Web based repair cost estimating system

A web based insurance estimating system. The system includes a client computer that can launch client-side integrated processing software through a web-based application. The system also includes a server that generates information for a repair cost estimate web page. The repair cost estimate web page is displayed at the client computer. The repair cost estimate web page has properties that can be configured by a user at the client computer. The server can automatically populate fields of one or more web pages in response to a vehicle identification number entered by the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The subject matter disclosed generally relates to a method and system for generating a repair cost estimate for a damaged vehicle through a web site.

2. Background Information

When a vehicle such as an automobile is damaged the owner may file a claim with an insurance carrier. A claims adjuster typically inspects the vehicle to determine the amount of damage and the costs required to repair the automobile. The owner of the vehicle or the vehicle repair facility may receive a check equal to the estimated cost of the repairs. If the repair costs exceed the value of the automobile, or a percentage of the car value, the adjuster may “total” the vehicle. The owner may then receive a check equal to the value of the automobile.

The repair costs and other information may be entered by the adjuster into an estimate report. After inspection the adjuster sends the estimate report to a home office for approval. To improve the efficiency of the claims process there have been developed computer systems and accompanying software that automate the estimate process. By way of example, the assignee of the present invention, Automatic Data Processing, Inc, (“ADP”) provides a software product under the trademark PenPro that allows a claims adjuster to enter estimate data. The PenPro product has a client side software platform that is loaded into the computer of a client such as a claims adjuster. The client based software interfaces with a home office computer system. The home office computer system contains large databases that store claims records used to process insurance claims.

Client based platforms such as PenPro require a dedicated link to the home office. Dedicated closed systems can be limiting to the client user. There have been developed web based insurance estimating systems. Such systems have limited features and functions for an estimating system. It would be desirable to provide a web based insurance estimating system that has enhanced features/functions over systems of the prior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method and system for retrieving a repair cost estimate web page through a broadband network. The system may include a client computer that launches integrated processing software on the client computer from within a web-based application. The system may also include a server that transmits repair cost estimate web page information and software to process the estimate information to the client computer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed is a web based insurance estimating system. The system includes a client computer that can launch integrated client-side processing software through a web-based application. The integrated client-side processing software has the ability to display part information for a vehicle in textual and graphical formats, it may highlight selected graphical and textual representations of vehicle parts, it can calculate damage line costs, it can display all available operations for parts and labor on the vehicle and allow the user to select one or more operations for a part or change data values for any operation for a part, it can search for part information on the vehicle using textual search keys, it can provide summary information on the vehicle parts in the part graphics sections, it can display assembly/component information for a plurality of parts, it can display the labor tasks associated with a part, it can display decision support information for operations that can be added to the estimate, it can display a comparison of repair cost to vehicle value, it may be configurable by the user of the system, and it may provide a way to select vehicle sections containing parts using an icon. The system also includes a server that generates information for a repair cost estimate web page. The repair cost estimate web page is displayed at the client computer.

The repair cost estimate web page has properties that can be configured by a user at the client computer. The configurable properties may include settings for language preferences, claim selection screen columns, part selection screens, labor rates, material rates, tax rates, tiered tax rates, part cost adjustment amounts, lists of commonly used estimate operations, repair facility information, aftermarket part preferences, recycled part preferences, mandatory estimate fields, paint cost thresholds, and preferences for importing and exporting of estimate and assignment data. The server can automatically populate fields of one or more web pages in response to a vehicle identification number entered by the user.

The system can provide estimates for vehicles with less than four wheels such as motorcycles, snowmobiles and personal watercraft. One of the insurance damage web pages may graphically identify the location(s) of a paint code plate on a vehicle. The web page may also provide a list of selectable paint codes that allows the user to select a paint code for a vehicle. The system may also have validation controls to validate the entry of data by the user. The validation controls may validate the presence, content, and/or format of the data. The validation controls may contain field formatting characters such as parenthesis and dashes in phone numbers which do not need to be entered by the user and will be skipper over when the user enters data.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numbers,FIG. 1shows a system10that can be used to generate a repair cost estimate for an insurance claim of a damaged vehicle. The system10includes at least one client computer12that is connected to an electronic communication network14. The electronic communication network14may be a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet. Accordingly, communication may be transmitted through the network14in TCP/IP format.

