Patent Issued for Voice analysis systems and methods for processing digital sound data over a communications network (USPTO 11776059): State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company

2023 OCT 19 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (Bloomington, Illinois, United States) has been issued patent number 11776059, according to news reporting originating out of Alexandria, Virginia, by NewsRx editors.

The patent’s inventors are Mannar, Sateesh (Bloomington, IL, US).

This patent was filed on January 28, 2019 and was published online on October 3, 2023.

From the background information supplied by the inventors, news correspondents obtained the following quote: “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.”

Supplementing the background information on this patent, NewsRx reporters 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, online insurance 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 processing verbally inputted data into an online insurance claim submission application using digital sound data 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 submit a virtual insurance claim for an applicant, and enable a voice-input tool on the user computing device for the applicant to input registration data into the online insurance claim submission 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, 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 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, translate the second set of digital sound data into text inputs, wherein the text inputs include the descriptor phrases and responses for populating each blank data field, and store within a database each descriptor phrase linked to the corresponding response associated therewith. In alternate embodiments, the online insurance claim submission application may be an online or virtual application that may be submitted for seeking auto, homeowners, health, life, personal articles, or other types of insurance. 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 processing verbally inputted data into online insurance claim submission applications using digital sound data 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 virtual insurance claim 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 insurance claim submission 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 populating 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 including 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 submit a virtual insurance claim for an applicant, and enable a voice-input tool on the user computing device for the applicant to input registration data into an online insurance claim submission 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 further 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, translate the second set of digital sound data into text inputs, wherein the text inputs include the descriptor phrases and responses for populating each blank data field, and 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 an online insurance claim submission application 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: receive, from a user computing device, a first set of digital sound data in connection with a request to process the online insurance claim submission application by submitting a virtual insurance claim for an applicant; enable a voice-input tool on the user computing device for the applicant to input registration data into the online insurance claim submission application, the registration data included in a second set of digital sound data; retrieve a text-based template including a sequence of descriptor phrases and blank data fields, each descriptor phrase linked to a respective blank data field, each descriptor phrase requesting a respective registration data element from the applicant for populating the corresponding blank data field; in response to a first prompt including the first descriptor phrase, receive a first registration data element of the registration data as a first instance of the second set of digital sound data from the applicant via the voice-input tool; translate the first registration data element from the second set of digital sound data into a first text input, the first text input including a first descriptor phrase and a corresponding first response for populating a corresponding first blank data field; link the first response to the first descriptor phase; based upon the first response, retrieve a second descriptor phrase and a corresponding second blank data field from the text-based template; in response to a second prompt including the second descriptor phrase, receive a second registration data element of the registration data as a second instance of the second set of digital sound data from the applicant via the voice-input tool; translate the second registration data element from the second set of digital sound data into a second text input, the second text input including the second descriptor phrase and a corresponding second response for populating the corresponding second blank data field; link the second respond to the second descriptor phrase; and store within a database, each descriptor phrase linked to the corresponding response associated therewith.

“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 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 one or more 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, a claim 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 second request to process the online insurance claim submission application for the applicant, wherein the second request is included in the registration data received as the second set of digital sound data, and wherein the online insurance claim submission 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, costs corresponding to the online insurance claim submission application.

“6. The VA computer system of claim 4 further configured to: receive, from the user computing device, a second request to process the online insurance claim submission application for the applicant, wherein the second request is included in the registration data received as the second set of digital sound data, and wherein the online insurance claim submission application is for at least one of personal articles and renters insurance; and calculate, upon translation of the second set of digital sound data into text inputs, costs corresponding to the online insurance claim submission application.

“7. The VA computer system of claim 4 further configured to: receive, from the user computing device, a second request to process the online insurance claim submission application for the applicant, wherein the second request is included in the registration data received as the second set of digital sound data, and wherein the online insurance claim submission application is for at least one of workers compensation and disability insurance; and calculate, upon translation of the second set of digital sound data into text inputs, costs corresponding to the online insurance claim submission application.

“8. The VA computer system of claim 4 further configured to: receive, from the user computing device, a second request to process the online insurance claim submission application for the applicant, wherein the second request is included in the registration data received as the second set of digital sound data, and wherein the online insurance claim submission application is for at least one of life, health, and travel insurance; and calculate, upon translation of the second set of digital sound data into text inputs, costs corresponding to the online insurance claim submission application.

“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 a report using data included in the populated blank data fields; and transmit the report to the user computing device.

“12. A computer-implemented method for processing verbally inputted data into an online insurance claim submission application 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: receiving, from a user computing device, a first set of digital sound data in connection with a request to process the online insurance claim submission application by submitting a virtual insurance claim for an applicant; enabling a voice-input tool on the user computing device for the applicant to input registration data into the online insurance claim submission application, the registration data included in a second set of digital sound data; retrieving a text-based template including a sequence of descriptor phrases and blank data fields, each descriptor phrase linked to a respective blank data field, each descriptor phrase requesting a respective registration data element from the applicant for populating the corresponding blank data field; in response to a first prompt including the first descriptor phrase, receiving a first registration data element of the registration data as a first instance of the second set of digital sound data from the applicant via the voice-input tool; translating the first registration data element from the second set of digital sound data into a first text input, the first text input including a first descriptor phrase and a corresponding first response for populating a corresponding first blank data field; linking the first response to the first descriptor phase; based upon the first response, retrieving a second descriptor phrase and a corresponding second blank data field from the text-based template; in response to a second prompt including the second descriptor phrase, receiving a second registration data element of the registration data as a second instance of the second set of digital sound data from the applicant via the voice-input tool; translating the second registration data element from the second set of digital sound data into a second text input, the second text input including the second descriptor phrase and a corresponding second response for populating the corresponding second blank data field; linking the second respond to the second descriptor phrase; and storing within a database, each descriptor phrase linked to the corresponding response associated therewith.

“13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 further comprising matching a plurality of voice parameters in the first set of digital sound data to a sample voice file to determine whether the plurality of voice parameters meets a predefined threshold.

“14. 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 one or more translation modules, for a sample voice file matching the plurality of voice parameters.

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

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

For the URL and additional information on this patent, see: Mannar, Sateesh. Voice analysis systems and methods for processing digital sound data over a communications network. U.S. Patent Number 11776059, filed January 28, 2019, and published online on October 3, 2023. Patent URL (for desktop use only): https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/external.html?q=(11776059)&db=USPAT&type=ids

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