Abstract:
Methods and systems for generating a damage repair estimate, generating information relating to warranty and short sheet issues for a particular damage repair estimate, identifying included/non-included operations in a target damage repair estimate, and notifying entities of the existence of warranty and short sheet issues. The analysis portion accesses a central database of records for particular vehicles and determines whether a warranty, short sheet, or deviation from pre-determined repair procedures exists and creates a displayable file. Depending on the analysis requested, the system and method displays an appropriate damage estimate analysis. The notification portion accesses a central database of records for particular entities to contact for particular vehicles and electronically notifies entities of the existence of a damage estimate analysis.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/925,791 entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CREATING AND REVIEWING VEHICLE DAMAGE REPAIR ESTIMATES, AND NOTIFYING ENTITIES OF ISSUES RELATING TO MANUFACTURER&#39;S WARRANTY OR REPAIR CONTENT,” filed Apr. 23, 2007 
     
    
       [0002]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
                 Not Applicable 
               
               
                 FEDERALLY SPONSERED RESEARCH 
                 Not Applicable 
               
               
                 SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
                 Not Applicable 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    The invention relates in general to vehicle damage information systems and in particular, to methods and systems for generating and analyzing damage repair estimates, and notifying entities about estimates that fails to meet pre-determined repair criteria, reduce a manufacturers&#39; warranty, are incomplete or include operations or parts that are duplicated within other operations. 
         [0005]    2. Prior Art 
         [0006]    Computerized systems for creating damage estimates are known. These systems provide access to large amounts of information for part prices, estimated parts replacement labor times and OEM parts prices. An alternate parts database provides OEM/alternate parts sources and prices. These systems provide for a standardized export format that allows damage estimates to be utilized with communications, auditing and other software systems. Computerized estimating systems are provided by Audatex, CCC Information Services and Mitchell International. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,432,904 to Wong (1995) and 5,504,674 to Chen, et al (1996) disclose a method for selecting a graphic then individually selecting a part to add to a damage estimate, forcing users to create damage estimates a part or operation at a time. U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,540 to Schreitmueller, et al (2001) discloses a method of “drilling into” layers of a vehicle related to damage zones allowing users to see parts in various related layers and to select a part from a hot spot to add to a damage estimate, again forcing users to select individual parts in layers. U.S. Patent Application 20060064393 to Orr (Sep. 24, 2004) discloses a method for automatically generating vehicles damage estimates. This generation method requires users to manually select a single part or part subgroup and then select the related operation to perform. Only after all parts or parts groups are manually identified by the user can a damage estimate be generated. Generation consists of adding selected parts or subgroups to the estimate, performing arithmetic calculations such as adjusting labor times for overlapping panels, adding non-included operations associated with selected parts or parts groups and calculating the damage estimate total cost. 
         [0007]    Computerized systems for auditing damage estimates are known. These systems provide access to business rules such as labor rate rules, parts usage rules, omitted information identification, betterment checking, checking for sales tax and other business rule checking. In addition operational dependencies auditing checks for omitted parts or labor operations. Auditing systems are provided by a variety of companies in the market such as Audatex, CCC Information Services, Mitchell International, Decision Support Services, Newgen IT and others. U.S. Patent Application 20040243423 to Rix, et al (May 30, 2003) discloses a method for identifying related line descriptions and checking a damage estimate for omitted items related to a specific line description. For example, if item “a” is identified in a damage estimate then item “b” should be included in the estimate as well. U.S. Patent Application 20050246206 to Obora, et al (Jun. 13, 2003) discloses a method for comparing a damage estimate against an insurance profile and generating an exception report based on analyzing estimate amounts, property damage limitations, loss limitations or discounts not repair operations. The state of the prior art in damage estimate auditing can best be summarized as identifying parameters that deviate from a profile, such as labor rates or a part type, analyzing damage estimates for deviation from thresholds, such as gross estimate amounts and identifying dependent repair operations. 
         [0008]    Computerized systems for interchanging estimating information are known. These systems provide software and a data communications network to send estimate information from a body repair facility or field user to a central system and information from a central system to body repair facility. Administrative information such as insured, policy id, claim id and other information is typically taken by an insurance company on notification of a loss and entered into a first notice of loss system. Information entered in the first notice of loss system can be used in internal claims management systems or downloaded into a computerized estimating system. Downloading administrative information is often the first step in creating a damage estimate. This process is often referred to as receiving an assignment. These systems are used to electronically send estimate supplements from body repair shops to insurance companies. Systems for interchanging estimating information are provided by Audatex, CCC Information Services, Mitchell International, Scene Genesis, Nugen IT, EautoClaims and other companies. In addition some insurance companies build and deploy their own communications networks. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,504,674 to Chen, et al (1996) and 5,855,005 to Borghesi, et al (1999) disclose a communications network for sending damage estimates from body repair shops to an insurance companies for processing insurance claims. 
