Insurance processing systems and methods using mobile devices for proof of insurance

• US 9,495,709 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2010
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2009
• 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: Borden, Richard M., Amigo, Andrew J., Busque, Keven J., Peak, David F., Walters, Eugene J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Eric T
• Application Number:
  US12/906,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20110161118A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,220 Days
• Field of Search: 705/4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3461 Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types, segments such as motorways, toll roads, ferries
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/067 Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3223 Realising banking transactions through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/22 Social work or social welfare, e.g. community support activities or counselling services
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, means and computer program code for operating a mobile device and an insurance processing system are provide which include receiving, from a mobile device, sensor data collected from at least a first sensor of the mobile device, determining, based at least in part on the sensor data, that an activity associated with an insured is not covered by a plurality of insurance coverage rules, and transmitting, to the mobile device, information indicating that an activity is not covered by a plurality of insurance coverage rules.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a server computer system, comprising;

a data storage device for storing data defining a plurality of insurance policies and a plurality of insurance coverage rules associated with one or more of said insurance policies, at least one of said insurance policies associated with a mobile insurance application operated by an insured, wherein a location-based insurance coverage rule associated with the insured defines a geographical coverage area within which an activity by the insured is covered by said least one insurance policy and outside of which the activity by the insured is not covered by said at least one insurance policy;

a computer processor for executing program instructions and for retrieving said data defining a plurality of insurance policies from the data storage device;

a memory, coupled to the computer processor, for storing program instructions for execution by the computer processor to

receive, from a mobile device associated with said mobile insurance application, location data collected from at least a first sensor of said mobile device, the at least first sensor automatically controlled to collect said location data by operation of said mobile insurance application based on configuration data associated with said at least one of said insurance policies;

determine, based at least in part on said location data and the location-based insurance coverage rule, that the activity associated with said insured is not covered by said at least one insurance policy because the insured is not within the geographical coverage area;

transmit, to said mobile device, information indicating that the activity is not covered by said at least one insurance policy; and

provide funds, associated with a claim, to a payment account for the insured;

wherein the insured is a worker and said at least one of said insurance policies is a commercial job site-based insurance policy, and said program instructions for execution by the computer processor to transmit information indicating that work performed by the worker is not covered by the commercial job site-based insurance policy because the worker'"'"'s current location is not within the geographical coverage area; and

a mobile device in communication with the server computer system, the mobile device comprising a memory and a processor, the memory storing an application program, the application program causing the mobile device processor to;

present a user interface prompting for configuration data including at least one or more current work locations and work hours;

after receiving the configuration data, execute the configured application program in the background to control the at least first sensor of the mobile device to collect data indicative of location of the mobile device away from the at least one or more current work locations during the received work hours, and to transmit selectively the collected location data to the server computer system, the mobile device further being configured to execute a payment application program to access the payment account, and the mobile device comprising an RFID unit configured to provide contactless payment from the payment account;

wherein the processor is further configured to access the data indicative of whether the insured is spending time during working hours at the new location, the processor being further configured to generate a coverage notice for presentation to the insured via the application program on the mobile device.

2. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising program instructions for execution by the computer processor to:

receive information from said mobile device identifying a scope of work to be performed at the worker'"'"'s current location;

receive a request from said mobile device to add an additional job-site to the geographical coverage area based on the worker'"'"'s current location; and

generate terms and conditions for said additional commercial job site-based insurance policy coverage based on said information identifying the scope of the work.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said location data is collected under control of said mobile insurance application and transmitted to said insurance system under control of said mobile insurance application.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said location data is collected under control of said mobile insurance application on request by said insured.

5. A computer system for reconciling data received from mobile devices with stored data indicative of location-based rules, comprising:

a server computer system, comprising;

a data storage device for storing data defining a plurality of insurance policies and a plurality of insurance coverage rules associated with one or more of said insurance policies, at least one of said insurance policies associated with a mobile insurance application operated by an insured, wherein a location-based insurance coverage rule associated with the insured defines a geographical coverage area within which an activity by the insured is covered by said least one insurance policy and outside of which the activity by the insured is not covered by said at least one insurance policy;

a computer processor for executing program instructions and for retrieving said data defining a plurality of insurance policies from the data storage device;

a memory, coupled to the computer processor, for storing program instructions for execution by the computer processor to

receive, from a mobile device, location data collected by the mobile device;

determine, based at least in part on said location data and the location-based insurance coverage rule, that the activity associated with said insured is not covered by said at least one insurance policy because the insured is not within the geographical coverage area;

transmit, to said mobile device, information indicating that the activity is not covered by said at least one insurance policy; and

provide funds, associated with a claim, to a payment account for the insured;

wherein the insured is a driver and said at least one of said insurance policies is an automobile insurance policy associated with an automobile being operated by the driver, and said program instructions for execution by the computer processor to transmit information indicating that operation of the automobile by the driver is not covered by the automobile insurance policy because the driver'"'"'s current location is not within the geographical coverage area;

further comprising program instructions for execution by the computer processor to;

receive a request from said mobile device to expand the geographical coverage area of the automobile insurance policy to include the driver'"'"'s current location; and

transmit, to said mobile device, terms and conditions for said additional automobile insurance policy coverage; and

a mobile device executing instructions of a mobile insurance application program, the program configured, based on configuration data associated with said at least one of said insurance policies, to control the mobile device to collect location data from at least a first sensor of the mobile device, and to aggregate location data collected from the at least first sensor and to transmit the aggregated location data only when the data indicates that the mobile device is going to or has passed outside of the geographical coverage area;

the mobile device further being configured to execute a payment application program to access the payment account, and the mobile device comprising an RFID unit configured to provide contactless payment from the payment account.

6. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

presenting, by a processor of a mobile device, associated with an insured entity, executing instructions of an application program stored in a memory of the mobile device, a user interface prompting for configuration data including at least one or more current work locations and work hours;

after receiving the configuration data, executing, by the processor of the mobile device, the configured application program in the background to control at least a first sensor of the mobile device to collect data indicative of location of the mobile device away from the at least one or more current work locations during the received work hours,

transmitting, by the mobile device, selectively, the collected location data to a server computer system;

receiving, by the server computer system, from the mobile device, the collected and selectively transmitted location data;

accessing, by an insurance processing computer, the data indicative of whether the insured is spending time during working hours away from the at least one or more current work locations;

determining, by the insurance processing computer, that an activity associated with said insured entity is not covered by a plurality of insurance coverage rules, the determining based at least in part on said received location data and a comparison of said location data and data defining a plurality of insurance policies and a plurality of insurance coverage rules associated with one or more of said insurance policies, wherein the determining is further based at least in part on a location-based insurance coverage rule associated with the insured entity that defines a geographical coverage area within which the activity by the insured entity is covered by a first insurance policy and outside of which the activity by the insured entity is not covered by the first insurance policy;

transmitting, from the insurance processing computer to said mobile device, information indicating that the activity is not covered by the first insurance policy because of the location-based insurance coverage rule;

providing funds, associated with a claim, by the insurance processing computer, to a payment account for the insured;

presenting, by the processor of the mobile device executing instructions of the application, on a display screen of the mobile device, a notice that the activity is not covered by the first insurance policy because of the location-based insurance coverage rule; and

executing, by the mobile device, a payment application program to access the payment account, and providing contactless payment from the payment account by an RFID unit of the mobile device;

wherein the insured entity is a worker and said insurance policy is a commercial job site-based insurance policy, and said transmitting information includes transmitting information indicating that work performed by the worker is not covered by the commercial job site-based insurance policy because the worker'"'"'s current location is not within the geographical coverage area.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving information from said mobile device identifying a scope of work to be performed at the worker'"'"'s current location;

receiving a request from said mobile device to add an additional job site to the geographical coverage area based on the worker'"'"'s current location; and

generating terms and conditions for said additional commercial job site-based insurance policy coverage based on said information identifying the scope of the work.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said location data is collected under control of said mobile insurance application and transmitted to said insurance system under control of said mobile insurance application.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said location data is collected under control of said mobile insurance application on request by said insured entity.

10. A computerized method, comprising:

collecting, by a mobile device, operated by an insured entity, executing instructions of a mobile insurance application program, the program configured based on configuration data associated with said at least one of said insurance policies, location data from at least a first sensor of the mobile device;

aggregating, by the mobile device, location data collected from the at least first sensor;

transmitting, by the mobile device, the aggregated location data only when the data indicates that the mobile device is going to or has passed outside of the geographical coverage area;

receiving, from the mobile device, the transmitted location data;

determining, by an insurance processing computer, that an activity associated with said insured entity is not covered by a plurality of insurance coverage rules, the determining based at least in part on said location data and a comparison of said location data and data defining a plurality of insurance policies and a plurality of insurance coverage rules associated with one or more of said insurance policies, wherein the determining is further based at least in part on a location-based insurance coverage rule associated with the insured entity that defines a geographical coverage area within which the activity by the insured entity is covered by a first insurance policy and outside of which the activity by the insured entity is not covered by the first insurance policy;

transmitting, from the insurance processing computer to said mobile device, information indicating that the activity is not covered by the first insurance policy because of the location-based insurance coverage rule;

providing funds, associated with a claim, by the insurance processing computer, to a payment account for the insured; and

executing, by the mobile device, a payment application program to access the payment account, and providing contactless payment from the payment account by an RFID unit of the mobile device;

wherein the insured entity is a driver and said first insurance policy is an automobile insurance policy associated with an automobile being operated by the driver, and said transmitting includes transmitting information indicating that operation of the automobile by the driver is not covered by the automobile insurance policy because the driver'"'"'s current location is not within the geographical coverage area; and

further comprising the steps of;

receiving a request from said mobile device to expand the geographical coverage area of the automobile policy to include the driver'"'"'s current location; and

transmitting, to said mobile device, terms and conditions for said additional automobile insurance policy coverage.

11. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing program code executable by a computer to:

receive, from a mobile device associated with a mobile insurance application and operated by an insured entity, the application being configured by presenting a user interface prompting for configuration data including at least one or more current work locations and work hours, and the application further, after receiving the configuration data, executing in the background to control at least a first sensor of the mobile device to collect data indicative of location of the mobile device away from the at least one or more current work locations during the received work hours, and to transmit selectively the collected location data to the server computer system;

access, by an insurance processing computer, the data indicative of whether the insured is spending time during working hours away from the at least one or more current work locations;

determine, by the insurance processing computer, that an activity associated with said insured entity is not covered by a plurality of insurance coverage rules, the determining based at least in part on said location data and a comparison of said location data and data defining a plurality of insurance policies and a plurality of insurance coverage rules associated with one or more of said insurance policies, wherein the determining is further based at least in part on a location-based insurance coverage rule associated with the insured entity that defines a geographical coverage area within which the activity by the entity is covered by a first insurance policy and outside of which the activity by the entity is not covered by the first insurance policy;

transmit, from the insurance processing computer to said mobile device, information indicating that the activity is not covered by the first insurance policy because of the location-based insurance coverage rule, the application program further causing the mobile device to present, on a display screen of the mobile device, a notice that the activity is not covered by the first insurance policy because of the location-based insurance coverage rule; and

provide funds, associated with a claim, by the insurance processing computer, to a payment account for the insured, the mobile device further being configured to execute a payment application program to access the payment account, and the mobile device comprising an RFID unit configured to provide contactless payment from the payment account;

wherein the insured entity is a worker and said insurance policy is a commercial job site-based insurance policy, and said transmitting information includes transmitting information indicating that work performed by the worker is not covered by the commercial job site-based insurance policy because the worker'"'"'s current location is not within the geographical coverage area.

12. The medium of claim 11, further storing program code executable by the computer to:

receive information from said mobile device identifying a scope of work to be performed at the worker'"'"'s current location;

receive a request from said mobile device to add an additional job site to the geographical coverage area based on the worker'"'"'s current location; and

generate terms and conditions for said additional commercial job site-based insurance policy coverage based on said information identifying the scope of the work.

13. The medium of claim 11, wherein said location data is collected under control of said mobile insurance application and transmitted to said insurance system under control of said mobile insurance application.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said location data is collected under control of said mobile insurance application on request by said insured entity.

15. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing program code executable by a computer to:

receive, from a mobile device associated with a mobile insurance application and operated by an insured entity, location data collected from at least a first sensor of said mobile device said mobile insurance application automatically controlling said at least first sensor based on configuration data associated with at least a first insurance policy of said insured entity, wherein the mobile insurance application is further configured to aggregate location data collected from the at least first sensor and to transmit the aggregated location data only when the data indicates that the mobile device is going to or has passed outside of the geographical coverage area;

determine, by an insurance processing computer, that an activity associated with said insured entity is not covered by a plurality of insurance coverage rules, the determining based at least in part on said location data and a comparison of said location data and data defining a plurality of insurance policies and a plurality of insurance coverage rules associated with one or more of said insurance policies, wherein the determining is further based at least in part on a location-based insurance coverage rule associated with the insured entity that defines a geographical coverage area within which the activity by the entity is covered by a first insurance policy and outside of which the activity by the entity is not covered by the first insurance policy;

transmit, from the insurance processing computer to said mobile device, information indicating that the activity is not covered by the first insurance policy because of the location-based insurance coverage rule; and

provide funds, associated with a claim, by the insurance processing computer, to a payment account for the insured, the mobile device further being configured to execute a payment application program to access the payment account, and the mobile device comprising an RFID unit configured to provide contactless payment from the payment account;

wherein the insured entity is a driver and said first insurance policy is an automobile insurance policy associated with an automobile being operated by the driver, and said transmitting includes transmitting information indicating that operation of the automobile by the driver is not covered by the automobile insurance policy because the driver'"'"'s current location is not within the geographical coverage area; and

further storing program code executable by the computer to;

receive a request from said mobile device to expand the geographical coverage area of the automobile policy to include the driver'"'"'s current location; and

transmit, to said mobile device, terms and conditions for said additional automobile insurance policy coverage.