Patent Publication Number: US-11049183-B1

Title: Wireless device to enable data collection for insurance rating purposes

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/521,708, filed Oct. 23, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/156,958, filed on Jan. 16, 2014; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/958,131, filed on Aug. 2, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,666,789, issued Mar. 4, 2014, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for collecting data that may be used for determining insurance ratings. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a battery powered Bluetooth device that automatically triggers a mobile computing device to store data, such as a series of locations and a time stamp associated with each location, when the mobile computing device is proximate the Bluetooth device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Mobile computing devices, such as “smart phones,” are becoming common place. Most mobile telephones include a short range wireless transceiver (e.g., a Bluetooth transceiver) in addition to a local area network transceiver (e.g., a WiFi transceiver) and a cellular telephone network transceiver. Many mobile telephones now include a global positioning device, a calendar, a clock and other situational sensors. Additionally, a typical mobile telephone includes a memory for storing data and various applications that, when executed by a processor within the mobile telephone, enable various functionality, such as receiving, storing and transmitting data. 
     Bluetooth devices are becoming equally common place. Bluetooth devices for use with mobile telephones are available. For example, headsets, microphones, speakers, etc. are often wirelessly connected to a mobile telephone via a Bluetooth interface. 
     Owners of mobile telephones rarely travel far without their phone. For example, people frequently have their mobile telephones with them when driving cars, boats, jet skis, motorcycles, ATVs and the like. Mobile telephones are often considered a necessity when traveling in airplanes, trains, buses, etc. Furthermore, mobile telephones are regularly carried when individuals walk, run, ride bicycles, ski and perform other physical activities. 
     SUMMARY 
     A computerized method for automatically collecting and storing insurance risk rating related data may include receiving, at a processor of a mobile computing device, an indication that the mobile computing device is proximate a wireless transceiver device. The method may also include receiving, at the processor of the mobile computing device, data representative of an identification of the wireless transceiver device. The method may further include causing the processor to automatically store insurance rating related data in a memory in response to receiving the indication that the wireless transceiver device is proximate the mobile computing device and receiving the data representative of the identification of the wireless transceiver device. The method may also include receiving, at the processor of the computing device, an indication that the mobile computing device is no longer proximate the wireless transceiver device. The method may further include causing the processor to automatically cease storing insurance rating related data in the memory in response to receiving the indication that the mobile computing device is no longer proximate the wireless transceiver device. 
     In another embodiment, a system for automatically collecting and storing insurance risk rating related data may include a wireless transceiver device for providing an indication that a mobile computing device insurance application is proximate the wireless transceiver device and for providing data representative of an identification of the wireless transceiver device. The system may further include a wireless transceiver device and mobile computing device synchronization module stored on a computer-readable medium that, when executed by a processor, receives the indication that the wireless transceiver is proximate the mobile computing device insurance application and that receives the data representative of the identification of the wireless transceiver device and provides an indication that the wireless transceiver device is proximate the mobile computing device insurance application. The system may also include an insurance rating related data logging module stored on a computer-readable medium that, when executed by a processor, automatically stores insurance rating related data on a memory in response to receiving the indication that the wireless transceiver device is proximate the mobile computing device insurance application. 
     In yet another embodiment, a computer-readable storage medium comprising non-transitory computer-readable instructions stored thereon, to be executed on a processor of a system for automatically collecting and storing insurance rating related data, may include a wireless transceiver device and mobile computing device synchronization module that, when executed by a processor, receives an indication that a wireless transceiver is proximate a mobile computing device and receives data representative of an identification of the wireless transceiver device, and that provides an indication that the wireless transceiver device is proximate the mobile computing device. The instructions may further include an insurance data logging module that, when executed by a processor, automatically stores insurance rating related data on a memory in response to receiving the indication that the wireless transceiver device is proximate the mobile computing device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures described below depict various aspects of the systems and methods disclosed herein. It should be understood that each figure depicts an embodiment of a particular aspect of the disclosed systems and methods, and that each of the figures is intended to accord with a possible embodiment thereof. Furthermore, wherever possible, the following description refers to the reference numerals included in the following figures, in which features depicted in multiple figures are designated with consistent reference numerals. 
