METHOD FOR USING ELECTRONIC METADATA TO VERIFY INSURANCE CLAIMS

• US 20100088123A1
• Filed: 02/03/2009
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Original Assignee: Milemeter, Inc.
• Inventors: Bryant, William D., Riney, John W.S., Gay, Christopher E., McCall, Thomas A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,818,157 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3276 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/22 Social work or social welfare, e.g. community support activities or counselling services
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring

Abstract

A method includes receiving a digital file from a customer, extracting metadata from the file, and verifying the metadata prior to accepting the digital file. The method may include verifying that a representation of a required physical token appears in the digital file.

Claims

1. A method for processing a digital media file, comprising:

receiving a digital file from a customer;

extracting metadata from the file; and

verifying the metadata prior to accepting the digital file.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising verifying the representation of a physical token in the digital file.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the physical token is a barcode.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the physical token is a license plate.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the physical token is an identification card.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the physical token is a state issued driver'"'"'s license.

7. A method of validating an insurance claim, comprising:

receiving a request to make a claim from a customer;

receiving a digital file from the customer in association with the claim; and

verifying that a representation of a required physical token appears in the digital file.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the physical token is a barcode.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the physical token is a license plate.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the physical token is a driver'"'"'s license.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the physical token is provided to a customer following a request to make the insurance claim.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising examining metadata of the digital file to determine if the digital file was created following provision of the physical token to the customer.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the physical token is provided to the customer via the internet.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the physical token is provided to the customer via mobile phone network.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein receiving a digital file comprises receiving a digital photograph.

16. A computer readable media having computer readable instructions thereon, the instructions comprising instructions for:

receiving a digital file;

extracting metadata from the file;

determining the date of creation of the digital file from the metadata;

comparing the date of creation of the digital file to a predetermined date range associated with an insurance policy;

accepting the file if the date of creation is within the predetermined range; and

informing a computer user of the rejection of the file if the date of creation is not within the predetermined range.

17. The computer readable media of claim 16, wherein the computer user is an insurance customer.

18. The computer readable media of claim 16, wherein the computer user is an insurance agent.

19. The computer readable media of claim 16, further comprising instructions for:

providing a physical token to a user.

20. The computer readable media of claim 19, wherein the physical token is a barcode.