JP2003060825A - Method for estimating for repair of damaged vehicle by utilizing camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide technology for deciding whether repair is possible or not even without carrying a damaged vehicle into a service plant. SOLUTION: In the method for estimating for the repair of a damaged vehicle 5 by utilizing a camera 11, a repair request is accepted from a portable telephone 12 with camera through a network 50 by a server side computer 20, a specified service plant is searched for from information on a plurality of service plants 20, 20... under centralized management by a database 3 of the server side computer 20, and image information photographed by the camera 11 is transmitted through a serve 1 to the computer 20 of the specified service plant. On the basis of the transmitted image information, the repair estimate information of the vehicle 5 is prepared by the specified service plant, and the prepared repair estimate information is transmitted through the server 1 to the portable telephone 12 with camera and displayed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a repair estimation technique for an accident vehicle using a camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a general vehicle owner usually consults with a vehicle dealer in the event of an accident, but repairs are carried out at a sheet metal factory and a repair shop, etc., which have a business relationship with a dealer. (Unless otherwise specified, these factories are collectively referred to as "service factories").

In this case, since the customer who owns the vehicle is entrusted to the dealer, the dealer has the authority to select the service factory.

[0004]

However, the number of service factories is not limited to those that deal with dealers. In addition, any sheet metal factory or repair shop wants to acquire new customers.

However, until now, there was no way to know the customer in need of repair at the service factory, and there was no choice but to wait for the accident vehicle to be brought in at the service factory.

By the way, whether or not repair is possible cannot be judged unless the sheet metal worker or the repair worker looks at the accident vehicle.

On the other hand, even if a service factory having a business relationship with a dealer cannot repair the service, another service factory can do the repair, and the price varies depending on the service factory.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the problem to be solved is not only to be able to determine whether or not repair is possible without bringing an accident vehicle into a service factory, but The purpose is to find a service factory that undertakes repairs at a low price, and to provide technology that enables the service factory to easily submit a repair quote for an accident vehicle.

[0009]

The present invention has been made as follows in order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems.

That is, according to the present invention, information about a service factory can be preliminarily stored in a server computer, for example, where and what kind of service factory, what kind of vehicle, what kind of repair and sheet metal work can be performed, and how much the fee is. Information such as what can be done during the time period is registered as a database. Then, the client who is the repair requester uses the search function of the computer to find a plurality of service factories meeting the search conditions from the database. The optimum service is a service factory within a radius of, for example, the client's home, or a service factory that has conditions that are convenient for the client based on past repair history and repair fields. Is.

On the other hand, the client uses the digital camera to take an image of the accident vehicle, transmits the image from the terminal to the service factory searched out through the server, and sends the image to the service factory searched out. , Request a repair quote for the accident vehicle judged from the transmitted image.

Upon receipt of this, the service factory creates a quotation and sends it to the person who desires repair through the server.

The client, to which the quotation is sent, compares the quotations of a plurality of service factories and selects the most suitable service factories for himself.

The server receives fees from both the client and the selected service plant.

By introducing such a system, the owner of the accident vehicle can determine whether the vehicle can be repaired without bringing the accident vehicle into the service factory. Also,
You can find a service shop that can undertake repairs at a lower price.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a repair estimation method for an accident vehicle using a camera according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a server computer, reference numeral 12 is a mobile phone equipped with a client digital camera, and reference numeral 20 is a service factory (A to C in this embodiment).
Of service factories. ) Is suggested.

Server computer 1, mobile phone equipped with a digital camera (hereinafter referred to as "camera mobile phone") 12
And a computer 2 which is a factory terminal of each service factory
0s are connected via the network 50.

Further, in FIG. 1, the camera-equipped mobile phone 12 is shown.
It is suggested that the camera 11 of FIG.

In addition, reference numeral 3 is a database that is centrally managed by the server-side computer and is called a service factory database for convenience. The service factory database 3 includes the service factory's address, name, and contact information as well as the service content that it specializes in, such as prompt, courteous, and
Information such as inexpensive repairs, experience in repairing vehicles of which automobile series, and other sales information of the own service factory are stored as service factory information.

The client is a mobile phone 12 with a camera.
Take a picture of the accident vehicle you want to repair.

The captured image is the camera-equipped mobile phone 12
Save it in memory.

The server-side computer 1 and the camera-equipped mobile phone 12 are connected via the network 50,
The client performs a repair request procedure by performing necessary operations with the ten-key pad 32 (see FIG. 2) of the mobile phone. As a result, the server computer 1 receives the repair request from the camera-equipped mobile phone 12 via the network 50. The camera-equipped mobile phone 12 functions as a terminal device.

The client is the server computer 1
When it is connected, the ten key 32 is operated to devise a specific service factory from the information of a plurality of service factories centrally managed by the database 3 of the server computer 1. Here, the specific service factory refers to a service factory that is provided with conditions that are convenient for the client, for example, within a radius of several kilometers from the client's home, or based on past repair history, repair field, etc. .

Then, the image information (image information stored in the memory) taken by the camera 11 is transmitted to the computer 20 which is the factory terminal of the specific service factory via the server.

