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Claims  |
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I claim:
1. A system including a processor having a data port, a display, memory means for storing digital data for a multiplicity of vehicles, said digital data including a data base of a
plurality of groups of parts and a plurality of associated parts graphics, comprising:
camera means for taking an electronic photograph in digital form of a damaged vehicle;
interface means for transferring said electronic photograph from said camera means through said data port of said processor to said memory means;
said processor means further comprising:
means for inputting vehicle-identification data of said damaged vehicle to said processor;
first means, responsive to the vehicle-identification data, for displaying, on said display, said electronic photograph and a list of groups of parts for said damaged vehicle;
second means, responsive to selecting a first group of parts from said list of groups of parts, for displaying, on said display, said electronic photograph and a parts description from said data base of the first group of parts;
graphics means, responsive to selecting a first part from the parts description, for retrieving from said memory means a first parts graphics, stored in digital form and associated with said first part, said graphics means loading said first
parts graphics into a first memory buffer, with said first memory buffer separate from said memory means, said graphics means generating, in digital form, a first magnified graphics of said first parts graphics and said graphics means loading said first
magnified graphics into a second memory buffer, with said second memory buffer separate from said memory means and said first memory buffer, said second memory buffer storing the first magnified graphics simultaneously as said first memory buffer stores
said first parts graphics;
third means, responsive to loading said first parts graphics into said first memory buffer, for displaying, on said display, said electronic photograph and said first parts graphics; and
fourth means, responsive to selecting said first magnified graphics, for swapping said first magnified graphics from said second memory buffer with said first parts graphics on said display, and displaying said electronic photograph with said
first magnified graphics.
2. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fourth means responsive to selecting said first parts graphics swaps said first parts graphics with said first magnified graphics on said display, and displays said electronic photograph with
said first parts graphics.
3. The system as set forth in claim 1 further including text means, responsive to selecting said first part from said parts description, for retrieving from said memory means text information, stored in digital form and associated with said
first part, said text means loading said text information into a third memory buffer with said third memory buffer separate from said memory means, said first memory buffer and said second memory buffer; and wherein said third means displays, on said
display, said text information on top of said first parts graphics.
4. The system as set forth in claim 3 further including:
fifth means for scrolling a text window over said first parts graphics.
5. A system including a processor having a display and memory means for storing digital data for a multiplicity of vehicles, said digital data including a data base of a plurality of groups of parts and a plurality of associated parts graphics,
comprising:
means for inputting vehicle-identification data of a damaged vehicle to said processor;
first means, responsive to the vehicle-identification data, for displaying on said display, a list of groups of parts for said damaged vehicle;
second means, responsive to selecting a first group of parts from said list of groups of parts, for displaying, on said display, a parts description from said data base of the first group of parts;
graphics means, responsive to selecting a first part from the parts description, for retrieving from said memory means a parts graphics, stored in digital form and associated with said first part, for loading said parts graphics into a first
memory buffer with said first memory buffer separate from said memory means, generating, in digital form, a magnified graphics from said parts graphics and for loading said magnified graphics into a second memory buffer, with said second memory buffer
separate from said memory means, said second memory buffer storing the magnified graphics simultaneously as said first memory buffer stores the parts graphics;
third means responsive to loading said parts graphics into said first memory buffer for displaying, on said display, said parts graphics from said first memory buffer; and
fourth means responsive to selecting said magnified graphics for swapping said magnified graphics from said second memory buffer with said parts graphics on said display.
6. The system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said fourth means responsive to selecting said parts graphics swaps said parts graphics with said magnified graphics on said display.
7. The system as set forth in claim 5 further including text means, responsive to selecting said first part from said parts description, for retrieving from said memory means text information, stored in digital form and associated with said
first part, said text means loading said text information into a third memory buffer with said third memory buffer separate from said memory means; and wherein said third means displays, on said display, said text information on top of said parts
graphics.
8. The system as set forth in claim 7 further including:
fifth means for scrolling a text window over said parts graphics.
9. The system as set forth in claim 5 further comprising:
said processor having a data port;
camera means for taking an electronic photograph in digital form of said damaged vehicle;
interface means for transferring said electronic photograph from said camera means through said data port to said memory means of said processor; and
wherein said display displays said electronic photograph on said display with said list of groups of parts for said damaged vehicle.
