Image-based processing for products

• US 10,430,890 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2016
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Inventors: Corder, Bryan Keith, Riggio, John A., Sanchez, Carlos D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apple, Kirsten S
• Application Number:
  US15/177,944
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 705 38
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/13 Edge detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/90 Determination of colour characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/176 Urban or other man-made structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

An aerial image system may generate images of structures providing views that might otherwise be difficult to obtain. These images may be used to determine various characteristics of the structure, which may then be processed for a variety of tasks including product marketing, claim processing and post-claim analysis. The images may be analyzed by the aerial image system or by a ground-based processing system to determine the structural characteristics such as roof age, roof type and roof pitch. In some examples, image analysis techniques such as edge detection and contrast determination may assist in determining the requisite data. Additionally or alternatively, the processing system may direct or control one or more image capture devices to obtain desired images.

Claims

1. An image processing system comprising:

an imaging device, the imaging device including at least one of a space-based aerial image sensor and an aerial image sensor; and

a ground-based digital image processing device comprising;

a processor; and

memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the ground-based digital image processing device to;

project, by the processor of the ground-based image processing device, an expected position of the imaging device;

determine, by the processor of the ground-based image processing device, and for a specified geographic region corresponding to the expected position of the imaging device, a plurality of real estate properties not currently insured by a specified insurance entity, and for each of the determined real estate properties in the geographic region not currently insured by the specified insurance entity;

determine, by the processor of the ground-based digital image processing device, one or more digital image capture parameters based on at least one of;

a weather condition, type of object to be imaged, and property density, the parameters including a type of sensor to use;

instruct the imaging device to capture a digital image specific to a respective one of the determined real estate properties from the imaging device, the instruction including the one or more capture parameters for capturing the digital image;

perform, by the processor of the ground-based digital image processing device, image analysis on the image to determine one or more of;

whether a roof pitch is within a predetermined pitch range by performing edge detection, a roof material type and a roof age of the respective one of the determined real estate properties, including applying a contrast filter to determine the roof age and roof material type;

determine, by the processor of the ground-based digital image processing device, whether to target any of the determined real estate properties based on a determined percentage of properties in the geographic region insured by the specified insurance entity; and

in a case where the ground-based image processing device determines that at least one of the determined real estate properties are to be targeted;

selecting, by the processor of the ground-based digital image processing device, the at least one of the determined real estate properties using a combination of the roof type, the roof pitch and the roof age determined through the image analysis performed by the ground-based digital image processing device; and

designating the at least one of the determined real estate properties to receive home insurance information.

2. The image processing system of claim 1, wherein performing the image analysis further includes at least one of:

texture analysis and color determination.

3. The image processing system of claim 1, wherein determining the digital image capture parameters including specifying the use of a thermal imaging sensor in response to determining that the weather includes sun.

4. The image processing system of claim 1, wherein the digital image capture parameters further includes use of an infrared image sensor.

5. The image processing system of claim 1, wherein digital image capture parameters further includes use of a sonar image sensor.

6. The image processing system of claim 1, wherein determining whether to target any of the determined real estate properties based on a determined percentage includes comparing the determined percentage to a threshold percentage.

7. The image processing system of claim 6, wherein selecting the at least one of the determined real estate properties based on a combination of the roof type, the roof pitch and the roof age, includes:

determining a first percentage of properties in the geographic region having the roof type, that are insured by the specified insurance entity;

determining a second percentage of properties in the geographic region having a roof of an age within a specified age range, that are insured by the specified insurance entity;

determining a third percentage of properties in the geographic region having a roof pitch in a roof pitch range, that are insured by the specified insurance entity; and

selecting the at least one of the determined real estate properties in a case where the first, second and third percentages do not exceed first, second and third threshold percentages, respectively.

8. The image processing system of claim 7, wherein the first, second and third threshold percentages are defined based on an amount of risk associated with the roof type, the specified roof age range and the specified roof pitch range, respectively.

9. The image processing system of claim 1, wherein the specified geographic region to image is further identified by determining that the geographic region has a percentage of properties insured by the specified insurance entity lower than a specified coverage threshold.