         [0009]    Computerized systems for providing warranty information are known. These systems are provided by manufacturers and third party service providers. U.S. Patent Application 20040039494 to Kaufman (Sep. 2, 2003) discloses a method for notifying an entity when a vehicle warranty or section of a warranty will expire. U.S. Patent Application 20020091706 to Anderson, et al. (Sep. 6, 2001) discloses a method for a central repository of information vehicle owners can access to retrieve vehicle warranty information. U.S. Pat. No. 6,609,050 to Li (2003) discloses a method for identifying warranty coverage for service repairs and notifying concerned parties when servicing issues have a priority above a predetermined level based on a contact database. U.S. Pat. No. 6,654,770 to Kaufman (2003) discloses a method for providing safety and maintenance information to vehicle owners using the internet. 
         [0010]    Computerized diminished value calculation systems are known. Wreck Check provides a 138-plus checkpoint system based on statistical formula, and the consumer&#39;s actual repair comparing the pre-accident value of an automobile and the post-repair value of the same automobile. U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,631 to Busch, et al. (2000) discloses a method for detecting the presence of prior damage and problems with previous repairs. U.S. Patent Application 20050038580 to Seim, et al. (Aug. 15, 2003) discloses a method for verifying the structural integrity of vehicle frames allowing dealers to raise the resale value of verified vehicles and support the value of vehicles at auto auctions. The state of the prior art in diminished value reporting can best be summarized as providing information based on measuring dimensions or observing physical damage to a vehicle. 
         [0011]    Computerized systems for reporting vehicle history are known. Carfax is the best know company providing an electronic vehicle history report for used vehicles. U.S. Pat. No. 7,113,853 to Hecklinger (2006) and U.S. Patent Application 20060178793 to Hecklinger (Jul. 16, 2003) disclose a method for generating vehicle history related to manufacturer buyback, recall and title status. The state of the prior art in reporting can best be described as providing information based on governmental reporting requirements related to title and accident reporting. 
         [0012]    It is common in the industry to write an initial estimate for only damage that is visible and to later supplement the estimate for damage that is discovered during the repair process. This is often referred as short sheeting in the industry. It is not uncommon for an insured to accept a check from their insurance company for visible damage only later to find the initial estimate check significantly under estimated the true cost of repairing the vehicle. Vehicle owners that accept a short sheet from their insurance company and do not repair the vehicle immediately may find significant liability in the difference between the initial damage estimate and the actual amount required to repair the vehicle. 
         [0013]    It is common occurrence for a body repair shop to receive an initial damage estimate from an insurance company or independent adjustor that was written using an estimating system they do not use. This leads to a situation where a body repair shop and insurance company utilize two different databases to create and negotiate the damage estimate. Typically body repair shops translate such estimates into estimating systems they have. The situation is complicated by incomplete knowledge of what is included and not included in the varying estimating system line descriptions. It is not uncommon for body repair shops to receive initial short sheets and not be aware of what is included or not included in the repair line descriptions. 
         [0014]    Vehicles damaged in accidents may be subject to diminished value. Leased vehicles experience accelerated depreciation related to diminished value by the reduction in the residual value of the vehicle. A lessee can find themselves liable to the bank or leasing company for thousands of dollars in diminished value resulting from a voided or reduced vehicle manufacturer&#39;s warranty. Financing companies are at an elevated risk of financial loss associated with diminished value or short sheeting in the event of repossession of vehicles damaged in accidents. 
         [0015]    The prior art of damage estimating does not address creating damage estimate using representative vehicle section damage patterns. 
         [0016]    The prior art of estimating auditing does not address checking estimates for manufacturer&#39;s warranty issues or identifying short sheet estimates. 
         [0017]    The prior art of estimate auditing does not address issues relating to identifying included and non-included items in one vendor&#39;s estimating system line descriptions using an equivalent line description in another vendor&#39;s estimating system. 
         [0018]    The prior art of estimate data communications does not address notifying an entity of the diminished value associated with a short sheet or manufacturer&#39;s warranty issues. 
         [0019]    The prior art of estimate data communications does not address notifying an entity of a short sheet estimate or items in a damage estimate that affect manufacturer&#39;s warranty. 
         [0020]    The prior art of warranty reporting does not address verifying manufacturer&#39;s warranty requirements for individual vehicle repair operations or parts types in damage repair estimates. 
       OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
       [0021]    It is, therefore, one advantage of the present invention to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art by providing a system and method capable of efficiently and effectively determining whether a particular damage estimate violates manufacturers&#39; repair warranty conditions. 
         [0022]    Another advantage of the present invention is to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art by providing a system and method capable of efficiently and effectively determining whether a particular damage estimate is a short sheet. 
         [0023]    Another advantage of the present invention is to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art by providing a system and method capable of efficiently and effectively identifying included and non-included operations associated with one estimating system using a damage repair estimate created with a different estimating system. 
         [0024]    Another advantage of the present invention is to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art by providing a system and method capable of efficiently and effectively notifying a financing company, lessee, owner or other entity if a particular vehicle will experience reduction of warranty coverage related to a damage repair estimate. 
         [0025]    Another advantage of the present invention is to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art by providing a system and method capable of efficiently and effectively notifying a financing company, lessee, owner, or other entity if a damage estimate related to a particular vehicle is a short sheet. 
         [0026]    Another advantage of the present invention is to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art by providing a system and method capable of efficiently and effectively adding a plurality of labor operations and/or parts to a damage repair estimate when selecting a single degree of damage pattern for a related damage zone. 
         [0027]    Further objects and advantages are displaying information relating to damage repair estimate warranty issues or short sheet issues, and storing information relating to damage repair estimate warranty issues and short sheet issues. Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings. 
         [0028]    The above objects and advantages, and other objects and advantages, are achieved by providing methods and systems for generating a damage repair estimate, identifying repair methods or parts types that reduce or void the manufacturer&#39;s warranty, identifying short sheeting items, identifying target estimating system included/non-included operations, displaying information, and notifying an entity. 
         [0029]    The steps of generating a damage estimate consists of selecting the vehicle make, model, sub-model, year, damage zones and related degrees of damage, retrieving repair item templates consisting of a plurality of repair operations and parts relating to a particular year, make, model, sub-model, damage zone and related degree of damage, retrieving included/non-included operations consisting of a plurality of included/non-included operation relating to repair operations and parts in said repair item template, and generating a displayable damage repair estimate file containing said repair item template records and said included/non-included operations records. 
         [0030]    The steps of identifying repair methods or parts types that reduce or void the manufacturer&#39;s warranty consists of reading the vehicle make, model, sub-model, year, mileage, and vehicle identification number from a damage estimate, retrieving a warranty template consisting of a plurality of repair operations and parts types associated with a specific year, make, model, sub-model, mileage vehicle, determining if the vehicle is still covered under a manufacturer&#39;s warranty, identifying replacement parts and repair operations that violate an associated manufacturer&#39;s warranty specifications, and creating a displayable warranty issue file. 
         [0031]    The steps of identifying short sheeting items consists of reading estimate line item records from a damage estimate, retrieving a damage zone template consisting of a plurality of estimating system operation descriptions and associated damage zones, determining the damage zones associated with specific record in the estimate, retrieving a repair item template consisting of a plurality of repair operations and parts associated with a specific year, make, model, sub-model and damage zone, identifying repair operations or parts in the associated repair item template but not in the damage estimate, and creating a displayable short sheet issue file. 
         [0032]    The steps of identifying target estimating system included/non-included operations consists of reading the operation description lines from a damage estimate, identifying the target estimating system, retrieving a translation table consisting of a plurality of estimating system operation descriptions and associated group code, identifying damage estimate repair lines that match an operation description record in said translation table, retrieving an included/non-included operations table consisting of a plurality of included/non-included operation and associated group code records, identifying records in the included/non-included operations table associated with a particular damage estimate record, retrieving an included operations table consisting of a plurality of included operation and associated group code records, identifying records in the included operations table relating to specific line item record in the damage estimate, and creating a displayable included operations file. 
         [0033]    The steps of notifying an entity consists of retrieving the vehicle identification number from the repair estimate, retrieving an entity notification record from a database for the specific vehicle containing contact information such as email address, phone number, name, text message information, creating a notification message, and transmitting said notification message to identified entities. 
