COMPUTER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING AN INSURANCE RATE

• US 20090198523A1
• Filed: 08/24/2005
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Swiss Reinsurance Company
• Original Assignee: Swiss Reinsurance Company
• Inventors: Pannatier, Yvan, Maechler, Andreas, Tanner, Rolf, Muster, Tobias, Grieder, Ralph
• Application Number:
  US12/064,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20090198523A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

In a computer system and computer implemented method for determining an insurance rate for terrorism-related property insurance, one or more industry classification attributes, indicative of an industry segment associated with the property, are selected. A basic rate is determined from rate values assigned to the selected industry classification attributes. One or more target classification attributes, indicative of the property'"'"'s attractiveness as a target for terrorism, are also selected. An aggravating rate is determined from rate values assigned to the selected target classification attributes. The insurance rate is determined from the basic rate and the aggravating rate. The assignment of insurance rates to a property based on the selection of target classification attributes for the property makes it possible to include the risk of a terrorist attack in the rating process, without having to determine probability distributions of terrorist attacks or estimate expected loss caused by terrorist attacks.

Claims

1-22. -22. (canceled)

23. A computer system for determining an insurance rate for terrorism-related property insurance, the system comprising:

means for selecting one or more industry classification attributes, indicative of an industry segment associated with the property;

means for determining a basic rate from rate values assigned to the industry classification attributes;

means for selecting one or more target classification attributes, indicative of the property'"'"'s attractiveness as a target for terrorism;

means for determining an aggravating rate from rate values assigned to the target classification attributes; and

means for determining the insurance rate from the basic rate and the aggravating rate.

24. The system according to claim 23, further comprising:

means for assigning defined ratios of the property to different target classification attributes; and

wherein the means for determining the aggravating rate is configured to determine the aggravating rate based on the target classification attributes and respective ratios.

25. The system according to claim 23, wherein the target classification attributes include geographic classification attributes indicative of the property'"'"'s geographic location;

wherein the system further comprises means for assigning defined ratios of the property to different geographic classification attributes; and

wherein the means for determining the aggravating rate is configured to determine the aggravating rate based on the geographic classification attributes and respective ratios.

26. The system according to claim 23, wherein the target classification attributes include ownership classification attributes indicative of the property'"'"'s owner;

and wherein the means for determining the aggravating rate is configured to determine the aggravating rate based on the ownership classification attributes selected for the property.

27. The system according to claim 23, wherein the target classification attributes include technical classification attributes indicative of the property'"'"'s practical or symbolic significance;

wherein the system further comprises means for assigning defined ratios of the property to different technical classification attributes; and

wherein the means for determining the aggravating rate is configured to determine the aggravating rate based on the technical classification attributes and respective ratios.

28. The system according to claim 23, wherein the target classification attributes include publicity classification attributes indicative of public exposure and/or political perception of the property;

and wherein the means for determining the aggravating rate is configured to determine the aggravating rate based on the publicity classification attributes selected for the property.

29. The system according to claim 23, further comprising:

means for storing sets of the target classification attributes and rate values assigned to the target classification attributes, a set of the target classification attributes including one of geographic classification attributes, indicative of the property'"'"'s geographic location, ownership classification attributes, indicative of the property'"'"'s owner, technical classification attributes, indicative of the property'"'"'s practical or symbolic significance, and publicity classification attributes, indicative of public exposure and/or political perception of the property;

wherein the means for determining the aggravating rate is configured to determine an aggregated aggravating rate by aggregating multiple aggravating rates, each determined based on one or more target classification attributes selected for the property; and

wherein the means for determining the insurance rate is configured to determine the insurance rate by multiplying the aggregated aggravating rate with the basic rate.

30. A computer implemented method for determining an insurance rate for terrorism-related property insurance, the method comprising:

selecting one or more industry classification attributes, indicative of an industry segment associated with the property;

determining a basic rate from rate values assigned to the industry classification attributes;

selecting one or more target classification attributes, indicative of the property'"'"'s attractiveness as a target for terrorism;

determining an aggravating rate from rate values assigned to the target classification attributes; and

determining the insurance rate from the basic rate and the aggravating rate.

31. The method according to claim 30, further comprising:

assigning defined ratios of the property to different target classification attributes; and

wherein the aggravating rate is determined based on the target classification attributes and respective ratios.