         FIGS. 1A-1C  depict various views of an example wireless transceiver device capable of triggering a mobile device to log data; 
         FIGS. 2A-2H and 2J  illustrate various personal use items including a wireless transceiver device of  FIGS. 1A-1C ; 
         FIG. 3  depicts a high-level block diagram of an example system for logging insurance ranking data including a wireless transceiver device, a mobile device and a remote server; 
         FIG. 4  depicts a block diagram of an example wireless transceiver device; 
         FIG. 5  depict a flow diagram of an example method of associating a Bluetooth device with a mobile telephone; 
         FIG. 6  depicts a flow diagram of an example method of synchronizing a Bluetooth device with a mobile telephone; 
         FIG. 7  depicts a block diagram of an example mobile telephone with an application for logging data; 
         FIG. 8  depicts a flow diagram of an example method of associating a mobile telephone with Bluetooth device; and 
         FIG. 9  depicts a flow diagram of an example method of automatically triggering a mobile telephone to log data. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Insurance rates are often based on various personal characteristics. For example, the cost of automobile insurance may, at least in part, be based on the distance an individual drives to work, where the individual lives, where the individual drives, etc. Generally, this information is provided to the insurance company by an insurance purchaser at the time an insurance policy is underwritten. Insurance companies count on the insurance purchaser to provide new information when changes occur. 
     With recent advancements in technology, such as mobile telephone technology, more people are acquiring the means to automate various aspects of sharing personal information. The devices, methods and systems of the present disclosure provide automatic collection of various data that may be used for insurance rating purposes. In particular, a Bluetooth device may be attached to a personal item (e.g., an automobile) belonging to an insured person and an application may be installed on the insured person&#39;s mobile telephone. Each Bluetooth device may be identified with a particular media access control (MAC) address and the MAC address may be associated with a particular personal item. 
     When the mobile telephone is proximate the Bluetooth device, indicative of, for example, that the insured person is driving her automobile, the mobile telephone may automatically begin to store data that may be used for insurance rating purposes. For example, when the mobile telephone includes a global positioning device, a calendar and a clock, the mobile telephone may periodically store a location of the mobile telephone along with a day and a time stamp associated with each location. The mobile telephone and the Bluetooth device may be configured such that no action is required on the part of a user, aside from bringing the mobile telephone proximate the Bluetooth device, in order for the mobile telephone to automatically store data. Similarly, no interaction is required on behave of the user in respect to the personal item (e.g., no ignition activation is required). 
     The mobile telephone may periodically transmit the stored insurance rating related data to a remote server. For example, the mobile telephone may detect the presence of a wireless fidelity (WiFi) access point. In response to detecting the presence of a WiFi access point, the mobile telephone may transmit the stored insurance rating related data to the remote server. Alternatively, the mobile telephone may transmit the insurance rating related data to a remote server via a cellular telephone network. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 1A-1C , an example Bluetooth device  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c  is depicted. The Bluetooth device  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c  may include a replaceable battery  115   a ,  115   b ,  115   c  which may be retained within the Bluetooth device  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , at least in part, by the battery access cover  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c . The Bluetooth device  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c  may further include a memory  120   a ,  120   b ,  120   c , a processor  125   a ,  125   b ,  125   c  and a transceiver  130   a ,  130   b ,  130   c.    