The system10may further include an estimate server16connected to the network14. The estimate server16may provide a web based portal that provides access to a repair cost estimate web site. The web site may provide a plurality of web pages that can be used by the user of the client computer12to generate a repair cost estimate. By way of example, the user may be a claims adjuster that utilizes the web pages to determine the estimate of a damaged vehicle. Although one estimate server16is shown, it is to be understood that the estimate server may include two or more separate servers including a web server and an application server that together perform the estimate functions.

FIG. 2shows an embodiment of a computer12and the server16. The computer12includes a processor40connected to one or more memory devices42. The memory device42may include both volatile and non-volatile memory such as read only memory (ROM) or random access memory (RAM). The processor40is capable of operating software programs in accordance with instructions and data stored within the memory device42.

The processor40may be coupled to a communication port44, a mass storage device46, a monitor48and a keyboard50through bus52. The processor40may also be coupled to a computer mouse, a touch screen, a microphone, a speaker, an optical code reader (not shown). The communication port44may include an ETHERNET interface that allows data to be transmitted and received in TCP/IP format, although it is to be understood that there may be other types of communication ports. The system bus52may be a PCI or other conventional computer bus. The mass storage device46may include one or more disk drives such as magnetic or optical drives. The mass storage device46may also contain software that is operated by the processor40.

Without limiting the scope of the invention the term computer readable medium may include the memory device42and/or the mass storage device46. The computer readable medium may contain software programs in binary form that can be read and interpreted by the computer. In addition to the memory device42and/or mass storage device46, computer readable medium may also include a diskette, a compact disc, an integrated circuit, a cartridge, or even a remote communication of the software program. In general the server16may contain more memory, additional communication ports and greater processing power than the computer12.

The server16may contain a relational database(s) that correlates data with individual data fields and a relational database management system (RDBMS). The RDBMS of the server16may include a reference to a website that can be accessed by the computers12. The website has a specific uniform resource locator (URL) that can be used to access the site through the network14. The URL can be entered through a web-based application resident in the client computer12. By way of example, the web based application may be a browser.

FIG. 3shows a flowchart of a method for accessing the repair cost estimate web site and generating an estimate for a damaged vehicle. In step100the user enters a uniform resource locator (“URL”) into an address field of a web-based application resident in the client computer. Entry of the URL provides a link between the server16and the client computer12. The user may have to enter a name and password to access the web site in process block102.

In process block104the web site may generate a properties configuration web page. The properties configuration web page allows the user to set properties of the web pages. An example of a configuration web page200is shown inFIG. 4. The properties configuration web page may include a global setting section202that allows for global settings such as the language of the web pages. The configuration page may allow for the setting of damage page view settings in section204and work list columns in section206. The work list section may allow the user to select certain data fields such as owner name, claim number, etc. that will be displayed by the estimate web pages. The selected properties are displayed every time the web site is accessed by the user.

To facilitate access and interaction with the web site, the client computer12may generate and launch client-side integrated processing software commands such as through the web-based application resident on the computer12. The client-side integrated processing software commands can be used to set the properties of the web pages. By way of example, the integrated processing software commands may be ActiveX controls. The client-side integrated processing software can be downloaded from the server16. The server16may contain one or more server-side software processing modules that provide an interface to the server side component object model (“COM”) components. The COM components may include application programs that calculate estimate data, provide parts lists, etc. The COMs may be resident on the estimate server16or located in one or more other servers (not shown) that are accessed through the network and instantiated into the server16. The server-side software processing modules may interface directly with relational databases, non-relational databases, XML files, or other servers.

FIG. 5is a flowchart showing a background flow for accessing and rendering repair cost estimate web pages. The user may select a damage web page server link in block300. In block302the server-side software processing module triggers a call to pass a file written in extensible markup language (“XML”) through a file written in extensible stylesheet language (“XSL”) to generate a web page in hytertext markup language (“HTML”) that is sent to the client computer. The server may encode and compress data prior to sending it to the client computer. As the web page is rendered, the HTML instructs the web-based application to render the HTML directly into the application or load and set certain properties of the client-side integrated processing software in block304. This may include the properties selected by the user in the configuration page. If the data sent to the client is encoded, the web-based application may decode it in memory on the client computer. If the data sent to the client was requested by the client-side integrated processing software, the data may be decompressed and decoded for purposes of processing the data and/or rendering the data within the web-based application. For example, the integrated processing software may perform repair cost calculations or render graphical images of vehicles, or vehicle parts and assemblies.

