SMART SENSORS FOR ROOF ICE FORMATION AND PROPERTY CONDITION MONITORING

• US 20160042463A1
• Filed: 08/06/2014
• Published: 02/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hartford Fire Insurance Company (The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hartford Fire Insurance Company (The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gillespie, Richard P.
• Granted Patent: US 10,354,329 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/02 Alarm responsive to formation or anticipated formation of ice

Abstract

Embodiments include a system providing sensor feedback for property condition monitoring, including: a plurality of sensors disposed in a roof structure of a property; the plurality of sensors providing output indicative of ice formation associated with the roof structure; a hub device that receives output from the plurality of sensors, the hub device detecting at least one sensor output indicative of ice formation and providing a notification regarding the ice formation; a computing device of an insurance carrier that receives the notification, the computing device updating a status of the property in an insurance carrier database in response to the notification; and a communication link between the plurality of sensors, the hub device and the computing device of an insurance carrier. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A system providing sensor feedback for property condition monitoring, comprising:

a plurality of sensors disposed in a roof structure of a property and providing output indicative of ice formation associated with the roof structure;

a hub device that receives output from the plurality of sensors, the hub device detecting at least one sensor output indicative of ice formation and providing a notification regarding the ice formation;

the hub device sending the notification to a computing device of an insurance carrier, the notification of the hub device being formatted to allow the computing device of the insurance carrier to update a status of the property in an insurance carrier database using the notification; and

a communication link between the plurality of sensors, the hub device and the computing device of an insurance carrier.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the hub device includes a communication interface for third party data input.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the communication interface receives data from third party sensors monitoring other property characteristics.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the hub device reports the other property characteristics to the computing device of an insurance carrier.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the hub device uses the communication link to monitor the plurality of sensors.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the hub device:

determines an operability characteristic via monitoring of the plurality of sensors; and

provides an operability notification in response to determining the operability characteristic indicates that at least one sensor is not operating.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the operability notification is communicated by the hub device to the computing device of an insurance carrier.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors measures contact between an upper and lower section of the roof structure.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of sensors measures an amount of separation between an upper and lower section of the roof structure.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein locations of the plurality of sensors within the roof structure are mapped.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the locations of the plurality of sensors within the roof structure are communicated to the computing device of the insurance carrier.

12. A computing device of an insurance carrier using sensor feedback for property condition monitoring, comprising:

a link to an insurance carrier database storing information on insured properties;

an input element that receives data derived from a plurality of sensors disposed in a roof structure of a property and providing data indicative of ice formation associated with the roof structure;

a processor; and

a memory storing program instructions that when executed by the processor;

detect at least one sensor output indicative of ice formation; and

update a status of the property in the insurance carrier database in response to the notification.

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the program instructions are further executed by the processor to use the status of the property in the insurance carrier database to forecast high claims geographic areas.

14. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the program instructions are further executed by the processor to use the forecasted high claims geographic areas to identify one or more properties situated therein and associated with a property providing sensor data indicative of ice damage.

15. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the program instructions are further executed by the processor to provide an alert in response to the notification.

16. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the alert is selected from the group consisting of a low level alert and a severe alert.

17. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the alert is transmitted to at least one mobile device.

18. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the at least one mobile device is selected based on the type of alert.

19. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the program instructions are further executed by the processor to monitor the plurality of sensors.

20. The computing device of claim 19, wherein the program instructions are further executed by the processor to:

determine an operability characteristic via monitoring of the plurality of sensors; and

provide an operability notification in response to determining the operability characteristic indicates that at least one sensor is not operating.

21. The computing device of claim 20, wherein the computing uses the operability notification to update the status of the property in the insurance carrier database.

22. The computing device of claim 21, wherein the computing device of an insurance carrier provides an alert in response to the operability notification.

23. A computer implemented method of using sensor feedback for property condition monitoring, comprising:

receiving, over a network communication link, data derived from a plurality of sensors disposed in a roof structure of a property and providing output indicative of a ice formation;

detecting, using a processor, at least one sensor output indicative of a changed sensor output with respect to roof section separation due to environmental conditions;

providing, using an output device operatively coupled to the processor, a notification to an insurance carrier, the notification indicating the changed sensor condition; and

updating a status of the property in an insurance carrier database in response to the notification.

24. The computer implemented method of claim 23, further comprising:

receiving, over the network communication link, third party data input regarding the property;

monitoring, using a processor analyzing the third party data, other property characteristics of the property; and

reporting, using an output device operatively coupled to a processor, the other property characteristics to the insurance carrier.

25. The computer implemented method of claim 23, further comprising:

monitoring, using a processor, the plurality of sensors;

determining, using a processor, an operability characteristic via monitoring of the plurality of sensors; and

providing, using an output device operatively coupled to a processor, an operability notification in response to determining the operability characteristic indicates that at least one sensor is not operating;

wherein the operability notification is communicated to an insurance carrier.

26. The computer implemented method of claim 23, wherein the sensors are smart nails.

27. The computer implemented method of claim 23, wherein the plurality of sensors disposed are installed by an installation tool that correlates each sensor with a location on the roof structure.

28. The computer implemented method of claim 23, wherein the environmental conditions relate to at least one of ice dams, wind, and snow.