10. The system as set forth in claim 5 further comprising:
said processor having a data port;
camera means for taking an electronic photograph in digital form of said damaged vehicle;
interface means for transferring said electronic photograph from said camera means through said data port to said memory means of said processor; and
wherein said display displays said electronic photograph on said display with said parts description.
11. The system as set forth in claim 5 further comprising:
said processor having a data port;
camera means for taking an electronic photograph in digital form of said damaged vehicle;
interface means for transferring said electronic photograph from said camera means through said data port to said memory means of said processor; and
wherein said display displays said electronic photograph on said display with said first part.
12. A system including a processor having a display and memory means for storing digital data for a multiplicity of vehicles, said digital data including a data base of a plurality of groups of parts and a plurality of associated parts graphics,
comprising:
means for inputting vehicle-identification data of a damaged vehicle to said processor;
first means, responsive to the vehicle-identification data, for displaying on said display, a list of groups of parts for said damaged vehicle;
second means, responsive to selecting a first group of parts from said list of groups of parts, for displaying, on said display, a parts description from said data base of the first group of parts;
graphics means, responsive to selecting a first part from the parts description, for retrieving from said memory means a parts graphics, stored in digital form and associated with said first part, and loading said parts graphics into a first
memory buffer with said first memory buffer separate from said memory means, generating, in digital form, a magnified graphics into a second memory buffer, with said second memory buffer separate from said memory means, said second memory buffer storing
the magnified graphics simultaneously as said first memory buffer stores the parts graphics; and
third means, responsive to loading said parts graphics into said first memory buffer, for displaying, on said display, said parts graphics.
13. The system as set forth in claim 12 further comprising fourth means responsive to selecting said magnified graphics for swapping said magnified graphics with said parts graphics on said display.
14. The system as set forth in claim 12 further including text means, responsive to selecting said first part from said parts description, for retrieving from said memory means text information, stored in digital form and associated with said
first part, said text means loading said text information into a third memory buffer, with said third memory buffer separate from said memory means; and wherein said third means displays, on said display, said text information on top of said parts
graphics.
15. The system as set forth in claim 14 further including:
fourth means for scrolling a text window over said parts graphics.
16. The system as set forth in claim 15 further including fifth means, responsive to selecting said parts graphics, for swapping said parts graphics with said magnified graphics on said display.
17. The system as set forth in claim 12 further comprising:
said processor having a data port;
camera means for taking an electronic photograph in digital form of said damaged vehicle;
interface means for transferring said electronic photograph from said camera means through said data port to said memory means of said processor; and
wherein said display displays said electronic photograph on said display with said list of groups of parts for said damaged vehicle.
18. The system as set forth in claim 12 further comprising:
said processor having a data port;
camera means for taking an electronic photograph in digital form of said damaged vehicle;
interface means for transferring said electronic photograph from said camera means through said data port to said memory means of said processor; and
wherein said display displays said electronic photograph on said display with said parts description.
19. The system as set forth in claim 12 further comprising:
said processor having a data port;
camera means for taking an electronic photograph in digital form of said damaged vehicle;
interface means for transferring said electronic photograph from said camera means through said data port to said memory means of said processor; and
wherein said display displays said electronic photograph on said display with said first part.
20. A system including a processor having a display and memory means for storing digital data for a multiplicity of vehicles, said digital data including a data base of a plurality of groups of parts and associated costs for repairing said
groups of parts and costs for replacing said groups of parts, comprising:
means for inputting vehicle-identification data of a damaged vehicle to said processor;
first means responsive to the vehicle-identification data for displaying, on said display, a list of groups of parts for said damaged vehicle;
second means responsive to selecting a first group of parts from said list of groups of parts for displaying on said display, a parts description of the first group of parts;
cost means responsive to selecting a first part from the parts description for retrieving from said memory means a first cost for repairing said first part, said cost means responsive to selecting a second part from the parts description for
retrieving from said memory means a second cost for repairing said second part;
wherein said cost means responsive to selecting said first part and said second part retrieves from said memory means a replacement cost for said first group and compares said replacement cost with a first sum of said first cost and said second
cost for determining which of said replacement cost and said first sum have a lower cost; and
third means for displaying on said display said lower cost.
