Customizable insurance system

• US 8,433,588 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2009
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Progressive Casualty Insurance Company (Progressive Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Progressive Casualty Insurance Company (Progressive Corporation)
• Inventors: Willis, Dale, Rolnik, David, Renwick, Glenn, Michael, Daniel, Gehrmann, Dan, Chiang, Faith, Callahan, Patrick, Alfred, Toby, Ling, Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): NIQUETTE, ROBERT R
• Application Number:
  US12/482,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20100223078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

An automated insurance quote system allows users to apply for one or more insurance quotes through a self-service communication channel. The system includes an interface that may receive applicant data from a remote location. A front-end processor selectively passes applicant data to a record keeping system retained in a memory. A controller or quote processors selects and transmits one or more insurance policies that are allowed under a user'"'"'s governmental law and are tailored to the user'"'"'s price and/or coverage preferences. The system conveys coverage details to users through the interface.

Claims

1. A system comprising a processor and a memory accessible to the processor and an interface comprising:

a logic stored in the memory and executable by the processor for rendering a specific user interface within a display area comprising a plurality of active areas for moving between different insurance coverages and price points of a plurality of customizable insurance quotes, the active areas comprising a proximal end and a distal end for moving incrementally between the customizable line coverage types and price points, a sliding scroll box for moving to an arbitrary customizable line coverage type and price point, and a plurality of intermediate areas between the sliding scroll box and the proximal end and the distal end for moving incrementally between the customizable line coverages and price points; and

a database that stores customized data indicating the selections made by the user and parameters made by the system that are in compliance with the user'"'"'s designated state laws, where the customized data identifies selected insurance coverage, and corresponding maximum coverage limits.

2. The system of claim 1 where the database additionally retains personal data records through which each user may view, add, or modify based on a user'"'"'s access restrictions.

3. The system of claim 1 where a second logic stored in the memory and executable by the processor that renders a second interface that recommends an insurance coverage in compliance with the user'"'"'s designated state laws and further renders functionality for the user to select insurance coverage based on the quote information and access a plurality of customizable line coverage types, where the second logic is executable to transmit data and receive data from an insurance site through a publicly accessible distributed network.

4. The system of claim 3 where the second logic renders an insurance coverage in compliance with the user'"'"'s designated state laws and a lending source that has an encumbrance on an insured object and where the user comprises an applicant or quoter.

5. The system of claim 3 where the customizable line coverage types are positioned in a sequence that reflects a user'"'"'s aversion to risk detected from the quote information provided by the user.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second logic stored in a memory and executable by the processor that renders a second user interface that represents programs, files, and option selections through menus and dialog boxes that receives a user'"'"'s quote information through a publicly accessible distributed network.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second logic stored in the memory and executable by the processor for rendering a second user interface having functionality to render a plurality of payment plans, where a selection of a payment plan identifies a user'"'"'s elected insurance coverages and further renders functionality for users to complete an insurance transaction and make an on-line payment.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second logic stored in the memory and executable by the processor for rendering a graphical device interface having functionality that renders images and other graphical elements adjacent to personal information contained in user'"'"'s quote information and data accessed from a remote source, where the images, other graphical elements, and personal information are associated with a quote identifier retained in the database.

9. The system of claim 1 where the processor comprises a fat client that executes substantially all of the processing of the system.

10. The system of claim 1 where the processor comprises a fat server that executes substantially all of the processing of the system.

11. The system of claim 1 where the logic is executable by the processor for rendering a line coverage area in the specific user interface that displays line coverages of an insurance quote, and where the logic is executable by the processor to change one or more of the line coverages in the line coverage area of the specific user interface in response to movement of the sliding scroll box from one position to another.

12. The system of claim 11 where the logic is executable by the processor for highlighting an appearance of the one or more line coverages that were changed in the line coverage area of the specific user interface in response to the movement of the sliding scroll box.

