Patent Publication Number: US-11645722-B2

Title: Insurance data management system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of pending U.S. application Ser. No. 16/517,896 filed Jul. 22, 2019, issuing as U.S. Pat. No. 10,949,927; which application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/870,331 filed Sep. 30, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,453,148; which application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/951,077 filed Jul. 25, 2013, now abandoned; which application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/679,130 filed Aug. 3, 2012. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention pertains to a system and method for the capture, storage and utilization of specific data of value in the property and casualty insurance markets. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention pertains to insurance portfolio data management. More specifically, a system operating in accordance with invention enables insurance agents to collect, collaborate and analyze real-time structured data received from the field through a handheld mobile device, through a customer website portal or software app, or from third party data sources. The data can be accessed by insurance customers, underwriters and/or agents, and comprehensive electronic forms and reports are generated. For example, standardized underwriting forms, such as the Accord® form or other format desired by a particular underwriter are generated by the information stored in the insurance portfolio data management system. Underwriters provide trackable insurance quotes in electronic form to the insurance portfolio data management system which in turn generates a quote report that is sent in electronic form to licensed insurance agents. The licensed insurance agents complete the transaction and bind coverage for the insured, and then transmit a trackable bind order to the insurance portfolio data management system which in turn generates a trackable bind order that is sent to the respective underwriter. 
     One of the primary features of the invention is to collect data in the field via a handheld mobile computing device which includes global positioning technology, such as a computer tablet with the appropriate software, or other handheld GPS enabled mobile input device. An employee for an insurance company (or the system administrator) can enter data in a master form on the handheld device which desirably associates a geocode and a time/date stamp with the information. The onsite data collection also optionally includes the ability to add photographs, video, scanned documents or voice messages as part of the geocoded and time/date stamped record. The handheld mobile computing device also desirably includes a stylus and an electronic signature capability, and provides the binding of contracts through the electronic signature capability. The stylus can also be used to superimpose handwritten notes over a static photo or scanned document. It is also desirable that the handheld mobile computing device have the ability to scan barcodes. The barcode scanning feature is a particularly effective and efficient way to enter vehicle identification information, and other information that make be encoded by bar code. 
     The insurance portfolio data management system can be used in a variety of applications, but two preferred applications are noted. The first preferred application is to use the mobile tool in the field in order to gather fundamental data for insurance procurement. Since fundamental data collection occurs in the field, the system improves convenience to the customer and accuracy of the collected information. The second preferred application is to use the mobile tool when responding to a claim of an insured loss. Again, the mobile device can be used to reliably and efficiently collect onsite information regarding the validation of a loss. The claims adjuster will then be better able to make a more informed decision regarding coverage determinations. 
     In addition, the data collected can be integrated into existing databases and management systems. The system can thus be used as a stand-alone system or as a supplement to an existing system. Commercial users of the system can be clustered in a hierarchy that relates to their commercial structure. The hierarchy allows managers and supervisors to review the dashboard metrics of their direct reports, and can be customized for each commercial subscriber. 
     Other features and objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the following drawings and description thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a block diagram illustrating of an exemplary use of the invention. 
         FIG.  2    is an example of well-known standardized insurance underwriting form, branded as the Accord® form. 
         FIGS.  3 A- 3 E  are exemplary screenshots for the handheld mobile unit for onsite collection of insurance information pertaining to customer intake and home owner&#39;s insurance. 
         FIGS.  4 A- 4 D  are exemplary screenshots on the handheld mobile unit pertaining to the onsite collection of data pertaining to auto insurance. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , an insurance portfolio data management system  10  operating in accordance with the invention preferably receives uploaded insurance data from several sources, and organizes the data in one or more structured databases. The insurance portfolio data management system  10  also interacts electronically with insurance underwriters  20  and licensed insurance agents  26 . The administrator or subscriber of the insurance portfolio data management system  10  engages an insurance consumer  30  prior to entering data into the system  10 . Data collection can occur in a number of ways. Block  12  labeled subscriber&#39;s handheld mobile computing unit is a handheld mobile computing device that collects data which is uploaded to the insurance portfolio data management system  10 , as indicated by the one-way arrow between the mobile unit  12  and system  10  in  FIG.  1   . The system  10  contains one or more structured databases that can be separated in order to segregate data collected for various subscribers. Typical subscribers would be an insurance agent or a claims adjustor service or a third party representative. On the other hand, the system  10  can be implemented as a single database for a single system administrator such as an insurance agency or a claims adjustor, etc. . . . . 
