US-12620033-B2 - Computer software, computer system, computer-implemented method for preparing an electronic data package and an electronic data package prepared by same

US12620033B2US 12620033 B2US12620033 B2US 12620033B2US-12620033-B2

Abstract

Computer software and computer-implemented method for preparing an electronic data package in connection with a damaged vehicle for submission to the vehicle owner's insurance company for settlement of a claim or for use by an Original Equipment Manufacturer to determine compliance with established repair requirements. A computer-readable medium for storing executable software for preparing the package for a damaged vehicle, a computer system including the executable computer software stored in the computer-readable medium for preparing the package for a damaged vehicle damage are also disclosed. An electronic date package for vehicle damage repair is prepared by the computer-implemented method by executing the computer software stored in the computer-readable medium of a computer system.

Inventors

Michael Giarrizzo, Jr.
Harley Michael WEGMAN
Andrew Tweed Warren

Assignees

DCR IP COMPANY, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230418

Claims (20)

1 . A computer-implemented method for preparing an electronic data package carried out by a computer system comprising one or more processors coupled to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer software stored thereon, the method comprising executing the computer software to cause the one or more processors to perform operations for preparing the electronic data package, the operations comprising: preparing an electronic vehicle collision damage repair plan for a damaged vehicle having at least one work operation for repairing said damaged vehicle; preparing an image file of the electronic vehicle collision damage repair plan having an outer perimeter dimension, wherein the image of the electronic vehicle collision damage repair plan displays said at least one work operation for repairing the damaged vehicle; electronically creating an electronic overlay grid and configuring the outer perimeter dimensions of the electronic overlay grid to be substantially coextensive with the outer perimeter dimension of the image of the electronic vehicle collision damage repair plan; electronically positioning the electronic grid overlay over the image of the electronic vehicle collision damage repair plan for the damaged vehicle; electronically creating and configuring the dimensions of at least one electronic overlay evidence region and coordinates of each of said at least one electronic overlay evidence region for positioning each of said at least one electronic overlay evidence regions within the electronic grid overlay; electronically positioning the at least one electronic overlay evidence region based on its dimensions and coordinates within the electronic grid overlay over a selected work operation displayed by the underling image of the vehicle collision damage repair plan; electronically creating at least one electronic file comprising at least one structured data item relating to at least one work operation of the repair plan for the repair of a vehicle having collision damage; electronically assigning a unique identifier to each of the at least one structured data item associated with the work operation of the repair plan; electronically retrieving at least one stored unstructured evidence data item corresponding to the at least one work operation of the repair plan; electronically assigning a unique identifier to each of the at least one unstructured evidence data item; and relating the identifier of at least one of the unstructured evidence data items to the identifier of one of the structured work operation data items and electronically linking the at least one related unstructured evidence data item to the related structured work operation data item.
2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the structure data is in a format selected from a relational database, comma-separated values (CSV), eXtensible Markup Language (XML) format, and JvavScript Object Notation (JSON) format.
3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the relational database is selected from data tables and spreadsheets.
4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the relational database comprises a spreadsheet.
5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the unstructured data is in a format selected from a portable document format, images files, audio files, video files, email, and text files.
6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the image file format is selected from JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group), JFIF (JPEG File Interchange Format), EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format), TIFF (Tagged Image File Format), GIF (Graphics Interchange Format), BMP (Bitmap), PNG (Portable Network Graphics), Portable PixMap format (PPM), Portable GrayMap format (PGM), and Portable BitMap format (PBM).
7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the video files are in a format selected from audio video interleave (AVI), QuickTime movie file (MOV), Moving Picture Experts Group-Audio Layer 3 (MP3), Moving Picture Experts Group-Audio Layer-4 (MP4) and Windows Media Video (WMV).
8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the image file comprises images of damaged regions of a vehicle, digital videos of damaged regions of vehicle, digital images of replacement parts, digital images of hardware for replacement parts, and documents.
9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the images of damaged regions of the vehicle are selected from front bumper, hood, roof of passenger cabin, trunk, rear bumper, driver's side front side panel, driver's side front door, driver's side rear door, driver's side rear panel, passenger side front side panel, passenger side front door, passenger side rear door, passenger side rear panel and rear bumper of the exterior body of the vehicle.
