WO2001090990A1 - Electronic warranty claim processing method and system - Google Patents
Electronic warranty claim processing method and systemInfo
- Publication number
- WO2001090990A1 WO2001090990A1 PCT/US2001/010205 US0110205W WO0190990A1 WO 2001090990 A1 WO2001090990 A1 WO 2001090990A1 US 0110205 W US0110205 W US 0110205W WO 0190990 A1 WO0190990 A1 WO 0190990A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- data
- computer system
- client computer
- server system
- warranty
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
- G06Q10/10—Office automation; Time management
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q30/00—Commerce
- G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
Definitions
- the present invention relates to warranty claim processing systems, and more particularly, the present invention relates to an electronic warranty claim processing method and system on the Internet .
- warranty claim processing and submission has been a slow, tedious, and redundant process as between customers, dealers, and manufacturers. Specifically, when a customer brought a defective item to a dealer for repair under a manufacturer's warranty, a dealer creating a claim had to either have a dedicated network connection to a manufacturer or would have to send a paper claim by traditional mail service to the manu acturer.
- a dedicated network connection is a very costly proposition for a dealer both in hardware, phone lines, network terminals, administrative staff, maintenance, security agreements, help desks, administrative staff, and so forth. If a dealer chose to use paper claims, warranty claim payments could sometimes takes months to complete. For example, suppose a dealer branch store sends a paper claim to the main dealer store.
- the main dealer store would batch the paper claims and mail them to a manufacturer warranty administrator.
- the manufacturer warranty administrator would batch the paper claims from several dealers and mail them to the manufacturer's warranty support group for data entry.
- the claims would then be processed and paid, provided all the warranty claim information was complete and in proper form. If errors were present, the claim would be sent back to the dealer and the cycle repeated.
- the dealer would know little about actual receipt, processing, or errors regarding the claim. Consequently, a system and method is needed that provides for warranty claim processing and tracking in a user-friendly, fast, accurate, and cost-efficient manner.
- a computer- implemented method for an electronic warranty claim processing system includes receiving work order data on a client computer system via an input device, generating claim data based on the work order data within the client computer system, transmitting the claim data to a server system in communication with the client computer system, and receiving from the server system in communication with the client computer system at least some of the transmitted claim data and settlement data based on the transmitted claim data.
- a computer system for an electronic warranty claim processing is disclosed.
- the system includes a client computer system for creating claim data based on work order data and sending claim data and receiving settlement data, and a server system in communication with the client computer system for receiving the claim data from the client computer system, processing the claim data, storing the claim data in a database supported by the server system, creating settlement data based on the processed claim data, and delivering at least some of the processed claim data and the settlement data from the server system to the client computer system.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a diagrammatic representation of the several dealer client computer systems connected to a manufacturer server system via the Internet .
- the electronic warranty claim processing system and method in accordance to the present invention is an electronic service, information, and claim processing service built from a combination of off-the-shelf hardware and software packages and custom software. It is intended to allow dealers to track work orders, claims, and settlements by allowing dealers to electronically import work orders, convert work orders into claims, and transmit these claims to a manufacturer as well as receive settlements and perform reporting on the dealer's claim warranty business all via the Internet.
- One aspect of the present invention includes a technique by which a dealer can import work orders and convert them into claims for transmission to a manufacturer in addition to being able to receive settlements from a manufacturer and processing of the claim via the Internet. More particularly, when a claim is actually submitted to the manufacturer, email or a hypertext link can take the dealer's claim data to the manufacturer's server system for processing and archival .
- email or a hypertext link can take the dealer's claim data to the manufacturer's server system for processing and archival .
- the instructions may be loaded into RAM for execution by the microprocessor from a ROM or other storage device. Also, the instructions may be received by the computer system via a network from another computer system. In other embodiments, hardwired circuitry may be used in place of, or in combination with, software instructions to implement the present invention.
- the electronic warranty claim processing system is generally indicated by numeral 10.
- the server system 18 is a multi-user, concurrent use system 20 and includes a database 22 with logic functions, processing, creating and storage, and importation and exportation of data capabilities.
- the client computer system 16 executes a software application, such as a web browser, which allows the client computer system 16 to access and send data to a server system 18.
