Design grid for inputting insurance and investment product information in a computer system

• US 5,523,942 A
• Filed: 03/31/1994
• Issued: 06/04/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: New England Life Insurance Company (Brighthouse Financial, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: New England Mutual Life Insurance Co. (MetLife Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baker, Norman W., Lev, Christina M., Maimone, Maureen A., Tyler, Max C., Watson, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Gail O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Poinvil, Frantzy
• Application Number:
  US08/221,291
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 364/401, 364/406, 364/408, 395/149, 395/156, 395/157, 395/161
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

A computer implemented graphical user interface for receiving instructions and information relating to insurance products, and for displaying insurance proposals relating thereto. The graphical user interface has an insured section for receiving personal information about a person to be insured and a product design section for receiving information specifying an insurance product and the insurance products components. The product design section has a design grid which is a matrix enabling input of product information, premium information and dividend information relating to a selected insurance product. The design grid enables a user to select a solve procedure and variable as the subject of the selected solve procedure.

Claims

1. A computer implemented graphical user interface displayed on a computer screen for receiving instructions and information relating to a plurality of insurance products, and for displaying an insurance proposal related thereto, the graphical user interface comprising:

an insured section for receiving personal information about a person to be insured;

a product design section for receiving information specifying an insurance product being one of the plurality of insurance products and for specifying the components of the insurance product, the product design section including

a product line box enabling selection of an insurance product line,

a strategy box enabling selection of a strategy for a selected insurance product line,

a solve box enabling selection of a procedure for calculating one or more values relating to the selected insurance product line, and

a design grid being a matrix comprising of elements selected as a function of the selected product line, strategy and procedures for calculating, and for enabling input of product information, premium information and dividend information relating to the selected insurance product line, and enabling selection of a variable as the subject of the selected procedure for said product line; and

an output display section for displaying an insurance proposal, the insurance proposal created as a function of all of the personal information, the selected product line, a selected strategy, the product information, the premium information and the dividend information, and for displaying a result of applying the procedure to the variable.

2. The graphical user interface of claim 1 wherein the plurality of insurance products includes a life insurance product.

3. The graphical user interface of claim 1 wherein the product information comprises a plurality of product sub-components, and wherein the graphical user interface further comprises a detailed dialogue box for enabling variation of individual one or ones of the plurality of product sub-components.

4. The graphical user interface of claim 1 wherein the premium information comprises a plurality of premium sub-components, and wherein the graphical user interface further comprises a detailed dialogue box for enabling variation of individual one or ones of the plurality of premium sub-components.

5. The graphical user interface of claim 1 wherein the premium information comprises a plurality of dividend sub-components, and wherein the graphical user interface further comprises a detailed dialogue box for enabling variation of individual one or ones of the plurality of dividend sub-components.

6. A computer implemented graphical user interface displayed on a computer screen for receiving instructions and information relating to a plurality of investment products, and for displaying an investment proposal related thereto, the graphical user interface comprising:

an insured section for receiving personal information about a person making an investment;

a product design section for receiving information specifying an investment product being one of the plurality of investment products and for specifying the components of the investment product, the product design section including

a product line box enabling selection of an investment product line,

a strategy box enabling selection of a strategy for a selected investment product line,

a solve box enabling selection of a procedure for calculating one or more values relating to the selected investment product line, and

a design grid being a matrix comprising of elements selected as a function of the selected product line, strategy and procedures for calculating, and for enabling input of product information, premium information and dividend information relating to the selected investment product line, and enabling selection of a variable as the subject of the selected procedure for said product line; and

an output display section for displaying an investment proposal, the investment proposal created as a function of all of the personal information, the selected product line, a selected strategy, the product information, the premium information and the dividend information.

7. The graphical user interface of claim 6 wherein the output display section further comprises means for displaying a result obtained by applying the procedure to the variable.

8. A computer implemented graphical user interface displayed on a computer screen for receiving instructions and information relating to a plurality of insurance products, and for displaying an insurance proposal related thereto, the graphical user interface comprising:

means for receiving personal information about a person to be insured;

means for receiving information specifying an insurance product being one of the plurality of insurance products and for specifying the components of the insurance product, said means including

means for selecting an insurance product line,

means for selecting a strategy for a selected insurance product line,

means for selecting a procedure for calculating one or more values relating to the selected insurance product line,

means for enabling input on a single grid of product information, premium information and dividend information relating to the selected insurance product line wherein said grid comprising of elements of the selected product line, strategy and procedures for calculating, and

means for enabling selection on the grid of a variable as the subject of the selected procedure;

means for displaying an insurance proposal, the insurance proposal created as a function of all of the personal information, the selected product line, a selected strategy, the product information, the premium information and the dividend information; and

means for displaying a result of applying the procedure to the variable.

9. A computer-based method for receiving instructions and information relating to a plurality of insurance products on one user interface, and for displaying an insurance proposal related thereto, the method comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface on a display device, the graphical user interface including a design grid being a matrix for designing a plurality of different insurance proposals;

receiving as input at the graphical user interface personal information about a person to be insured;

receiving as input at the graphical user interface information specifying an insurance product line;

receiving as input at the graphical user interface information specifying a strategy for the insurance product line;

receiving as input at the graphical user interface information specifying a procedure for calculating one or more values relating to the insurance product line;

receiving product information at the design grid relating to the insurance product line;

receiving premium information at the design grid relating to the insurance product line;

receiving dividend information at the design grid relating to the insurance product line;

at the design grid, enabling selection of a solve variable as the subject of the selected procedure;

displaying, on the graphical user interface, an insurance proposal created as a function of the personal information, the insurance product line, the strategy, the product information, the premium information, and the dividend information; and

displaying, as part of the insurance proposal, a result of the procedure when applied to the solve variable.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein input received at the graphical user interface is validated prior to displaying the insurance proposal.