10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the portable document format items are selected from Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) replacement part documents, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) repair information or instructions, Non-Original Equipment Manufacturer (Non-OEM) replacement part documents, or Non-Original Equipment Manufacturer (Non-OEM) repair information or instructions.
11 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the step of relating the identifier of at least one of the evidence data items to the identifier of one of the work operation data items and electronically linking each of the at least one related evidence data item to the related work operation data item comprises executing computer software to cause retrieving of the structured work operation data items stored on a first server and electronically transmitting to a second server and retrieving the unstructured evidence data items from a third server and transmitting the evidence data items to the second server.
12 . An electronic data package for a vehicle having collision damage, the electronic data package prepared by a computer system comprising one or more processors coupled to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer software stored thereon, the method comprising executing the computer software to cause the one or more processors to perform operations for preparing the electronic data package, the operations comprising: preparing an electronic vehicle collision damage repair plan for a damaged vehicle having at least one work operation for repairing said damaged vehicle; preparing an image file of the electronic vehicle collision damage repair plan having an outer perimeter dimension, wherein the image of the electronic vehicle collision damage repair plan displays said at least one work operation for repairing the damaged vehicle; electronically creating an electronic overlay grid and configuring the outer perimeter dimensions of the electronic overlay grid to be substantially coextensive with the outer perimeter dimension of the image of the electronic vehicle collision damage repair plan; electronically positioning the electronic grid overlay over the image of the electronic vehicle collision damage repair plan for the damaged vehicle; electronically creating and configuring the dimensions of at least one electronic overlay evidence region and coordinates of each of said at least one electronic overlay evidence region for positioning each of said at least one electronic overlay evidence regions within the electronic grid overlay: electronically positioning the at least one electronic overlay evidence region based on its dimensions and coordinates within the electronic grid overlay over a selected work operation displayed by the underling image of the vehicle collision damage repair plan; the electronic data package comprising: a plurality of structured data items representing work operations of a repair plan for the repair of the vehicle having collision damage, wherein each of the structured data items have an assigned unique identifier; a plurality of unstructured evidence data items, wherein each of the unstructured evidence data items have an assigned unique identifier that corresponds to a unique identifier of at least one work operation data item of the repair plan; wherein the identifier of at least one of the unstructured evidence data items is related to the identifier of one of the work operation data items and each of the unstructured evidence data items are electronically linked to the corresponding work operation data items; and wherein the electronic data package is viewable via a user interface as an electronic output comprising a visual representation of related structured data items representing work operations required to repair the vehicle having collision damage and unstructured evidence data items corresponding to the structured data items representing the work operations; and wherein the electronic output comprises a visually perceptible display of the related and electronically linked structured work operation data items and unstructured evidence data items, wherein the work operation data items are displayed in a scrollable line item format visually linked to corresponding evidence items.
13 . The electronic data package of claim 12 , wherein the native format of structured data is in a format selected from a relational database, comma-separated values (CSV), eXtensible Markup Language (XML) format, and JvavScript Object Notation (JSON) format.
14 . The electronic data package of claim 13 , wherein the native format of the structured data is a relational database selected from data tables and spreadsheets.
15 . The electronic data package of claim 14 , wherein the relational database comprises a spreadsheet.
16 . The electronic data package of claim 12 , wherein the native format of the unstructured data is a format selected from a portable document format, images files, audio files, video files, email, and text files.
17 . The electronic data package of claim 16 , wherein the image file format is selected from JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group), JFIF (JPEG File Interchange Format), EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format), TIFF (Tagged Image File Format), GIF (Graphics Interchange Format), BMP (Bitmap), PNG (Portable Network Graphics), Portable PixMap format (PPM), Portable GrayMap format (PGM), and Portable BitMap format (PBM).