- the client computer system 16 includes a bus, a microprocessor coupled with the bus for processing information, and a main memory, such as RAM or other dynamic storage device, coupled to the bus for storing information and instructions to be executed by the processor.
- the client computer system 16 further includes ROM or other static storage device coupled to the bus for storing static information and instructions for the processor.
- a storage device such as a magnetic disk or optical disk is also provided and coupled to the bus for storing information and instructions.
- the client computer system 16 also includes a communication device and various input/output devices, such as monitors, keyboards, pointing devices, or printers, both being coupled to the bus.
- the communication device provides the client computer system 16 with a connection to the Internet 14 and may be a device suitable for such purpose, such as a telephone modem or ISDN adapter. It is understood that other details regarding the client computer system 16 and architecture have been omitted so as to not obscure the present invention.
- this patent application refers to manufacturers, dealers, or customers. However, any of a wide variety of different entities may be utilized with this Invention.
- a dealer wishes to create a claim order based on a work order and electronically submit that claim order to a manufacturer for processing and settlement via the Internet 14.
- the dealer's computer is a client computer system 16 which includes web browsing capabilities, as explained previously.
- the manufacturer's computer is a server system 18.
- a customer has an item under warranty and desires for the item to be repaired under the warranty by the dealer.
- the dealer creates a work order on his client computer system 16 to fix the item under warranty.
- the warranty claim processing system imports the work order and converts the work order into a claim order using the previously entered work order data and/or click-on-data entered by the dealer relating to serial number, product type, warranty type, claim class, and currency code, as an illustrative example. It is understood that the click-on-data format eliminates data entry errors and simplifies claim creation thereby providing faster returns of settlements. Additionally, the Internet 14 connectivity between the dealer's client computer system 16 and the manufacturer's server system 18 allows the dealer to maintain current versions of the warranty claim processing system as well as product codes, dealer codes, claim codes, currency codes, etc. by downloading such warranty claim information and software from the manufacturer's server system 18.
- the client computer system 16 After completion of the claim data by the dealer, the client computer system 16 sends the claim data to the manufacturer's server system 18 via the Internet 14 for processing of a settlement. Specifically, a hypertext link or email takes the dealer's claim data to the manufacturer's server system 18. The manufacturer's server system 18 then sends an acknowledgement back to the dealer's client computer system 16 and stores the claim data in a manufacturer's server system 18 supported database 22 and processes the data for settlement purposes. Claim data is stored to track claim trends for future engineering design and warranty purposes as well as for inventory and stock ordering purposes, for example.
- the manufacturer's server system 18 then delivers a settlement notice and other payment data back to the dealer's client computer system 16 so payments to the dealer can be electronically facilitated by the manufacturer.
- the warranty claim processing system also allows the dealer's client computer system 16 to perform a limited amount of reporting of the dealer's claim warranty business. Accordingly, the warranty claim processing system provides a timely, accurate, efficient, user-friendly and cost-effective method for warranty claim processing.
- the present invention is advantageously applicable in utilizing the Internet as a convenient medium by which dealers and manufacturers can have immediate access to complete claim and settlement information along with the ability of the dealer to electronically submit claims and receive settlements from a manufacturer.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CA002376089A CA2376089A1 (en) | 2000-05-19 | 2001-03-30 | Electronic warranty claim processing method and system |
EP01924478A EP1218846A4 (en) | 2000-05-19 | 2001-03-30 | Electronic warranty claim processing method and system |
AU51128/01A AU781335B2 (en) | 2000-05-19 | 2001-03-30 | Electronic warranty claim processing method and system |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US20380800P | 2000-05-19 | 2000-05-19 | |
US60/203,808 | 2000-05-19 | ||
US61763800A | 2000-07-17 | 2000-07-17 | |