         [0034]    The steps of displaying information consists of retrieving records from the database for a specific vehicle and displaying, consolidating the records into a report and displaying the report on an electronic viewing device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0035]    In accordance with the present invention methods and systems for generating a damage repair estimate, generating information relating to warranty and short sheet issues for a particular damage repair estimate, identifying included/non-included operations in a target damage repair estimate, and notifying entities of the existence of warranty and short sheet issues. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0036]      FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of the system of the present invention showing the relationship of different entities using the system; 
           [0037]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of the computer system of the present invention for generating a damage estimate, determining if a particular damage estimate is subject to warranty reduction, determining if a particular damage estimate is subject to short sheet, identifying included/non-included operations and/or parts in a damage estimate and notifying entities; 
           [0038]      FIG. 3  is flow diagram of the method of the present invention showing the steps for determining whether a particular estimate is subject to manufacturer warranty reduction or short sheet issue; 
           [0039]      FIG. 4  is a user interface display of an electronically displayable file showing a page for uploading a damage estimate; 
           [0040]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of the method of the present invention showing the steps for determining the included/non-included operations in a line description of a target damage estimating system; 
           [0041]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart of the method of the present invention showing the steps for generating a damage estimate with visible and non-visible damage; 
           [0042]      FIG. 7  is a user interface display of an electronically displayable file showing a page for generating a damage estimate; 
           [0043]      FIG. 8  is a user interface display of an electronically displayable file showing a included/non-included operations and/or parts for a target damage estimating system; 
           [0044]      FIG. 9  is a user interface display of an electronically displayable file showing of a report summary with a warranty issue; 
           [0045]      FIG. 10  is a user interface display of an electronically displayable file showing of a report summary with a short sheet issue; 
           [0046]      FIG. 11  is a user interface display of an electronically displayable file showing a pattern generated damage estimate; 
           [0047]      FIG. 12  is a user interface display of an electronically displayable file showing an entity notification; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     One Embodiment 
       [0048]    Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is a highly schematic diagram of a system, for example in the form of a computer network  10 , designed to implement the subject invention.  FIG. 1  may also be viewed as showing the relationship of the different entities potentially involved in the application of one embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, a computer implemented damage estimate review notification system  12  exchanges data with a plurality of remote terminals  14  through data transmission across a distributed network  16 , e.g. Internet. The terminals  14  represent individual vehicle owners, financial institutions, insurance companies, independent adjusters, loan co-signers, body repair shops, vehicle manufacturers and other entities accessing estimate notification system  12 , as discussed more fully herein below, to upload damage estimates, receive notification, obtain estimate analysis results and obtain consolidated management reports. 
         [0049]    The distributed network  16  may be any type of communications channel such as a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), direct computer connections, and/or wireless connections using radio frequency, infrared, or other wireless technologies using any appropriate communication hardware and protocols, and may further be the Internet. Thus, terminals  14  may be connected to distributed network  16  by any conventional communication links  18 , including hardwired and/or wireless. 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , in one embodiment, estimate notification system  12  includes a damage estimate analysis unit  26 , an entity notification information database  28 , a short sheet templates database  30 , a vehicle warranty templates database  32 , an included/non-included operations database  44 , a data communications module  34 , all of which are connected together for effective data communication. Damage estimate analysis unit  26  specifically includes a receiving module  36 , an analysis module  38 , a notification module  40  and a user interface module  42 . 
         [0051]    It should be noted that the vehicle estimate notification system  12  and the damage estimate analysis unit  40  in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention is illustrated and discussed herein as having various modules and units which perform particular functions. It should be understood that these modules and units, including the file server and databases, are merely schematically illustrated based on their function for clarity purposes, and do not necessarily represent specific hardware or software. In this regard, these modules, units and other components may be hardware and/or software implemented to substantially perform their particular functions explained herein. The various functions of the different components can be combined or segregated as hardware and/or software modules in any manner, and can be useful separately or in combination. Thus, the present invention as schematically embodied in  FIG. 2  should not be construed to limit the estimate notification system  12  of the present invention, but be understood to merely be a schematic example. 
         [0052]    The short sheet template database  30  contains a comprehensive collection of repair templates, organized, indexed and/or retrievable based on a vehicle year, make, model, sub-model and damage zone. A template is a set of repairs operations and/or replacement parts and their associated labor hours, labor types and parts types. Standardized damage zones are used in the insurance collision repair process to classify areas of damage. Damage zones include right front, left front, right side, rear, rear left, rear right and rollover. 
         [0053]    As previously mentioned, the administrator of estimate notification system  12  acquires damage zone template data from a variety of data suppliers  14 . Each item of data acquired and entered into damage zone template database  30  is indexed by manufacturer, make, model, sub-model and damage zone. A template consists of all the records for a specified vehicle for a specific damage zone with a specific damage range indicator. For example a template consists of all the records retrieved with an index of “2004”, “FORD”, “F150”, “FRONT BUMPER”. 