     As depicted in  FIG. 1A , the Bluetooth device  100   a  may include a top side  105   a .  FIG. 1B  represents a side  105   b  view of a cross section  1 B- 1 B of the Bluetooth device  100   a . As can be seen in  FIG. 1B , the Bluetooth device  100   b  may include a double-sided adhesive  140   b  that may facilitate attachment of the Bluetooth device  100   b  to a personal item (e.g., a vehicle, motorcycle, boat, bicycle, etc.) belonging to an insured person. With additional reference to  FIG. 1C , the Bluetooth device  100   c  may include a tamperproof mechanism  135   c  that may be incorporated between a bottom side  105   c  of the Bluetooth device  100   c  and the double-sided adhesive  140   c . The double-sided adhesive  140   c  and the tamperproof device  135   c  may be configured such that, once the Bluetooth device  100   c  is attached to a personal item belonging to an insured person, removal of the Bluetooth device  100   c  will cause the double-sided adhesive  140   c  to break the tamperproof mechanism  135   c . As a result, the double-sided adhesive  140   c  in combination with the tamperproof mechanism  135   c  prevents tampering with the Bluetooth device  100   c.    
     The memory  120   a ,  120   b ,  120   c  may include data representative of a Bluetooth device media access control (MAC) address along with computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor  125   a ,  125   b ,  125   c  cause the Bluetooth device  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c  to measure a remaining charge of the replaceable battery  115   a ,  115   b ,  115   c  and transmit the data representative of the MAC address and data representative of the remaining charge to a mobile telephone (e.g., mobile telephone  305  of  FIG. 3 ) when the mobile telephone  305  is proximate the Bluetooth device  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c . As described elsewhere herein, transmission of the data representative of the MAC address may cause the mobile telephone  305  to begin logging data. 
     It should be understood that other wireless communications protocols, aside from the Bluetooth communications protocol, may be used. For example, the device  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c  may employ other radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies. 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 2A-2H and 2J , a Bluetooth device (similar to Bluetooth device  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c ) may be attached to various personal items  200   a - 200   h  and  200   j . For example, as depicted in  FIG. 2A , a Bluetooth device  210   a  may be attached to an insured person&#39;s car  205   a . As depicted in  FIG. 2B , a Bluetooth device  210   b  may be attached to an insured person&#39;s motorcycle  205   b . As depicted in  FIG. 2C , a Bluetooth device  210   c  may be attached to an insured person&#39;s boat  205   c . As depicted in  FIG. 2C , a Bluetooth device  210   d  may be attached to an insured person&#39;s bicycle  205   d . As depicted in  FIG. 2E , a Bluetooth device  210   e  may be attached to an insured person&#39;s jet ski  205   e . Alternatively, as depicted in  FIGS. 2F and 2H , a Bluetooth device  210   f  may be attached to an airplane  205   f  in which an insured person is traveling or a Bluetooth device  210   h  may be attached to a train  205   h  in which an insured person is traveling. As depicted in  FIG. 2G , a Bluetooth device  210   g  may be attached to an insured person&#39;s luggage  205   g . While  FIG. 2G  depicts the Bluetooth device  210   g  as being attached to an insured person&#39;s luggage  205   g , it should be understood that the Bluetooth device  210   g  may be attached to a briefcase, a book bag, a backpack, a tennis racket bag, a golf club bag, etc. As depicted in  FIG. 2J , a Bluetooth device  210   j  may be attached to an insured person&#39;s ski boot  205   j . While  FIG. 2J  depicts the Bluetooth device  210   j  as being attached to an insured person&#39;s ski boot  205   j , it should be understood that the Bluetooth device  210   j  may be attached to a running shoe, a tennis shoe, a golf shoe, a hiking boot, a work boot, a snowboard boot, sports apparel, a coat, etc. It should be understood that a Bluetooth device  100   a  may be attached to any personal item  205   a  or attached to a lanyard and worn around the insured person&#39;s neck. As described elsewhere herein, any given Bluetooth device  100   a  may be associated with an insured person&#39;s mobile telephone  305  such that the mobile telephone  305  will automatically log data associated with a particular activity that is related to the particular personal item  205   a - 205   h  and  205   j . For example, data may be logged that is representative of how far, when and where an insured person went driving, riding, boating, biking, jet skiing, flying, traveling, skiing, etc. As further described herein, data representative of how fast the insured person was moving may be determined based on the logged position and time data. 
