Techniques for ensuring data security among participants in a web-centric insurance management system

• US 20090083076A1
• Filed: 09/23/2003
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Hashim, Safaa H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,463,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

A scalable, adaptable, modular, and web-centric Insurance Back-Office System (IBOS) for serving the needs of carriers, agencies, agents, and service providers in the insurance industry is disclosed. The IBOS provides a framework for allowing web-centric collaboration among agents, agencies, carriers, and service providers, using applications that manage applicants, cases, and policies in an efficient and secure manner. The IBOS infrastructure is designed to facilitate the creation of a new application, module, tool, or view in a simplified manner.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A method for facilitating communication among at least one participant in an insurance-underwriting process, the method comprising:

providing a web-based system for storing and organizing data related to the insurance-underwriting process, the web-based system adapted to allow collaboration among the at least one participant via the Internet, the web-based system comprising a multi-level modular architecture, the multi-level modular architecture comprising a plurality of applications, each application of the plurality of applications comprising a plurality of modules, each module of the plurality of modules comprising a plurality of tools, each tool of the plurality of tools comprising a plurality of views;

sharing, via the web-based system, the data among the at least one participant; and

wherein the at least one participant comprises at least one user, and the at least one user is associated with at least one role, the at least one role operative to determine the plurality of modules available to the at least one user, and the data available to the at least one user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one participant is selected from the group consisting of:

insurance carriers, insurance agencies, insurance agents, and service providers.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one user is selected from the group consisting of:

agents and case managers.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of applications are adapted to employ a desktop visual metaphor for accessing the plurality of modules.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of modules are adapted to allow the plurality of applications to be scalable.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of modules are purchased incrementally.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of modules comprises:

a user profile module;

a general administration module; and

a business module.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of tools comprises at least one generic tool and at least one entity-specific tool.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one generic tool is adapted to exist in more than one module with similar functionality.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of views comprises:

a summary view;

a list view; and

a detail view.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the multi-layer, modular architecture is adapted to allow development of new applications, modules, tools, or views.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the web-based system is adapted to restrict the data accessible to the at least one user based on a plurality of attributes of the at least one user.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of attributes of the at least one user comprises:

the at least one user'"'"'s identity; and

a context in which the at least one user seeks access to the data.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of sharing the data further comprises encrypting the data using a secure encryption technology.

16. The method of claim 2, wherein the web-based system is deployed on a portal hosted by a third party.

17. The method of claim 2, wherein the web-based system is deployed on a framework for a plurality of applications.

18. A system for facilitating communication among at least one participant in an insurance-underwriting process, the system comprising:

a web-based system for storing and organizing data related to the insurance-underwriting process, the web-based system adapted to allow collaboration among the at least one participant via the Internet;

wherein the web-based system comprising a multi-level modular architecture, the multi-level modular architecture comprising a plurality of applications, each application of the plurality of applications comprising a plurality of modules, each module of the plurality of modules comprising a plurality of tools, each tool of the plurality of tools comprising a plurality of views; and

wherein the at least one participant comprises at least one user, and the at least one user is associated with at least one role, the at least one role operative to determine the plurality of modules available to the at least one user, and the data available to the at least one user.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one participant is selected from the group consisting of:

insurance carriers, insurance agencies, insurance agents, and service providers.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one user is selected from the group consisting of:

agents and case managers.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of applications are adapted to employ a desktop visual metaphor for accessing the plurality of modules.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of modules are adapted to allow the plurality of applications to be scalable.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of modules are purchased incrementally.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of modules comprises:

a user profile module;

a general administration module; and

a business module.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of tools comprises at least one generic tool and at least one entity-specific tool.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the at least one generic tool is adapted to exist in more than one module with similar functionality.

27. The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of views comprises:

a summary view;

a list view; and

a detail view.

28. The system of claim 18, wherein the multi-layer, modular architecture is adapted to allow development of new applications, modules, tools, or views.

29. The system of claim 18, wherein the web-based system is adapted to restrict the data accessible to the at least one user based on a plurality of attributes of the at least one user.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the plurality of attributes of the at least one user comprises:

the at least one user'"'"'s identity; and

a context in which the at least one user seeks access to the data.

31. The system of claim 18, wherein the data is encrypted using a secure encryption technology.

32. The system of claim 18, wherein the web-based system is deployed on a portal hosted by a third party.

33. The system of claim 18, wherein the web-based system is deployed on a framework for a plurality of applications.