         [0054]    The vehicle warranty templates database  32  consists of a comprehensive collection of warranty templates, organized, indexed and/or retrievable based on manufacturer, year make model and sub-model. A template is a set of repair operations and/or replacement parts and their associated warranty violating indicator indexed by year, make, model, sub-model and mileage. For example a template consists of all the records for a specified manufacturer make with an index of, “2006”, “GENERAL MOTORS”, “CADILLAC”, ESCALADE”, “XL”. 
         [0055]    The included/non-included operations database  44  consists of a comprehensive collection of line descriptions organized, indexed and/or retrievable based on group code. For example fixing a hood is described differently by various estimating system manufacturer&#39;s. The common group code 3 indexes the various estimating systems manufacturer&#39;s line descriptions of “PANEL,HOOD”, “Hood Outside”, “Hood Panel” and “Hood” to the common group 3. 
         [0056]    The included/non-included operations database  44  consists of a comprehensive collection of repair operations and/or parts included/not-included in a line description, organized, indexed and/or retrievable based on group code, estimating system identifier, and repair operation type. For example, included/non-included operations in replacing a hood in a Mitchell damage estimating system consists of all the records with an index of “3”, “YES”, “YES”, “YES”, REPLACE”, where YES define inclusion of an item in a specific estimating systems and can be YES or NO. 
         [0057]    The entity notification information database consists of a comprehensive collection of contact information organized, indexed and/or retrievable based on a vehicle identification number. For example contact information consists of all the records retrieved with an index of “4S3BK635XS932008”. 
         [0058]    Short sheet template database  30 , entity notification information database  28 , included/non-included operations database  44  and vehicle warranty templates database  32  may be any conventional database capable of effectively storing collections of records in an organized accessible manner to permit efficient easy access to desired pieces of data, i.e. one or more records, for example, associated with a particular index, using appropriate database management system software. 
         [0059]    In one embodiment, a damage estimate analysis unit  26  includes appropriate hardware and software for implementing the various modules and functions necessary to perform the functions of the estimate notification system described herein. Damage estimate analysis unit  26  may be a general purpose computing device with a central processing unit (CPU) or processor. The software of unit  26  and of the various modules within unit  26  resides in a computer readable storage medium in the form of encoded executable instructions for operating the system and performing the functionalities and process steps described herein. 
         [0060]    Receiving module  36  functions to receive a estimate file uploaded from a repair facility, insurance office or other source of estimate files. Thus, module  36  includes the appropriate software necessary to import estimate file(s) and organize the uploaded estimate information in a manner appropriate for further data processing. Information extracted and organized from the estimate file consists of the owner information, vehicle identification number, financing company information, insurance company information, repair facility information, estimate line descriptions and replacement parts, damage zones and estimate parts and labor totals. 
         [0061]    Analysis module  38  functions to evaluate the uploaded estimate against short sheet templates and/or included/non-included operations and/or vehicle warranty templates. Analysis of short sheeting consist of segmenting the estimate into sets of operations associated with specific damage zones, retrieving a specific template associated with a specific damage zone from the short sheet templates database  30 , evaluating a specific set of operations against a specific damage zone template to identify significant omissions of repair operations, totaling labor hours and replacement parts costs, and generating the omitted repair content section of the damage estimate analysis. 
         [0062]    Analysis of vehicle warranty consist of evaluating the estimate against a specific warranty template associated with the estimate year, make, model, and sub-model. Analysis of warranty consists of evaluating a specific estimate&#39;s operations and replacement parts types against a specific warranty template associated from the vehicle warranty templates damage  32 , identifying specific parts replacement parts that significantly reduce the warranty associated with the estimate, identifying specific labor operations that significantly reduce the warranty associated with the estimate, and generating the warranty section of the damage estimate analysis. 
         [0063]    Analysis of included/non-included operations consist of evaluating the estimate against specific records associated with the damage estimating system manufacturer and line description. Analysis of included/non-included operations consists of evaluating a specific damage estimate&#39;s line description against records associated from the included/non-included operations database  44 , identifying specific included and non-included operations associated with specific estimate line descriptions and generating the included/non-included operations section of the damage estimate analysis. 
         [0064]    Importantly, damage estimate analysis unit  26  includes analysis module  38  which is adapted to execute particular process steps including analyzing short sheet conditions, analyzing included/non-included operations, analyzing vehicle warranty conditions and following specific logic to ultimately form conclusions relative whether a particular estimate has warranty or short sheet issues and identifying included/non-included operations and parts associated with a target estimating system. As used herein, a warranty or short sheet issue preferably refers to the issue of whether a particular estimate has significant warranty reduction or significant omitted line descriptions. Examples of significant warranty reduction are, if a new vehicle used aftermarket crash parts and the manufacturer&#39;s warranty was voided on the aftermarket part and on any adjacent parts of the vehicle, or if a structural aluminum component was heated and pulled voiding of the vehicle manufacturer&#39;s warranty. An examples of significant short sheet is an estimate for collision damage to the front of a vehicle that only consists of damage visible to the eye and does not include line descriptions for repairing damage under a bumper cover. 
