MOBILE INSURANCE PLATFORM SYSTEM

• US 20130204645A1
• Filed: 02/02/2012
• Published: 08/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Progressive Casualty Insurance Company (Progressive Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Progressive Casualty Insurance Company (Progressive Corporation)
• Inventors: Everett, William Curtis, Ling, Raymond Scott, Lehman, Matthew Daniel, Philips, Bradley Thomas, Divakarla, Pawan Kumar, Alfred, Toby Kramer, Surtz, Brian Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 9,916,625 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

A mobile insurance architecture includes a wireless communication interface that connects mobile client devices to wireless networks. An insurance server cluster that includes a group of independent network servers operates and appears to mobile client devices as if the group of independent network servers were a single computer server. An adaptive transmission controller communicates with the insurance server cluster and processes content in multiple mobile formats that may be optimized to the screen sizes of the mobile client devices. The insurance server cluster responds to native application clients resident to the mobile client devices. The native application clients contain code stored on a non-transitory media that render insurance quoting services, insurance claims services, on-line insurance policy services, usage based insurance services, mobile monitoring services, or insurance agency management services.

Claims

15. A mobile insurance system comprising;

a wireless communication interface configured to connect wireless network devices;

a wireless mobile device programmed to connect to one or more wireless networks through the wireless communication network; and

a mobile client integrated with or a unitary part of the wireless mobile device;

where the mobile client comprises native application clients stored in a non-transitory media of the wireless mobile device and processes insurance policy content without an Internet connection or processing a Web browser cache content;

the native application clients including an insurance shopping client, a claims application client, a customer service client, a usage based insurance client, or a mobile user monitoring client.

1. A mobile insurance architecture comprising:

a wireless communication interface configured to connect to mobile client devices;

an insurance server cluster comprising a group of independent network servers that operate and appear to the mobile client devices as if the independent network servers were a single server computer; and

an adaptive transmission controller in communication with the insurance server cluster that processes content in multiple mobile versions optimized to screen sizes of the mobile client devices;

where the insurance server cluster is configured to respond to native application clients resident to one or more of the mobile client devices and is programmed to execute code stored in a non-transitory media that renders insurance quoting services, insurance claims services, on-line insurance policy services, or usage based insurance services.

2. The mobile insurance architecture of claim 1 where the mobile client device executes code stored in the non-transitory media that renders insurance quoting services, insurance claims services, on-line insurance policy services, and usage based insurance services.

3. The mobile insurance architecture of claim 1 further comprising a quoting services server comprising a computer programmed to respond to a request from a native insurance shopping client resident to one of the mobile client devices with an insurance quote customized to a mobile user of one of the mobile client devices.

4. The mobile insurance architecture of claim 3 where the native insurance shopping client is not executed through a Web browser.

5. The mobile insurance architecture of claim 1 further comprising a quoting services server comprising a computer programmed to enable the mobile client devices to render comparisons of different insurance policies, insurance policy premiums, or insurance carriers on a side-by-side display that is a unitary part of one of the mobile client devices.

6. The mobile insurance architecture of claim 1 further comprising a claims services server comprising a computer programmed to respond to a request from a native claims application client resident to one of the mobile client devices, the response comprising a command that disburses a payment to a mobile user.

7. The mobile insurance architecture of claim 6 where the native claims application client is not executed through a Web browser or the Internet.

8. The mobile insurance architecture of claim 1 further comprising an on-line services server comprising a computer programmed to respond to a request from a native customer service client resident to one of the mobile client devices, the response comprising a transmission of screen data that that renders a display of an existing insurance policy or an update to an existing insurance policy and an update of an existing insurance policy parameter.

9. The mobile insurance architecture of claim 8 where the native customer service client is not executed within a Web browser.

10. The mobile insurance architecture of claim 1 further comprising an on-line services server comprising a computer programmed to respond to a request from a native customer service client resident to one of the mobile client devices by transmitting screen data that renders a display of an existing insurance policy and renders updates to an existing insurance policy parameter.

