Patent Issued for Identifying property usage type based upon smart sensor data (USPTO 11049189)
2021 JUL 16 (NewsRx) -- By a
The patent’s inventors are Allen, Lucas (Indian Land, SC, US), Dykeman, James (
This patent was filed on
From the background information supplied by the inventors, news correspondents obtained the following quote: “Accurate determination of the usage of a house may result in generating the correct rate of a homeowner’s insurance premium. For example, a house that is occupied full time may have a different level of risk than a vacation house, which is occupied only occasionally. In addition, a house that is being used, in full or in part, to run a business may have different types of risks than a fully residential house. However, homeowners may not provide accurate information when they first apply for the insurance policy, and living situations that have changed over time may go unreported to the homeowner’s insurance agent, each of which may result in an insured paying the wrong amount for the insurance premium. Furthermore, sending an inspector to the residence or property of each customer to verify or determine the usage or status of the house is time-consuming and costly. Conventional methods may have other drawbacks as well.”
Supplementing the background information on this patent, NewsRx reporters also obtained the inventors’ summary information for this patent: “Embodiments of the present technology relate to computer-implemented methods, computing devices, and computer-readable media for identifying a property usage type based upon sensor data. The embodiments provide for receiving data generated by a plurality of sensors positioned in and around a house, and generating a report that includes a listing of a plurality of events recorded by each sensor. The data from the report may be analyzed to determine a property usage type score. Types and levels of insurance coverage that are associated with the property usage type score are compared with types and levels of insurance coverage that are included in the homeowner’s current insurance policy. If there are differences between the insurance coverage that the homeowner has and the insurance coverage the homeowner should have based upon the property usage type score, then a message is transmitted to the homeowner, insurance agent, or underwriter to update the insurance policy.
“In a first aspect, a computer-implemented method for identifying a property usage type based upon sensor data may be provided. The method may include, with the customer’s permission or affirmative consent: (1) receiving data that was generated by a plurality of sensors positioned in and around a house; (2) generating a report that includes a listing of a plurality of events recorded by each sensor; (3) analyzing data from the report to determine a property usage type score; (4) receiving data regarding types and levels of insurance coverage that are associated with the property usage type score; (5) receiving data that is derived from a homeowner’s insurance policy including types and levels of insurance coverage included in the insurance policy; (6) comparing the types and levels of insurance coverage that are associated with the property usage type score with the types and levels of insurance coverage that are included in the homeowner’s current insurance policy; and/or (7) transmitting a message to the homeowner, insurance agent, or underwriter to update the insurance policy if there are differences between the insurance coverage that the homeowner has and the insurance coverage the homeowner should have based upon the property usage type score. The method may include additional, fewer, or alternative actions, including those discussed elsewhere herein.
“In another aspect, a computing device for identifying a property usage type based upon sensor data may be provided. The computing device may include a communication element, a memory element, and/or a processing element. The communication element may receive data generated by a plurality of sensors positioned in and around a house and data that is derived from a homeowner’s insurance policy. The memory element may be electronically coupled to the communication element and may store data and executable instructions. The processing element may be electronically coupled to the communication element and the memory element. The processing element may be configured to receive data that was generated by a plurality of sensors positioned in and around a house; generate a report that includes a listing of a plurality of events recorded by each sensor; analyze data from the report to determine a property usage type score; receive data regarding types and levels of insurance coverage that are associated with the property usage type score; receive data that is derived from a homeowner’s insurance policy including types and levels of insurance coverage included in the insurance policy; compare the types and levels of insurance coverage that are associated with the property usage type score with the types and levels of insurance coverage that are included in the homeowner’s current insurance policy; and/or transmit a message to the homeowner, insurance agent, or underwriter to update the insurance policy if there are differences between the insurance coverage that the homeowner has and the insurance coverage the homeowner should have based upon the property usage type score. The computing device may include additional, fewer, or alternate components and/or functionality, including that discussed elsewhere herein.
