Systems and methods for determining cause of loss to a property

• US 10,282,787 B1
• Filed: 04/22/2015
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Original Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Inventors: Hakimi-Boushehri, Daryoush, Jordan, II, Jackie O., Call, Shawn M., Weekes, John H., Bryant, Ronny S., Criswell, Jennifer, Binion, Todd, McDermeit, Elisabeth, Donovan, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Niquette, Robert R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Liz P
• Application Number:
  US14/692,946
• Time in Patent Office: 1,476 Days
• Field of Search: 705 4
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/071 Arrangement of safety devices in domestic pipe systems, e.g. devices for automatic shut-off
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/163 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart, intelligent house
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0278 Product appraisal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/163 Real estate management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/043 detecting an emergency event, e.g. a fall
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture
• CPC Class Codes: G16Y 10/50 Finance; Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G16Y 40/10 Detection; Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2823 Reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network device-related reporting H04L43/065; arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2827 Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality

Abstract

Methods and systems for assessing damage to a property associated with an insurance-related event are provided. According to certain aspects, a smart home controller or insurance provider remote processor may store data received from a plurality of smart devices disposed on or proximate to a property. The stored data may be used to develop a baseline for normal conditions associated with the property. When the insurance-related event is occurring, the smart home controller or insurance provider remote processor may receive a second set of data from the plurality of smart devices. The second set of data may be compared to the baseline to determine a sequence of events associated with the insurance-related event that caused the damage to the property. Subsequently, according to certain aspects, the smart home controller or insurance provider remote server may automatically generate an insurance claim for damage associated with the insurance-related event.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of assessing damage to a property populated with a plurality of smart devices on the property, each of the plurality of smart devices (i) configured with at least one transceiver that communicates with a smart home controller and (ii) configured to monitor various conditions associated with the property, the method comprising:

receiving, at the smart home controller via a first wired or wireless communication network, a first set of data generated by at least one sensor associated with the at least one of the plurality of smart devices;

based upon the first set of data, generating, by one or more processors of the smart home controller, a baseline condition for the property;

while an insurance related event is occurring, receiving, via the first wired or wireless communication network, a second set of data generated by the at least one sensor associated with the at least one of the plurality of smart devices;

comparing, by the one or more processors of the smart home controller, the second set of data generated by the at least one sensors to the baseline condition to detect damage to the property;

in response to detecting the damage to the property and based upon the comparison, determining, by the one or more processors of the smart home controller, a sequence of events that caused the damage to the property;

assigning, by the one or more processors of the smart home controller, a first percentage to a first cause of damage and a second percentage to a second cause of damage;

automatically generating, by the one or more processors of the smart home controller, a proposed insurance claim for at least one of (i) the first cause of damage, or (ii) the second cause of damage based upon the sequence of events;

prepopulating, by the one or more processors of the smart home controller, the proposed insurance claim with the assigned first percentage to the first cause of damage and the assigned second percentage to the second cause of damage;

transmitting, via a second wireless communication network, the proposed insurance claim to at least one of an individual associated with the property such that the at least one of the individual is capable of viewing the proposed insurance claim;

receiving from the individual, via the second communication network, a modification to the proposed insurance claim;

determining, by the one or more processors, whether the modification is consistent with the determined sequence of events by analyzing at the second set of data;

when the modification is consistent with the determined sequence of events, submitting, by the one or more processors, the modified insurance claim to the insurance provider for processing; and

when the modification is not consistent with the determined sequence of events, notifying, by the one or more processors, the individual that the modification is not consistent with the determined sequence of events.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

after the insurance-related event has concluded, receiving, via the first communication network, a third set of data generated by the at least one sensor associated with the at least one of the plurality of smart devices; and

comparing, by the one or more processors of the smart home controller, the third set of data generated by the at least one sensor to the baseline condition to estimate an amount of the damage to the property.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the damage to the property is at least one of:

water damage, wind damage, fire damage, earthquake damage, or damage caused by a breach of structural integrity.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the insurance provider, via the second communication network, at least one of a recommendation to purchase new smart devices or insurance products or an evaluation of how the at least one of the plurality of smart devices withstood the insurance-related event.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting that the insurance related event is occurring by at least one of;

(i) analyzing, by the one or more processors of the smart home controller, the comparison between the second set of data generated by the at least one sensors and the baseline condition to detect a variance indicative of a commencement of the insurance-related event, or

(ii) receiving, from the at least one of the plurality of smart devices via the first communication network, a status update indicative of the commencement of the insurance-related event.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the status update indicates at least one of:

a window shattering, a breach in structural integrity, or a triggered alarm.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein each of the first, second and third sets of data generated by the at least one sensors comprises at least one of:

time-stamped audio data, status data, visual data captured on the property, or visual data captured above the property by an airborne sensor.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the individual, via the second communication network, a modification to the proposed insurance claim;

determining, by the one or more processors, that the modification is not consistent with the determined sequence of events by analyzing at the second set of data; and

in response to the determination, notifying, by the one or more processors, the individual that the modification is not consistent with the determined sequence of events.

