Real-time insurance estimate based on non-personal identifying information

• US 8,719,135 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2013
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Inventors: Oldham, Craig, Hobart, Michael Frederick, Krieter, Dean, Porras, Javier, Herrmann, Jeffrey Robert, Wojcik, John Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Havan, Thu Thao
• Application Number:
  US13/890,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20130246101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 362 Days
• Field of Search: 705 35- 40
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing estimated insurance quotes/premiums are described herein. After analyzing rate factors, a subset of rate factors are selected that yield a fairly accurate estimated insurance premium from a minimum amount of information easily obtainable from a user. The user inputs a value from a predetermined set of allowable inputs (value input filter). After receiving and analyzing the user inputs, the system generates one or more estimates and displays the one or more estimates to the user, e.g., via a web page. When multiple estimates are provided, the multiple estimates may differ based on the level of coverage, add-on features, or both. Readily known non-personal identifying information is preferably requested and used, thereby alleviating privacy concerns while still being able to provide an estimate to the user very quickly, e.g., under 30 seconds, once all the requested information is obtained.

Claims

1. A method of providing an automobile insurance estimate, comprising:

receiving at an insurance rate computer, first user input identifying a geographic location in which the insured vehicles reside, wherein the first user input does not comprise any personal identifying information;

receiving at the insurance rate computer, second user input identifying marital status, gender, age, and driving history for each of one or more drivers to be insured, wherein the second user input does not comprise any personal identifying information;

receiving at the insurance rate computer, third user input identifying a vehicle make, vehicle model, and vehicle year for each of one or more vehicles to be insured, wherein the third user input does not comprise a vehicle identification number (VIN) and does not comprise any personal identifying information;

the insurance rate computer determining a plurality of estimated insurance premiums based on the received first through third user inputs; and

providing the estimated insurance premiums for communication to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of estimated insurance premiums is based on a different level of insurance coverage.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the different levels of insurance coverage are selected based on popularity.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of estimated insurance premiums is based on a different set of insurance add-ons.

5. One or more tangible computer readable media storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, perform a method of providing an automobile insurance estimate, comprising:

receiving first user input identifying a geographic location in which the insured vehicles reside, wherein the first user input does not comprise any personal identifying information;

receiving second user input identifying marital status, gender, age, and driving history for each of one or more drivers to be insured, wherein the second user input does not comprise any personal identifying information;

receiving third user input identifying a vehicle make, vehicle model, and vehicle year for each of one or more vehicles to be insured, wherein the third user input does not comprise a vehicle identification number (VIN) and does not comprise any personal identifying information;

determining a plurality of estimated insurance premiums based on the received first through third user inputs; and

providing the estimated insurance premiums for communication to the user.

6. The computer readable media of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of estimated insurance premiums is based on a different level of insurance coverage.

7. The computer readable media of claim 6, wherein the different levels of insurance coverage are selected based on popularity.

8. The computer readable media of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of estimated insurance premiums is based on a different set of insurance add-ons.

9. A data processing system, comprising:

a processor;

memory storing insurance rate model data and computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, determine a plurality of automobile insurance estimates from the rate model data based on driver information, vehicle information, and background information received as user input received via a user interface;

memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the user interface to be displayed on a client computer, said user interface comprising;

a driver information input module that receives the driver information from a user for one or more drivers, said driver information for each driver comprising gender, marital status, age, and driving history;

a vehicle information input module that receives the vehicle information from the user for one or more vehicles, said vehicle information for each vehicle comprising year, make and model;

a background information input module that receives the background information for a prospective automobile insurance estimate, said background information comprising residence information, a self-declaration of bill payment history by the user, and automobile insurance history; and

an output module that displays the plurality of automobile insurance estimates based on increasing levels of insurance associated with each estimate, and based on increasing levels of add-on features associated with each estimate.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein when the user hovers an input device over one of the plurality of automobile insurance estimates the output module displays additional information associated with the one of the plurality of automobile insurance estimates in a pop-up window.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein when the user selects one of the automobile insurance estimates the output module displays a summary screen comprising levels of insurance and add-on features associated with the selected one of the automobile insurance estimates.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the output module displays the plurality of automobile insurance estimates without receiving any personal identifying information about the user.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the driver information, for each driver, consists of gender, marital status, age, and driving history, wherein the vehicle information, for each vehicle, consists of year, make and model, and wherein the background information consists of the residence information, the self-declaration of bill payment history by the user, and the automobile insurance history.

14. One or more tangible computer readable media storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause a computer system to perform:

receiving at an insurance rate computer, first user input identifying geographic information, wherein the geographic information does not comprise any personal identifying information;

receiving at the insurance rate computer, second user input identifying personal information for each of one or more drivers to be insured, wherein the personal information does not comprise any personal identifying information;

receiving at the insurance rate computer, third user input identifying vehicle information for each of one or more vehicles to be insured, wherein the vehicle information does not comprise a vehicle identification number (VIN) and does not comprise any personal identifying information; and

determining at the insurance rate computer a plurality of estimated insurance premiums based on the received geographic information, personal information, and vehicle information; and

providing the estimated insurance premium for communication to the user.

15. The computer readable media of claim 14, wherein each of the estimated insurance premiums is based on a different level of insurance coverage.

16. The computer readable media of claim 14, wherein each of the estimated insurance premiums is based on a different set of insurance add-ons.

17. An insurance rate computer system, comprising:

a processor;

a network interface; and

an insurance rate computer system memory storing a rate model in a database and further storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the insurance rate computer system to perform;

receiving, via the network interface, first user input identifying geographic information, wherein the geographic information does not comprise any personal identifying information;

receiving, via the network interface, second user input identifying personal information for each of one or more drivers to be insured, wherein the personal information does not comprise any personal identifying information;

receiving, via the network interface, third user input identifying vehicle information for each of one or more vehicles to be insured, wherein the vehicle information does not comprise a vehicle identification number (VIN) and does not comprise any personal identifying information; and

determining a plurality of estimated insurance premiums from the rate model based on the received geographic information, personal information, and vehicle information; and

providing the estimated insurance premiums for communication to the user.

18. The insurance rate computer system of claim 17, wherein each of the estimated insurance premiums is based on a different level of insurance coverage.

19. The insurance rate computer system of claim 17, wherein each of the estimated insurance premiums is based on a different set of insurance add-ons.

20. A method of providing an automobile insurance estimate, comprising:

receiving at an insurance rate computer, first user input identifying geographic information, wherein the geographic information does not comprise any personal identifying information;

receiving at the insurance rate computer, second user input identifying personal information for each of one or more drivers to be insured, wherein the personal information does not comprise any personal identifying information;

receiving at the insurance rate computer, third user input identifying vehicle information for each of one or more vehicles to be insured, wherein the vehicle information does not comprise a vehicle identification number (VIN) and does not comprise any personal identifying information;

the insurance rate computer determining a plurality of estimated insurance premiums based on the received geographic information, personal information, and vehicle information; and

providing the estimated insurance premium for communication to the user.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein each of the estimated insurance premiums is based on a different level of insurance coverage.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein each of the estimated insurance premiums is based on a different set of insurance add-ons.