Patent Issued for Voice analysis systems and methods for processing digital sound data over a communications network (USPTO 11195530): State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company

2021 DEC 29 (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 inventors Mannar, Sateesh (Bloomington, IL, US), filed on January 28, 2019, was published online on December 7, 2021.

The assignee for this patent, patent number 11195530, is State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (Bloomington, Illinois, United States).

Reporters obtained the following quote from the background information supplied by the inventors: “At least some known application processing systems may require users, when registering by filling out an application, to spend time typing and/or selecting information online, either using a computing device browser or other software (e.g., computer app). This data may be inputted by the user to fill out the application. By typing and/or selecting the information, users may be prone to input incorrect information. Users must then re-initiate the application process or navigate between different web pages within the browser to correct the wrongly entered information. The re-initiation of the application process or navigation between web pages may be lengthy, especially when users input information using mobiles devices, which usually have small keyboards and processors that are not optimal for downloading and uploading massive amounts of information, such as the information used to solicit and collect data for most application processes.

“Conventional application processing systems may require a great deal of data to be displayed in order to prompt a user to provide the correct type of information to complete an application being filled out by the user. Again, displaying this substantial amount of information on mobile devices may take a large amount of processing time and, in many cases, may cause a significant delay such that many users will abandon the application process. Conventional techniques may include other drawbacks as well.”

In addition to obtaining background information on this patent, NewsRx editors also obtained the inventors’ summary information for this patent: “In general, the present embodiments provide an improved application processing system that enables mobile devices, or other computing devices, to process applications more efficiently and display the applications promptly. As a result, users may input the requested or required data without delay, and the users may be allowed to input data verbally for a more efficient process.

“More specifically, the present embodiments may relate to systems and methods for performing voice analysis on data verbally inputted by a user as part of a registration process that is processed over a communications network. A voice analysis (VA) computer system, as described herein, may include a voice analysis (VA) server and a host server. Each server includes at least one processor in communication with a memory. The VA computer system may be configured to implement various software platforms or end-user programs (e.g., computer apps) to perform voice analysis on data verbally inputted by a user as part of a registration process using an online application template. The user may be an applicant having registered or seeking registration through the VA computer system. The online application template may be associated with the registration and, more particularly, with an online application, such as an online insurance quote application, a loan quote application, and/or an insurance claim submission application (also referred to herein as an insurance claim submission application, online insurance claim submission application, online claim submission application or App), initiated by the user. The online application may be used in a graphical interface of an end-user program executed on a remote user device, such as a user computing device. The end-user program may be configured to modify metadata associated with the online application based upon data verbally inputted by the user and received from the user computing device. The end-user program may be configured to generate one or more insurance quotes, loan quotes, and/or insurance claim submissions requested by the user based upon the modified metadata.

“In one aspect, a voice analysis (VA) computer system for performing voice analysis on data verbally inputted by a user as part of a registration process may be provided. The VA computer system may include a voice analysis (VA) server and a host server. Each server may include at least one processor in communication with a memory. The VA computer system may be configured to receive, from a user computing device, a first set of digital sound data in connection with a request to process an online or virtual application for an applicant, and enable a voice-input tool on the user computing device for the applicant to input registration data into the online application, wherein the registration data is included in a second set of digital sound data. The VA computer system may also be configured to retrieve a text-based template based upon a portion of the registration data. The text-based template including descriptor phrases and blank data fields, wherein each descriptor phrase is linked to a blank data field, and each descriptor phrase requests registration data from the applicant for populating the blank data fields. The VA computer system may be further configured to receive the registration data as the second set of digital sound data from the applicant via the voice-input tool. The VA computer system may be further configured to translate the second set of digital sound data into text inputs, wherein the text inputs include the descriptor phrases and responses for each blank data field, and to store within a database each descriptor phrase linked to the corresponding response associated therewith. In certain embodiments, the online application may be a virtual application for auto, homeowners, health, life, personal articles, or other types of insurance, or for vehicle, home, business, or personal loans. In alternate embodiments, the online or virtual application may be replaced with an online claim submission app that allows users to generate and submit virtual insurance claims to an insurance provider for handling. In other embodiments, the online application may be a virtual loan application, such as for a vehicle, home, business, or personal loan, and may provide terms and conditions of such loan, including an interest rate. The servers or computer system may include additional, less, or alternate functionality including that discussed elsewhere herein.

