Systems and methods for predictively generating an insurance claim

• US 10,733,671 B1
• Filed: 04/22/2015
• Issued: 08/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Original Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Inventors: Hakimi-Boushehri, Daryoush, Jordan, II, Jackie O., Call, Shawn M., Weekes, John H., Bryant, Ronny S., Criswell, Jennifer, Binion, Todd, McDermeit, Elisabeth, Donovan, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Sigmond, Bennett M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hamerski, Bolko M
• Application Number:
  US14/692,953
• Time in Patent Office: 1,931 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/071 Arrangement of safety devices in domestic pipe systems, e.g. devices for automatic shut-off
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/163 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart, intelligent house
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0278 Product appraisal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/163 Real estate management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/043 detecting an emergency event, e.g. a fall
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture
• CPC Class Codes: G16Y 10/50 Finance; Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G16Y 40/10 Detection; Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2823 Reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network device-related reporting H04L43/065; arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2827 Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality

Abstract

Methods and systems for predictively generating an insurance claim in response to detecting an imminent insurance-related event are provided. According to certain aspects, a smart home controller or insurance provider remote processor may store a first set of data received from smart devices disposed on, or proximate to, a property. This data may be analyzed to detect that an insurance-related event is imminent and calculate a likelihood that a property owner will file an insurance claim in response to damage caused by the imminent insurance-related event. If there is a sufficient likelihood that an insurance claim will be filed, the smart home controller or remote processor may store a second set of data received from the smart devices. Subsequently, according to certain aspects, the second set of data may be analyzed to prepopulate an automatically generated insurance claim with information detailing damage to the property caused by the insurance-related event.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of predicting insurance claim filings related to damage to a property that is populated with a plurality of devices, each of the plurality of devices (i) including a processor and a transceiver and (ii) configured to monitor various conditions associated with the property, the method comprising:

receiving, at a smart controller or a server and via a first wired or wireless communication network, a first set of sensor data from the plurality of devices;

based upon at least the first set of sensor data, detecting, by one or more processors, that an insurance-related event is imminent;

determining, by the one or more processors of the smart controller or the server, a likelihood that an insurance claim will be filed in response to the imminent insurance-related event;

determining a type of supporting data indicative of damage caused by the insurance-related event;

prior to the occurrence of the insurance-related event and in response to when the likelihood is greater than a threshold, activating, by the one or more processors, the plurality of devices to transmit a second set of sensor data, wherein the second set of data includes the supporting data captured while the insurance-related event is occurring;

receiving, by the one or more processors via the first wired or wireless communication network, the second set of sensor data;

analyzing, by the one or more processors, the second set of sensor data to determine a total amount of damage caused by the insurance-related event;

analyzing, by the one or more processors, the second set of sensor data to identify (i) a first cause of loss for damage to the property, and (ii) a second cause of loss for the damage to the property;

determining, by the one or more processors, (i) a first portion of the total amount of damage associated with the first cause of loss and (ii) a second portion of the total amount of damage associated with the second cause of loss;

assigning, by the one or more processors, a percentage of the total amount of damage attributed to each of the first and second causes of loss;

calculating, by the one or more processors, a first amount of damage attributed to the first cause of loss and a second amount of damage attributed to the second cause of loss;

automatically generating, by the one or more processors, a proposed insurance claim by prepopulating the proposed insurance claim with the overall amount of damage, the first and second causes of loss, and the amount of damage associated with each of the first and second causes of loss; and

transmitting, to a mobile device or other communications device of an individual associated with the property via a second wired or wireless communication or data transmission network, the proposed insurance claim to facilitate review, approval, or modification of the proposed insurance claim by the individual.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the insurance-related event is related to at least one of:

a storm system, a fire or wildfire, an equipment failure, a national or local emergency, an earthquake or aftershock, a tsunami, an oil spill, or a volcano eruption.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein assigning the percentage of the total amount of damage comprises:

determining, by the one or more processors, that the second set of data indicates that the first cause of loss enabled the second cause of loss to occur; and

assigning, by the one or more processors, a higher percentage to the first cause of loss and a smaller percentage to the second cause of loss.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the individual via the second communication network, an acceptance of or modification to the proposed insurance claim;

transmitting, to an insurance provider associated with the property via the second communication network, the accepted or modified insurance claim; and

receiving, from the insurance provider, a response to the accepted or modified insurance claim.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein receiving the response to the accepted or modified insurance claim comprises:

receiving at least one of;

a confirmation that the accepted or modified insurance claim has been processed, a recommendation for replacement equipment to protect against future insurance-related events, or an evaluation of how equipment associated with the property withstood the insurance-related event.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein detecting that the insurance-related event is imminent comprises at least one of:

analyzing, by the one or more processors, the first set of data to determine if at least one of the plurality of devices is about to fail, or

receiving, via a second communication network or wireless communication, an alert from an insurance provider associated with the property indicating that the insurance-related event is imminent.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the sensor data recorded by the plurality of devices comprises at least one of:

time-stamped audio data, status data, visual data captured on the property, or visual data captured above the property.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving the second set of sensor data comprises:

receiving, via the first communication network, at least one of;

sensor data recorded before the insurance-related event occurred, sensor data recorded during the insurance-related event, or sensor data recorded after the insurance-related event.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein to assign the percentage of the total amount of damage, the one or more processors are further configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the one or more processors to:

determine, by the one or more processors, that the second set of data indicates that the first cause of loss enabled the second cause of loss to occur; and

assign, by the one or more processors, a higher percentage to the first cause of loss and a smaller percentage to the second cause of loss.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein triggering the plurality of devices to transmit the second set of sensor data further comprises:

creating, by the one or more processors, a segment of memory dedicated to storing the second set of sensor data.

