  205   a,    205   b  and  205   c,  the property damage assessment processor  106  manipulates all the information entered by the user  101  in steps  205   a,    205   b  and  205   c,  saves all the user data entered in step  205  to the user account database  107 , and then generates a property damage estimate report to the user  101  on the data set interface  105  via the Internet network  104  as shown in  FIG. 1  and in  FIG. 2 . The user  101  may be given an option to save the property damage estimate report and/or print the property damage estimate report. A sample output screen of the said property damage estimate report available to the user or users  101  on the data set interface  104  is shown in  FIG. 9 ,  900 . 
         [0060]    A next step  207 , the user  101  is re-directed and welcomed to a graphical interface of the property damage assessment tool marketplace  108  via the internet network  104  as shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  and in  FIG. 10 ,  1000 . 
         [0061]    A next step  208 , after entering into the Marketplace  108 , the user  101  may directly interact with an online community of service providers, members, public adjusters, legal service providers and others as shown in  FIG. 11 ,  1100 , and  FIG. 12 ,  1200 . 
         [0062]    A next step  209 , the user  101  may “log out” of the user account at any time as and when the user may desire. Any preferences or information generated in steps prior to step  209  may be saved in the user account database  107  for the existing user  101  to access upon “logging back” into the user account. 
         [0063]    While certain embodiments of the invention have been described, other embodiments may exist. Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims. Those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes can be made to the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is not to be restricted, therefore, to the specific embodiments. Furthermore, it is intended that the appended claims cover any and all such applications, modifications, and embodiments within the scope of the present invention.