Based on the transmitted image information, the specific service factory creates repair quotation information for the accident vehicle.

Then, the created repair quotation information is transmitted to the mobile phone 12 via the server and displayed on the display.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the hardware configuration of the camera-equipped mobile phone 12.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 30 is a bus as a transfer path for connecting electronic components of the camera-equipped mobile phone 12.

A digital camera 11, a communication device 31, and an antenna 29 are connected to the bus 30 via a ten-key pad 32 and an interface (I / F) 33. The ten-key pad 32 is used when connecting to a network or inputting necessary information. The communication device 31 and the antenna 29 are for connecting to the network 50 to communicate between the server-side computer 1 and the camera-equipped mobile phone 12.

The bus 30 has a CPU 34 as a central processing unit, a main memory 36 as a main memory, a liquid crystal display (LCD) 9, an internal memory 10 in which various programs are stored, a VRAM (for storing image information). Vi
deo Random Access Memory) 38 is connected.

The character information and image information input by the ten-key pad 32 or the digital camera 11 is temporarily transmitted through the cable.
It is sent to the main memory 36.

Information is constantly exchanged between the main memory 36 and the CPU 34.

The result processed by the CPU 34 is the LCD 9
Is displayed on the screen.

That is, in the hardware configuration, CP
U34 repeats the work of sending back to the main memory 36 the results that are calculated and processed by the CPU 34 according to the instructions of the program stored in the internal memory 10 based on various data stored in the main memory 36. To do.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a flow of a series of processes.

In S101, the client accesses the database of the server and devises a service factory that seems appropriate.

In S102, the image is transmitted to the devised service factory via the server.

In S103, the service factory transmits the repair estimate to the client via the server.

In step S104, the quotation information is displayed on the display of the camera-equipped mobile phone 12 which is the client terminal device.

In S105, the client selects a service factory suitable for itself.

It is preferable that the server collects an intermediary fee from both the client and the service factory in a membership system.

Next, the function and effect of this embodiment will be described.

In this embodiment, the camera-equipped mobile phone 12 is used.
From the server side computer 1 via the network 50
Receives a repair request, devises a specific service factory from the information of a plurality of service factories centrally managed by the service factory database 3 of the server computer 1, and the image information taken by the camera 11 is specified via the server. Is sent to the computer 20 of the service factory, the specific service factory is made to create the repair quotation information of the accident vehicle based on the transmitted image information, and the generated repair quotation information is transmitted via the server (computer 1 on the server side). The data is transmitted to the camera-equipped mobile phone 12 and displayed on the LCD 9.

By introducing such a system, the client, for example, the owner of the accident vehicle 5 can judge whether or not the accident vehicle 5 can be repaired without bringing the accident vehicle 5 into the service factory. It also makes it easier to find a service shop to undertake repairs at a cheaper rate. In addition, the server receives fees from both the client and the service plant.

It should be noted that a PDA (Personal Digital Assy) as a personal handyphone or a personal information management tool equipped with a digital camera instead of the camera-equipped mobile phone 12 is used.
istant). Also, the accident vehicle is photographed by a digital camera separate from the mobile phone, and the computer (terminal device) of the digital camera and the client.
Needless to say, it is also possible to connect the computer and the digital camera and connect the computer to the server-side computer through the network to provide the service factory with the quotation information.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to determine whether or not a vehicle can be repaired without bringing an accident vehicle to the service factory, and find a service factory that undertakes repairs at a lower cost. , It is possible to easily submit a repair quotation of the accident vehicle to the service factory.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a repair estimation method for an accident vehicle using the camera of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a hardware configuration of a camera-equipped mobile phone according to a method for estimating and repairing an accident vehicle using the camera of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a method of estimating a repair of an accident vehicle using the camera of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Server computer (server) 3 service factory database 5 Accident vehicle 10 internal memory 11 digital camera 12 Mobile phones (terminal devices) 20 computers (factory terminals) 29 antenna 30 bus 31 communication equipment 32 numeric keypad 36 Main memory 50 network

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Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A method of estimating a repair of an accident vehicle using a camera, wherein a server computer receives a repair request from a terminal device to which the camera is connected via a network, and centrally manages the database of the server computer. A specific service factory is devised from the information of a plurality of service factories, and the image information taken by the camera is transmitted to the factory terminal of the specific service factory via a server, and the specific information is transmitted based on the transmitted image information. A method for estimating a repair estimate for an accident vehicle using a camera, which causes a service factory to create a repair estimate information for the accident vehicle, and to send and display the created repair estimate information to the terminal device via a server. 2. The method for estimating and repairing an accident vehicle using a camera according to claim 1, wherein the camera is a digital camera mounted on a mobile terminal. 3. The repair estimation method for an accident vehicle using a camera according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal is a mobile phone or a simple mobile phone. 4. The portable terminal equipped with the camera is a personal information management tool equipped with a digital camera, which is a personal information management tool.
A method for estimating and repairing an accident vehicle using a camera according to claim 2 or 3, which is DA.