32. The method according to claim 30, wherein the target classification attributes include geographic classification attributes indicative of the property'"'"'s geographic location;

wherein the method further comprises assigning defined ratios of the property to different geographic classification attributes; and

wherein the aggravating rate is determined based on the geographic classification attributes and respective ratios.

33. The method according to claim 30, wherein the target classification attributes include ownership classification attributes indicative of the property'"'"'s owner;

and wherein the aggravating rate is determined based on the ownership classification attributes selected for the property.

34. The method according to claim 30, wherein the target classification attributes include technical classification attributes indicative of the property'"'"'s practical or symbolic significance;

wherein the method further comprises assigning defined ratios of the property to different technical classification attributes; and

wherein the aggravating rate is determined based on the technical classification attributes and respective ratios.

35. The method according to claim 30, wherein the target classification attributes include publicity classification attributes indicative of public exposure and/or political perception of the property;

and wherein the aggravating rate is determined based on the publicity classification attributes selected for the property.

36. The method according to claim 30, further comprising:

storing sets of the target classification attributes and rate values assigned to the target classification attributes, a set of the target classification attributes including one of geographic classification attributes, indicative of the property'"'"'s geographic location, ownership classification attributes, indicative of the property'"'"'s owner, technical classification attributes, indicative of the property'"'"'s practical or symbolic significance, and publicity classification attributes, indicative of public exposure and/or political perception of the property;

wherein the aggravating rate is determined by aggregating multiple aggravating rates, each determined based on one or more target classification attributes selected for the property; and

wherein the insurance rate is determined by multiplying the aggregated aggravating rate with the basic rate.

37. A computer program product including a computer readable medium containing therein computer program code means for controlling a computer such that the computer:

selects one or more industry classification attributes, indicative of an industry segment associated with a property;

determines a basic rate from rate values assigned to the industry classification attributes;

selects one or more target classification attributes, indicative of the property'"'"'s attractiveness as a target for terrorism;

determines an aggravating rate from rate values assigned to the target classification attributes; and

determines an insurance rate for terrorism-related insurance for the property from the basic rate and the aggravating rate.

38. The computer program product according to claim 37, further comprising computer program code means for controlling the computer such that the computer:

assigns defined ratios of the property to different target classification attributes; and

determines the aggravating rate based on the target classification attributes and respective ratios.

39. The computer program product according to claim 37, further comprising computer program code means for controlling the computer such that the computer:

selects as one of the target classification attributes one or more geographic classification attributes, indicative of the property'"'"'s geographic location;

assigns defined ratios of the property to different geographic classification attributes; and

determines the aggravating rate based on the geographic classification attributes and respective ratios.

40. The computer program product according to claim 37, further comprising computer program code means for controlling the computer such that the computer:

selects as one of the target classification attributes an ownership classification attribute, indicative of the property'"'"'s owner; and

determines the aggravating rate based on the ownership classification attribute selected for the property.

41. The computer program product according to claim 37, further comprising computer program code means for controlling the computer such that the computer:

selects as one of the target classification attributes one or more technical classification attributes, indicative of the property'"'"'s practical or symbolic significance;

assigns defined ratios of the property to different technical classification attributes; and

determines the aggravating rate based on the technical classification attributes and respective ratios.

42. The computer program product according to claim 37, further comprising computer program code means for controlling the computer such that the computer:

selects as one of the target classification attributes one or more publicity classification attributes, indicative of public exposure and/or political perception of the property; and

determines the aggravating rate based on the publicity classification attributes selected for the property.

43. The computer program product according to claim 37, further comprising computer program code means for controlling the computer such that the computer:

stores sets of the target classification attributes and rate values assigned to the target classification attributes, a set of the target classification attributes including one of geographic classification attributes, indicative of the property'"'"'s geographic location, ownership classification attributes, indicative of the property'"'"'s owner, technical classification attributes, indicative of the property'"'"'s practical or symbolic significance, and publicity classification attributes, indicative of public exposure and/or political perception of the property;

determines the aggravating rate by aggregating multiple aggravating rates, each determined based on one or more target classification attributes selected for the property; and

determines the insurance rate by multiplying the aggregated aggravating rate with the basic rate.