21. The system as set forth in claim 20 wherein said cost means responsive to selecting a third part from the parts description retrieves from said memory means a third cost for repairing said third part, said cost means computes a second sum of
said first cost, said second cost and said third cost and determines which of said second sum and said replacement cost have a lowest cost; and
said third means displays on said display said lowest cost.
22. The system as set forth in claim 20 wherein said cost means, responsive to selecting a plurality of parts from the parts description, retrieves from said memory means a plurality of costs associated with said plurality of parts for repairing
said plurality of parts, with said cost means, responsive to selecting said first part, said second part, and said plurality of parts, comparing said replacement cost with a third sum of said first cost, said second cost and said plurality of costs for
determining which of said replacement cost and said third sum have a lowest cost; and
said third means displays on said display said lowest cost.
23. A system including a processor having a display and memory means for storing digital data for a multiplicity of vehicles, said digital data including a data base of a plurality of-groups of parts and a plurality associated parts graphics,
comprising:
means for inputting vehicle-identification data of a damaged vehicle to said processor;
first means, responsive to the vehicle-identification data, for displaying on said display, a list of groups of parts for said damaged vehicle;
second means, responsive to selecting a first group of parts from said list of groups of parts, for displaying, on said display, a parts description from said data base of the first group of parts;
graphics means, responsive to selecting a first part from the parts description, for retrieving from said memory means a parts graphics, stored in digital form and associated with said first part, and loading said parts graphics into a first
memory buffer, with said first memory buffer separate from said memory means;
third means, responsive to loading said parts graphics into said first memory buffer, for displaying on said display, said parts graphics;
cost means, responsive to selecting said first part from the parts description, for retrieving from said memory means a first cost for repairing said first part, said cost means, responsive to selecting a second part from the parts description,
for retrieving from said memory means a second cost for repairing said second part;
wherein said cost means, responsive to selecting said first part and said second part, retrieves from said memory means a replacement cost for said first group of parts and compares said replacement cost with a first sum of said first cost and
said second cost for determining which of said replacement cost and said first sum have a lower cost; and
wherein said third means displays on said display said lower cost.
24. The system as set forth in claim 23 wherein said graphics means generates, in digital form, a magnified graphics from said parts graphics and loads said magnified graphics into a second memory buffer, with said second memory buffer separate
from said memory means; and further including fourth means responsive to selecting said magnified graphics for swapping said magnified graphics with said parts graphics on said display.
25. The system as set forth in claim 23 further including text means, responsive to selecting said first part from said parts description, for retrieving from said memory means text information, stored in digital form and associated with said
first part, said text means loading said text information into a third memory buffer, with said third memory buffer separate from said memory means; and with said third means displaying, on said display, said text information on top of said parts
graphics.
26. The system as set forth in claim 25 further including:
fourth means for scrolling a text window over said parts graphics.
27. The system as set forth in claim 23 further comprising:
said processor having a data port;
camera means for taking an electronic photograph in digital form of said damaged vehicle;
interface means for transferring said electronic photograph from said camera means through said data port to said memory means of said processor; and
wherein said display displays said electronic photograph on said display with said list of groups of parts for said damaged vehicle.
28. The system as set forth in claim 23 further comprising:
said processor having a data port;
camera means for taking an electronic photograph in digital form of said damaged vehicle;
interface means for transferring said electronic photograph from said camera means through said data port to said memory means of said processor; and
wherein said display displays said electronic photograph on said display with said parts description.
29. The system as set forth in claim 23 further comprising:
said processor having a data port;
camera means for taking an electronic photograph in digital form of said damaged vehicle;
interface means for transferring said electronic photograph from said camera means through said data port to said memory means of said processor; and
wherein said display displays said electronic photograph on said display with said first part.
30. The system as set forth in claim 23 wherein said cost means responsive to selecting a third part from the parts description retrieves from said memory means a third cost for repairing said third part, said cost means computes a second sum of
said first cost, said second cost and said third cost and determines which of said second sum and said replacement cost have a lowest cost; and
said third means displays on said display said lowest cost.
