System and method of providing pricing information

• US 8,271,304 B1
• Filed: 03/19/2010
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Van Cleave, Robert Jackson, Kuhn, James Steven, Moritz, Karen Marie, Mills, Steven Carl, Dye, Myron Leo, Clark, Larry Wayne, Pawelek, David Ray
• Primary Examiner(s): Lubin, Valerie
• Application Number:
  US12/727,874
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method capable of providing an estimated premium without extensive and repetitive questioning. The present invention utilizes unique assumptions to dramatically reduce the amount of information that must be provided by the customer. In one embodiment, the present invention utilizes a mainframe computer system, an application server, and an external rules management system to interact with the customer via an attractive graphic user interface. Once logged onto the website of the present invention, the customer may choose to engage in a fast quote process which utilizes assumptions, driver information, and vehicle information to assess the risk associated with insuring the customer and then calculates an estimated cost to insure.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of providing pricing information, comprising:

dynamically updating, at a host computer, an assumption set of customer characteristics comprising at least one assumption derived from customer data, wherein the dynamic updating is based on feedback from a plurality of customers;

presenting the assumption set to a user at a client computer;

receiving, at the host computer from the client computer, a set of information from the user, wherein the set of information includes a confirmation of whether each assumption in the assumption set applies to the user;

conditionally estimating a first price or a second price for a product based on the confirmation, wherein estimating the first price for the product is based on the assumption set, and wherein estimating the second price for the product is based on user-provided information to be used in place of the assumption set; and

presenting the first or second price to the user at the client computer.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the product comprises vehicle insurance.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the assumption set of customer characteristics comprises the user having a good credit rating, the user having an active driver'"'"'s license, the user having a vehicle worth less than a threshold value, the user having annual vehicular usage less than 12,000 miles per year, and the user seeking to insure a vehicle built according to a set of regulations.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving the set of information from the user comprises receiving information about the user.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the information about the user comprises driver information, previous insurance coverage, driver identification, and driver history.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving the set of information from the user comprises receiving information about a vehicle to be insured by the user.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the information about the vehicle comprises a vehicle location, a make &

model, and vehicle safety devices.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the assumption set is derived from customer data based on which assumptions apply to the greatest number of customers.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the assumption set is derived from customer data based on which assumptions apply to a majority of customers.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the assumption set is derived from customer data based on which assumptions apply to at least 80% of the customers.

11. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed by a host computer, cause the host computer to provide pricing information by:

dynamically updating an assumption set of customer characteristics comprising at least one assumption derived from customer data, wherein the dynamic updating is based on feedback from a plurality of customers;

presenting the assumption set to a user at a client computer;

receiving, at the host computer from the client computer, a set of information from the user, wherein the set of information includes a confirmation of whether each assumption in the assumption set applies to the user;

conditionally estimating a first price or a second price for a product based on the confirmation, wherein estimating the first price for the product is based on the assumption set, and wherein estimating the second price for the product is based on user-provided information to be used in place of the assumption set; and

presenting the first or second price to the user at the client computer.

12. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the product comprises vehicle insurance.

13. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the assumption set of customer characteristics comprises the user having a good credit rating, the user having an active driver'"'"'s license, the user having a vehicle worth less than a threshold value, the user having annual vehicular usage less than 12,000 miles per year, and the user seeking to insure a vehicle built according to a set of regulations.

14. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein receiving the set of information from the user comprises receiving information about the user, and wherein the information about the user comprises driver information, previous insurance coverage, driver identification, and driver history.

15. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein receiving the set of information from the user comprises receiving information about a vehicle to be insured by the user, and wherein the information about the vehicle comprises a vehicle location, a make &

model, and vehicle safety devices.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the assumption set is derived from customer data based on which assumptions apply to the greatest number of customers.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the assumption set is derived from customer data based on which assumptions apply to a majority of customers.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the assumption set is derived from customer data based on which assumptions apply to at least 80% of the customers.

19. A computer system for providing pricing information comprising:

a storage device configured to store electronic data, wherein the storage device contains an assumption set of customer characteristics comprising at least one assumption derived front customer data; and

an application server coupled to the storage device and configured to;

dynamically update the assumption set based on feedback from a plurality of customers;

present the assumption set to a user at a client computer;

receive, at the computer system from the client computer, a set of information from the user, wherein the set of information includes a confirmation of whether each assumption in the assumption set applies to the user;

conditionally estimate a first price or a second price for a product based on the confirmation, wherein estimating the first price for the product is based on the assumption set, and wherein estimating the second price for the product is based on user-provided information to be used in place of the assumption set; and

present the first or second price to the user at the client computer.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the product comprises vehicle insurance.