13. In a network based system that provides functionality for users to enter into an insurance transaction, a computer implemented method for users to customize insurance coverages that are in compliance with their local and applicable laws, comprising:

receiving a user'"'"'s quote information through a publicly accessible distributed network in communication with a first user interface that comprises programs and option selections through menus and dialog boxes;

receiving a user'"'"'s selection of a recommend insurance in compliance with the user'"'"'s designated applicable laws based on the user'"'"'s quote information, where the user'"'"'s selection reflect a plurality of customizable insurance line coverage types that are rendered through an insurance site and the publicly accessible distributed network;

generating a display comprising a plurality of active areas for moving between different insurance coverage types and price points of a plurality of customizable insurance quotes, the active areas comprising a proximal position and a distal position for the user to move incrementally between the customizable line coverage types and price points, a sliding scroll box for the user to move between arbitrary customizable line coverage types and price points, and a plurality of intermediate areas between the sliding scroll box and the proximal position and the distal position for the user to move incrementally between the customizable line coverage types and price points; and

accessing a database through a slave processor that stores customized data reflecting the selections made by the user that are in compliance with the user'"'"'s designated applicable laws, where the customized data identifies the insurance coverage type, maximum coverage limits, and a cost.

14. The method of claim 13 where the database additionally retains personal data records through which each user may view, supplement, or modify based on a user'"'"'s access restrictions.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising ensuring that the system receives only a user'"'"'s selection of recommend insurance in compliance with the user'"'"'s designated applicable laws.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising ensuring that the system only recommends an insurance coverage in compliance with the user'"'"'s designated applicable laws and a lending source having an encumbrance on an insured object.

17. The method of claim 13 where the system displays customizable line coverage types in a sequence that reflects a user'"'"'s aversion to risk detected from the quote information received from the user.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing a second user interface having functionality for users to send and receive messages through the publicly accessible distributed network while maintaining access to the first user interface.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising a second user interface having functionality to render a plurality of payment plans, where a selection of a payment plan identifies a user'"'"'s elected insurance coverages and further renders functionality for users to complete an insurance transaction and make an on-line payment.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising a rendering a graphical device interface having functionality to render or display images and other graphical elements adjacent to personal user information contained in the user'"'"'s quote information and data accessed from a remote source, where the images, other graphical elements, and personal user information are associated with a quote identifier retained in the database.

21. The method of claim 13 where the system comprises a fat client that executes substantially all of the processing of the method.

22. The method of claim 13 where the processor comprises a fat server that executes substantially all of the processing of the method.

23. A customizable insurance system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory accessible to the processor;

logic stored in the memory and executable by the processor for rendering a user interface within a display area, where the user interface comprises an active area that allows a user to move between different insurance coverages and price points of an insurance quote, where the active area comprises a proximal end associated with a first price point and a first package of insurance coverage line items, a distal end associated with a second price point and a second package of insurance coverage line items, one or more intermediate areas between the proximal end and the distal end that are associated with one or more intermediate price points and one or more intermediate packages of insurance coverage line items, and a sliding scroll box movable between the first price point, the second price point, and the one or more intermediate price points in response to a user movement of the sliding scroll box within the user interface for selection of an insurance package; and

a database that stores customized insurance data indicating a price point and insurance package selection made by the user based on a position of the sliding scroll box.

24. The system of claim 23, where the user interface also comprises a line coverage area, where the processor is configured to render the first package of insurance coverage line items in the line coverage area when the sliding scroll box is positioned at the distal end, where the processor is configured to render the second package of insurance coverage line items in the line coverage area when the sliding scroll box is positioned at the proximal end, and where the processor is configured to render one of the intermediate packages of insurance coverage line items in the line coverage area when the sliding scroll box is positioned in one of the intermediate areas.

25. The system of claim 24, where the processor is configured to highlight an appearance of one or more insurance coverage line items that changed in the line coverage area of the user interface in response to a movement of the sliding scroll box.