SYSTEM FOR SENSOR ENABLED REPORTING AND NOTIFICATION IN A DISTRIBUTED NETWORK

• US 20170023702A1
• Filed: 07/23/2015
• Published: 01/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2015
• 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: Smyth, Eugene T., Fox, Deborah D., Hooda, Roopak, Mattson, Kristen Sara, Sanders, Kristian L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,330,826 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/02 Instruments for indicating weather conditions by measuring two or more variables, e.g. humidity, pressure, temperature, cloud cover or wind speed G01W1/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 2001/006 Main server receiving weather information from several sub-stations

Abstract

A sensor based system for capturing localized weather data and a server system for communicating with a plurality of reporting and recipient mobile communication devices. The communication devices are enabled to capture additional weather information to supplement the sensor based system.

Claims

1. A server system for enabling an electronic warning system, the system comprising:

a plurality of devices configured to capture information from a distributed geographic area; and

a server configured to receive the captured device information, the server including a data store for storing the received device information; and

a processor for processing the stored data, the processor configured to generate a series of electronic transmissions messages to selected ones of the plurality of devices based on the processed stored data, the selected ones of the devices associated with a plurality of policyholders who have indicated a preference to receive the electronic transmission messages, the messages associated with protecting certain real property covered in one or more policy documents associated with the policyholders.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of devices is a personal weather station.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of devices is enabled to detect wind and hail conditions.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of devices is enabled to capture temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, and precipitation amounts.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of devices are enabled to initiate a claim.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the electronic transmission messages include proactive measures to protect property associated with the policyholders.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic transmission messages are delivered via a combination of audible and tactile delivery.

8. A server for receiving weather related information and transmitting electronic warning messages, the server comprising:

an interface for communicating with a plurality of devices to capture data about a weather event, and

a processor communicatively coupled with the interface, the processor configured to compile the captured data and determine a region of warning, the processor further configured to identify a plurality of property associated with the determined region of warning and generate at least one message for delivery via the interface to at least one of the plurality of devices associated with the identified property, the messages providing at least a warning of the weather event affecting the identified property.

9. The server of claim 8, wherein the plurality of devices comprises a combination of two or more of an anemometer, a wind vane, a thermometer, a hygrometer, a barometer, and a rain gauge.

10. The server of claim 8, wherein the plurality of devices is further enabled to provide ultraviolet (UV) index, leaf wetness, soil moisture, soil temperature, water temperature.

11. The server of claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of devices further comprises a user interface for capturing weather information via an image sensor.

12. The server of claim 11, wherein the user interface comprises a device selected from:

an alphanumeric keypad, a touch screen, a fingerprint scanner, an optical scanner, a signature pad, a proximity detector, an audio recording device, a camera and any combination thereof.

13. The server of claim 12, further comprising an auxiliary sensor.

14. The server of claim 8, wherein the property is identified based on criteria associated with one or more insurance policies.

15. A wireless device capable of having a plurality of operating modes, the wireless device comprising:

an integrated device capable of toggling between a reporting mode and a warning mode; and

a processor operatively coupled to the integrated device, the processor adapted to determine whether a change of at least one state of weather has occurred based upon weather factors, the processor also adapted to change a first reporting operating mode of the plurality of operating modes of the wireless device, to a second warning operating mode of the plurality of operating modes of the wireless device.

16. A method for providing a warning system to protect insured property, the method comprising:

accessing a plurality of devices to acquire weather data, the plurality of devices being spread throughout a geographic area;

accessing third party weather data;

compiling the third party data and the device acquired data to determine at least one region of threat associated with the weather;

correlating the region of threat with insured property to determine property that is endangered by the weather;

configuring a warning message to ones of the plurality of devices associated with the endangered property; and

transmitting the configured warning message to the ones.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving feedback from at least a portion of the ones, the feedback providing evidence that corrective measures were taken to lessen damage to endangered property.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the feedback is used to reduce a premium associated with insurance for the endangered property.