Determining status of building modifications using informatics sensor data

• US 10,552,911 B1
• Filed: 05/09/2014
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Allen, Michael J., Devereaux, Ramsey, Read, Spencer, Franck, David S., Voutour, Teddy J., Limas, Shanna, Chandler, William, Burns, Michael P., Wheeler, Daniela, Swain, Kathleen L., Burgess, Cleburne R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ebersman, Bruce I
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, John A
• Application Number:
  US14/273,918
• Time in Patent Office: 2,097 Days
• Field of Search: 705 4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2218/12 Classification; Matching
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/00 Business processing using cryptography postage metering system using cryptography G06Q2250/05
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0215 Including financial accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/163 Real estate management
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/17 taken from planes or by drones
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/176 Urban or other man-made structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums

Abstract

A computer device and method for processing data to detect modifications to insured property. Received is specification data regarding modifications to be made to insured property in connection with an insurance claim. Also received is data from one or more sensor devices associated with the insured property indicative of a status regarding modifications made to the insured property. Analysis is performed on the received specification and data to determine whether one or more predefined conditions for the insurance claim is satisfied regarding the modifications to be made to the insured property.

Claims

1. A sensor system for capturing data, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensor devices each configured to capture a different attribute of a property, each sensor device having a transmitter with an associated IP address coupled to a wireless network for transmitting the captured data, the plurality of sensor devices comprising at least a camera;

a data storage component wirelessly coupled to each of the plurality of sensors devices via the IP address of the transmitter for each of the sensor devices wherein the data storage component is configured to aggregate captured data regarding different attributes of the property received from each of the sensor devices;

a communication component coupled to the data storage component configured to encrypt and transmit the captured data via a network;

a computer server coupled to the communication device via a network, and programmed to;

receive captured encrypted data regarding one or more attributes of the property from the communication device, wherein the captured encrypted data is associated with structural modification data and includes a first image of a portion of the property to which modifications are made;

receive modification specification data;

store the received encrypted data regarding various attributes of the property with the modification specification data in a database;

retrieve the stored data from the database, the stored data retrieved from the database identifying the structural modifications made to the property;

generate a command signal to capture and transmit a second image of the portion of the property to which modifications are made, whereby the command signal activates the camera by commanding the camera to capture an immediate reading, the command signal further altering a data reading frequency of the camera;

upon transmitting the command signal to the camera, receiving the second image;

identify structural modifications made to the property, based upon the received captured encrypted data regarding the one or more attributes of the property and by comparing the second image with the first image;

compare the identified structural modifications to the modification specification data; and

transmit an electronic notification to a computing device associated with the property when determining that proper structural modifications were made to the property.

2. The sensor system as recited in claim 1, further comprising determining if recoverable depreciation regarding an insurance claim can be provided based upon the performed analysis.

3. The sensor system as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more sensor devices comprises one or more of the following detection sensor devices:

electrical;

structural; and

camera.

4. The sensor system as recited in claim 1, wherein the received modification specification data relates to the property repairs associated with damage to the property.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer server is further programmed to determine a material used in connection with modifications made to the property.