11. The mobile insurance architecture of claim 1 further comprising a usage based insurance server comprising a computer programmed to respond to a request from a native vehicle usage based insurance client resident to one of the mobile client devices by transmitting a safety score to one of the mobile client devices.

12. The mobile insurance architecture of claim 11 where the native vehicle usage based insurance client is not executed within a Web browser.

13. The mobile insurance architecture of claim 11 where the safety score comprises a probability that an insured mobile device user will file an insurance claim during the insured mobile device user'"'"'s insurance coverage period.

14. The mobile insurance architecture of claim 1 further comprising:

a quoting services server comprising an insurance cluster programmed to enable the mobile client devices to render comparisons of insurance plans, insurance policy rates, or insurance carriers on a side-by-side display that is a unitary part of one of the mobile client devices;

a claims services server resident to the insurance cluster further programmed to respond to a claim request from a native claims application client resident to one of the mobile client devices by disbursing a payment to a mobile user of one of the mobile client devices;

an on-line services server resident to the insurance cluster programmed to respond to an on-line request from a native customer service client resident to one of the mobile client devices by transmitting a screen that renders a display of an existing insurance policy and renders updates to an existing insurance policy parameter; and

a usage based insurance server resident to the insurance cluster programmed to respond to a usage based request from a native usage based insurance client resident to one of the mobile client devices by transmitting a safety score to one of the mobile client devices.

16. The mobile insurance system of claim 15 further comprising a mobile interface that makes the insurance content accessible through a gesture recognition application stored in the non-transitory media of the mobile client.

17. The mobile insurance system of claim 15 further comprising a mobile interface that makes the insurance content accessible through facial recognition application stored in the non-transitory media of the mobile client.

18. The mobile insurance system of claim 15 where the mobile client further comprises a synchronization object stored in the non-transitory media that automatically switches between cellular network connections and a plurality of wireless communication networks when a successful network connection is made to a second network or an existing network connection is dropped.

19. The mobile insurance system of claim 15 where the mobile client further comprises a synchronization object stored in the non-transitory media that enables a mesh based network that allows the wireless network devices to communicate with each other when a network connection is disrupted or is not functional.

20. The mobile insurance system of claim 15 wherein the mobile client is configured to communicate with a parallel processing architecture that transmits mobile content versions optimized to different wireless mobile device variables including screen size, display resolution, operating system, and the availability and use of mobile device plug-ins that comprise small software programs retained in the non-transitory media that plugs into larger application software to provide added functionality.

21. The mobile insurance system of claim 15 where the native application clients comprise an insurance shopping client that gathers information from wireless mobile devices and delivers insurance quotes that are customizable to a specific wireless mobile device user by premium, insurance policy plan type, insurance policy coverages, insurance policy deductible, or insurance policy effective dates.

22. The mobile insurance system of claim 15 where the mobile client comprises insurance shopping client objects that configure an optical camera of the wireless mobile device into an optical scanner.

23. The mobile insurance system of claim 15 where the mobile client comprises an insurance shopping client object that wirelessly communicates directly with a vehicle that is the object of a desired insurance quote.

24. The mobile insurance system of claim 15 where the mobile client comprises an insurance shopping client object that renders an insurance quote and binds the quote to a mobile user through an electronic signature captured on a touch screen of the wireless mobile device.

25. The mobile insurance system of claim 15 where the mobile client comprises an acceptance object that captures a user'"'"'s signature through a touch screen that is a unitary part of the wireless mobile device.

26. The mobile insurance system of claim 15 where the mobile client comprises an acceptance object that allows a user to sign documents and forms generated by an insurer'"'"'s side server and the wireless mobile device at the wireless mobile device.

27. The mobile insurance system of claim 26 where a plurality of the documents and forms generated by the insurer'"'"'s side server are encoded by the insurer'"'"'s server into a portable document format and then rendered into an image, the image being encapsulated in a container that uses a plurality of tags to mark elements.

28. The mobile insurance system of claim 15 where the native application clients comprise a claims application client that is programmed to capture claim information, evaluate insurance claims, or provides access to insurance appraisers, vehicle repair shops, or vehicle rental service providers.

