Browser extension for capturing vehicle information from webpage for generating insurance rate quote

• US 10,467,703 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2015
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Original Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Inventors: Olson, Jeffery L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sigmond, Bennett M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bianco, Dario
• Application Number:
  US14/839,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20160364804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,530 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

A browser extension for facilitating a user of a mobile device obtaining an insurance rate quote for a vehicle (or other property, real or personal) from an insurance provider, wherein vehicle information identifying the vehicle is provided on a webpage. The browser extension searches the webpage for vehicle information identifying one or more vehicles. The user is prompted to select the vehicle(s) for which the insurance rate quote is desired from a list of the vehicles is found on the webpage. The browser extension passes the vehicle information for the selected vehicle to a program application. The program application obtains user information useful for generating the insurance rate quote. Based upon the vehicle information and the user information, the program application generates and displays for the user the insurance rate quote for the vehicle. Additionally, the user may be similarly offered a loan and/or an extended warranty for the vehicle.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving from a user a request to start a browser extension on a user selected webpage displayed on a mobile device, the request being initiated by the user via a first input by user selection of a share icon presented on a display of the mobile device to display a share sheet, and a second user input by user selection of a browser extension icon presented on the share sheet;

starting the browser extension in response to receiving the second user input;

scanning the webpage, using the browser extension running on the mobile device, for vehicle information identifying one or more vehicles;

generating a list of the vehicle information detected on the webpage by the browser extension;

prompting the user to select at least one vehicle of the one or more vehicles identified by the vehicle information from the list of the detected vehicle information;

in response to receiving a user selection of at least one vehicle, automatically passing the vehicle information associated with the selected at least one vehicle from the browser extension to a program application running on the mobile device;

using the program application, obtaining user information corresponding to the user;

transmitting the user information and the vehicle information associated with the selected at least one vehicle to a remote server of an insurance provider; and

receiving at the program application, from the remote server, a response message based upon the user information and the vehicle information associated with the selected at least one vehicle.

2. The computer-implemented method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the selected at least one vehicle is selected from the group consisting of:

cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, airplanes, personal watercraft, all-terrain vehicles, riding lawnmowers, and recreational vehicles.

3. The computer-implemented method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the vehicle information is selected from the group consisting of:

vehicle identification numbers, makes, models, manufacturing years, colors, engines, and conditions.

4. The computer-implemented method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the webpage is selected from the group consisting of:

vehicle dealers'"'"' webpage, online marketplace webpages, online bulletin board webpages, and newspaper online classified webpages.

5. The computer-implemented method as set forth in claim 1, further including allowing the user to indicate a portion of the webpage in which the vehicle information is found, and limiting the search for the vehicle information to the indicated portion of the webpage.

6. The computer-implemented method as set forth in claim 1, further including indicating for the user where on the webpage the vehicle information was found.

7. The computer-implemented method as set forth in claim 6, further including visually depicting the browser extension searching the webpage for the vehicle information.

8. The computer-implemented method as set forth in claim 1, further including, prior to passing the vehicle information to the program application, prompting the user to discontinue the process and dose the browser extension, or to continue the process and pass the vehicle information to the program application.

9. The computer-implemented method as set forth in claim 1, wherein passing the vehicle information to the program application includes automatically populating one or more fields in the program application.

10. The computer-implemented method as set forth in claim 1, wherein passing the vehicle information to the program application includes storing the vehicle information in an electronic memory location which is accessible to both the browser extension and the program application.

11. The computer-implemented method as set forth in claim 1, wherein passing the vehicle information to the program application includes passing the vehicle information to an intermediate program, closing the browser extension, and passing the vehicle information from the intermediate program to the program application.

12. The computer-implemented method as set forth in claim :

1, wherein obtaining user information includes—

if the user is an existing customer of the insurance provider, retrieving the user information from the remote server; and

if the user is not an existing customer of the insurance provider, prompting the user to provide the user information,

wherein the user information is selected from the group consisting of;

names, ages, addresses, and numbers of driving miles in a particular time period.

13. The computer-implemented method as set forth in claim 12, further including saving the user information for future use by the browser extension or program application.

14. The computer-implemented method as set forth in claim 12, further including if the user is an existing customer of the insurance provider—

prompting the user to indicate whether the selected at least one vehicle will replace an existing vehicle insured by the user, and—

if so, listing one or more existing vehicles insured by the user and prompting the user to select a vehicle from the one or more existing vehicles to be replaced, and

if not, prompting the user to provide an approximate number of miles that the selected at least one vehicle will be driven in a particular time period.

16. The computer-implemented method as set forth in claim 1, further including presenting to the user an offer to finance the user'"'"'s acquisition of the selected at least one vehicle, and, if the user accepts the offer, passing the vehicle information and the user information to the same or another program application that generates and displays for the user an interest rate quote.

17. The computer-implemented method as set forth in claim 1, further including presenting to the user an offer to provide an extended warranty on the selected at least one vehicle, and, if the user accepts the offer, passing the vehicle information and the user information to the same or another program application that generates and displays for the user an extended warranty price quote.

15. The computer-implemented method as set forth 1, wherein if the user selects a plurality of vehicles of the one or more vehicles identified by the vehicle information for each of which an insurance rate quote is desired, further including displaying a plurality of insurance rate quotes simultaneously to facilitate a comparison of the cost of insuring each vehicle, the response message including the plurality of rate quotes.

18. A computer-implemented method comprising:

scanning a user selected webpage, using a browser extension running on a mobile device, for property information identifying one or more properties;

generating a list of the property information detected on the webpage by the browser extension;

prompting a user to select a property of the one or more properties from the list of the detected property information;

in response to receiving a user selection of at least one property, automatically passing the property information associated with the selected property from the browser extension to a program application running on the mobile device;

transmitting the property information associated with the selected property to a remote server of an insurance provider;

receiving at the program application a response message from the remote server; and

displaying for the user the response message.

19. A computer system comprising:

a communication element configured to receive and transmit communications via a network;

a memory element configured to store information;

a display configured to display information to a user; and

a processing element electronically coupled to the communication element and the memory element and configured to perform the following;

receiving from the user a request to start a browser extension on a user selected webpage presented on said display, the request being initiated by the user via a first input by user selection of a share icon presented on said display to display a share sheet, and a second user input by user selection of a browser extension icon presented on the share sheet;

starting the browser extension in response to receiving the second user input;

scanning the webpage, using the browser extension, for vehicle information identifying one or more vehicles;

generating a list of the vehicle information detected on the webpage by the browser extension;

in response to receiving a user selection of at least one vehicle, prompting the user to select a vehicle of the one or more vehicles identified by the vehicle information from the list of the detected vehicle information;

automatically passing the vehicle information associated with the selected vehicle from the browser extension to a program application running on a mobile device;

using the program application, obtaining user information corresponding to the user;

transmitting the user information and the vehicle information associated with the selected at least one vehicle to a remote server of an insurance provider;

receiving at the program application, from the remote server, a response message based upon the user information and the vehicle information associated with the selected at least one vehicle; and

presenting on said display the response message.

20. The computer system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the selected vehicle is selected from the group consisting of:

cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, airplanes, personal watercraft, all-terrain vehicles, riding lawnmowers, and recreational vehicles.