The client-side integrated processing software generates a request in XML format to the server in block306. The request can be for estimate type data such as the list and cost of parts for a vehicle, graphical information about vehicle sections, or decision support information. The client-side integrated processing software may send a URL to the server containing information about data that needs to be rendered on the client or stored on the server. In block308the server-side processing software translates the request into calls to the COM components or other server-side processing software which generate the requested information. The server-side processing software transmits the requested information back to the client computer in XML format in block310. In block312the server-side processing software renders the data into information presented onto the screen of the client computer. This process can be repeated for different information and different web pages of the system.

Referring again toFIG. 3, the web site may display a vehicle identification number (“VIN”) data field in processing block106. The user can enter the VIN of the vehicle in block108. The web page(s) of the estimator may be automatically populated with data that corresponds to the VIN. This can be done with server side processing software, ASP files, or through a relational database. This may be done by having an ASP file call one or more COM components that contain the corresponding data. By way of example, the data may include standard or option features of an automobile, such as type of engine, transmission, etc.

FIG. 6shows an example of a web page210with a data field212that allows a user to enter a VIN. Entering the VIN automatically populates certain fields of the web pages. The web page may have a vehicle information section214with data fields that are automatically populated by the entry of the VIN. Alternatively, the user may enter or select data for the data fields in section214.

Referring again toFIG. 3, the user may enter and/or select damage parts for the vehicle in block110.FIG. 7shows an example of a web page230that allows the user to enter and/or select damaged parts of a vehicle. The web page230may include a graphical section232that can be selected by the user and a text section234that lists a plurality of selectable parts for the vehicle. The parts that are selected to be replaced or repaired can be listed in section236. An estimate web page can be displayed by selecting the “Estimate Total” link238shown inFIG. 7, as described in block112ofFIG. 3.FIG. 8shows a web page240that displays a running cost total of the estimated damage of the vehicle. The process may have a feature (not shown) that provides a warning to the user that the cost total exceeds a “totaled” value at which point the estimator discontinues the process and totals the vehicle. After all of the parts to be repaired or damaged are selected the adjuster may obtain a final estimate from the estimate page240.

The system may also have other functions and features.FIG. 9shows a graphical user interface250that identifies the location of a paint code locator252of a vehicle254. Every vehicle typically has a plate that contains a paint code of the vehicle. To insure accurate entry of paint data, the adjustor typically reads the paint code. The GUI250highlights the location(s) of the paint code plates so that the user can readily find and read the paint code.

FIG. 10shows a graphical user interface260that allows a user to select from a list of selectable paint codes262. The list can be generated in response to the entry of a certain vehicle type, etc. in a vehicle description field264. The list provides different types of paint and corresponding paint codes for the vehicle. Selecting a paint code from a list can eliminate data entry errors associated with manually entering the codes.

The system may have one or more validation controls to minimize data entry errors. The validation controls may be implemented in the server16or the integrated processing software. For example, the system may have character level validation control, field level validation control and page level validation control. For field character validation, the process can determine whether an improper character or string of characters have been entered by the user. For example, Canadian postal codes are in a form that requires a sequence of adjacent letters and numbers, such as A9A 9A9. For field valuation a data entry that does not follow this sequence will generate an error message and will not be processed by the system. For character validation the data entered may be ignored and not displayed.

The data fields may contain a validation mask to validate the entry of valid data.FIG. 11shows a number of masks270for different data fields. For example, a date field may have a mask that will only allow numbers and backslashes // to be entered by the user. Additionally, the mask may automatically place entered data. By way of example, regarding a phone number mask, the user may type in the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 and the field would display (123) 4 . . . The validation may also flag impossible dates such as an entry for 22/44/5555. The dollar amount field may be masked to only accept numbers and not letters. The page level validation may generate an error report to identify missing or incorrect data entered into the web page.

As shown inFIG. 12, the system may allow an adjuster to estimate damage to a motorcycle. The system may generate a graphical user interface270that includes a vehicle information section272. The information section272has a plurality of data fields that allow the adjuster to enter or select identifying information of the motorcycle.FIGS. 13 and 14shows graphical user interfaces280and290that can be used to estimate damage to a snowmobile or a personal watercraft, respectively. Each GUI280and290may have a vehicle information section282and292, that allow an operator to enter or select vehicle information. The system thus allows an adjuster to estimate damage to a motorcycle, a snowmobile, or a personal watercraft through a web based estimating system.