29. The mobile insurance system of claim 15 where the native application clients comprise a claims application client that is programmed to capture insurance claim information, evaluate insurance claims, and provides access to external service providers.

30. The mobile insurance system of claim 15 where the native application clients comprise programmed objects that allow the wireless mobile device to identify an insured item that is the object of an insurance claim through a facial recognition mobile application retained in the non-transitory media.

31. The mobile insurance system of claim 15 where the native application clients comprise a customer service client configured to allow wireless mobile device users to view and update existing insurance policy parameters.

32. The mobile insurance system of claim 15 where the native application clients comprise the usage based insurance client that renders a driver safety score based on actual driving behavior of the wireless mobile device user.

33. The mobile insurance system of claim 15 where the native application clients comprise an insurance agency management application resident to the non-transitory media that allow insurance agents to access a portion of or the entire the insurance agent'"'"'s book of business and access to insurance reports.

34. The mobile insurance system of claim 15 where the native application clients comprise a mobile user monitoring client that enable the mobile device to access or record the mobile user'"'"'s activities.

106. The method of claim 32 where the user identifying information comprises an insured user'"'"'s name.

107. The method of claim 106 where the insurance request message comprises a request to modify an existing insurance policy associated with the insured user'"'"'s name.

108. The method of claim 106 where the request to modify comprises increasing or decreasing an amount of insurance coverage.

27-1. The mobile insurance system of claim 26 where the acceptance object comprises hardware that encodes signature data generated at the wireless mobile device to prevent unauthorized access during transmission to the insurer'"'"'s side server.

35. A method of electronically subscribing to an insurance provider, comprising:

receiving user identifying information at a mobile client device;

receiving insurable property information at the mobile client device, the insurable property information extracted from image data corresponding to an insurable property item;

generating an insurance request message based on the received user identifying information and the received insurable property information; and

transmitting the insurable request message to an insurance server, where the insurance server is remote from the mobile client device.

36. The method of claim 35 where the user identifying information is extracted from image data corresponding to an identification card.

37. The method of claim 35 where the identification card comprises a driver'"'"'s license.

38. The method of claim 35 where the identification card comprises an insurance card.

39. The method of claim 35 further comprising receiving geo-location data corresponding to a current location of the mobile client device;

and

verifying an address associated with the user identifying information is within a predefined distance of the current location of the mobile client device.

40. The method of claim 35 where the image data corresponding to the insurable property item comprises a vehicle identification number.

41. The method of claim 40 further comprising identifying vehicle information based on the vehicle identification number.

42. The method of claim 41 where identifying vehicle information comprises identifying a model of a vehicle, identifying a make of a vehicle, or identifying a year of a vehicle.

43. The method of claim 35 further comprising receiving vehicle violation information at the mobile client device, the vehicle violation information corresponding to a user of the insurable property item.

44. The method of claim 35 where transmitting the insurable request message to the insurance server comprises sending the insurable request message across a wireless network.

45. The method of claim 44 where the wireless network comprises a cellular network.

46. The method of claim 44 where the transmitting the insurable request message to the insurance server is performed through a proxy server in communication with the insurance server.

47. The method of claim 35 where the transmitting the insurable request message to the insurance server utilizes a hypertext based protocol.

50. The network device of claim 46 where the identification card comprises a driver'"'"'s license.

48. A network device comprising:

a processor in a mobile client device executing an insurance subscription application configured to perform the operations comprising;

receiving user identifying information at the mobile client device;

receiving insurable property information at the mobile client device, the insurable property information extracted from image data corresponding to an insurable property item;

generating an insurance request message based on the received user identifying information and the received insurable property information; and

transmitting the insurable request message to an insurance server, where the insurance server is remote from the mobile client device.

49. The network device of claim 48 where the processor is further configured to extract the user identifying information from image data corresponding to an identification card.

51. The network device of claim 48 where the insurable property information comprises a vehicle identification number.

52. The network device of claim 48 where the processor is further configured to identify vehicle information based on the vehicle identification number.

