2019 MAY 29 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- A patent application by the inventors Florey, Thomas E. (South Abington Township, PA); De La Cruz, Hector A. (Exeter, PA), filed on November 8, 2017, was made available online on May 9, 2019, according to news reporting originating from Washington, D.C., by NewsRx correspondents.

This patent application is assigned to Florey Insurance Agency Inc. (Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, United States).

The following quote was obtained by the news editors from the background information supplied by the inventors: “Several decades ago, it was common for an insurance agent to meet with prospective customers in person to explain different coverages, costs and answer questions. These meetings allowed the potential customer not only to gain information about the coverage and costs, but also allowed the potential customer to build trust in the agent, and develop a relationship with a specific agent who would service the policy over the course of many years.

“In the current era of on-line insurance purchases, potential customers no longer receive the same advantages of the in-person meetings. Many have never seen or conversed with an agent. Also, each time a customer calls, they may be passed to different agents, and never develop a relationship with any particular one. Since there is no relationship, there is little trust in any of the personnel at the insurance company. The customer begins to feel isolated, anonymous and simply a small player in a large organization.

“There have been many attempts to provide videoconferencing in a business setting. These usually require proper setup at the business’s side, which is no problem, but also at the user’s (customer’s) side. If the customer is familiar with the business and trusts the business, the customer may allow downloads of software to set up his/her machine for the videoconference.

“However, if the user is a potential customer, and has had little experience with the business, (s)he may be wary of downloading programs with which (s)he is unfamiliar. This may be plug-ins or extensions for browsers, as well as entire stand-alone programs. It is now well known that this is one of the ways that malware is introduced into computers. The malware can disrupt operation of the user’s computer, as well as possibly, erase data or drives, or turn it into a ‘zombie’ robot that follows the direction of a remote computer, creates and releases viruses, collects financial and personal information, steals a user’s identity, etc.

“For these and other reasons, a user gets suspicious when required to download software. This does not help build trust, but breeds suspicion.

“Other videoconferencing sites require one to start an account with the site. These require information designed to uniquely identify the user. Once identified, the user may be tracked through various websites and information collected on this user.

“Again, the potential customer will begin to lose confidence in the business, possibly believing that the business is ‘stalking’ the user through cyberspace.

“Almost all the videoconferencing sites require either a download of software, or setting up an account.

“There are various software browsers used for communicating with a website. Some of these are not compatible with some video hosting websites. Therefore, if a potential customer tries to use a browser that is not compatible with the video hosting web service, it fails to connect. If the user is not very familiar with networking, they typically give up indicating that the system does not work. In the insurance market, agents typically deal with many who are unfamiliar with video hosting, networking and configuration of telecommunications. Many of these are older people who have little experience with on-line systems. Therefore, it is imperative that the system work with little input required from the user. This is also an aspect of building trust. The systems must be simple, work the first and every time with little input required by the user.

“Currently, there is a need for a system which provides face-to-face meetings between potential customers and insurance agents, that is easy to operate, requires little input from the user and does not require risky downloads.”

In addition to the background information obtained for this patent application, NewsRx journalists also obtained the inventors’ summary information for this patent application: “The present invention may be embodied as a system 100, 1000, 2000 for allowing videoconferencing between a user 1,3,5 and an agent 13,23,33 that does not require downloading of software, having a user’s computing device 200, 400, 700 adapted to connect to a web server, and connect to a video hosting platform 7, 9, 11, 12 and videoconference with other computing devices connected to the same video hosting platform 7, 9, 11, 12. It also has an agent’s computing device 300, 600 adapted to connect to a web server using a connection application 210, 220, 410, 710, 720, and connect to a video hosting platform 7, 9, 11, 12 and videoconference with other computing devices connected to the same video hosting platform 7, 9, 11, 12. The system includes a director 500, 1500, 2500 having a web server adapted to provide web pages upon receiving a request; a connection ID device 520 adapted to identify a connection application 210, 220, 410, 710, 720 of the user’s computing device 200, 400, 700; a platform selection device adapted to identify video hosting platforms 7, 9, 11, 12 compatible with the browser currently used by the user’s computing device 200, 400, 700; and a linking device adapted to link the user’s computing device 200, 400, 700 and the agent’s computing device 300, 600 to the compatible video hosting platform 7, 9, 11, 12.

“The current invention may also be embodied as a method of providing video conferencing between a user 1, 3, 5 and an agent 13, 23, 33 following the steps of: (steps 841-849) completing initial setup of the system 100, 1000, 2000; (step 805) selecting a web connection application 210, 220, 410, 710, 720; (step 807) using a user’s computing device 200, 400, 700 to contact a website of an agent 13, 23, 33; (step 809) indicating that the user 1, 3, 5 would like to videoconference with the agent 13, 23, 33; (step 811) determining the connection application 210, 220, 410, 710, 720 being used by the user’s computing device 200, 400, 700; (step 813) determining the current video format capabilities of the user’s connection application 210, 220, 410, 710, 720; (step 813) looking up a compatible video hosting platform 7, 9, 11, 12 in a compatibility table 533; (step 815) connecting the user’s computing device 200, 400, 700 to the compatible video hosting platform 7, 9, 11, 12; (step 817) connecting an agent’s computing device 300, 600 to the video hosting platform 7, 9, 11, 12 to which the user’s computing device 200, 400, 700 is connected; and (step 819) videoconferencing the user’s computing device 200, 400, 700 with the agent’s computing device 300, 600 in real time.

“The current invention may also be embodied as a system 100, 1000, 2000 for allowing videoconferencing between a user 1, 3, 5 and an agent 13, 23, 33 that does not require downloading of software. The system includes a user’s computing device 200, 400, 700 adapted to connect to a web server, and connect to a video hosting platform 7, 9, 11, 12 and videoconference with other computing devices 300, 600 connected to the same video hosting platform 7, 9, 11, 12. It also includes an agent’s computing device 300, 600 adapted to connect to a web server and to a video hosting platform 7, 9, 11, 12 and videoconference with other computing devices connected to the same video hosting platform 7, 9, 11, 12. A connection ID device 520 identifies the connection application 210, 220, 410, 710, 720 type of the user’s computing device 200, and a platform selection device 530 identifies video hosting platforms 7, 9, 11, 12 compatible with the connection application 210, 220, 410, 710, 720 currently used by the user’s computing device 200, 400, 700. A director 500 is included that has a web server 510 adapted to provide web pages upon receiving a request, and a linking device 540 adapted to link the user’s computing device 200, 400, 700 and the agent’s computing device 300, 600 to the compatible video hosting platform 7, 9, 11, 12.”

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“1. A system for allowing videoconferencing between a user and an agent that does not require prior knowledge of the user, downloading of software or configuration on the part of the user, comprising: a. a user’s computing device having an existing connection application that is currently loaded on the user’s computing device adapted to connect to a web server, and connect to a video hosting platform and videoconference with other computing devices connected to a common video hosting platform; b. an agent’s computing device adapted to connect to a web server using a connection application, and connect to a video hosting platform and videoconference with the other computing devices connected to the same video hosting platform; c. a director comprising: i. a web server adapted to provide web pages upon receiving a request; ii. a connection ID device which includes a signal analysis device adapted to identify a communication format of the existing connection application of the user’s computing device; iii. a platform selection device adapted to identify at least one video hosting platform compatible with the existing connection application currently used by the user’s computing device; iv. a linking device adapted to link the user’s computing device and the agent’s computing device to the compatible video hosting platform.

“2. (canceled)

“3. (canceled)

“4. The system of claim 1, wherein: the existing communication software is a standard web browser; and the platform selection device has a lookup device which searches a compatibility table having entries representing a plurality of standard web browsers, their corresponding communication formats and video hosting platforms compatible with each standard web browser communication format to find a compatible video hosting platform.

“5. The system of claim 4 wherein the linking device creates a link and sends the link to the user’s computing device and the agent’s computing device which will directly connect them to the compatible video hosting platform.

“6. The system of claim 4 wherein the linking device comprises: d. a router adapted to: i. receive and pass communications between the compatible video hosting platform and the user’s computing device; and ii. receive and pass communications to/from the compatible video hosting platform and the agent’s computing device.

“7. A method of providing video conferencing between a user and an agent that does not require prior knowledge of the user, downloading of software or configuration on the part of the user, comprises the steps of: a. completing an initial setup of a system to be used; b. using a user’s computing device and an existing web connection application to connect to a standard website of an agent, c. indicating that the user would like to videoconference with the agent, d. automatically determining a format of an existing connection application that is currently on the user’s computing device and is being used by the user’s computing device, e. automatically determining the current video format capabilities of the user’s existing connection application, f. looking up a compatible video hosting platform in a compatibility table, g. connecting the user’s computing device to the compatible video hosting platform; h. connecting an agent’s computing device to the video hosting platform to which the user’s computing device is connected, and i. video conferencing the user’s computing device with the agent’s computing device in real time without requiring the user to set up an account.

“8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of connecting the user’s computing device comprises the steps of: a. connecting a director to the user’s computing device, b. employing the director to determine at least one compatible video hosting platform; c. connecting the director to one of the compatible video hosting platforms; d. employing the director to pass video communications between the user’s computing device and the connected video hosting platform; and e. employing the director to pass video communications between the agent’s computing device and the connected video hosting platform to perform real-time video conferencing.

“9. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of connecting the user’s computing device comprises the steps of: a. acquiring a link to the compatible video hosting platform; b. sending the link to the user’s computing device to allow it to directly connect to the video hosting platform; and c. sending the link to the agent’s computing device to allow it to directly connect to the video hosting platform allowing real-time videoconferencing between user and agent.

“10. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of determining the connection application being used by the user’s computing device comprises the steps of: a. sending a communication received from the existing connection application of the user’s computing device to a connection ID device, and b. using a connection ID device to analyze the communication to determine a format and type of connection application that sent the communication.

“11. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of determining a format and type of connection application being used by the user’s computing device comprises the steps of: a. sending a webpage to the user’s computing device having a plurality of buttons, each associated with a different connection application, b. monitoring the button selected by the user thereby indicating the connection application and its format being used by the user’s computing device.

“12. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of completing initial setup of the system to be used comprises the steps of: a. defining existing connection applications to be supported by the system, b. determining unmodified video format capabilities for each supported connection application, c. identifying video hosting platforms; d. identifying compatible formats for each video hosting platform, e. identifying the hyperlinks to each video hosting platform, and f. creating a compatibility table indicating the video hosting platforms which are compatible with each supported existing connection application, and their corresponding hyperlinks.

“13. A system for allowing videoconferencing between a user and an agent that does not require prior knowledge of the user, downloading of software, or configuration on the part of the user comprising: a. a user’s computing device having an existing connection application that was previously loaded on the user’s computing device, adapted to connect to a web server, and connect to a video hosting platform and videoconference with other computing devices connected to a common video hosting platform; b. an agent’s computing device having a connection application adapted to connect to a web server, and to a video hosting platform and videoconference with other computing devices connected to a common video hosting platform; c. a connection ID device adapted to identify a type of supplied connection application of the user’s computing device; d. a platform selection device adapted to identify video hosting platforms compatible with the existing connection application currently used by the user’s computing device; and e. a director comprising: i. a web server adapted to provide web pages upon receiving a request; ii. a linking device adapted to link the user’s computing device and the agent’s computing device to the same compatible video hosting platform.

“14. The system of claim 13 wherein connection ID device requests and receives information about the existing connection application on the user’s computing device to determine a connection application being used and its format.

“15. The system of claim 13 wherein the connection ID device further comprises: a signal analysis device which analyzes communications from the connection application of the user’s computing device to determine the format of the connection application being used.

“16. The system of claim 13 wherein: a. the existing communication software is a standard web browser; and b. the platform selection device has a lookup device which searches a compatibility table having entries representing a plurality of standard web browsers, their corresponding communication formats and video hosting platforms compatible with each standard web browser communication format to find a compatible video hosting platform.

“17. The system of claim 13 wherein the linking device creates a link and sends the link to the user’s computing device and the agent’s computing device which will directly connect them to the compatible video hosting platform.

“18. The system of claim 13 wherein the linking device comprises: a router adapted to: i. receive and pass communications between the compatible video hosting platform and the user’s computing device; and ii. receive and pass communications to/from the compatible video hosting platform and the agent’s computing device.

“19. The system of claim 13 wherein the connection application is a web browser.

“20. The system of claim 13 wherein the connection application is an iOS-based communication application.”

URL and more information on this patent application, see: Florey, Thomas E.; De La Cruz, Hector A. Instant Agent. Filed November 8, 2017 and posted May 9, 2019. Patent URL: http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220190141087%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20190141087&RS=DN/20190141087

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OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of “aa-” (Superior) of the members of Crum & Forster Insurance Group (C&F). Concurrently, AM Best has affirmed the FSR of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICR of “a+” (Excellent) of Monitor Life Insurance Company of New York (Monitor Life) (New York, NY). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. (See below for a detailed listing of the companies and ratings.)

The ratings of C&F reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, favorable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM). The ratings also reflect the benefits the group derives from its role within the larger Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited enterprise (Fairfax).

C&F’s favorable business profile is supported by its significant and expanding presence in the commercial insurance segment, particularly in the accident and health lines of business, which drove the group’s premium growth in 2025. Despite large dividend payouts over the years, the company’s stable and profitable underwriting, coupled with investment income and capital gains, have led to a stable risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), which remains in the very strong range.

As part of the Fairfax group, C&F benefits from capital management services, additional layers of ERM oversight and shared technology development.

The ratings of Monitor Life reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings also reflect the financial support and strategic importance to its parent, United States Fire Insurance Company, part of C&F.

The affirmations of the ratings for Monitor Life reflect its strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization as measured by BCAR, which are partially offset by a modest level of absolute capital and surplus. Net premiums written and earnings are expected to remain relatively modest over the short term as the company continues to build scale. Monitor Life holds certificates of authority to write business in 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as distributes products through C&F’s national distribution network. C&F coordinates its ERM.

The FSR of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term ICRs of “aa-” (Superior) have been affirmed with stable outlooks for the following members of Crum & Forster Insurance Group:

• Crum & Forster Indemnity Company
• Crum and Forster Insurance Company
• The North River Insurance Company
• United States Fire Insurance Company
• Crum & Forster Specialty Insurance Company
• First Mercury Insurance Company
• American Underwriters Insurance Company
• Seneca Insurance Company, Inc.
• Crum & Forster SPC
• Seneca Specialty Insurance Company
• MTAW Insurance Company

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2026 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260827295918/en/

Guilherme Monteiro Simoes, CFA
Senior Financial Analyst
+1 908 882 2317
[email protected]

Brian Virostek
Financial Analyst
+1 908 882 2417
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Christopher Sharkey
Associate Director, Public Relations
+1 908 882 2310
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Al Slavin
Senior Public Relations Specialist
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Source: AM Best