System and method for servicing a damaged vehicle

Abstract

A method and system to determine a selected service response for servicing a damaged portion of a vehicle using a vehicle technician system. The selected service response is based upon a digital media file acquired with the vehicle technician system and representative of the damaged portion of the vehicle. The digital media file is communicated from the vehicle technician system to an authority such as a vehicle owner. The communication may be indirectly through an intermediary such as a vehicle service management system. Inasmuch as the digital media file is inherently unbiased, the authority evaluates the digital media file when considering the appropriate service, such as repairing or replacing a damaged part. The authority then selects a selected service response based at least in part on the digital media file and the selected service response is thereafter applied to the vehicle.

1 . A method for determining a selected service response for servicing a damaged portion of a vehicle, the method comprising:
 acquiring a digital media file with a vehicle technician system, wherein the digital media file is associated with the damaged portion of the vehicle;   communicating the digital media file from the vehicle technician system to an authority over a communication network; and   receiving the selected service response from the authority, wherein the selected service response is selected based at least in part on the digital media file.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 actuating a camera integrated into the vehicle technician system to acquire the digital media file. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 communicating the digital media file to a vehicle owner system associated with the authority. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the selected service response is selected from one of a repair response and a replace response. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 applying the selected service response to the vehicle. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the authority is an owner of the vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 prior to acquiring the digital media file, receiving a service request transmitted to the vehicle technician system, wherein the service request includes the physical location of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 selecting a pre-formed status update from a plurality of pre-formed status updates in response to user input directed to the vehicle technician system; and 
 communicating the selected pre-formed status update from the vehicle technician system to the authority over the communication network. 
 
     
     
         9 . A system for servicing a damaged portion of a vehicle, the system comprising:
 a vehicle technician system, the vehicle technician system including at least one first processor and a first memory including instructions that, when executed by the at least one first processor, cause the vehicle technician system to:   acquire a digital media file representing the damaged portion of the vehicle;   communicate the digital media file to an authority over a communication network; and   receive a service response selected by the authority, wherein the service response is selected based at least in part on the digital media file.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one first processor, further cause the vehicle technician system to:
 actuate a camera integrated into the vehicle technician system to acquire the digital media file. 
 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one first processor, further cause the vehicle technician system to:
 communicate the digital media file to a vehicle owner system associated with the authority. 
 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the selected service response is selected from one of a repair response and a replace response. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the authority is an owner of the vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one first processor, further cause the vehicle technician system to:
 receive a service request, wherein the service request includes the physical location of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one first processor, further cause the vehicle technician system to:
 select a pre-formed status update from a plurality of pre-formed status updates; and 
 communicate the selected pre-formed status update to the authority over the communication network. 
 
     
     
         16 . A computer program product comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; and   instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:   acquire a digital media file representing a damaged portion of a vehicle;   communicate the digital media file to an authority over a communication network; and   receive a service response selected by the authority, wherein the service response is selected based at least in part on the digital media file.   
     
     
         17 . A method for brokering a repair of a damaged vehicle between a service technician and an authority, the method comprising:
 dispatching the service technician to the damaged vehicle;   receiving a digital media file from the service technician, wherein the digital media file is associated with a damaged portion of the damaged vehicle;   communicating the digital media file to the authority;   receiving a selected service response from the authority, wherein the selected service response is selected based at least in part on the digital media file; and   communicating the selected service response to the service technician.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 selecting the service technician from a plurality of service technicians. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 receiving an estimated time of arrival from the service technician; and 
 selecting the service technician based at least in part on the estimated time of arrival. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 polling each service technician in the plurality of service technicians for an estimated time of arrival. 
 
     
     
         21 . A method for brokering a repair of a damaged vehicle between a plurality of service technicians and an authority, the method comprising:
 selecting a set of potential service technicians from the plurality of potential service technicians;   transmitting a solicitation to a vehicle technician system of each service technician in the set of service technicians;   receiving a response from each of the service technicians in the set of service technicians;   selecting a responding service technician from the set of service technicians based at least in part on the response; and   dispatching the responding service technician to the damaged vehicle.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 receiving a digital media file from the responding service technician, wherein the digital media file is associated with a damaged portion of the damaged vehicle;   communicating the digital media file to the authority;   receiving a selected service response from the authority, wherein the selected service response is selected based at least in part on the digital media file; and   communicating the selected service response to the service technician.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the response includes a time estimate for the associated service technician to arrive at the damaged vehicle.