System for syndication of insurance

• US 6,119,093 A
• Filed: 07/01/1997
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Asset Management Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Sparico, Thomas M., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tkacs, Stephen R.
• Application Number:
  US08/886,256
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 705/4, 705/35, 705/36, 705/37, 705/38, 705/39
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

A system is described for facilitating a syndicated sale of an insurance policy. The system employs a processor and a storage device connected to the processor, and a data receiving device and data output device connected to the processor. The processor executes a program to receive information relating to the insurance policy, and to transmit for electronic viewing by a potential buyer an invitation to offer to buy a share in the underwriting of the insurance policy. The share has associated therewith a risk cost assessable to the buyer if payment is made on a claim under the insurance policy. The processor receives offers to underwrite the share of the insurance policy; each offer includes information identifying collateral against which the risk cost may be charged in the event of payment on a claim. The transmission of the invitation and the offer to buy a share may advantageously be made on the Internet.

Claims

1. An apparatus for facilitating a syndicated sale of an insurance policy, the apparatus comprising:

a processing system including a processor;

a data receiving device connected to the processing system for receiving data;

a data storage device connected to the processing system for storing policy information relating to the insurance policy and a data structure that associates the policy information and buyers of shares in an underwriting of the insurance policy; and

a data output device connected to the processing system for outputting data,

wherein the processing system is operative to execute a program to direct the apparatus to receive policy information relating to the insurance policy, to transmit for electronic viewing by a potential buyer an invitation to offer to buy a share in an underwriting of the insurance policy, the invitation including at least a portion of the policy information, the share having associated therewith a risk cost assessable to a buyer of the share if a payment to an insured is made pursuant to the insurance policy, and to receive an offer to buy the share, the offer including information identifying collateral against which the risk cost may be charged if the payment to the insured pursuant to the insurance policy is made.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the program is further adapted to cause the processor to transmit the invitation to offer to buy the share on an electronic network to a plurality of buyers.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the program is adapted to accept the offer and the collateral so as to at least partially underwrite the insurance policy.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the collateral is a credit account, and the program is further adapted to initiate an electronic communication with an issuer of the credit account to determine whether sufficient credit is available to cover the risk cost, and to electronically initiate a credit freeze with respect to the credit account, so as to secure a credit amount necessary to cover the risk cost.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the program is further adapted to cause the processor to electronically receive notice if the credit account is closed or if the necessary credit amount is otherwise made unavailable, and to initiate rescission of the offer in response to such notice.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the program is further adapted to initiate an electronic communication with the issuer of the credit account to make a charge against the credit account in accordance with the share if the payment to the insured pursuant to the insurance policy is made.

7. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the program is further adapted to cause the processor to provide information regarding the share and the buyer of the share, to facilitate payment of a portion of a premium associated with the insurance policy to the buyer of the share, the portion having a size in accordance with the share.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage device stores information regarding the insurance policy, the offer to buy the share, the buyer of the share, the share and the risk cost associated therewith and the collateral.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing system further includes a cryptoprocessor connected to the processor, and the cryptoprocessor encrypts electronic transmissions outputted from the apparatus through the output means and decrypts electronic transmissions received by the apparatus through the receiving means.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the cryptoprocessor comprises a software engine executed by the processor.

11. An apparatus for facilitating a syndicated sale of an insurance policy, the apparatus comprising:

a processing system including a processor and a storage device connected to the processor;

a data receiving device connected to the processing system for receiving data; and

a data output device connected to the processing system for outputting data,

wherein the storage device contains a program, adapted to be executed by the processor, to direct the apparatus to receive policy information relating to the insurance policy, to transmit for electronic viewing by a potential buyer an invitation to offer to buy a share in an underwriting of the insurance policy, the invitation including at least a portion of the policy information, the share having associated therewith a risk cost assessable to a buyer of the share if a payment to an insured is made pursuant to the insurance policy, and to receive an offer to buy the share, the offer including information identifying collateral against which the risk cost may be charged if the payment to the insured pursuant to the insurance policy is made,

wherein the program is adapted to accept the offer and the collateral so as to at least partially underwrite the insurance policy,

wherein the collateral is a credit account, and the program is further adapted to initiate an electronic communication with an issuer of the credit account to determine whether sufficient credit is available to cover the risk cost, and to electronically initiate a credit freeze with respect to the credit account, so as to secure a credit amount necessary to cover the risk cost, and

wherein the credit account is a credit card account and the credit freeze is a freeze against available credit.

12. An apparatus for facilitating a syndicated sale of an insurance policy, the apparatus comprising:

a processing system including a processor;

a data receiving device connected to the processing system for receiving data;

a data storage device connected to the processing system for storing policy information relating to the insurance policy and a data structure that associates the policy information and buyers of shares in an underwriting of the insurance policy; and

a data output device connected to the processing system for outputting data,

wherein the processing system is operative to execute a program to direct the apparatus to provide policy information regarding the insurance policy, to initiate a premium payment to a buyer of a share of the policy of a portion of a premium associated with the policy, the portion having a size in accordance with the share, and to initiate a communication to make a charge against a credit account of the buyer in accordance with the share if a claim payment to an insured pursuant to the insurance policy is made.

13. An apparatus for facilitating a syndicated sale of an insurance policy, the apparatus comprising:

a processing system including a processor and a storage device connected to the processor;

a data receiving device connected to the processing system for receiving data; and

a data output device connected to the processing system for outputting data,

wherein the storage device contains a program, adapted to be executed by the processor, to direct the apparatus to provide policy information regarding the insurance policy, to initiate a premium payment to a buyer of a share of the policy of a portion of a premium associated with the policy, the portion having a size in accordance with the share, and to initiate a communication to make a charge against a credit account of the buyer in accordance with the share if a claim payment to an insured pursuant to the insurance policy is made, and

wherein the credit account is a credit card account, and the program is further adapted to direct the apparatus to initiate a freeze against available credit with respect to the credit card account in accordance with the share.

