System for sensor enabled reporting and notification in a distributed network

• US 10,330,826 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2015
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hartford Fire Insurance Company (The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hartford Fire Insurance Company (The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smyth, Eugene T., Fox, Deborah D., Hooda, Roopak, Mattson, Kristen Sara, Sanders, Kristian L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hossain, Moazzam
• Application Number:
  US14/807,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20170023702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 702 3
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/02 Instruments for indicating weather conditions by measuring two or more variables, e.g. humidity, pressure, temperature, cloud cover or wind speed G01W1/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 2001/006 Main server receiving weather information from several sub-stations

Abstract

A sensor based system for capturing localized weather data and a server system for communicating with a plurality of reporting and recipient mobile communication devices. The communication devices are enabled to capture additional weather information to supplement the sensor based system.

Claims

1. A system for enabling an electronic warning system, the system comprising:

a plurality of devices, ones of the plurality of devices including one or more sensors configured to capture information from a distributed geographic area, at least one of the plurality of devices transmitting information captured by the one or more sensors; and

a server configured to receive the captured device information transmitted by the at least one of the plurality of devices, the server including;

a data store for storing the received device information;

a processor for processing the stored data, the processor configured to compile the captured data and determine a region of warning, the processor further configured to identify a plurality of property associated with the determined region of warning and to generate a series of electronic transmissions messages to selected ones of the plurality of devices based on the region of warning, the selected ones of the devices associated with a plurality of policyholders who have indicated a preference to receive the electronic transmission messages, the messages associated with protecting certain real property covered in one or more policy documents associated with the policyholders;

a communication interface configured to transmit the electronic transmission messages to the selected ones of the plurality of devices, wherein upon receipt of transmitted message remedial measures are employed to protect real property; and

the communication interface further configured to receive feedback associated with the remedial measures employed.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of devices is a personal weather station.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of devices is enabled to detect wind and hail conditions.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of devices is enabled to capture temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, and precipitation amounts.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of devices receives at least one input on a screen to initiate a claim.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the electronic transmission messages include proactive measures to protect property associated with the policyholders.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic transmission messages are delivered via a combination of audible and tactile delivery.

8. A server for receiving weather related information and transmitting electronic warning messages, the server comprising:

a communications interface for communicating with a plurality of devices, wherein the plurality of devices include one or more sensors to capture data about weather, to receive information about the weather;

a processor communicatively coupled with the interface, the processor configured to compile the captured data and determine a region of warning, the processor further configured to identify a plurality of property associated with the determined region of warning and generate at least one message for delivery via the interface to at least one of the plurality of devices associated with the identified property, the messages providing at least a warning of the weather affecting the identified property, wherein upon receipt of the delivered messages remedial measures are employed to protect real property; and

the communication interface further configured to receive feedback associated with the remedial measures employed.

9. The server of claim 8, wherein the plurality of devices comprises a combination of two or more of an anemometer, a wind vane, a thermometer, a hygrometer, a barometer, and a rain gauge.

10. The server of claim 8, wherein the plurality of devices is further enabled to provide ultraviolet (UV) index, leaf wetness, soil moisture, soil temperature, water temperature.

11. The server of claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of devices further comprises a user interface for capturing weather information via an image sensor.

12. The server of claim 11, wherein the user interface comprises a device selected from:

an alphanumeric keypad, a touch screen, a fingerprint scanner, an optical scanner, a signature pad, a proximity detector, an audio recording device, a camera and any combination thereof.

13. The server of claim 12, further comprising an auxiliary sensor.

14. The server of claim 8, wherein the property is identified based on criteria associated with one or more insurance policies.