         [0065]    Notification module  40  functions to retrieve information from the entity notification information database  28  and create an electronic message packet consisting of a notification message and damage estimate analysis for entities associated with the vehicle identification number in the estimate. Based on the conclusions of the analysis module  38 , notification module  40  initiates the delivery of an email or other appropriate notification method to entities identified to the availability of the damage estimate analysis. 
         [0066]    User interface module  42  is adapted to utilize the information provided by analysis module  38  to generate a user interface for delivery to output device  24  of terminal  14 . User interface module  42  may be in the form of a file server with appropriate software capable of generating particular electronically displayable files for delivery to, and display by, output device  24  of terminal  14 . Alternatively, the electronically displayable files may be stored in a separate file server within estimate notification system  12  or may reside on a remote server to which the estimate notification system  12  is connected. Communications managing module  34  is adapted to manage communications and interactions between estimate notification system  12  and its various components, and with the various terminals  14  via the distributed network  16 . 
         [0067]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a general representation of one method for warranty issue and short sheet analysis, corresponding to the system of the present invention of  FIG. 2 , is illustrated in the form of a flow diagram starting with step  100  in which vehicle warranty templates database  32 , short sheet templates database  30 , and entity notification information database  28 , containing templates and entity notification information, is provided by, for example, the loss notification system administrator. 
         [0068]    Next, in step  102 , receiving module  36  receives and extracts notification information and repair information from a damage estimate file. Typically, step  102  is performed in response to an estimate being uploaded by a repair estimate creator  18  to estimate notification system  12 . Specifically manufacturer&#39;s line descriptions, repair operations, parts types, labor hours and damage zones are extracted from the damage estimate and temporarily stored. In addition, owner, insurance company and financial institution information consisting of the insurance company name, claim id, insured policy number and repair estimate creator information is extracted from estimate files and temporarily stored. In addition, vehicle information consisting of the vehicle identification number, year, make, model, sub-model and mileage are extracted from estimate files and temporarily stored. In one embodiment, an estimate is uploaded to a website permitting simple, automated communication between the repair estimate creator  18  and system  12  via distributed network  16 . 
         [0069]    For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , an electronically displayable file including a user interface  101 , in the form of an output screen, is displayed on the output device  24  of the customer&#39;s terminal  14 . The repair estimate creator  14  selects the analysis to perform using “I need to check on included operations in a repair estimate” hyperlink  230 , “I need to check if a repair estimate voids a warranty” hyperlink  240  or “I need to check for missing items in a repair estimate” hyperlink  250 . If the repair estimator creator  14  selects I need to check on included operations in a repair estimate  230  the target estimating system manufacturer is identified using option group  238 . Then, the repair estimate creator browses for the damage estimate file to upload and selects “Save” button  236 . Then, the repair estimate creator initiates the estimate analysis using “Upload repair estimate” hyperlink  240 . 
         [0070]    The upload request is received by system  12  via communications managing module  34 , which processes the request utilizing damage estimate analysis unit  26 . Specifically, analysis module  38  processes the request by selecting all records in short sheet templates database  30 , vehicle warranty templates  32 , and included/non-included operations database  44  relating to a particular year, make, model, sub-model or target estimating system as represented by step  102  of  FIG. 3 . Of course, other files may be displayed to the user for inputting contact information, payment information or other information to allow appropriate processing. 
         [0071]    Next, in step  104 , analysis module  38  determines whether the vehicle in the damage estimate is covered under warranty. Specifically a vehicle is under warranty if it is newer than the number of years in the warranty template and the vehicle mileage is less than the mileage in the warranty template specified by the manufacturer. If the vehicle is under manufacturer&#39;s warranty analysis module  38  determines whether a warranty issue exists. Specifically, a warranty issue exists if a warranty template record is found in warranty template database  32  which indicates, for example, that an aftermarket part was found in the damage estimate or a specific repair operation was found in the damage estimate, for example heating and pulling a structural aluminum component that reduce or void the manufacturer&#39;s warranty associated with the vehicle specified in the damage estimate. If a warranty condition exists analysis module  38  create a displayable warranty issue file for the specific vehicle in the damage estimate. If a warranty issue does not exist analysis module  38  creates a displayable file indicating that no warranty issue exists for the particular vehicle in the damage estimate. 
