APU Solutions, a web-software developer for the auto insurance, collision repair and alternative part industries, announced the issuance of patent claims covering the parts sourcing trend growing within the insurance industry.
The patent for invention number 7,945,480, issued May 17, 2011, by the U.S. Patent Office, covers the technology in APU’s PartsNetwork, a platform for communicating data that allows insurance adjusters and repair shops to source, price and purchase parts.
“Our latest patent secured claims in connection with technology that allows communication between adjusters and repair shops and parts suppliers,” said Charles Lukens, CEO of APU. “It grows our patent portfolio, significantly increases our number of claims and furthers APU’s lead in the online sourcing and purchasing of auto parts.”
The second of two patents issued to APU in two years, comprising 173 claims, includes:
Remote Data Capture: Method by which APU Solutions captures data in real-time from auto part suppliers’ live inventories
Shared Inventory Program: Method by which APU Solutions shares and represents the part inventories of suppliers and their partners
Claim Data Transfer: Method by which insurance staff adjusters and collision repair shops share and transfer data
Geographical Delivery Profiles: Method by which APU Solutions uses latitude and longitude and zip codes to define local, regional and national delivery zones
Quote Validation Process: Method by which APU Solutions validates availability of auto-part quotes several weeks after initial quote request
Thousands of insurance adjusters and collision repair shops source auto parts with PartsNetwork, which processed with 40 million part quotes in 2010.
More information:
APU Solutions