14. An apparatus for facilitating a syndicated sale of an insurance policy, the apparatus comprising:

a processing system including a processor and a storage device connected to the processor;

a data receiving device connected to the processing system for receiving data; and

a data output device connected to the processing system for outputting data,

wherein the storage device contains a program, adapted to be executed by the processor, to direct the apparatus to receive a query regarding an availability of credit of a credit account of a buyer of a share of the insurance policy sufficient to cover a risk cost associated with the share, to transmit a response to the query, to perform a credit freeze with respect to the credit account so as to secure a credit amount necessary to cover the risk cost, and to transmit a verification that the credit freeze has been performed, and

wherein the credit account is a credit card account and the credit freeze is a freeze against available credit.

15. An automated computer-implemented method of syndicating underwriting of an insurance policy, comprising the steps of:

providing electronic data including information relating to the insurance policy;

receiving electronic data identifying a buyer of a share in the underwriting of the insurance policy, the received electronic data including an identifier of a credit card account against which a risk cost to the buyer can be collateralized,

initiating an electronic communication with an issuer of the credit card account to determine whether sufficient credit is available to cover the risk cost; and

electronically initiating a credit freeze with respect to the credit card account, so as to secure a credit amount necessary to cover the risk cost,

wherein the credit freeze is a freeze against available credit.

16. A computer readable medium in which is stored computer readable code to be executed by a computer, the computer readable code performing a method of syndicating underwriting of an insurance policy, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving policy information regarding the insurance policy;

storing the policy information on a data storage device;

transmitting an invitation for electronic viewing by a potential buyer to offer to buy a share in an underwriting of the insurance policy, the invitation including at least a portion of the policy information, the share having associated therewith a risk cost assessable to a buyer if a payment to an insured is made pursuant to the insurance policy;

receiving an offer to buy the share, the offer including information identifying a buyer and collateral against which the risk cost may be charged if the payment to the insured pursuant to the insurance policy is made, the collateral being a line of credit on a credit account;

storing data on the data storage device that associates the policy information and the buyer;

initiating a communication to determine an availability of credit sufficient to cover the risk cost;

requesting a credit freeze with respect to the credit account so as to secure a credit amount necessary to cover the risk cost; and

transmitting to the buyer an indication of acceptance of the offer and the collateral.

17. A system for facilitating a syndicated sale of an insurance policy, comprising:

a first processing system including

a first processor,

a first communication device connected to the first processor for performing Internet communications, and

a first storage device connected to the first processor, the first storage device containing a first program, adapted to be executed by the first processor, for

receiving on the Internet policy information regarding the insurance policy, transmitting on the Internet an invitation for electronic viewing by a potential buyer to offer to buy a share in an underwriting of the insurance policy, the invitation including at least a portion of the policy information, the share having associated therewith a risk cost assessable to a buyer if a payment to an insured is made pursuant to the insurance policy,

receiving on the Internet an offer to buy the share, the offer including information identifying collateral against which the risk cost may be charged if the payment to the insured pursuant to the insurance policy is made, the collateral being a line of credit on a credit account,

initiating a communication to determine an availability of credit sufficient to cover the risk cost,

requesting a credit freeze with respect to the credit account so as to secure a credit amount necessary to cover the risk cost, and

transmitting on the Internet to the buyer an indication of acceptance of the offer and the collateral;

a second processing system including

a second processor,

a second communication device connected to the second processor for performing Internet communications, and

a second storage device connected to the second processor, the second storage device containing a second program, adapted to be executed by the second processor, for

providing the policy information on the Internet,

initiating payment of a portion of a premium associated with the insurance policy to the buyer, the portion having a size in accordance with the share, and

initiating a communication to make a charge against the credit account in accordance with the share if the payment to the insured pursuant to the insurance policy is made; and

a third processing system including

a third processor,

a third communication device connected to the third processor for performing communications, and

a third storage device connected to the third processor, the third storage device containing a third program, adapted to be executed by the third processor, for

responding to the communication from said first processing system to determine the availability of credit sufficient to cover the risk cost,

performing the credit freeze with respect to the credit account,

transmitting to said first processing system a verification of the credit freeze, and

making the charge against the credit account in response to the communication from said second processing system.

18. A method of syndicating underwriting of an insurance policy by using Internet communications, the method comprising the steps of:

providing policy information on the Internet regarding the insurance policy;

transmitting on the Internet an invitation for electronic viewing by a potential buyer to offer to buy a share in an underwriting of the insurance policy, the invitation including at least a portion of the policy information, the share having associated therewith a risk cost assessable to a buyer if a payment to an insured is made pursuant to the insurance policy;

receiving on the Internet an offer to buy the share, the offer including information identifying collateral against which the risk cost may be charged if the payment to the insured pursuant to the insurance policy is made, the collateral being a line of credit on a credit account;

determining an availability of credit sufficient to cover the risk cost;

initiating a credit freeze with respect to the credit account so as to secure a credit amount necessary to cover the risk cost; and

transmitting on the Internet to the buyer an indication of acceptance of the offer and the collateral;

initiating payment of a portion of a premium associated with the insurance policy to the buyer, the portion having a size in accordance with the share; and

charging against the credit card account in accordance with the share if a claim payment to an insured pursuant to the insurance policy is made.