         [0072]    Next, in step  106 , analysis module  38  determines whether the identified records relating to a particular damage estimate indicates a short sheet, i.e., a repair operation or part is included in the template but is not in the damage estimate for specific damage zones of the particular vehicle. Specifically, a short sheet exists if a short sheet template record is found in short sheet database  30  which indicates, for example, that repairing a bumper reinforcement was found in the short sheet template but not the damage estimate for a front bumper replacement. 
         [0073]    Next, in step  108  if no warranty issue exist user interface module  42  initiates a command for the display of an electronically displayable file indicating that no warranty issues exists for the particular vehicle from system  12 , or a file server on the distributed network  16 , to terminal  14  for display on output device  24 . 
         [0074]    Next, in step  108  if no short sheet issue exist user interface module  42  initiates a command for the display of an electronically displayable file indicating that no short sheet issues exists for the particular vehicle from system  12 , or a file server on the distributed network  16 , to terminal  14  for display on output device  24 . 
         [0075]    Next, in step  110  if a warranty issue exist analysis module  42  initiates a command for the storage of a displayable warranty issue file for the particular damage estimate then user interface module  42  initiates the transmission of a warranty issue file from system  12 , or a file server on the distributed network  16 , to customer terminal  14  for display on output device  24 . For example, referring to  FIG. 9 , an electronically displayable file in the form of a user interface  101  showing a report summary may include vehicle, customer and insurance information  228 , damage estimate line descriptions related to warranty issues  230 , manufacturers warranty requirements  232  and warranty issues  234 . 
         [0076]    Next, in step  112  if a short sheet issue exist analysis module  42  initiates a command for the storage of a displayable warranty issue file for the particular damage estimate then user interface module  42  initiates the transmission of a warranty issue file from system  12 , or a file server on the distributed network  16 , to customer terminal  14  for display on output device  24 . For example, referring to  FIG. 10 , an electronically displayable file in the form of a user interface  101  showing a report summary may include vehicle, customer and insurance information  236 , repair operations and/or parts identified in the short sheet template and not found in the damage estimate  238  and short sheet review  240 . 
         [0077]    Next, in step  114  if a warranty or short sheet file exist notification module  40  identifies records in entity notification database  28  associated with entities to contact with information associated with the existence of warranty or short sheet issues for a particular vehicle, creates notification packages for particular entities and initiates transmission of notification packages from system  12 , or on a file server on the distributed network  16  to entities via electronic mail or other electronic communications methods. For example, referring to  FIG. 12 , an electronically displayable file in the form of an electronic mail  252  showing information related to the entity notified  246 , information related to the vehicle, estimate creator and insurance company  248  and a summary of warranty and/or short sheet issues  250 . 
         [0078]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a general representation of one method for identifying and displaying included repair operations information relating to a target manufacturer&#39;s line descriptions in a damage estimate, corresponding to the system of the present invention of  FIG. 2 , is illustrated in the form of a flow diagram starting with step  100  in which included/non-included operations database  44  and entity notification information database  28 , containing included/non-included operations and/or parts information and entity notification information, is provided by, for example, the loss notification system administrator. 
         [0079]    Next, in step  116 , receiving module  36  receives and extracts repair information from a damage estimate file. Typically, step  116  is performed in response to an estimate being uploaded by a repair estimate creator  18  to estimate notification system  12 . Specifically manufacturer&#39;s line descriptions, line number and repair operations from the damage estimate are extracted and temporarily stored. In addition, vehicle information consisting of the vehicle identification number, year, make, model, sub-model and mileage are extracted from estimate files and temporarily stored. In addition, the manufacturer of the target damage estimating system used to create the damage estimate is extracted from the estimate files and temporarily stored. In one embodiment, an estimate is uploaded to a website permitting simple, automated communication between the repair estimate creator  18  and system  12  via distributed network  16 . 
         [0080]    Next, in step  118 , analysis module  38  determines whether the identified records relating to a particular target damage estimating system&#39;s line descriptions in a particular damage estimate exist in included/non-included operations database  44 . Specifically, a manufacturer&#39;s line description exists if a manufacturer&#39;s line description is found in included/non-included operations database  44 . 
         [0081]    Next, in step  120  analysis module  38  identifies group codes related to particular manufacturer&#39;s line descriptions in a particular damage estimate. Specifically, analysis module  38  accesses included/non-included operations database  44  and identifies the group code related to particular source manufacturer&#39;s line descriptions. 