     The details associated with a computer system  300  for logging data for use in determining insurance ratings are now described beginning with reference to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  depicts a high-level block diagram of a computer system  300  that implements communications between a client device  305  (e.g., a mobile telephone), a Bluetooth device  310  and a remote computing device  315  to provide data to an insurance related database  390 . The client device  305  may be communicatively coupled to the Bluetooth device  310  via the Bluetooth wireless link  320  and to the remote computing device  315  via a network  325 . 
     For clarity, only one client device  305  is depicted in  FIG. 3 . While  FIG. 3  depicts only one client device  305 , it should be understood that any number of client devices  305  may be supported and that each client device  305  may be any appropriate computing device, such as a mobile telephone, a personal data assistant, a tablet or a lap-top computer. The client device  305  may include a memory  330  and a processor  335  for storing and executing, respectively, a module  331 . The module  331 , stored in the memory  330  as a set of computer-readable instructions, may be related to an insurance rating related data logging application that, when executed on a processor  335 , causes insurance rating related data to be stored in the memory  330 . As described in detail herein, the module  331  may facilitate interaction between the client device  305 , the Bluetooth device  310  and the remote computing device  315 . 
     The processor  335 , further executing the module  331 , may facilitate communications between the computing device  315  and the client device  305  via a network interface  355 , a client device network connection  326  and the network  325 . The client device  305  may include a display device  350  which may be any type of electronic display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, a plasma display, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display, or any other type of known or suitable electronic display. The display device  350  may exhibit a display which depicts a user interface for configuring the client device  305  to communicate with the Bluetooth device  310  via the client device Bluetooth interface  360 , the Bluetooth wireless link  320  and the Bluetooth device Bluetooth interface  375 . The client device  305  may include a user input device  345 , such as a touch input/keyboard/pointing device (e.g., a mouse) that provides a mechanism for a user of the client device  305  to launch a data logging application, to enter related information and to manually enter insurance rating related data, such as an odometer reading of a vehicle. The user input device  345  may be configured as an integral part of a display device  350 , such as a touch screen display device. The network interface  355  may be configured to facilitate communications between the client device  305  and the remote computing device  315  via any hardwired or wireless communication network  325 , including for example a hardwired Ethernet connection or a wireless LAN, MAN or WAN, WiFi, the Internet, or any combination thereof. Moreover, the client device  305  may be communicatively connected to the remote computing device  315  via any suitable communication system, such as via any publicly available or privately owned communication network, including those that use wireless communication structures, such as wireless communication networks, including for example, wireless LANs and WANs, satellite and cellular telephone communication systems, etc. 
     The Bluetooth device  310  may include a memory  365  storing a module  366  that, when executed by a processor  370 , may transmit a Bluetooth device  310  MAC address to a client device  305 . As described elsewhere herein, transmission of the Bluetooth device  310  MAC address to the client device  305  may cause the client device  305  to begin storing insurance rating related data in the memory  330 . Alternatively, the client device  305  may cause insurance related data to be stored in a remote server  315  memory  380  and/or a remote insurance related database  390 . 
     The computing device  315  may include a memory  380  and a processor  385  for storing and executing, respectively, a module  381 . The module  381 , stored in the memory  380  as a set of computer-readable instructions, facilitates applications related to logging insurance rating related data. The module  381  may also facilitate communications between the computing device  315  and the client device  305  via a network interface  395 , a remote computing device network connection  327  and the network  325  and other functions and instructions. 
