Systems and methods for homeowner-directed risk of property damage mitigation

• US 10,685,402 B1
• Filed: 04/22/2015
• Issued: 06/16/2020
• 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: Bryant, Ronny S., Call, Shawn M., Hakimi-Boushehri, Daryoush, Weekes, John H., Criswell, Jennifer, Binion, Todd, Jordan, II, Jackie O., McDermeit, Elisabeth, Donovan, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Borlinghaus, Jason
• Application Number:
  US14/693,021
• Time in Patent Office: 1,882 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 homeowner-directed risk mitigation for damage to a property associated with insurance-related events are provided. A smart home controller may analyze data received from a plurality of smart devices disposed on, or proximate to, a property as well as data received from an insurance provider. If it is determined that an actual or potential risk of property damage exists, the smart home controller may transmit an alert to a homeowner detailing the risk. The homeowner may respond to the alert by transmitting an instruction to mitigate or prevent damage associated with the risk back to the smart home controller. Subsequently, the smart home controller may transmit information about the actual or potential risks and any homeowner-directed mitigative actions to an insurance provider. The insurance provider may interpret the transmitted data and perform insurance activities, such as providing discounts and adjusting an insurance policy associated with the property.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of limiting damage to a property populated with a plurality of devices on the property, each of the plurality of devices configured to monitor various conditions associated with the property, the method comprising:

receiving, via a first wired or wireless communication network at a controller disposed on the property, sensor data from at least one of the plurality of devices, the sensor data indicative of a change in at least one of the various conditions associated with the property;

predicting, by one or more processors of the controller disposed on the property, that an insurance-related event associated with the property will occur by analyzing the sensor data;

transmitting, via a second wireless communication network, an indication of the predicted insurance-related event to a mobile or other computer device of an individual associated with the property;

receiving, via the second communication network and from the mobile or other computer device, a first instruction, wherein the first instruction is configured to control at least one of the plurality of devices to perform a first action intended to prevent or mitigate damage associated with the predicted insurance-related event;

based upon an analysis of the first instruction, determining, by the one or more processors, that the first instruction is insufficient to prevent or mitigate damage associated with the predicted insurance-related event;

in response to the determination, generating, by the one or more processors, a second instruction, wherein the second instruction is configured to identify a second action intended to prevent or mitigate the predicted insurance-related event,

controlling, by the one or more processors, a first at least one of the plurality of devices to perform the first action by transmitting, via the first wired or wireless communication network, the first instruction, wherein the transmission of the first instruction causes the first at least one of the plurality of devices to interpret the first instruction and execute the first action;

controlling, by the one or more processors, a second at least one of the plurality of devices to perform the second action by transmitting, via the first wired or wireless communication network, the second instruction, wherein the transmission of the second instruction causes the second at least one of the plurality of devices to interpret the second instruction and execute the second action; and

transmitting, to an insurance provider via the second communication network, an indication of the predicted insurance-related event and an indication of the first and second instructions, wherein the transmission causes the insurance provider to perform an insurance-related activity, wherein the insurance-related activity is at least one of, providing a discount on an insurance policy, providing reward points, adjusting an insurance claim, or providing a recommended action or replacement device that may reduce a risk of future insurance-related events.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving the sensor data comprises:

receiving at least one of audio data, video data, and operational data.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the indication of the insurance-related event comprises:

transmitting, to mobile or other computer device associated with the individual via the second communication network, an instruction, wherein the instruction causes the mobile or other computer device to;

display an indication of the predicted insurance-related event, and

provide an interface that enables the individual to select the first action.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the first instruction to the at least one of the plurality of devices causes the at least one of the plurality of devices to perform at least one of:

shutting off a water or gas supply;

closing a door, window or shutter;

turning off an appliance;

or turning on a sump pump, de-watering equipment or fire sprinklers.

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

receiving, from the insurance provider via the second communication network, a notification that the insurance-related activity has occurred.