         [0082]    Next, in step  122  analysis module  38  identifies included/non-included operations and/or parts related to identified group codes. Specifically, analysis module  38  accesses included/non-included operations database  44 , identifies records matching identified group codes, identifies included/non-included operations and/or parts related to identified group codes and determines if identified included/non-included operations and/or parts are included in a particular target manufacturer&#39;s damage estimating system line description. An included/non-included operations and/or parts is included in a particular target damage estimating system if the field in the record identifying inclusion of a particular included/non-included operations and/or parts related to a particular target damage estimating system is set to “YES”. 
         [0083]    Next, in step  124 , analysis module  38  determines whether included/non-included operations and/or parts exist for a particular damage estimate. Specifically, analysis module  38  determines if any records identifying included/non-included operations and/or parts related to a particular target manufacturer&#39;s line descriptions exist. 
         [0084]    Next, in step  126  if no included/non-included operations and/or parts exist user interface module  42  initiates a command for the display of an electronically displayable file indicating that no included/non-included operations and/or parts exists for the particular damage estimate from system  12 , or a file server on the distributed network  16 , to terminal  14  for display on output device  24 . 
         [0085]    Next, in step  128  if included/non-included operations and/or parts exist analysis module  42  initiates a command for the storage of a displayable included operations file for the particular damage estimate then user interface module  42  initiates the transmission of a included operations file from system  12 , or a file server on the distributed network  16 , to customer terminal  14  for display on output device  24 . For example, referring to  FIG. 8 , an electronically displayable file in the form of a user interface  101  showing a report summary may include identification of the source and target damage estimating systems  220 , damage estimate line descriptions  226 , repair operations and/or parts not included in target estimating systems line descriptions  222  and repair operations and/or parts included in target damage estimating systems line descriptions  224 . 
         [0086]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a general representation of one method for generating a damage estimate, corresponding to the system of the present invention of  FIG. 2 , is illustrated in the form of a flow diagram starting with step  100  in which included/non-included operations database  44  and short sheet templates database  30 , containing included/non-included operations and/or parts information and damage zones and degrees of damage, is provided by, for example, the loss notification system administrator. 
         [0087]    Next, in step  128 , receiving module  36  receives information relating to vehicle year, make, model, sub-model, mileage, related damage zones and related degrees of damage for a particular vehicle. Typically, step  128  is performed in response to a customer, i.e. individual consumer, providing the information of a particular vehicle to vehicle estimate notification system  12 . In one embodiment, the customer accesses a website containing electronically displayable files having user interfaces for permitting simple, automated communication between the customer and system  12  via distributed network  16 . 
         [0088]    For example, as shown in  FIG. 7 , an electronically displayable file including a user interface  101 , in the form of an output screen, is displayed on the output device  24  of the entity terminal  14 . The user interface is utilized by customers to upload vehicle and damage information to estimate notification system  12  via distributed network  16 . customer  14  select “I need an estimate to take to a shop or insurance office” hyperlink  200  and begins creating a damage estimate selecting the vehicle year in an input field  202 , vehicle make in an input field  204 , vehicle model in an input field  206 , vehicle sub-model an input field down  208  and entering the vehicle mileage in an input field  210 . The customer then identifies damage zones by selecting damage areas in an input field  212  related to the particular vehicle and views patterns representing damage for the related damage zone in display field  214 . The customer then scrolls through patterns related to degrees of damage for the related damage zone using navigation button  216  and navigation button  217 . The customer then selects the pattern most closely matching the degree of damage and damage area selecting button  218 . The customer then selects “Check-Out” hyperlink  218  to submit vehicle information and degrees of damage related to damage zones to system  12  for processing. Specifically, analysis module  36  processes the request by selecting all records in short sheet templates database  30  related to degrees of damage and related damage zones of a particular vehicle. 
         [0089]    Next, in step  130 , analysis module  38  determines whether included/non-included operations and/or parts exist for a particular damage estimate. Specifically, analysis module  38  determines if any records identifying included/non-included operations and/or parts related to a particular damage line descriptions exist. 
         [0090]    Next, in step  132  analysis module  38  creates a displayable estimate file for the particular damage zones, related degrees of damage for the particular vehicle. 
         [0091]    Next, in step user interface module  42  initiates a command for the display of an electronically displayable estimate file from system  12 , or a file server on the distributed network  16 , to terminal  14  for display on output device  24 . For example, referring to  FIG. 11 , an electronically displayable file in the form of a user interface  101  showing a report summary may include summary information related to damage zones and related damage patterns selected  242 , identified template repairs  244  including all operations and/or parts related to damage zones and degrees of damage and identification of operations and/or parts related to damage zones that are not visible o the exterior of the particular vehicle.