SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING DAMAGE TO INSURED PROPERTIES OR STRUCTURES

• US 20150356686A1
• Filed: 06/09/2014
• Published: 12/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Original Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Inventors: Cook, Michael K., Sanidas, Tim G., Guidry, Jonathan, O'Donnell, Jason, Dewey, Doug
• Granted Patent: US 9,727,921 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

Methods and systems for processing data associated with potential damage to a portion of the property. One or more sensors may be disposed in proximity to the portion of the property, where the one or more sensors are configured to sense physical force applied to the portion. A controller module calculates mechanical force data based on the sensor data and estimates an amount of damage to the portion of the property based on the mechanical force data. In some aspects, an insurance provider can use the estimated amount of damage to perform insurance coverage functionalities, estimate damage to additional properties, maintain a damage history for the property, and notify customers of suggested improvements to the property.

Claims

1. A method of detecting damage to a property, the method comprising:

collecting sensor data from at least one sensor included in a sensor array of a specified area, the sensor array disposed in proximity to a portion of the property, the sensor data corresponding to an electrical charge generated by the at least one sensor in response to a physical force exerted on the portion of the property;

converting the sensor data into mechanical force data;

accessing data indicative of a surface area of the portion of the property;

identifying a ratio between the specified area of the sensor array and the surface area of the portion of the property;

calculating a total amount of mechanical force exerted on the portion of the property by multiplying the mechanical force data by the ratio between the specified area of the sensor array and the surface area of the portion of the property;

estimating, by a processor, an amount of damage to the portion of the property based on the total amount of mechanical force; and

communicating, in near real-time relative to collecting the sensor data, the amount of damage to a server via a communications network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion is a roof, and wherein estimating the amount of damage to the roof of the property comprises:

estimating the amount of damage to the roof based on the total amount of mechanical force and property data including at least one of;

a date of construction, a type of roof material, a construction technique, an age of the structure, a location of the structure, a pitch of the roof, or a size of the roof.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein accessing the data indicative of the surface area of the portion of the property comprises:

receiving, via a short range communication, the data indicative of the surface area from a tag disposed in proximity to the roof of the property.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the amount of damage in a memory record associated with the portion of the property.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating the amount of damage comprises:

storing the amount of damage in a memory device;

detecting a network connection to the server; and

responsive to detecting the network connection, transmitting the amount of damage to the server via the communications network.

2. (canceled)

7. A system for detecting damage to a portion of a property, comprising:

a sensor array of a specified area disposed in proximity to the portion of the property and including at least one sensor configured to;

detect a physical force exerted on the portion of the property, and

generate an electrical charge corresponding to the physical force;

a communication module configured to connect to a remote server via a communications network;

a memory storing a set of instructions;

a processor adapted to interface with the at least one sensor, the communication module, and the memory, and configured to execute the set of instructions to;

retrieve sensor data from the at least one sensor, the sensor data corresponding to the electrical charge generated by the at least one sensor,

convert the sensor data into mechanical force data,

access data indicative of a surface area of the portion of the property,

identify a ratio between the specified area of the sensor array and the surface area of the portion of the property,

calculate a total amount of mechanical force exerted on the portion of the property by multiplying the mechanical force data by the ratio between the specified area of the sensor array and the surface area of the portion of the property,

estimate an amount of damage to the portion of the property based on the total amount of mechanical force, and

cause the communication module to send, in near real-time relative to the at least one sensor detecting the physical force, the amount of damage to the remote server via the communications network.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the portion is a roof, and wherein the processor is configured to execute the set of instructions to:

estimate the amount of damage to the roof based on the total amount of mechanical force and property data comprising at least one of;

a date of construction, a type of roof material, a construction technique, an age of the structure, a location of the structure, a pitch of the roof or a size of the roof.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one sensor is arranged as an array of piezoelectric sensors.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the array of piezoelectric sensors comprises an amount of piezoelectric sensors in a range of twenty (20) to thirty (30).

12. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

an enclosure secured to a surface of the portion of the property, wherein the at least one sensor is contained within the enclosure.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the set of instructions to:

cause the memory to store the amount of damage in a memory record associated with the portion of the property.

8. (canceled)

14-20. -20. (canceled)