53. The network device of claim 52 where the vehicle information comprises a model of a vehicle, identifying a make of a vehicle, or identifying a year of a vehicle.

54. The network device of claim 48 where the processor is further configured to perform the operation of receiving vehicle violation information at the mobile client device, the vehicle violation information corresponding to a user of the insurable property item.

55. The network device of claim 48 where the processor is further configured to transmit the insurable request message to the insurance server across a plurality of wireless networks.

56. The network device of claim 55 where one of the wireless networks comprises a cellular network.

57. The network device of claim 55 where the insurable request message is transmitted to the insurance server across the wireless network indirectly through a proxy server.

58. The network device of claim 48 where the processor is further configured to transmit the insurable request message to the insurance server utilizing an hypertext based protocol.

59. A method performed by an insurance server comprising:

receiving an insurance request message from a mobile client device, where the mobile client device is remote from the insurance server;

extracting user identification information from the insurance request message;

extracting from the insurance request message insurable data associated with an image of an insurable property item that was received at the mobile client device; and

generating an insurance quote based on the extracted user identification information and the extracted insurable data.

60. The method of claim 59 where the user identification information comprises voice data.

61. The method of claim 59 where the insurable data identifies vehicle information.

62. The method of claim 61 where the vehicle information comprises a vehicle make, a vehicle model, or a vehicle year.

63. The method of claim 61 where the vehicle information is retrieved from a remote database.

64. The method of claim 61 where the vehicle information is automatically written into a mobile device insurance quote template.

65. The method of claim 62 where the user identification information is automatically written into a request for an insurance quote.

99. The method of claim 59 further comprising transmitting an insurance quote in real-time or in substantially real-time to the mobile client device.

103. The method of claim 65 where the user identifying information comprises a user change to an existing insurance policy associated with the insurable property item.

104. The method of claim 103 where the user change comprises adding a user name previously unassociated with the existing insurance policy.

105. The method of claim 104 where the user change comprises deleting a user name previously associated with the existing insurance policy.

66. A network device comprising:

a processor executing an insurance server configured to perform the operations of;

receiving an insurance request message from a mobile client device, where the mobile client device is remote from the insurance server;

extracting user identification information from the insurance request message;

extracting from the insurance request message insurable data associated with an image of an insurable property item that was received at the mobile client device; and

generating an insurance quote based on the extracted user identification information and the extracted insurable data.

67. The network device of claim 66 where the user identification information comprises voice data.

68. The network device of claim 66 where the insurable data identifies vehicle information.

69. The network device of claim 68 where the vehicle information comprises data describing a vehicle make, a vehicle model, or a vehicle year.

70. The network device of claim 68 where the processor is further configured to retrieve the vehicle information from a remote database.

71. The network device of claim 68 where the vehicle information is automatically appended to the request message by the processor.

72. The network device of claim 66 where the user identification information is automatically appended to the request message by the processor.

73. The network device of claim 66 where the user identification information comprises a user name or a user address.

74. A method of electronically submitting an insurance claim, comprising:

receiving user identifying information at a mobile client device;

receiving insurance claim data at the mobile client device, the insurance claim data extracted from image data corresponding to an insured item;

generating an insurance claim message based on the received user identifying information and the received insurance claim data; and

transmitting the insurance claim message to an insurance server, where the insurance server is remote from the mobile client device.

75. The method of claim 74 further comprising:

receiving an evaluation of the insurance claim message from the insurance server; and

receiving an insurance settlement from the insurance server that is separate from the insurance claim message that fully resolves the insurance claim without the involvement of any insurance personnel.

76. The method of claim 74 where the insurance claim data identifies a damaged portion on the insured item.

77. The method of claim 76 further comprising receiving geo-location data corresponding to a current location of the mobile client device;

and evaluating a severity of the damaged portion of the item.

78. The method of claim 77 further comprising transmitting the geo-location data to the insurance server.

79. The method of claim 77 further comprising transmitting the severity of the damaged portion of the item to the insurance server.

