Customizable Insurance System

• US 20130238368A1
• Filed: 04/17/2013
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Progressive Casualty Insurance Company (Progressive Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Progressive Casualty Insurance Company (Progressive Corporation)
• Inventors: Renwick, Glenn M., Michael, Daniel, Chiang, Faith, Willis, Dale A., Rolnik, David L., Ling, Raymond S., Gehrmann, Daniel, Callahan, Patrick K., Alfred, Toby K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,183,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

An automated insurance quote system allows users to apply for one or more insurance quotes through a self-service communication channel. The system includes an interface that may receive applicant data from a remote location. A front-end processor selectively passes applicant data to a record keeping system retained in a memory. A controller or quote processors selects and transmits one or more insurance policies that are allowed under a user'"'"'s governmental law and are tailored to the user'"'"'s price and/or coverage preferences. The system conveys coverage details to users through the interface.

Claims

1. An automated insurance quote system, comprising:

an interface that receives applicant data from a user;

a front-end processor that selectively passes applicant data entered by a user to a record keeping system in a memory, the record keeping system comprising records, each of which comprise fields that facilitate searching, sorting, and recombining the applicant data with other data;

a quote processor programmed to customize insurance coverages and premiums that are allowed under the applicant'"'"'s applicable law that are tailored to the applicant'"'"'s characteristics or preferences included in the applicant data; and

means for conveying an insurance quote to a user through the interface.

2. The automated insurance quote system of claim 1, where insurance coverage is tailored by a user entering a desired price.

3. The automated insurance quote system of claim 1, where insurance coverage is tailored by a user controlling a scroll bar.

4. The automated insurance quote system of claim 1 where the interface comprises an object-oriented interface.

5. The automated insurance quote system of claim 1 further comprises logic stored in a memory that is executable by the quote processor to quantify the applicant data through a numerical scale.

6. The automated insurance quote system of claim 5 where the quote processor translates insurance coverage priorities into a numerical values that identify one or more insurance coverages.

7. The automated insurance quote system of claim 1 further comprising logic stored in a memory that is executable by the quote processor to harvest information from a remote server that retains data on the user'"'"'s governmental laws and regulations.

8. The automated insurance quote system of claim 1 where the front-end processor and the quote processor comprise a fat client that executes substantially all of the processing of the automated insurance quote system.

9. The automated insurance quote system of claim 1 where the front-end processor and the quote processor comprise a fat server that executes substantially all of the processing of the automated insurance quote system.

10. The automated insurance quote system of claim 1 where the means for conveying an insurance quote to a user comprises transmitting a hyperlink that comprises unique identifiers that identifies a user'"'"'s identity, an insurance product, and data associated with an insurance request.

11. The automated insurance quote system of claim 1 where the interface comprises one or more interactive-toggle buttons programmed so that the selection of one button deselects a displayed insurance coverage pattern and renders one or more line coverage areas.

12. The automated insurance quote system of claim 1 where the interface comprises a scroll bar that is responsive to a relative and an absolute pointing device, the scroll bar comprising a plurality of active areas for moving incrementally or arbitrarily though price points that are associated and rendered with one or more insurance line coverages.

13. The automated insurance quote system of claim 1 where the active areas comprise a proximal end and a distal end for moving incrementally between price points, a sliding scroll box for moving to an arbitrary price point, and a plurality of intermediate areas between the sliding scroll box and the proximal end and the distal end for moving in greater increments than a proximal end actuation or a distal end actuation.

14. The automated insurance quote system of claim 12 where the interface further comprises a Rich Internet Application that supports asynchronous communication that pre-fetches executable code based on a prediction of a user'"'"'s preferences.