Patent Issued for Insurance Lead Marketplace (USPTO 10,489,798)

2019 DEC 11 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- According to news reporting originating from Alexandria, Virginia, by NewsRx journalists, a patent by the inventor Madeyski, Mark (Northbrook, IL), filed on August 12, 2014, was published online on December 9, 2019.

The assignee for this patent, patent number 10,489,798, is Allstate Insurance Company (Northbrook, Illinois, United States).

Reporters obtained the following quote from the background information supplied by the inventors: “Many people seeking insurance coverage (e.g., life insurance, homeowner insurance, automobile insurance, boat insurance, health insurance, etc.) will conduct at least a portion of their search over the Internet. Often, however, a local insurance agency may not have a large enough Internet presence capable of providing the information that these people seek. Instead, insurance seekers may look to other Internet sources for their insurance needs. For example, companies (e.g., a lead generation company, an insurance lead supplier, etc.) may be used to provide information about different available insurance products, and in turn, create an insurance lead by collecting data from the insurance seeker. These insurance leads may then be sold to one or more insurance agents and/or insurance agencies. While this may be a useful system model, often problems may arise. For instance, an insurance agent and/or insurance agency may not be able to properly vet their insurance lead supplier. In such cases, the insurance agents may purchase one or more false leads and/or an outdated insurance lead, while actual insurance leads are not sold or ignored.”

In addition to obtaining background information on this patent, NewsRx editors also obtained the inventor’s summary information for this patent: “The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosure. The summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the disclosure nor to delineate the scope of the disclosure. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the description below.

“Aspects of the disclosure relate to systems, device, computer-implemented methods, and computer-readable media to provide an insurance lead marketplace. For example, the insurance lead marketplace may include an insurance lead marketplace computing device that includes a non-transitory memory device and/or a processor. The non-transitory memory device may be configured for storing one or more rules for qualifying and/or categorizing insurance leads based on at least one insurance characteristic. The processor may be capable of providing insurance leads to a requesting agent. The processor may be configured to receive one or more insurance leads from one or more insurance lead sources and analyze the received insurance leads to determine one or more characteristics of the received insurance leads. The processor may determine a quality associated with each insurance lead and the quality of a particular insurance lead may be at least dependent on the age of that insurance lead. The processor may classify the insurance leads into tiers based on the quality of each insurance lead. The processor may then categorize the insurance leads within each tier using the rules and the determined characteristics. The processor may be configured to provide an interface to the requesting insurance agent, wherein the insurance agent may select one or more lead characteristics to specify a desired insurance lead category and/or a desired lead tier. The processor may provide one or more leads that match the desired insurance lead category and/or the lead tier to the requesting insurance agent based on the desired insurance lead category and/or desired lead tier. The processor may determine information associated with an actual quality of each insurance lead based at least in part upon feedback received from the agent and revise the rules for qualifying and/or categorizing the insurance leads using the actual quality of one or more insurance leads provided to an agent.

“In accordance with additional aspects of the disclosure, there can be various devices and systems, such as an insurance lead marketplace system. The insurance lead marketplace system may include a data repository having at least one non-transitory memory device, where the data repository storing one or more available insurance leads received from an insurance lead source. An insurance lead marketplace computer device may be communicatively coupled to the data repository. The insurance lead marketplace computing device may include a processor configured to categorize the one or more insurance leads into quality tiers based on characteristics associated with the insurance leads. A user interface may be communicatively coupled to the data repository and/or the insurance lead marketplace computer device. The user interface may be configured to display one or more screens to facilitate a request for insurance leads from an insurance agent based on one or more desired characteristics of the insurance leads. The insurance lead marketplace computer device may provide real-time verification of the insurance leads by determining a number of the available insurance leads that match characteristics specified in a request for insurance leads received via the user interface screen.