     The computing device  315  may be communicatively coupled to an insurance related database  390 . While the insurance related database  390  is shown in  FIG. 3  as being communicatively coupled to the remote computing device  315 , it should be understood that the insurance related database  390  may be located within separate remote servers (or any other suitable computing devices) communicatively coupled to the remote computing device  315 . Optionally, portions of insurance related database  390  may be associated with memory modules that are separate from one another, such as a memory  330  of the client device  305 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 4 , a block diagram  400  of an example Bluetooth device  405  is depicted. The Bluetooth device  405  may be similar to the Bluetooth devices  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c  of  FIGS. 1A-1C , respectively, or Bluetooth device  310  of  FIG. 3 . In any event, the Bluetooth device  405  may include modules  415 - 435  stored in a memory  410  that, when executed on a processor (e.g., processor  370  of  FIG. 3 ), may cause a mobile device (e.g., mobile device  305  of  FIG. 3 ) to log insurance rating related data. The modules  415 - 435  may be included within the module  366  of  FIG. 3 , for example. In particular, the Bluetooth device  405  may include a Bluetooth device identification module  415 , a mobile telephone synchronization module  420 , a battery life module  425 , a tamperproof module  430  and a communications module  435 . 
     With additional reference to  FIG. 5 , a flow diagram is depicted for an example method  500  of associating a Bluetooth device with a mobile telephone. The processor  370 , executing the Bluetooth device identification module  415 , may cause the Bluetooth device  310  to acquire a Bluetooth device media access control (MAC) address identification (block  505 ). The processor  370 , executing the mobile telephone synchronization module  420 , may cause the Bluetooth device  310  to synchronize with the mobile telephone  305  (block  510 ). The processor  370 , executing the communications module  435 , may cause the Bluetooth device  310  to transmit the Bluetooth device MAC address identification to the mobile telephone  305  (block  515 ). As described elsewhere herein, once the mobile telephone  305  receives the Bluetooth device MAC address identification, the mobile telephone  305  may establish a data file on the memory  330  for logging insurance rating related data corresponding to a personal item (e.g., personal item  210   a - 210   h  and  210   j  of  FIG. 2 ) and associated with the given Bluetooth device MAC address identification. The method  500  may be coordinated with the method  800  of  FIG. 8  to provide an association between a Bluetooth device  310  and a mobile telephone  305 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , a flow diagram of an example method  600  for synchronizing a Bluetooth device  310  with a mobile telephone  305  is depicted. The processor  370 , executing the mobile telephone synchronization module  420 , may cause the Bluetooth device  310  to synchronize with the mobile telephone  305  (block  605 ). The processor  370 , executing the battery life module  425 , may measure a charge remaining in the battery (e.g., battery  115   a  of  FIG. 1 ) (block  610 ). The processor  370 , executing the Bluetooth device identification module  415 , may cause the Bluetooth device  310  to acquire a Bluetooth device media access control (MAC) address identification (block  615 ). The processor  370 , executing the communication module  435 , may cause the Bluetooth device  310  to transmit data, representative of the remaining charge in the battery  115   a  and data representative of the Bluetooth device MAC address identification, to the mobile telephone  305  (block  620 ). The mobile telephone  305  may log insurance rating data in response to receiving the Bluetooth device MAC address identification data. The method  600  may be coordinated with the method  900  of  FIG. 9  to synchronize a Bluetooth device  310  and a mobile telephone  305  and to automatically store insurance rating related data. 
     Turning to  FIG. 7 , a block diagram  700  of an example client device  705  is depicted to include modules  715 - 740 , stored on a memory  710 , that, when executed on a processor (e.g., processor  335  of  FIG. 3 ), may cause the client device  705  to log insurance rating related data. The client device  705  may be similar to the mobile telephone  305  of  FIG. 3 . The modules  715 - 740  may be included within module  331  of  FIG. 3 . In any event, the client device  705  may include a Bluetooth device identification and customization module  715 , a MAC address receiving module  720 , a mobile telephone and Bluetooth device synchronization module  725 , a battery life data receiving module  730 , an insurance data logging module  735  and insurance data transmission module  740 . 