10. A digital image processing apparatus configured to direct and analyze digital images for identification of object characteristics, the apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the digital image processing apparatus to;

project, by the processor of the digital image processing apparatus, an expected position of an aerial digital imaging device;

determine, by the processor of the digital image processing apparatus, and for a specified geographic region corresponding to the expected position of the imaging device, a plurality of real estate properties not currently insured by a specified insurance entity, and for each of the determined real estate properties in the geographic region not currently insured by the specified insurance entity;

determine, by the processor of the digital image processing apparatus, one or more digital image capture parameters based on at least one of;

a weather condition, type of object to be imaged, and property density, the parameters including a type of sensor to use;

instruct, through a data communication network, the aerial imaging device to capture an image specific to a respective one of the determined real estate properties, the instruction including the one or more capture parameters for capturing the digital image;

perform, by the processor of the digital image processing apparatus, image analysis on the image to determine one or more of;

whether a roof pitch is within a predetermined pitch range by performing edge detection, a roof material type and a roof age of the respective one of the determined real estate properties, including applying a contrast filter to determine the roof age and roof material type;

determine, by the processor of the digital image processing apparatus, whether to target any of the determined real estate properties based on a determined percentage of properties in the geographic region insured by the specified insurance entity; and

in a case where the image processing apparatus determines that at least one of the determined real estate properties are to be targeted;

selecting, by the processor of the digital image processing apparatus, the at least one of the determined real estate properties based on a combination of the roof material type, the roof pitch and the roof age determined through the image analysis; and

designating the at least one of the determined real estate properties to receive home insurance information.

11. The image processing apparatus of claim 10, wherein performing the image analysis further includes at least one of:

texture analysis and color determination.

12. The image processing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the image capture parameters include obtaining a thermal image.

13. The image processing apparatus of claim 10, wherein determining whether to target any of the determined real estate properties based on the determined percentage includes comparing the determined percentage to a threshold percentage.

14. The image processing apparatus of claim 13, wherein selecting the at least one of the determined real estate properties based on a combination of the roof material type, the roof pitch and the roof age, includes:

determining a first percentage of properties in the geographic region having the roof material type, that are insured by the specified insurance entity;

determining a second percentage of properties in the geographic region having a roof of an age within a specified age range, that are insured by the specified insurance entity;

determining a third percentage of properties in the geographic region having a roof pitch in a roof pitch range, that are insured by the specified insurance entity; and

selecting the at least one of the determined real estate properties in a case where the first, second and third percentages do not exceed first, second and third threshold percentages, respectively.

15. The image processing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first, second and third threshold percentages are defined based on an amount of risk associated with the roof type, the specified roof age range and the specified roof pitch range, respectively.

16. A digital image processing apparatus configured to direct and analyze digital images, the apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform;

receiving notification of damage to a roof of a property;

determining a location of the property;

identifying, by the processor of the digital image processing apparatus, an imaging device with which to capture a digital image of the property based on an expected location of the imaging device given a current trajectory and speed;

determine, by the processor of the digital image processing apparatus, one or more digital image capture parameters based on at least one of;

a weather condition, type of object to be imaged, and property density, the parameters including a type of sensor to use;

instructing, by the processor of the digital image processing apparatus through a data communication network, the imaging device to capture an image of the roof using the determined location and identified imaging device, the imaging device including at least one of a space-based image sensor and an aerial image sensor;

performing, by the processor of the digital image processing apparatus, image analysis on the captured image of the roof to identify a characteristic of the damage and a characteristic of the property, including;

applying a contrast filter to determine a roof age and roof material type,

and performing edge detection to determine whether a roof pitch is within a predetermined pitch range;

determining one or more criterion for inspecting the damage based on the identified characteristic of the damage and the characteristic of the property, the one or more criterion including required equipment;

selecting an inspection entity from a plurality of inspection entities based on satisfaction of the one or more criterion; and

scheduling the inspection entity to physically inspect the roof of the property.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the notification of the damage includes an insurance claim.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein determining the one or more criterion for inspecting the damage includes determining one or more safety regulations applicable to the property based on the characteristic of the property.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein selecting the inspection entity is performed based on the inspection entity satisfying all of the one or more criterion and the inspection entity having availability within a specified time window.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to generate an insurance premium adjustment based on at least one of:

a number of the determined one or more criterion and a type of the determined one or more criterion.