18 . The electronic data package of claim 16 , wherein the video files are in a format selected from audio video interleave (AVI), QuickTime movie file (MOV), Moving Picture Experts Group-Audio Layer 3 (MP3), Moving Picture Experts Group-Audio Layer-4 (MP4) and Windows Media Video (WMV).
19 . The electronic data package of claim 17 , wherein the image files comprise images of damaged regions of a vehicle, digital videos of damaged regions of vehicle, digital images of replacement parts, digital images of hardware for replacement parts, and documents.
20 . The electronic data package of claim 19 , wherein the images of damaged regions of the vehicle are selected from front bumper, hood, roof of passenger cabin, trunk, rear bumper, driver's side front side panel, driver's side front door, driver's side rear door, driver's side rear panel, passenger side front side panel, passenger side front door, passenger side rear door, passenger side rear panel and rear bumper of the exterior body of the vehicle.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/172,057, filed Feb. 9, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD Illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure relate to executable computer software for preparing an electronic data package comprising a plurality of related data items, executable software for processing an electronic data package, a computer-implemented method for preparing an electronic data package, a computer-readable medium for storing executable software for preparing an electronic data package, a computer system including computer software for preparing an electronic data package, and an electronic data package prepared by the computer-implemented method and computer system. Additional illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure relate to executable computer software for preparing an electronic data package comprising a plurality of related data items relating to a damaged vehicle, executable software for processing an electronic data package comprising a plurality of related data items relating to a damaged vehicle, a computer-implemented method for preparing an electronic data package comprising a plurality of related data items relating to a damaged vehicle, a computer-readable medium for storing executable software for preparing an electronic data package comprising a plurality of related data items relating to a damaged vehicle, a computer system including computer software for preparing an electronic data package comprising a plurality of related data items relating to a damaged vehicle, and an electronic data package comprising a plurality of related data items relating to a damaged vehicle prepared by the computer-implemented method and computer system. Additional illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure relate to executable computer software for preparing an electronic data package comprising a plurality of related data items relating to a damaged vehicle for insurance claims settlement and/or verification of compliance with vehicle collision repair process requirements, executable software for processing an electronic data package comprising a plurality of related data items relating to a damaged vehicle for insurance claims settlement and/or verification of compliance with vehicle collision repair process requirements, a computer-implemented method for preparing an electronic data package comprising a plurality of related data items relating to a damaged vehicle for insurance claims settlement and/or verification of compliance with vehicle collision repair process requirements, a computer-readable medium for storing executable software for preparing an electronic data package comprising a plurality of related data items relating to a damaged vehicle for insurance claims settlement and/or verification of compliance with vehicle collision repair process requirements, a computer system including computer software for preparing an electronic data package comprising a plurality of related data items relating to a damaged vehicle for insurance claims settlement and/or verification of compliance with vehicle collision repair process requirements, an electronic data package comprising a plurality of related data items relating to a damaged vehicle for insurance claims settlement and/or verification of compliance with vehicle collision repair process requirements prepared by the computer-implemented method and computer system, methods of repairing vehicle collision damage, and methods of verifying compliance with vehicle collision damage repair process requirements. BACKGROUND The exterior body and mechanical systems of a vehicle may be damaged in a collision, by intentional vandalism, or by other causes. The owner of the vehicle usually takes the damaged vehicle to a vehicle collision repair facility to assess the damage and to obtain an estimate of the costs to repair the damage to the vehicle. In situations where the damage to the vehicle is severe, rendering it impossible for the owner to drive the vehicle, the owner will need to arrange for a service, such as a towing service, to pick up the car and transport it to the vehicle collision repair facility. Once the damaged vehicle arrives at the vehicle collision repair facility, trained personnel at the vehicle collision repair facility inspect the damaged vehicle, determine the replacement parts and labor time required to complete the repairs to the damage vehicle, and prepare a comprehensive repair plan or estimate to complete the repairs for the vehicle owner. Owners of vehicles usually have insurance coverage to cover the cost of the repair of the damaged vehicle. Insurers typically do not accept the initial estimate provided by the vehicle collision repair facility. Moreover, the estimate prepared by the vehicle collision repair facility may differ, perhaps widely, from an insurer's assessment