Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for remote service evaluation and recommendation. The method includes obtaining owner authorization to access diagnostic data associated with an automobile for a trusted, owner-designated repair technician with whom the owner has a preexisting relationship and obtaining diagnostic data for the automobile. The method further includes transmitting, via a network connection, the diagnostic data to the owner-designated repair technician at a location remote from the automobile and receiving, via the network connection, a recommendation from the owner-designated repair technician based upon the diagnostic data, the recommendation including a recommended service and a time for completing the recommended service.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for template based website development and management. The method includes obtaining input of an entity identifier designating an entity database record within a database and obtaining entity data including data pertaining to the entity of the website from the entity database record within the database using the entity identifier. The method further includes accessing a template including a content container and a style element and substituting the entity data for the content container. The method further includes enabling revision of the web page by customizing style elements to thereby create customized style elements, receiving a request to update the web page to include updated entity data from the database, and regenerating the web page using the template by substituting the updated entity data for the content containers, the updated entity data presented as directed by the customized style elements.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for template based website development and management. The method includes obtaining input of an entity identifier designating an entity database record within a database and obtaining entity data including data pertaining to the entity of the website from the entity database record within the database using the entity identifier. The method further includes accessing a template including a content container and a style element and substituting the entity data for the content container. The method further includes enabling revision of the web page by customizing style elements to thereby create customized style elements, receiving a request to update the web page to include updated entity data from the database, and regenerating the web page using the template by substituting the updated entity data for the content containers, the updated entity data presented as directed by the customized style elements.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for remote service evaluation and recommendation. The method includes obtaining owner authorization to access diagnostic data associated with an automobile for a trusted, owner-designated repair technician with whom the owner has a preexisting relationship and obtaining diagnostic data for the automobile. The method further includes transmitting, via a network connection, the diagnostic data to the owner-designated repair technician at a location remote from the automobile and receiving, via the network connection, a recommendation from the owner-designated repair technician based upon the diagnostic data, the recommendation including a recommended service and a time for completing the recommended service.

Abstract: A method for job estimate development includes receiving a custom image of a specific automobile, the image including a depiction of a subject of a proposed repair operation and obtaining estimate data for a proposed repair operation on the specific automobile, wherein the proposed repair corresponds to the image, the estimate data including parts costs and labor costs associated with the proposed repair operation. The method further includes obtaining a unit of educational content associated with the proposed repair operation, the unit of educational content pre-associated with the proposed repair operation and selected from a library of educational content, the unit of educational content including a visual depiction of the proposed repair operation and providing a repair cost estimate including the estimate data, the image and the unit of educational content to a customer for review prior to authorization of the proposed repair.