     The handheld mobile computing device  12  can be a laptop, tablet or smartphone including global positioning technology with appropriate software, or can be another type of handheld GPS enabled mobile computing device. The preferred device  12  is a tablet having a stylus. As mentioned above, an employee for the insurance company, or the administrator or some other individual, enters data into one or more master forms on the handheld device  12 , which also preferably associates a geocode and a time and date stamp with the information. It is also preferred that the handheld mobile computing device  12  have the ability to take photographs and video, and record voice messages as part of the record and also geocode and time and date stamp the photographs, video and voice messages as well. Further, it is desirable that the handheld mobile computing device  12  include electronic signature capability to allow the binding of contracts on site with the stylus. Further, it may be desirable to include a document scanner that can communicate with the handheld mobile computing device  12  on site. The stylus can be used to make electronic notes on geocoded/time and date stamped photographs or scanned documents. In addition, as mentioned above, it is desirable the handheld computing device include a bar code scanning feature. The technical implementation of collecting the data in the field and uploading the geocoded and time/date stamped data to the insurance portfolio data management system  10  is preferably similar to the technical implementation described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,267,558, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Global Relief Management”, which issued on Sep. 4, 2007 and is hereby incorporated by reference. The mobile handheld computing device would normally include cellular and WiFi communication to upload the data. 
       FIGS.  3 A- 3 E  are representative data input screens for the handheld mobile computing device  12  for the onsite collection of insurance data pertaining to home owner&#39;s insurance.  FIG.  3 A  is a representative customer “intake” page and includes a number of fields pertaining to the identity of the homeowner and the location of the home.  FIG.  3 B  is the first screen on the “home” page and includes fields pertaining to home construction parameters and the usage of the property.  FIG.  3 C  is a second screen of the “home” page including fields pertaining to general information regarding the residence such as whether business is conducted on premise, if there are any employees at the residence, etc.  FIG.  3 C  also prompts the user to indicate whether any natural hazards are present and illustrates a pop-up menu displayed on the screen prompting specifically whether flooding, brush fire, forest fire, landslide or none of these hazards are present. The screen also shows other fields that are typically pertinent such as whether the dwelling is for sale, whether the home is within 300 feet of a non-residential property, or whether there is a trampoline on premise.  FIG.  3 D  illustrates another screen on the “home” page having fields prompting for additional information such as other insurance with this company, whether coverage has been declined or canceled in the past three years, whether the applicant has been subject to foreclosure, repossession or bankruptcy in the last five years, indicted or convicted for a crime, whether insurance has been transferred within the agency, or whether applicant owns any recreational vehicles. Note that the instructions for filling out the fields can be quite specific with respect to various state laws.  FIG.  3 E  is an example of the signature screen for the “home” page illustrating the electronic signature capability of the system. The electronic signature capability allows the home owner to easily verify that the information that is collected onsite is accurate as of the date of data collection.  FIGS.  4 A- 4 D  show an alternative set of screens including fields and questions pertinent to auto insurance. The software can also include a help function if desired. One of the most advantageous aspects of the invention is the ability to collect accurate, verifiable data onsite in the presence of the home owner using the handheld computing device  12 . The use of the handheld mobile computing device  12  onsite during data collection should increase sales efficiency because it brings the sales cycle to the consumer. 
     If a claims adjuster were to subscribe and use the system, the adjuster could access policy data on the system pertaining to the insurance customer with the alleged loss, and would also use the handheld mobile computing device  12  to collect onsite data verify the loss. 