“In yet another aspect, a computer-readable medium for identifying a property usage type based upon sensor data may be provided. The computer-readable medium may include an executable program stored thereon, wherein the program instructs a processing element of a computing device to perform the following steps: (1) receiving data that was generated by a plurality of sensors positioned in and around a house; (2) generating a report that includes a listing of a plurality of events recorded by each sensor; (3) analyzing data from the report to determine a property usage type score; (4) receiving data regarding types and levels of insurance coverage that are associated with the property usage type score; (5) receiving data that is derived from a homeowner’s insurance policy including types and levels of insurance coverage included in the insurance policy; (6) comparing the types and levels of insurance coverage that are associated with the property usage type score with the types and levels of insurance coverage that are included in the homeowner’s current insurance policy; and/or (7) transmitting a message to the homeowner, insurance agent, or underwriter to update the insurance policy if there are differences between the insurance coverage that the homeowner has and the insurance coverage the homeowner should have based upon the property usage type score. The program stored on the computer-readable medium may instruct the processing element to perform additional, fewer, or alternative actions, including those discussed elsewhere herein.
“In yet another aspect, a computer-implemented method for determining if a homeowner is on vacation may be provided. The method may include: (1) receiving data that was generated by a plurality of motion sensors positioned in and around a house, the data including motion events and temperature data from each motion sensor; (2) determining a daily temperature difference for each motion sensor; (3) determining a first number of occupancy events per day as a total of motion events from motion sensors whose daily temperature difference is less than a first threshold; (4) receiving data that was generated by a plurality of non-motion sensors positioned in the house, the data including activity events data from each non-motion sensor; (5) determining a second number of occupancy events per day as a total of activity events from the non-motion sensors; (6) adding, once per day, the first number of occupancy events to the second number of occupancy events for a predetermined number of previous days to produce a sum; and (7) determining that the homeowner is on vacation if the sum is less than a second threshold. The method may include additional, fewer, or alternative actions, including those discussed elsewhere herein.”
The claims supplied by the inventors are:
“1. A computer-implemented method for identifying a property usage type based upon sensor data, the computer-implemented method comprising: receiving sensor data that was generated by a plurality of sensors; analyzing the sensor data to determine a plurality of events recorded by each sensor and generate a property usage type score, wherein the plurality of events include one or more of (1) a time of day when a key fob carried by an individual was in or around the house, (2) a number of times per day and/or a time of day when motion was detected by a motion detector in or around the house along with a determination of whether a human or an animal generated the motion, (3) one or more time periods when a security system of the house was in each mode of its operation, or (4) a number of times per day and/or a time of day when a garage door opener of the house was used; receiving data regarding insurance coverage associated with the property usage type score; receiving data associated with a homeowner’s current insurance policy; comparing the insurance coverage associated with the property usage type score with the homeowner’s current insurance policy; and transmitting a message to the homeowner if there are differences between the insurance coverage that the homeowner has and the insurance coverage the homeowner should have based upon the property usage type score.
“2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: analyzing data received from the sensors to determine what types of sensors provided the data; receiving data regarding types of sensors suggested to be implemented with a house having the determined property usage type score; comparing types of sensors that are suggested to be implemented based upon the property usage type score with the type of sensors determined from the sensor data; and transmitting a message to the homeowner that they should consider installing the type of sensor suggested to be implemented in their house if the sensor data indicates a lack of the type of sensor that should be implemented based upon the property usage type score.
“3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein analyzing data to determine a property usage type score further includes determining a number of individuals who have been within the house during a first time period.
“4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a first range of values of the property usage type score indicates that the house is likely a residence with a single family who live in the house full time.
“5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a second range of values of the property usage type score indicates that the house is likely a full-time or part-time business.
“6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a third range of values of the property usage type score indicates that the house is likely a vacation home.
“7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a fourth range of values of the property usage type score indicates that the house is likely a daycare.