80. The method of claim 76 further comprising receiving geo-location data corresponding to a current location of the mobile client device and determining a location of an insurance agent within a predetermined distance of the current location of the mobile client device, the insurance agent associated with an insurance company that has underwritten an insurance policy on the insured item.

101. The method of claim 74 where the transmitting is performed in real-time or in substantially real-time.

81. A network device comprising:

a processor in a mobile client device executing an insurance claim application configured to execute code stored on a non-transitory media that enables;

receiving user identifying information at a mobile client device;

receiving insurance claim data at the mobile client device, the insurance claim data extracted from image data corresponding to an insured item;

generating an insurance claim message based on the received user identifying information and the received insurance claim data; and

transmitting the insurance claim message to an insurance server, where the mobile client device is remote from the insurance server.

82. The network device of claim 81 where the processor in the mobile client device executing the insurance claim application configured to execute code stored on a non-transitory media that enables:

receiving an evaluation of the insurance claim message from the insurance server; and

receiving an insurance settlement from the insurance server that is separate from the insurance claim message without the involvement of any insurance personnel.

83. The network device of claim 81 where the insurance claim data identifies a damaged area on the insured item.

84. The network device of claim 83 further comprising receiving geo-location data corresponding to a current location of the mobile client device and evaluating a severity of the damaged area.

85. The network device of claim 84 further comprising transmitting the geo-location data to the insurance server.

86. The network device of claim 84 further comprising transmitting the severity of the damaged portion of the item to the insurance server.

87. The network device of claim 83 further comprising receiving geo-location data corresponding to a current location of the mobile client device and determining a location of an insurance agent within a predetermined distance of the current location of the mobile client device, the insurance agent associated with an insurance provider that insured the insured item.

88. A method performed by an insurance server comprising:

receiving an insurance claim message from a mobile client device, where the mobile client device is remote from the insurance server;

extracting user identifying information from the insurance claim message;

extracting from the insurance claim message insurance claim data associated with an image of an insured item that was received at the mobile client device; and

generating a claim message based on the extracted user identifying information and the extracted insurance claim data.

89. The method of claim 88 further comprising:

transmitting an evaluation of the insurance claim message from the insurance server to the mobile client device; and

transmitting an insurance settlement from the insurance server that is separate from the insurance claim message that fully resolves the insurance claim without the involvement of any insurance personnel, and issues an electronic payment when one is due.

90. The method of claim 88 where the insurance claim data identifies a damaged portion on the insured item.

91. The method of claim 88 further comprising receiving geo-location data corresponding to a location of the mobile client device;

and evaluating a severity of the damaged area of the item.

92. The method of claim 91 further comprising transmitting a message that dispatches an insurance agent to the location of the mobile client device.

93. The method of claim 90 further comprising receiving geo-location data corresponding to a location of the mobile client device and determining a location of an insurance agent within a predetermined radius of the location of the mobile client device.

100. The method of claim 93 where the generating is performed in real-time or in substantially real-time.

102. The method of claim 88 where the generating is performed in real-time or in substantially real-time.

94. A network device, comprising:

a processor executing an insurance server software configured to perform the operations comprising;

receiving an insurance claim message from a mobile client device, where the mobile client device is remote from the insurance server;

extracting user identifying information from the insurance claim message;

extracting from the insurance claim message insurance claim data associated with an image of an insured item that was received at the mobile client device; and

generating a claim report message based on the extracted user identifying information and the extracted insurance claim data.

95. The network device of claim 94 where the processor executing the insurance server software is further configured to perform the operations comprising:

transmitting a settlement evaluation of the claim report message from the insurance server to the mobile client device; and

transmitting an insurance settlement from the insurance server that is separate from the claim report message that fully resolves the insurance claim without the in-person involvement of any insurance personnel, and renders an electronic payment if one is due.

96. The network device of claim 94 where the insurance claim data identifies a damaged area of the insured item.

97. The network device of claim 94 further comprising receiving geo-location data corresponding to a location of the mobile client device;

and evaluating a severity of the damaged area of the item.

98. The network device of claim 97 further comprising directing an insurance agent to the location of the mobile client device through directions transmitted to a second mobile client device.