     Referring again to  FIG.  1   , data can also be uploaded to the insurance portfolio data management system  10  via a secure (password protected) customer portal  14 , preferably in the form of a website or a customer app for a smart phone or tablet. The double-sided arrow between the customer portal  14  and the insurance portfolio data management system  10  in  FIG.  1    indicates that data can be uploaded from the customer portal  14  to the system  10 , and conversely can be downloaded from the system  10  to the customer. The customer portal  14  would normally be used by a customer in order to enter or supplement data into prompted fields, but is also desirable to allow the insurance consumer  30  to review data pertinent to their property or automobiles that is stored in the one or more structured databases within the insurance portfolio data management system  10 . For example, the insured may wish to download photographs, video or documents pertaining to their property or insurance. The data collection center within the insurance portfolio data management system  10  is secured and protected. For example, it is highly preferred that the customer portal have a secured website and consumer app, and that data submitted by the insurance consumer through the customer portal  14  be securely transmitted to the collection center which itself is secured and protected. 
     Data can also be uploaded to the insurance portfolio data management system  10  from third party data sources as illustrated by block  16  in  FIG.  1   . Example of third party data sources include credit scores from Dunn &amp; Bradstreet, automobile history from CarFax, tax assessment values, or ISD data which includes other insurance related information. 
     Once the necessary data is collected, either from the master forms on the handheld computing device  12  (e.g.  FIGS.  3 A- 3 E and  4 A- 4 D ), the customer portal  14  or from third party sources  16 , the insurance portfolio data management system  10  organizes the data in the structured database, and then pre-populates one or more standardized underwriting forms  18  which are electronically sent to various underwriters  20 . These pre-populated forms  18  contain critical underwriting data.  FIG.  2    is an example of a standardized underwriting form, page  1  of  6 , bearing the Accord® trademark. The Accord® form is widely used throughout the insurance industry and the insurance portfolio data management system  10  preferably has the ability to pre-populate such forms. It is desired, however that the system  10  also be able to populate a variety of other standardized underwriting forms inasmuch as the various underwriters may have different requirements. The system  10  may be configured with the ability to automatically send the electronic, pre-populated underwriting forms  18  to the respective underwriters  20 , or alternatively the pre-populated underwriting forms may be stored on a computer system and sent by email to the various underwriters. 
     In addition to the standardized underwriting forms  18 , the system is capable of providing supplemental underwriting data, e.g. photographs collected by the handheld mobile computing device  12 . In this way, data collected from the handheld unit  12  or the customer portal  14  or the third party data sources  16  that is more comprehensive than the data on the typical standardized underwriting forms is efficiently provided to the underwriters. 
     Each underwriter  20  provides a trackable insurance quote  22  that is unique to the individual consumer risk profile (as compiled through the process). The administrator of the insurance portfolio data management system  10  (e.g., normally a certified licensed insurance agent  26  subscribing to the system  10 ) then integrates the quotes  22  into a standard electronic format (a quote report  24 ), and provides an analysis and recommendation to the insurance consumer  30  regarding coverage. The licensed insurance agent  26  binds coverage for the insured  30 , see reference numbers  28 - 30 . Upon review and approval by the insured  30 , arrangements to bind coverage  28  are completed by the insured  30  and the certified agent  26 , and a trackable bind order  32  is electronically transmitted to the insurance portfolio data management system  10 . The trackable bind order  32 A is also electronically transmitted from the system  10  to the respective underwriter  20 , see reference number  32 A in  FIG.  1    to complete the process. 
     The administrator of the system  10 , with the permission of the insured  30 , retains the underlying data and it is available to the insured  30  via the secured web based portal  14 . The consumer/insured  30  is able to review, update and supplement their data electronically via the customer portal  14  as time passes. The subscribers of the system  10  are also able to access the data integrated into existing databases pertaining to their business. Managers and supervisors can review this data and dashboard metrics customized for their business. 
     The insurance agent (or insurance broker) is able, if desired, to automatically reinitiate the process of marketing insurance to the customers in the database on a periodic basis, such as every three years, generally in the same manner as discussed above. Consumers/insured  30  can opt in to electronic communications from the administrator regarding weather advisories, risk management protocols, and product/service offerings that may reduce their risk profile, mitigate any future loss, and positively impact their annual premiums. The system  10  should also improve operational efficiency and simplify the work process in other ways as well, such as reducing overhead. 
     In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be inferred therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. The different configurations, systems, and method steps described herein may be used alone or in combination with other configurations, systems and method steps. It is to be expected that various equivalents, alternatives and modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims.