System and method for providing insurance data processing services via a user interface

• US 8,176,145 B1
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Travelers Indemnity Company (The Travelers Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The Travelers Indemnity Company (The Travelers Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Stender, Mark J., White, Donald, Hirning, Linda, Neely, Eric, Terray, Ruth B., Woronowicz, Charlene G.
• Primary Examiner(s): BOUTAH, ALINA A
• Application Number:
  US11/546,018
• Time in Patent Office: 2,037 Days
• Field of Search: 705/4, 707/999.001, 707/999.003, 709/219, 712/1
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

A system architecture for providing remote access to insurance applications from a remote location is provided, including: a presentation layer located at the remote location that provides tools for navigating within one of the insurance applications and executing business transactions, wherein the presentation layer is based on web browser technology; an application layer that enforces predetermined rules of business on commands and transactions input from the remote location; a data access layer that manages physical storage of data relating to the insurance applications in databases and provides the application layer with access to application data; and a distributed technical layer separating a presentation logic of the presentation layer from an application logic of the application layer, wherein the distributed technical layer is configured to coordinate an execution of the insurance applications on one or more different platforms.

Claims

1. A computer system architecture for providing remote access to insurance applications to a user computer at a remote location, comprising:

an insurance computer system comprising;

a memory comprising one or more computer databases storing predetermined rules and data relating to the insurance applications;

at least one processor retrieving the predetermined rules from said one or more computer databases, and executing instructions responsive thereto; and

a service oriented application architecture executed by said at least one processor, and configured to include;

a presentation layer accessible to the user computer at the remote location that provides tools for navigating within the insurance applications and executing transactions, wherein the presentation layer comprises web browser technology;

an application layer that executes the predetermined rules retrieved from said computer databases responsive to commands and transactions input from the user computer located at the remote location;

a data access layer that manages physical storage of the application data in the databases and provides the application layer with access to the application data; and

a distributed technical layer separating a presentation logic of the presentation layer from an application logic of the application layer, wherein the distributed technical layer is configured to coordinate an execution of the insurance applications on one or more different platforms.

2. The system architecture of claim 1, wherein the presentation layer uses TCP/IP network protocol to remotely access the applications.

3. The system architecture of claim 1, wherein the presentation layer remotely accesses the applications through a private data network.

4. The system architecture of claim 1, wherein the presentation layer remotely accesses the applications through a public data network.

5. The system architecture of claim 1, wherein the distributed technical layer is further configured to locate components of the insurance applications requested by the application layer.

6. The system architecture of claim 5, wherein the distributed technical layer is further configured to direct an insurance application of the insurance applications requested by the application layer to communicate commands to the databases.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein at least one of the databases resides on a host mainframe.

8. The system architecture of claim 7, wherein the distributed technical layer is further configured to coordinate an execution of synchronous transactions on the host mainframe.

9. The system architecture of claim 6, wherein at least one of the databases reside on a host mainframe, and the distributed technical layer is further configured to coordinate an execution of synchronous transactions on the host mainframe.

10. The system architecture of claim 1, wherein the distributed technical layer is further configured to coordinate updates to the insurance applications.

11. The system architecture of claim 1, wherein the distributed technical layer is further configured to determine whether it can coordinate updates to the insurance applications, and if it cannot coordinate the updates, roll back any of the updates that have occurred.

12. The system architecture of claim 1, wherein the distributed technical layer is further configured to coordinate an execution of business transactions on the one or more different platforms.

13. The system architecture of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more different platforms comprise at least one of a server and a mainframe executing at least one insurance application of the insurance applications.

14. The system architecture of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more different platforms comprise at least one of a server and a mainframe.

15. The system architecture of claim 1, wherein said service oriented application architecture uncouples presentation processes, application processes, and data access processes.

16. The system architecture of claim 1, wherein the application layer utilizes components.

17. The system architecture of claim 1, wherein the application layer comprises components executing the predetermined rules retrieved from said computer databases responsive to commands and transactions input from the user computer located at the remote location.

18. The system architecture of claim 1, wherein the data access layer enforces database referential integrity.

19. The system architecture of claim 1, wherein the data access layer enforces database referential integrity concurrently with managing physical storage of the application data in the databases and providing the application layer with access to the application data.

20. A computer system architecture for providing remote access to insurance applications to a user computer at a remote location, comprising:

an insurance computer system comprising;

a memory comprising one or more computer databases storing predetermined rules and data relating to the insurance applications;

at least one processor retrieving the predetermined rules from said one or more computer databases, and executing instructions responsive thereto; and

a service oriented application architecture executed by said at least one processor, and configured to include;

a presentation layer accessible to the user computer at the remote location that provides tools for navigating within the insurance applications and executing transactions, wherein the presentation layer comprises web browser technology;

an application layer that executes the predetermined rules retrieved from said computer databases responsive to commands and transactions input from the user computer located at the remote location; and

a data access layer that manages physical storage of the application data in the databases and provides the application layer with access to the application data,

the presentation layer, application layer, and data access layer communicating to provide the remote access.

21. The system architecture of claim 20, wherein the presentation layer uses TCP/IP network protocol to remotely access the applications.

22. The system architecture of claim 20, wherein the presentation layer remotely accesses the applications through a private data network.

23. The system architecture of claim 20, wherein the presentation layer remotely accesses the applications through a public data network.

24. The system architecture of claim 20, wherein said service oriented application architecture uncouples presentation processes, application processes, and data access processes.

25. The system architecture of claim 20, wherein the application layer utilizes components.

26. The system architecture of claim 20, wherein the application layer comprises components executing the predetermined rules retrieved from said computer databases responsive to commands and transactions input from the user computer located at the remote location.

27. The system architecture of claim 20, wherein the data access layer enforces database referential integrity.

28. The system architecture of claim 20, wherein the data access layer enforces database referential integrity concurrently with managing physical storage of the application data in the databases and providing the application layer with access to the application data.