“8. A computing device for identifying a property usage type based upon sensor data, the computing device comprising: a communication element configured to receive data generated by a plurality of sensors positioned in and around a house and data that is derived from a homeowner’s insurance policy; a memory element electronically coupled to the communication element, the memory element configured to store data and executable instructions; and a processing element electronically coupled to the communication element and the memory element, the processing element configured to- receive the data generated by the sensors, determine a property usage type score using events recorded by each sensor, wherein the events include one or more of (1) a time of day when a key fob carried by an individual was in or around the house, (2) a number of times per day and/or a time of day when motion was detected by a motion detector in or around the house along with a determination of whether a human or an animal generated the motion, (3) one or more time periods when a security system of the house was in each mode of its operation, or (4) a number of times per day and/or a time of day when a garage door opener of the house was used, receive data regarding insurance coverage associated with the property usage type score; receive data associated with a homeowner’s current insurance policy; compare the insurance coverage associated with the property usage type score with the homeowner’s current insurance policy; and transmit a message to the homeowner if there are differences between the insurance coverage that the homeowner has and the insurance coverage the homeowner should have based upon the property usage type score.
“9. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the processing element is further configured to: analyze data received from the sensors to determine what types of sensors provided the data; receive data regarding types of sensors suggested to be implemented with a house having the determined property usage type score; compare types of sensors that are suggested to be implemented based upon the property usage type score with the type of sensors determined from the sensor data; and transmit a message to the homeowner that they should consider installing the type of sensor suggested to be implemented in their house if the sensor data indicates a lack of the type of sensor that should be implemented based upon the property usage type score.
“10. The computing device of claim 8, wherein analyzing data to determine a property usage type score further includes determining a number of individuals who have been within the house during a first time period.
“11. The computing device of claim 8, wherein a first range of values of the property usage type score indicates that the house is likely a residence with a single family who live in the house full time.
“12. The computing device of claim 8, wherein a second range of values of the property usage type score indicates that the house is likely a full-time or part-time business.
“13. The computing device of claim 8, wherein a third range of values of the property usage type score indicates that the house is likely a vacation home.
“14. The computing device of claim 8, wherein a fourth range of values of the property usage type score indicates that the house is likely a daycare.
“15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium with an executable program stored thereon for identifying a property usage type based upon sensor data, wherein the program instructs a processing element of a computing device to perform the following: receiving sensor data generated by a plurality of sensors; analyze the sensor data to determine a plurality of events recorded by each sensor and generate a property usage type score, wherein the plurality of events include one or more of (1) a time of day when a key fob carried by an individual was in or around the house, (2) a number of times per day and/or a time of day when motion was detected by a motion detector in or around the house along with a determination of whether a human or an animal generated the motion, (3) one or more time periods when a security system of the house was in each mode of its operation, or (4) a number of times per day and/or a time of day when a garage door opener of the house was used; receiving data regarding insurance coverage associated with the property usage type score; receiving data associated with a homeowner’s current insurance policy; comparing the insurance coverage associated with the property usage type score with the homeowner’s current insurance policy; and transmitting a message to the homeowner if there are differences between the insurance coverage that the homeowner has and the insurance coverage the homeowner should have based upon the property usage type score.
“16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the program further instructs the processing element to: analyze data received from the sensors to determine what types of sensors provided the data; receive data regarding types of sensors suggested to be implemented with a house having the determined property usage type score; compare types of sensors that are suggested to be implemented based upon the property usage type score with the type of sensors determined from the sensor data; and transmit a message to the homeowner that they should consider installing the type of sensor suggested to be implemented in their house if the sensor data indicates a lack of the type of sensor that should be implemented based upon the property usage type score.
“17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein analyzing data from the report to determine a property usage type score further includes determining a number of individuals who have been within the house during a first time period.
“18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein a first range of values of the property usage type score indicates that the house is likely a residence with a single family who live in the house full time.
“19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein a second range of values of the property usage type score indicates that the house is likely a fulltime or part-time business.
“20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein a third range of values of the property usage type score indicates that the house is likely a vacation home.”
For the URL and additional information on this patent, see: Allen, Lucas. Identifying property usage type based upon smart sensor data.
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