6. A system for limiting damage to a property populated with a plurality of devices on the property, each of the plurality of devices configured to monitor various conditions associated with the property, the system being disposed on the property and 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, sensor data from at least one of the plurality of devices, the sensor data indicative of a change in at least one of the various conditions associated with the property;

predict, by the one or more processors, that an insurance-related event associated with the property will occur by analyzing the sensor data;

transmit, to a mobile device of an individual associated with the property via the communication module, an indication of the predicted insurance-related event;

receive, from the mobile device of the individual via the communication module, a first instruction, wherein the first instruction is configured to control at least one of the plurality of devices to perform a first action intended to prevent or mitigate damage associated with the predicted insurance-related event;

based upon an analysis of the first instruction, determine, by the one or more processors, that the first instruction is insufficient to prevent or mitigate damage associated with the predicted insurance-related event;

in response to the determination, generate, by the one or more processors, a second instruction, wherein the second instruction is configured to identify a second action intended to prevent or mitigate the predicted insurance-related event;

control, by the one or more processors, a first at least one of the plurality of devices to perform the first action by transmitting, via the communication module, the first instruction, wherein the transmission of the first instruction causes the first at least one of the plurality of devices to interpret the first instruction and execute the first action;

control, by the one or more processors, a second at least one of the plurality of devices to perform the second action by transmitting, via the first wired or wireless communication network, the second instruction, wherein the transmission of the second instruction causes the second at least one of the plurality of devices to interpret the second instruction and execute the second action; and

transmit, to an insurance provider, an indication of the predicted insurance-related event and an indication of the first and second instructions, wherein the transmission causes the insurance provider to perform an insurance-related activity, wherein the insurance-related activity is at least one of providing a rebate on an insurance policy, providing a discount on an insurance policy, providing reward points, adjusting an insurance claim, or providing a recommended action or replacement device that may reduce a risk of future insurance-related events.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein to receive the sensor data comprises the communication module is further configured to receive at least one of:

audio data, video data, or operational data.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein to transmit the indication of the insurance-related event, the communication module is further configured to:

transmit, to the mobile device associated with the individual, an instruction, wherein the instruction causes the mobile device to;

display an indication of the predicted insurance-related event, and

provide an interface that enables the individual to select the first action.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein to transmit the first instruction to the at least one of the plurality of devices, the communication module is further configured to cause the at least one of the plurality of devices perform at least one of:

shutting off a water or gas supply;

closing a door, window or shutter;

turning off an appliance;

or turning on a sump pump, de-watering equipment or fire sprinklers.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the communication module is further configured to:

receive, from the insurance provider, a notification that the insurance-related activity has occurred.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing processor-executable instructions, that when executed cause one or more processors to:

receive, via a first wired or wireless communication network at a controller disposed on a property, sensor data from at least one of a plurality of devices, the sensor data indicative of a change in at least one of the various conditions associated with the property;

predict, by the one or more processors, that an insurance-related event associated with the property will occur by analyzing the sensor data;

transmit, to a mobile device of an individual associated with the property via a second wireless communication network, an indication of the predicted insurance-related event;

receive, from the mobile device of the individual via wireless communication via the second communication network, a first instruction, wherein the first instruction is configured to control at least one of the plurality of devices to perform a first action intended to prevent or mitigate damage associated with the predicted insurance-related event;

based upon an analysis of the first instruction, determine, by the one or more processors, that the first instruction is insufficient to prevent or mitigate damage associated with the predicted insurance-related event;

in response to the determination, generate, by the one or more processors, a second instruction, wherein the second instruction is configured to identify a second action intended to prevent or mitigate the predicted insurance-related event;

control, by the one or more processors, a first at least one of the plurality of devices to perform the first action by transmitting, via the first wired or wireless communication network, the first instruction, wherein the transmission of the first instruction causes the first at least one of the plurality of devices to interpret the first instruction and execute the a first action;

control, by the one or more processors, a second at least one of the plurality of devices to perform the second action by transmitting, via the first wired or wireless communication network, the second instruction, wherein the transmission of the second instruction causes the second at least one of the plurality of devices to interpret the second instruction and execute the second action; and

transmit, to an insurance provider, an indication of the predicted insurance-related event and an indication of the first and second instructions, wherein the transmission causes the insurance provider to perform an insurance-related activity, wherein the insurance-related activity is at least one of, providing a discount on an insurance policy, providing reward points, adjusting an insurance claim, or providing a recommended action or replacement device that may reduce a risk of future insurance-related events.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein to transmit the indication of the insurance-related event, the instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to:

transmit, to the mobile device associated with the individual, an instruction, wherein the instruction causes the mobile device to;

display an indication of the predicted insurance-related event, and

provide an interface that enables the individual to select the first action.