“In accordance with additional aspects of the disclosure, various devices and systems may be used to implement a method for providing qualified insurance leads to an insurance agent. The method may include receiving, at an insurance lead marketplace computing device, one or more insurance leads from an insurance lead source and verifying, by the insurance lead marketplace computing device, the one or more insurance leads and assigning each of the one or more insurance leads to a quality tier using insurance lead qualification rules stored in a data repository. The method may be used for receiving, via a user interface, a request for insurance leads from an insurance agent, the request including a quality tier and/or one or more desired lead characteristics and determining, by the insurance lead marketplace computing device, whether any of the verified insurance leads match the requested quality tier and/or desired lead characteristics. Responsive to the determining, the method may be used for providing the matched insurance leads to the insurance agent via the user interface and adjusting, by the insurance lead marketplace computing device, the insurance lead qualifying rules using feedback received from the insurance agent associated with an outcome of the provided insurance leads.

“Other features and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from the additional description provided herein.”

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“The invention claimed is:

“1. An insurance lead marketplace computing device, comprising: a non-transitory memory device for storing one or more rules to categorize insurance leads based on at least one insurance characteristic; and a processor, wherein the memory device stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the insurance lead marketplace computing device to: execute an insurance lead marketplace service using file-based integration of a security layer, the security layer comprising dedicated hardware at a same physical location as the insurance lead marketplace computing device; receive a request to access the insurance lead marketplace service from one or more insurance lead sources, wherein the request to access is received using a first communication security protocol of the security layer and does not require use of a second communication security protocol of the security layer; receive data for one or more insurance leads from the one or more insurance lead sources using second communication security protocol of the security layer; analyze the received insurance leads to determine one or more characteristics of the received insurance leads; determine a first quality associated with each insurance lead, wherein the first quality of a particular insurance lead is at least dependent on the age of that insurance lead; classify the insurance leads into tiers based on the first quality of each insurance lead; categorize the insurance leads within each tier using the one or more rules and the determined characteristics; after receiving the data for and categorizing the one or more insurance leads, provide an interface to an requesting insurance agent, the interface configured to receive selection of one or more insurance lead characteristics from the requesting insurance agent; determine whether any of the insurance leads match with the selected one or more insurance lead characteristics; in response to determining that one or more of the insurance leads match the selected one or more insurance lead characteristics: provide, through the security layer and using the first communication security protocol, data for one or more leads that match the selected one or more insurance lead characteristics; determine information associated with a second quality of each insurance lead based at least in part upon feedback received from the insurance agent; and revise at least one of the one or more rules for categorizing the insurance leads using the second quality of one or more insurance leads provided to an agent, the one or more rules configured to be applied in categorizing a plurality of additional insurance leads; and in response to determining that none of the insurance leads match the selected one or more insurance lead characteristics, generate and provide a suggestion for improving the one or more insurance lead characteristics selected by the insurance agent based on known characteristics matching one or more of the insurance leads.

“2. The insurance lead marketplace computing device of claim 1, the memory further storing one or more rules for qualifying the insurance lead sources and wherein the processor is further configured to qualify a particular insurance lead source using the rules for qualifying the insurance lead sources based at least in part upon the second quality of the insurance leads provided by the particular lead source.

“3. The insurance lead marketplace computing device of claim 2, wherein a particular lead source is qualified based on insurance leads that purchase insurance or insurance leads that respond to communication from the agent.

“4. The insurance lead marketplace computing device of claim 1 further comprising a filter, wherein the filter filters the insurance leads before sending the leads to the agent.

“5. The insurance lead marketplace computing device of claim 4, wherein the filter is configured to remove an insurance lead that satisfies at least one of the following conditions: (1) includes a name and that does not match an associated addresses (2) includes a known false name, (3) includes a known false address, and (4) is a duplicate of another insurance lead.

“6. The insurance lead marketplace computing device of claim 5, wherein the removed leads are returned to a particular lead source and wherein the processor is configured to provide a rating of the particular lead source using a count of insurance leads returned to that particular lead source.

“7. The insurance lead marketplace computing device of claim 1, wherein the insurance lead marketplace computing device provides one or more insurance leads to the insurance agent based on the selected lead characteristics via an audio indicator or a visual indicator.

“8. The insurance lead marketplace computing device of claim 7, wherein the visual indicator includes one or more of a printed report, an email, a text message, or a screen displayed on a user interface.