“In another aspect, a computer-implemented method for performing voice analysis on data verbally inputted by a user as part of a registration process may be provided. The method may be implemented using a voice analysis (VA) computer system that includes a voice analysis (VA) server and a host server. Each server may include a processor in communication with a memory. The method may include (1) receiving, from a user computing device, a first set of digital sound data in connection with a request to process an online application for an applicant; and (2) enabling a voice-input tool on the user computing device for the applicant to input registration data into the online application, wherein the registration data is included in a second set of digital sound data. The method may also include (3) retrieving a text-based template based upon a portion of the registration data, wherein the text-based template includes descriptor phrases and blank data fields, and each descriptor phrase is linked to a blank data field, and each descriptor phrase requests registration data from the applicant for populating the blank data fields. The method may further include (4) receiving the registration data as the second set of digital sound data from the applicant via the voice-input tool; (5) translating the second set of digital sound data into text inputs, wherein the text inputs include the descriptor phrases and responses for each blank data field; and/or (6) storing within a database each descriptor phrase linked to the corresponding response associated therewith. The method may include additional, less, or alternate actions, including those discussed elsewhere herein, and may be implemented via one or more local or remote processors.

“In yet another aspect, at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon may be provided. When the computer-executable instructions are executed by a voice analysis (VA) computer system that includes at least one processor in communication with a memory, the computer-executable instructions may cause the at least one processor to receive, from a user computing device, a first set of digital sound data in connection with a request to process an online application for an applicant, and enable a voice-input tool on the user computing device for the applicant to input registration data into the online application, wherein the registration data is included in a second set of digital sound data. The computer-executable instructions may also cause the at least one processor to retrieve a text-based template based upon a portion of the registration data, wherein the text-based template includes descriptor phrases and blank data fields, and each descriptor phrase is linked to a blank data field, and each descriptor phrase requests registration data from the applicant for populating the blank data fields. The computer-executable instructions may also cause the at least one processor to receive the registration data as the second set of digital sound data from the applicant via the voice-input tool. The computer-executable instructions may also cause the at least one processor to translate the second set of digital sound data into text inputs, wherein the text inputs includes the descriptor phrases and responses for each blank data field. The computer-executable instructions may further cause the at least one processor to store within a database each descriptor phrase linked to the corresponding response associated therewith. The instructions may direct additional, less, or alternate functionality, including that discussed elsewhere herein.”

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“1. A voice analysis (VA) computer system for processing verbally inputted data into online applications using digital sound data, the VA computer system comprising a host server and a voice analysis (VA) server, the VA server comprising at least one processor in communication with a memory, wherein the VA computer system is configured to: store within a database, a plurality of translation modules, each translation module of the plurality of translation modules including a different speech pattern; receive, from a user computing device, a first set of digital sound data in connection with a request to process an online application for an applicant, the first set of digital sound data provided by the applicant and including a test calibration phrase; enable a voice-input tool on the user computing device for the applicant to input registration data into the online application, the registration data included in a second set of digital sound data; compare the test calibration phrase of the first set of digital sound data to the speech patterns of the plurality of translation modules to select a translation module of the plurality of translation modules for translating the registration data; retrieve a text-based template based upon a portion of the registration data, the text-based template including descriptor phrases and blank data fields, each descriptor phrase linked to a blank data field, each descriptor phrase requesting registration data from the applicant for populating the blank data fields; receive the registration data as the second set of digital sound data from the applicant via the voice-input tool; translate the second set of digital sound data into text inputs using the translation module, the text inputs including the descriptor phrases and responses for populating each blank data field; store within the database, each descriptor phrase linked to the corresponding response associated therewith; complete the online application by populating each blank data field with the corresponding translated text inputs; and generate a report for the applicant using the completed online application.

“2. The VA computer system of claim 1 further configured to match a plurality of voice parameters in the first set of digital sound data to a sample voice file of the translation modules to determine whether the plurality of voice parameters meets a predefined threshold.

“3. The VA computer system of claim 1 further configured to: parse the first set of digital sound data to identify a plurality of voice parameters of the applicant; and perform a look up, within the plurality of translation modules, for a sample voice file matching the plurality of voice parameters.

“4. The VA computer system of claim 1 further configured to retrieve the text-based template by receiving, from the user computing device, an application type verbally spoken by the applicant in response to a first leading sentence retrieved by the VA computer system.

“5. The VA computer system of claim 4 further configured to: receive, from the user computing device, a request to process an online insurance application for the applicant, wherein the online insurance application is for at least one of automobile insurance and homeowners insurance; and calculate, upon translation of the second set of digital sound data into text inputs, a price quote for an insurance policy based upon the registration data provided by the applicant.

