Method and system for connecting an insured to an insurer using a mobile device

• US 8,401,878 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2010
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CHC LLC
• Original Assignee: Mark Stender, Paul Simeone
• Inventors: Stender, Mark, Simeone, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Holly, John H
• Application Number:
  US12/683,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20100174564A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1.1, 705/4, 705/35, 705/40, 705/64, 705/2, 705/36.R, 455/451, 283/54
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

A system and method for connecting an insured to an insurer using a mobile device in order to provide insurance services. The mobile device, which is associated with the insured, includes a mobile insurance module that is in communication with a server insurance module of a server, which is associated with the insurer. Together, the mobile insurance module and the server insurance module establish a communication channel with the insurer over which insurance services (e.g., requesting a quote, buying a policy, filing a claim and reviewing account information) are provided. The communication channel leverages the technological capabilities of the mobile device, such as a smart phone, to deliver data in a fast, efficient and integrated manner having robust functionalities.

Claims

1. A method for making a claim on an insured loss, said method comprising:

establishing a communication channel between a mobile insurance module of a mobile device associated with an insured and a server insurance module of a server associated with an insurer

connecting the insured, via the communication channel, with a customer service representative of the insurer or of an insurance agency, wherein the step of connecting the insured is accomplished by authenticating a unique signature of the mobile device with the insured'"'"'s policy data in a database of the server insurance module, said policy data including the insured'"'"'s personal information and insurance coverage, and including information for selecting the customer service representative;

transmitting a request for assistance across the communication channel, wherein the request for assistance includes data captured by the mobile device at a scene of the insured loss, said data including any of a GPS location, a nature of the insured loss, or evidence of the insured loss; and

causing a display to the customer service representative of the request for assistance and at least some of the policy data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

capturing insurance data using a mode of the mobile device selected from the group consisting of;

a telephone mode, a short message service text mode, an e-mail mode, a camera mode, a video recorder mode, a voice recorder mode, a global positioning system mode and a touch screen interface mode; and

transmitting the insurance data across the communication channel using the mobile insurance module of the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

supplementing the insurance data by requesting additional insurance data from third party providers;

wherein the step of transmitting the insurance data transmits all of the insurance data, including the additional insurance data, required to provide the insurance service;

wherein the step of providing the insurance service occurs substantially immediately after the step of establishing the communication channel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile insurance module uses a related table data structure.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

periodically collecting a latitude and a longitude of the mobile device using a global positioning system mode of the mobile device;

transmitting a request for assistance across the communication channel using the mobile insurance module of the mobile device, wherein the request includes the latitude and the longitude of the mobile device;

periodically transmitting the latitude and the longitude of the mobile device until terminated by the mobile device; and

wherein the date/timestamp and latitude/longitude are recorded in the metadata of the insurance information for authenticity.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

downloading the mobile insurance module using the mobile device;

installing the mobile insurance module on the mobile device; and

registering a user account using the mobile insurance module, wherein the step of registering further comprises transmitting insurance data across the communication channel, wherein the insurance data includes an identifier of the mobile device.

7. A system for connecting an insured to an insurer, said system comprising:

a mobile device associated with the insured, having a first processor and a first memory, wherein said first memory has a mobile insurance module stored therein, said first processor configured to implement the mobile insurance module,

wherein implementation of the mobile insurance module configures the mobile device to establish a communication channel from the mobile device through a server associated with the insurer, and

to store, in the first memory, insurance data including a listing of insured assets, a listing of insurance policies corresponding to the insured assets, and contact information corresponding to each of the listed insurance policies,

wherein the mobile device is configured to establish the communication channel by transmitting to the server a unique signature of the mobile device for selecting a customer service representative of the insurer.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the mobile device further comprises a mode from the group consisting of:

a telephone mode, a short message service text mode, an e-mail mode, a camera mode, a video recorder mode, a voice recorder mode, a global positioning system mode and a touch screen interface mode; and

wherein the mobile insurance module is configured for capturing insurance data using the mode of the mobile device, and transmitting the insurance data to the server via the communication channel.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the mobile insurance module is self-authenticated to communicate across the communication channel based on an identifier of the mobile device;

and

wherein the mobile insurance module is configured to collect all insurance data required to process, approve and deliver the insurance service across the communication channel.

10. The system as claimed in claim 7, further comprising the server, wherein the server is networked with an insured customer database and with a third party data source, and the mobile insurance module configures the mobile device to transfer data to and from the insured customer database and the third party data source via the server insurance module, such that the insurance data in the first memory substantially mirrors data associated with a user of the mobile device in the insured customer database and in the third party data source.

11. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the mobile insurance module is further configured to select the customer service representative with whom to connect the insured, based on an insured asset selected via the mobile insurance module.

12. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the insurance data can include pre-loss and post-loss data associated with at least one insured asset.

13. A method for providing an insurance service via a mobile device, said method comprising:

establishing a communication channel from the mobile device to a server of an insurer;

connecting an insured, via the communication channel, with a customer service representative of the insurer, wherein the step of connecting the insured includes transmitting from the mobile device to the server a unique signature of the mobile device for selecting the customer service representative; and

causing a display to the customer service representative of insurance information corresponding to the unique signature of the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

transmitting a request for a quick quote of a policy across the communication channel using the mobile insurance module, wherein the quick quote includes a binder;

transmitting an acceptance of the binder to purchase the policy across the communication channel using the mobile insurance module; and

receiving an insurance identification card across the communication channel using the mobile insurance module, wherein the insurance identification card is proof of insurance.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

transmitting a claim request across the communication channel using the mobile insurance device;

wherein the step of providing the insurance service further comprises;

immediately receiving notification of settlement of the claim request and release of funds across the communication channel using the mobile insurance device.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the insurance information is retrieved from the server of the insurer.