8. A system comprising a smart home controller for assessing damage to a property populated with a plurality of smart devices on the property, each of the plurality of smart devices (i) configured with at least one transceiver that communicates with a smart home controller and (ii) configured to monitor various conditions associated with the property, the smart home controller comprising:

a communication module adapted to communicate data;

a memory adapted to store non-transitory computer executable instructions; and

one or more processors adapted to interface with the communication module, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the one or more processors to;

receive, via the communication module, a first set of data generated by at least one sensor associated with at least one of the plurality of smart devices;

based upon the first set of data, generate, by the one or more processors, a baseline condition for the property;

while an insurance related event is occurring, receive, via the communication module, a second set of data generated by the at least one sensor associated with the at least one of the plurality of smart devices;

compare, by the one or more processors, the second set of data generated by the at least one sensors to the baseline condition to detect damage to the property;

in response to detecting the damage to the property and based upon the comparison, determine, by the one or more processors, a sequence of events that caused the damage to the property;

assigning, by the one or more processors, a first percentage to a first cause of damage and a second percentage to a second cause of damage;

automatically generate, by the one or more processors, a proposed insurance claim for at least one of (i) the first cause of damage, or (ii) the second cause of damage based upon the sequence of events;

prepopulate, by the one or more processors, the proposed insurance claim with the assigned first percentage to the first cause of damage and the assigned second percentage to the second cause of damage; and

transmit, via the communication module, the proposed insurance claim to at least one of an individual associated with the property or an insurance provider associated with the property such that the at least one of the individual or the insurance provider is capable of viewing the proposed insurance claim;

receive from the individual, via the communication module, a modification to the proposed insurance claim;

determine whether the modification is consistent with the determined sequence of events by analyzing at the second set of data;

when the modification is consistent with the determined sequence of events, submit, the modified insurance claim to the insurance provider for processing; and

when the modification is not consistent with the determined sequence of events, notify the individual that the modification is not consistent with the determined sequence of events.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the one or more processors to:

after the insurance-related event has concluded, receive, via the communication module, a third set of data generated by the at least one sensor associated with at least one of the plurality of smart devices; and

compare, by the one or more processors, the third set of data generated by the at least one sensor to the baseline condition to estimate an amount of the damage to the property.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the damage to the property is at least one of:

water damage, wind damage, fire damage, earthquake damage, or damage caused by a breach of structural integrity.

11. The system of claim 8, the one or more processors are further configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the one or more processors to:

detect that the insurance related event is occurring by at least one of;

(i) analyzing, by the one or more processors, the comparison between the second set of data generated by the at least one sensors and the baseline condition to detect a variance indicative of a commencement of the insurance-related event, or

(ii) receiving, at the smart home controller via the communication module, a status update indicative of the commencement of the insurance-related event.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein each of the first, second and third sets of sensor data comprises at least one of:

time-stamped audio data, status data, visual data captured on the property, or visual data captured above the property by an airborne sensor.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing processor-executable instructions, that when executed cause one or more processors of a smart home controller to:

receive, at the smart home controller via a first wired or wireless communication network, a first set of data generated by at least one sensor associated with the at least one of the plurality of smart devices;

based upon the first set of data, generate a baseline condition for the property;

while an insurance related event is occurring, receive, via the first wired or wireless communication network, a second set of data generated by the at least one sensor associated with the at least one of the plurality of smart devices;

compare the second set of data generated by the at least one sensors to the baseline condition to detect damage to the property;

in response to detecting the damage to the property and based upon the comparison, determine a sequence of events that caused the damage to the property;

assigning a first percentage to a first cause of damage and a second percentage to a second cause of damage; and

automatically generate a proposed insurance claim for at least one of (i) the first cause of damage, or (ii) the second cause of damage based upon the sequence of events

prepopulate the proposed insurance claim with the assigned first percentage to the first cause of damage and the assigned second percentage to the second cause of damage; and

transmit, via a second wired or wireless communication network, the proposed insurance claim to at least one of an individual associated with the property or an insurance provider associated with the property such that the at least one of the individual or the insurance provider is capable of viewing the proposed insurance claim;

receive from the individual, via the second wired or wireless communication network, a modification to the proposed insurance claim;

determine whether the modification is consistent with the determined sequence of events by analyzing at the second set of data;

when the modification is consistent with the determined sequence of events, submit, the modified insurance claim to the insurance provider for processing; and

when the modification is not consistent with the determined sequence of events, notify the individual that the modification is not consistent with the determined sequence of events.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors of the smart home controller to:

after the insurance-related event has concluded, receive, via the communication network, a third set of data generated by the at least one sensor associated with the at least one of the plurality of smart devices; and

compare the third set of data generated by the at least one to the baseline condition to estimate an amount of the damage to the property.