“6. The VA computer system of claim 4 further configured to: receive, from the user computing device, a request to process an online loan application for the applicant, wherein the online loan application is for at least one of a vehicle, home, business, or personal loan; and calculate, upon translation of the second set of digital sound data into text inputs, an interest rate quote for the online loan application based upon the registration data provided by the applicant.

“7. The VA computer system of claim 4 further configured to: receive, from the user computing device, a request to process an insurance claim submission application, wherein the insurance claim submission app is for at least one of personal injury and property damage insurance coverage; and calculate, upon translation of the second set of digital sound data into text inputs, costs corresponding to the insurance claim submission application.

“8. The VA computer system of claim 4 further configured to: receive, from the user computing device, a request to process an online insurance application for the applicant, wherein the online insurance application is for at least one of life and health insurance; and calculate, upon translation of the second set of digital sound data into text inputs, a price quote for an insurance policy based upon the registration data provided by the applicant.

“9. The VA computer system of claim 1 further configured to: transmit at least one descriptor phrase to the user computing device; and instruct the user computing device to display the at least one descriptor phrase.

“10. The VA computer system of claim 1 further configured to receive a confirmation from the user computing device, wherein the confirmation verifies that the populated blank data fields include correct data.

“11. The VA computer system of claim 1 further configured to: generate the report using data included in the populated blank data fields of the completed online application; and transmit the report to the user computing device.

“12. A computer-implemented method for processing verbally inputted data into online applications using digital sound data, the method implemented using a voice analysis (VA) computer system including a voice analysis (VA) server and a host server, each server including a processor in communication with a memory, the method comprising: storing within a database, a plurality of translation modules, each translation module of the plurality of translation modules including a different speech pattern; receiving, from a user computing device, a first set of digital sound data in connection with a request to process an online application for an applicant, the first set of digital sound data provided by the applicant and including a test calibration phrase; enabling a voice-input tool on the user computing device for the applicant to input registration data into the online application, the registration data included in a second set of digital sound data; comparing the test calibration phrase of the first set of digital sound data to the speech patterns of the plurality of translation modules to select a translation module of the plurality of translation modules for translating the registration data; retrieving a text-based template based upon a portion of the registration data, the text-based template including descriptor phrases and blank data fields, each descriptor phrase linked to a blank data field, each descriptor phrase requesting registration data from the applicant for populating the blank data fields; receiving the registration data as the second set of digital sound data from the applicant via the voice-input tool; translating the second set of digital sound data into text inputs using the translation module, the text inputs including the descriptor phrases and responses for populating each blank data field; storing within the database, each descriptor phrase linked to the corresponding response associated therewith completing the online application by populating each blank data field with the corresponding translated text inputs; and generating a report for the applicant using the completed online application.

“13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 further comprising: parsing the first set of digital sound data to identify a plurality of voice parameters of the applicant; and performing a look up, within the plurality of translation modules, for a sample voice file matching the plurality of voice parameters.

“14. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 further comprising retrieving the text-based template by receiving, from the user computing device, an application type verbally spoken by the applicant in response to a first leading sentence retrieved by the VA computer system.

“15. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 further comprising: receiving, from the user computing device, a request to process an online insurance application for the applicant, wherein the online insurance application is for at least one of automobile insurance and homeowners insurance; and calculating, upon translation of the second set of digital sound data into text inputs, a price quote for an insurance policy based upon the registration data provided by the applicant.

“16. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 further comprising: receiving, from the user computing device, a request to process an online loan application for the applicant, wherein the online loan application is for at least one of a vehicle, home, business, or personal loan; and calculating, upon translation of the second set of digital sound data into text inputs, an interest rate quote for the online loan application based upon the registration data provided by the applicant.

“17. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 further comprising: receiving, from the user computing device, a request to process an insurance claim submission application, wherein the insurance claim submission application is for at least one of personal injury and property damage insurance coverage; and calculating, upon translation of the second set of digital sound data into text inputs, costs corresponding to the insurance claim submission application.”

There are additional claims. Please visit full patent to read further.

For more information, see this patent: Mannar, Sateesh. Voice analysis systems and methods for processing digital sound data over a communications network. U.S. Patent Number 11195530, filed January 28, 2019, and published online on December 7, 2021. 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=11195530.PN.&OS=PN/11195530RS=PN/11195530

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