“9. An insurance lead marketplace system, comprising: a data repository including at least one non-transitory memory device, the data repository storing one or more previously received and stored insurance leads received from an insurance lead source; an insurance lead marketplace computer device communicatively coupled to the data repository, the insurance lead marketplace computer device including a processor configured to execute an insurance lead marketplace service using file-based integration of a security layer, wherein data for the one or more received insurance leads is transmitted to and from the insurance lead marketplace computer device using a first communication security protocol of the security layer, wherein the insurance lead marketplace computer device is configured to categorize the one or more insurance leads into quality tiers based on characteristics associated with the insurance leads, and wherein requests to access the insurance lead marketplace service are received using a second communication security protocol of the security layer and does not require use of the first communication security protocol of the security layer; the security layer, the security layer comprising dedicated hardware, different from the insurance lead marketplace computer device, and housed at a same physical location as the insurance lead marketplace computing device; and a user interface communicatively coupled to the data repository and the insurance lead marketplace computer device, the user interface configured to display one or more screens of the insurance marketplace service to facilitate a request from an insurance agent for insurance leads based on one or more selected characteristics of the insurance leads; and wherein the insurance lead marketplace computer device is configured to provide real-time verification of the insurance leads by determining a number of the received insurance leads that match characteristics specified in a request for insurance leads received via the user interface.

“10. The insurance lead marketplace system of claim 9, wherein the user interface is configured to display a screen presenting verified insurance leads requested by the insurance agent that match at least a portion of the selected characteristics.

“11. The insurance lead marketplace system of claim 10, wherein, if the insurance lead marketplace computing device determines that no insurance leads match the selected characteristics, the insurance lead marketplace computing device is configured to cause the user interface to display a screen having (1) no insurance leads, (2) a different set of leads and characteristics associated with the different set of leads, or (3) suggestions for one or more selected characteristics to improve a search for insurance leads.

“12. The insurance lead marketplace system of claim 10, wherein the one or more verified leads are presented on a geographical map.

“13. The insurance lead marketplace system of claim 12, wherein the geographical map includes one or more topographical or environmental features corresponding to an insurance risk.

“14. The insurance lead marketplace system of claim 10, wherein the one or more verified leads are presented in one or more graphical diagrams.

“15. The insurance lead marketplace system of claim 14, wherein the one or more verified leads are presented in a topographical Venn diagram.

“16. The insurance lead marketplace system of claim 9, wherein one or more insurance agents are invited to use the insurance lead marketplace system and log into the insurance lead marketplace system using a screen displayed on the user interface.

“17. A process for providing qualified insurance leads to an insurance agent, comprising: executing, by an insurance lead marketplace computing device, an insurance lead marketplace service using file-based integration of a security layer, the security layer comprising dedicated hardware housed at a same physical location as the insurance lead marketplace computing device; receiving, by the insurance lead marketplace computing device and through a first communication security protocol of the security layer, a request to access the insurance lead marketplace service from one or more insurance lead sources; receiving and storing, at the insurance lead marketplace computing device, one or more insurance leads from an insurance lead source through the insurance lead marketplace and the file-based integrated security layer; verifying, by the insurance lead marketplace computing device, the one or more insurance leads and assigning each of the one or more insurance leads to a quality tier using insurance lead qualification rules stored in a data repository; after receiving, storing, and verifying the one or more insurance leads, receiving, via a user interface, a request for insurance leads from an insurance agent, the request including one or more selected lead characteristics; determining, by the insurance lead marketplace computing device, that one or more of the verified insurance leads matches the selected lead characteristics; responsive to the determining, providing the matched one or more of the verified insurance leads to the insurance agent via the user interface using a file-based second communication security protocol of the security layer, without use of the first communication security protocol; adjusting, by the insurance lead marketplace computing device, the insurance lead qualifying rules using feedback received from the insurance agent associated with an outcome of the provided insurance leads.

“18. The process of claim 17, further comprising determining a price associated with each of the one or more insurance leads, the price corresponding to a quality tier of each insurance lead.

“19. The process of claim 18, wherein determining the price further depends on one or more characteristics of each insurance lead.”

For more information, see this patent: Madeyski, Mark. Insurance Lead Marketplace. U.S. Patent Number 10,489,798, filed August 12, 2014, and published online on December 9, 2019. Patent URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=10,489,798.PN.&OS=PN/10,489,798RS=PN/10,489,798

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