11. A system for predicting insurance claim filings related to damage to a property that is populated with a plurality of devices on the property, each of the plurality of devices (i) including a processor and a transceiver and (ii) configured to monitor various conditions associated with the property, the system comprising a smart controller or a server that comprises:

a communication module adapted to communicate data;

a memory adapted to store non-transitory computer executable instructions; and

one or more processors adapted to interface with the communication module, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the one or more processors to;

receive, via the communication module, a first set of sensor data from the plurality of devices;

based upon at least the first set of sensor data, detect, by one or more processors, that an insurance-related event is imminent;

determine, by the one or more processors, a likelihood that an insurance claim will be filed in response to the imminent insurance-related event;

determine a type of supporting data indicative of damage caused by the insurance-related event;

prior to the occurrence of the insurance-related event and in response to when the likelihood is greater than a threshold, activate, by the one or more processors, the plurality of devices to transmit a second set of sensor data, wherein the second set of data includes the supporting data captured while the insurance-related event is occurring;

receive, via the communication module, the second set of sensor data, wherein portions of the second set of sensor data are received after the insurance-related event occurs;

analyze, by the one or more processors, the second set of sensor data to determine a total amount of damage caused by the insurance-related event;

analyze, by the one or more processors, the second set of sensor data to identify (i) a first cause of loss for damage to the property, and (ii) a second cause of loss for the damage to the property;

determine, by the one or more processors, (i) a first portion of the total amount of damage associated with the first cause of loss and (ii) a second portion of the total amount of damage associated with the second cause of loss;

assign, by the one or more processors, a percentage of the total amount of damage attributed to each of the first and second causes of loss;

calculate, by the one or more processors, a first amount of damage attributed to the first cause of loss and a second amount of damage attributed to the second cause of loss;

automatically generate, by the one or more processors, a proposed insurance by prepopulating the proposed insurance claim with the overall amount of damage, the first and second causes of loss, and the amount of damage associated with each of the first and second causes of loss; and

transmit, to a mobile device of an individual associated with the property via the communication module, the proposed insurance claim for review, approval, or modification by the individual.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the insurance-related event is related to at least one of:

a storm system, a fire or wildfire, an equipment failure, a national or local emergency, an earthquake or aftershock, a tsunami, an oil spill, or a volcano eruption.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the communication module is further configured to:

receive, from the individual, an acceptance of or modification to the proposed insurance claim; and

transmit, to an insurance provider associated with the property, the accepted or modified insurance claim.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein to detect that the insurance-related event is imminent, the one or more processors are further configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the one or more processors to, at least one of:

analyze, by the one or more processors, the first set of data to determine if at least one of the plurality of devices is about to fail, or

receive, via the communication module, an alert from an insurance provider associated with the property indicating that the insurance-related event is imminent.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensor data recorded by the plurality of devices comprises at least one of:

time-stamped audio data, status data, visual data captured on the property, or visual data captured above the property.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein to receive the second set of sensor data, the one or more processors are further configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the one or more processors to:

receive, via the communication module, at least one of;

sensor data recorded before the insurance-related event occurred, sensor data recorded during the insurance-related event, or sensor data recorded after the insurance-related event.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing processor-executable instructions, that when executed cause one or more processors to:

receive, at a smart controller or a server and via a first wired or wireless communication network, a first set of sensor data from a plurality of devices, wherein devices of the plurality of devices include a processor and a transceiver;

based upon at least the first set of sensor data, detect, by one or more processors, that an insurance-related event is imminent;

determine, by the one or more processors, a likelihood that an insurance claim will be filed in response to the imminent insurance-related event;

determine a type of supporting data indicative of damage caused by the insurance-related event;

prior to the occurrence of the insurance-related event and in response to when the likelihood is greater than a threshold, activate the plurality of devices to transmit a second set of sensor data, wherein the second set of data includes the supporting data captured while the insurance-related event is occurring;

receive, via the first wired or wireless communication network, the second set of sensor data;

analyze, by the one or more processors, the second set of sensor data to determine a total amount of damage caused by the insurance-related event;

analyze, by the one or more processors, the second set of sensor data to identify (i) a first cause of loss for damage to the property, and (ii) a second cause of loss for the damage to the property;

determine, by the one or more processors, (i) a first portion of the total amount of damage associated with the first cause of loss and (ii) a second portion of the total amount of damage associated with the second cause of loss;

assign, by the one or more processors, a percentage of the total amount of damage attributed to each of the first and second causes of loss;

calculate, by the one or more processors, a first amount of damage attributed to the first cause of loss and a second amount of damage attributed to the second cause of loss;

automatically generate, by the one or more processors, a proposed insurance claim by prepopulating the proposed insurance claim with the overall amount of damage, the first and second causes of loss, and the amount of damage associated with each of the first and second causes of loss; and

transmit, to a mobile device or other communications device of an individual associated with the property via a second wired or wireless communication network, the proposed insurance claim to facilitate review by the individual.