US09/617,638 | 2000-07-17 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2001090990A1 true WO2001090990A1 (en) | 2001-11-29 |
Family
ID=26898922
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2001/010205 WO2001090990A1 (en) | 2000-05-19 | 2001-03-30 | Electronic warranty claim processing method and system |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1218846A4 (en) |
AU (1) | AU781335B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2376089A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2001090990A1 (en) |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5182705A (en) * | 1989-08-11 | 1993-01-26 | Itt Corporation | Computer system and method for work management |
US5557515A (en) * | 1989-08-11 | 1996-09-17 | Hartford Fire Insurance Company, Inc. | Computerized system and method for work management |
US5724575A (en) * | 1994-02-25 | 1998-03-03 | Actamed Corp. | Method and system for object-based relational distributed databases |
EP0965950A2 (en) * | 1998-06-13 | 1999-12-22 | SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS Co. Ltd. | Method for automatically storing first use date of electronic device |
US6031621A (en) * | 1996-11-05 | 2000-02-29 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Information collection system |
US6064979A (en) * | 1996-10-25 | 2000-05-16 | Ipf, Inc. | Method of and system for finding and serving consumer product related information over the internet using manufacturer identification numbers |
US6240286B1 (en) * | 1997-12-16 | 2001-05-29 | Ericsson Inc. | Automated warranty registration |
-
2001
- 2001-03-30 AU AU51128/01A patent/AU781335B2/en not_active Ceased
- 2001-03-30 EP EP01924478A patent/EP1218846A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2001-03-30 CA CA002376089A patent/CA2376089A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-03-30 WO PCT/US2001/010205 patent/WO2001090990A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5182705A (en) * | 1989-08-11 | 1993-01-26 | Itt Corporation | Computer system and method for work management |
US5557515A (en) * | 1989-08-11 | 1996-09-17 | Hartford Fire Insurance Company, Inc. | Computerized system and method for work management |
US5724575A (en) * | 1994-02-25 | 1998-03-03 | Actamed Corp. | Method and system for object-based relational distributed databases |
US6064979A (en) * | 1996-10-25 | 2000-05-16 | Ipf, Inc. | Method of and system for finding and serving consumer product related information over the internet using manufacturer identification numbers |
US6031621A (en) * | 1996-11-05 | 2000-02-29 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Information collection system |
US6240286B1 (en) * | 1997-12-16 | 2001-05-29 | Ericsson Inc. | Automated warranty registration |
EP0965950A2 (en) * | 1998-06-13 | 1999-12-22 | SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS Co. Ltd. | Method for automatically storing first use date of electronic device |
Non-Patent Citations (11)
Title |
---|
"Cascor's warranty news", vol. 1, no. 1, December 1997 (1997-12-01), XP002943657, Retrieved from the Internet <URL:http://www.cascor.com/page2.html> * |
AIRCONDITIONING, HEATING & REFRIGERATION NEWS, vol. 199, no. 8, 21 October 1996 (1996-10-21), pages 24 * |
ANONYMOUS: "Lennox goes E-commerce with heating and A/C products", CONTRACTING BUSINESS, vol. 57, no. 2, February 2000 (2000-02-01), CLEVELAND, pages 22, XP002943654 * |
DATABASE ABI/INFORM [online] ANONYMOUS: "Freightliner expands on products and customer services", XP002943653, accession no. Dialog Database accession no. 93-61340 * |
DATABASE GALE GROUP [online] 1999, "EDS hits $10 billion revenue mark for first time", XP002943658, accession no. Dialog Database accession no. 2626679 * |
DATABASE GALEGROUP TRADE&INDUSTRY [online] TURPIN J.R.: "Warranty claims going on-line (HVAC online offers software, communication services for heating, ventilation, air-conditioning companies)", XP002943656, accession no. Dialog Database accession no. 18814559 * |
ELECTRONIC CLAIMS PROCESSING REPORT, vol. 3, no. 3, 6 February 1995 (1995-02-06), pages N/A * |
FLEET EQUIPMENT, vol. 19, no. 4, April 1993 (1993-04-01), pages 6 - 12 * |
RUPLEY SEBASTIAN: "Money makes the web go round", PC MAGAZINE ONLINE, 13 July 1998 (1998-07-13), XP002943655, Retrieved from the Internet <URL:wysiwyg://873/http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/news/trends/t9870713a.html> * |
See also references of EP1218846A4 * |
WHEELER RICHARD: "The systems scene", INSURANCE BROKERS MONTHLY AND INSURANCE ADVISER, vol. 45, no. 12, December 1995 (1995-12-01), pages 472, XP002943659 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1218846A1 (en) | 2002-07-03 |
AU781335B2 (en) | 2005-05-19 |
CA2376089A1 (en) | 2001-11-29 |
AU5112801A (en) | 2001-12-03 |
EP1218846A4 (en) | 2006-07-19 |
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