31. The system as set forth in claim 23 with said cost means, responsive to selecting a plurality of parts from the parts description, retrieving from said memory means a plurality of costs associated with said plurality of parts for repairing
said plurality of parts, and with said cost means, responsive to selecting said first part, said second part, and said plurality of parts, comparing said replacement cost with a third sum of said first cost, said second cost and said plurality of costs
for determining which of said replacement cost and said third sum have a lowest cost; and
wherein said third means displays on said display said lowest cost.
32. A system including a processor having a display and memory means for storing digital data for a multiplicity of vehicles, said digital data including a data base of a plurality of groups of parts and associated costs for repairing said
groups of parts and for replacing said groups of parts, comprising:
means for inputting vehicle-identification data of a damaged vehicle to said processor;
first means responsive to the vehicle-identification data for displaying, on said display, a list of groups of parts for said damaged vehicle;
second means, responsive to selecting a first group of parts from said list of groups of parts, for displaying on said display, a parts description of the first group of parts;
cost means, responsive to selecting a first part from the parts description of the first group of parts, for retrieving from said memory means a first cost for repairing said first part, said cost means, responsive to selecting a second part from
the parts description of the first group of parts, for retrieving from said memory means a second cost for repairing said second part;
wherein said cost means, responsive to selecting said first part and said second part, retrieves from said memory means a first replacement cost for said first group of parts and compares, said first replacement cost with a first sum of said
first cost and said second cost for determining which of said first replacement cost and said first sum have a first lower cost;
wherein said second means, responsive to selecting a second group of parts from said list of groups of parts, displays on said display, a parts description of the second group of parts;
wherein said cost means, responsive to selecting a third part from the parts description of the second group of parts, retrieves from said memory means a third cost for repairing said third part, and wherein said cost means, responsive to
selecting a fourth part from the parts description of the second group of parts, retrieves from said memory means a fourth cost for repairing said fourth part;
wherein said cost means, responsive to selecting said third part and said fourth part, retrieves from said memory means a second replacement cost for said second group of parts and compares said second replacement cost with a second sum of said
third cost and said fourth cost for determining which of said second replacement cost and said second sum have a second lower cost;
overlap means, responsive to said first lower cost and said second lower cost, for determining any overlap cost and subtracting from a third sum of said first lower cost and said second lower cost the overlap cost to produce a net cost; and
third means for displaying on said display said net cost.
33. The system as set forth in claim 32 wherein said cost means, responsive to selecting a fifth part from the parts description of a third group of parts from said list of groups of parts, retrieves from said memory means a fifth cost for
repairing said fifth part, said cost means computes a fourth sum of said first cost, said second cost, said third cost, said fourth cost and said fifth cost, retrieves from said memory means a third replacement cost for said third group of parts and
determines which of said fourth sum and said third replacement cost have a lowest cost; and
wherein said third means displays on said display said lowest cost.
34. The system as set forth in claim 32 with said cost means, responsive to selecting a plurality of parts from any parts description from said list of groups of parts, for retrieving from said memory means a plurality of costs associated with
said plurality of parts for repairing said plurality of parts, said cost means, responsive to selecting said first part, said second part, said third part, said fourth part and said plurality of parts compares a third replacement cost of said first part,
said second part said third part, said fourth part and said plurality of darts with a fourth sum of said first cost, said second cost, said third cost, said fourth cost and said plurality of costs, for determining which of said third replacement cost and
said fourth sum have a lowest cost; and
said third means displays on said display said lowest cost.
35. A system including a processor having a display and memory means for storing digital data for a multiplicity of vehicles, said digital data including a data base of a plurality of groups of parts and a plurality of associated parts graphics,
comprising:
means for inputting vehicle-identification data of a damaged vehicle to said processor;
first means, responsive to the vehicle-identification data for displaying on said display a list of groups of parts for said damaged vehicle;
second means, responsive to selecting a first group of parts from said list of groups of parts, for displaying, on said display, a first parts description from said data base of the first group of parts;
graphics means, responsive to selecting a first part from the first parts description, for retrieving from Said memory means a first parts graphics, stored in digital form and associated with said first part, and loading said first parts graphics
into a first memory buffer, with said first memory buffer separate from said memory means; and
third means, responsive to loading said first parts graphics into said first memory buffer, for displaying, on said display, said first parts graphics;
cost means, responsive to selecting said first part from the first parts description of the first group of parts, for retrieving from said memory means a first cos | | |