     With additional reference to  FIG. 8 , a flow diagram of an example method  800  of associating a mobile telephone  305  with Bluetooth device  310  is illustrated. A processor (e.g., processor  335  of  FIG. 3 ), executing the Bluetooth device identification and customization module  715 , may, in response to a user of a mobile telephone  305  initiating an insurance application, identify a Bluetooth device  310  (block  805 ). For example, a user may bring a mobile telephone  305 , that is to be associated with a given Bluetooth device  310 , within proximity of the Bluetooth  310 , that is to be associated with the given mobile telephone  305 , and the processor  335  may automatically associate the mobile telephone  305  with the Bluetooth device  310  (block  810 ). Alternatively, a user of a mobile telephone  305  may, via a user interface of an insurance application, enter information that the processor  335  uses to associate the mobile telephone  305  with the Bluetooth device  310  (block  810 ). The processor  335 , further executing the Bluetooth device identification and customization module  715 , may create an insurance data file within the mobile telephone  305  associated with the Bluetooth device  310  (block  815 ). The method  800  may be coordinated with the method  500  of  FIG. 5  to provide an association between a Bluetooth device  310  and a mobile telephone  305 . 
     With additional reference to  FIG. 9 , a flow diagram of an example method  900  of automatically triggering a mobile telephone  305  to log insurance rating related data is illustrated. A processor (e.g., processor  335  of  FIG. 3 ), executing the mobile telephone and Bluetooth device synchronization module  725 , may detect the presence of a Bluetooth device  310  in proximity to a mobile telephone  305  (block  905 ). When the processor  335  detects the presence of a Bluetooth device  310  in proximity of the mobile telephone  305 , the processor  335 , executing the MAC address receiving module  720  and the batter life data receiving module  730 , may retrieve data representative of a MAC address and data representative of battery life (e.g., data representative of a remaining charge in a battery  115   a ) from the Bluetooth device  310  (block  910 ). For example, when an insured person brings her mobile telephone  305  in close proximity to a Bluetooth device  310 , the processor  335  may automatically retrieve data representative of a MAC address and data representative of battery life from the Bluetooth device  310 . The processor  335 , executing the insurance data logging module  735 , may store data representative of insurance rating related information in a memory (e.g., memory  330  of  FIG. 3 ) (block  915 ). For example, when an insured person brings his mobile telephone  305  in close proximity to a Bluetooth device  310 , the processor  335  may automatically cause the mobile telephone to begin storing insurance rating related data in the memory  330 . The processor  335 , executing the insurance data transmission module  740 , may transmit data representative of insurance rating related information to a remote server (e.g., remote server  315  of  FIG. 3 ) (block  920 ). The processor  335 , further executing the mobile telephone and Bluetooth device synchronization module  725 , may detect that the Bluetooth device  310  is no longer proximate the mobile telephone  305  (block  925 ). In response to detecting that the Bluetooth device  310  is no longer proximate the mobile telephone  305  (block  925 ), the processor  335  may automatically cause the mobile telephone  305  to discontinue storing insurance rating related data (block  930 ). The method  900  may be coordinated with the method  600  of  FIG. 6  to synchronize a Bluetooth device  310  and a mobile telephone  305  and to automatically store insurance rating related data. 
     Once the insurance rating related data, such as data representative of a series of locations and associated day and time associated with each location, is stored in an insurance related database, a processor (e.g., processor  385  of  FIG. 3 ) may determine various characteristics related to an insured individual using the insurance rating related data. For example, the processor  385  may determine a total number of miles an insured person has driven an automobile in any given time period, a geographic area that the insured person travels in, the types of physical activities an insured person participates in, how fast the insured person has driven, etc. The insurance rating related data and the characteristics may be used to determine an insurance risk. 
     This detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment, as describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. One could implement numerous alternate embodiments, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this application.