Researchers Submit Patent Application, “System And Method For Expediting Purchase Of Vehicular Insurance”, for Approval (USPTO 20220101446): Patent Application

2022 APR 19 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- From Washington, D.C., NewsRx journalists report that a patent application by the inventor Chappell, James Mark (Alexander City, AL, US), filed on October 11, 2021, was made available online on March 31, 2022.

No assignee for this patent application has been made.

News editors obtained the following quote from the background information supplied by the inventors: “There exists a significant unmet need for streamlining the process of applying for and processing vehicle insurance policy applications. Insurance providers require certain information to insure against risk in return for a premium. Typically, the information necessary for an insurance quote (i.e. client age, marital, status, make, coverage options and vehicle year, and model) is input manually into a database using a computer keyboard or a touch screen keypad on mobile devices. The potential customer may then be instructed to gather and/or provide additional information.

“Most consumers find it difficult and time consuming to collect all information needed when applying for a new vehicle insurance policy, and may fail to complete the application process because one or more pieces of information are missing or difficult to obtain. Further, the collection and processing of this information can be time consuming and complex, involving many manual steps and duplicative actions on the part of the potential customer and the insurance provider. Further, such information is typically input manually into a database using a computer keyboard or a touch screen keypad on mobile devices, either by the potential customer searching for insurance, or by the insurance provider, if contacted by the potential customer.

“Furthermore, even when the consumer has completed an application, the information must be verified by the insurance company receiving the application. Verification requires the comparison of information collected from the consumer to information about the consumer that the insurance company is able to obtain from other third party databases. These other databases include, but need not be limited to, driver license databases, state accident and vehicle ownership databases, federal databases, criminal record databases, judicial databases, credit record databases and other public, commercial and private databases. Without seamless integration and access, significant additional time is required to process the insurance application, during which the consumer may lose interest in obtaining the policy.

“Still further, when a consumer receives a valid quote for a vehicle insurance policy from an individual insurance company, there is no way to determine whether that coverage and cost presented in the quote is the best as compared to what might be available from other companies. Consequently, due to the inconvenience associated with submitting applications to other insurance companies, a consumer is likely to accept the first quote, although it might not be the best.

“Completing forms on a mobile device using the keyboard of the mobile device is difficult. Completing data fields using a keyboard typically results in a high rate of human error in data acquisition and entry. Consequently, it is clear that there exists a substantial unmet need for a simple, user-friendly mobile insurance point of sale system that will allow a user to submit all data without typing using the keyboard of the mobile device. There is a further need for such a system that will provide an expedited approach to verify that the data collected using the mobile device can be confirmed as authentic and accurate. Still further, to expedite the selection and purchase of vehicle insurance, it would be desirable to have a consumer-centric system that is sufficiently competent and comprehensive to eliminate the need for the participation of a middle man, i.e., an insurance agent, other than for a final review of submitted data to support underwriting and issuance of a the final binding insurance policy. Further, there is a need for such a system capable of taking all data input without requiring use of a keyboard.

“There exist various disclosures that present features to support online application for vehicle insurance. For example, U.S. Pat. App. No. 2013/0204645, Mobile Insurance Platform System, from Matthew Daniel Lehman et al, and assigned to Progressive Casualty Insurance Company, discloses a mobile insurance platform system that broadly addresses a plurality of different means for collecting data using a mobile device for the purposing of submitting insurance claims and for obtaining quotes for insurance coverage. Despite the breadth of the description of the invention of Lehman, the described system fails to provide a solution that is capable of expediting the insurance coverage process, eliminating errors and eliminating the need for participation by a middle man, e.g., the insurance agent. In addition, the disclosure of Lehman does not address methods for ensuring accuracy of data submitted and avoidance of the use of a keyboard on the mobile device. Further, the disclosure of Lehman does not disclose a virtual interactive insurance identification card. Further, the disclosure of Lehman describes an extensive insurance application network architecture designed to support multiple insurance functions beyond acquiring vehicular insurance.

“U.S. Pat. No. 8,401,878 B2, “Method and System for Connecting an Insured to an Insurer Using a Mobile Device” to Stender et al discloses a mobile interface between parties to an insurance transaction. As with the disclosure by Lehman et al described above, the disclosure by Stender includes features beyond that of merely purchasing an insurance policy, to include submittal of claims and to support types of insurances beyond automobile insurance. The disclosure of Stender et al likewise does not address the provision of a virtual interactive insurance identification card.

“U.S. Pat. No. 8,340,83 B2, “Method and System for Furnishing an On-line Quote for an Insurance Product,” to Grover et al and assigned to The Travelers Indemnity Company, discloses an on-line insurance quoting system that requires a user to input data into a web application via a keyboard. The disclosure of Grover et al does not describe the use of a mobile device for inputting and communicating data to an insurer. All data entry by a user of the system is manual.

“U.S. Pat. No. 8,255,243 B2, “System and Method for Insurance Underwriting and Rating,” to Raines et al and assigned to Carfax, Inc., discloses a system, apparatus and method focused on gathering data associated with a motor vehicle, primarily based on the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The disclosure of Raines is directed to vehicle information and does not describe features or functionality to support the use of a mobile device by a consumer to apply for and bind automobile insurance.

“There exist a number of insurance apps that can be obtained for use on an IPAD, IPHONE, ANDROID or other mobile device. For example, GEICO provides GEICO Mobile, a mobile app available on the iPAD and iPHONE. GEICO Mobile is an all-inclusive app to support access to static insurance ID Cards, billing, policy, claims, glass damage, roadside assistance, accident assistance and other consumer-centric insurance interests. The GEICO Mobile app is not dedicated to automated collection of information to support expediting application for and binding of an insurance policy, along with ensuring accuracy of collected and input data.

“Other insurance companies, including STATE FARM, THE GENERAL, PROGRESSIVE, ALLSTATE, ESURANCE, NATIONWIDE, FARMERS INSURANCE, 21ST CENTURY INSURANCE and others provide similar mobile apps for use on an iPHONE and iPAD. None of the above emphasize accuracy of data input nor do they contemplate inclusion of a virtual interactive insurance identification card.

“Other software applications, in this case, mobile software apps, exist that purport to provide a means for comparing quotes from multiple insurance carriers. However, our research indicates that these apps merely take you to the site of a desired insurance carrier and fail to aggregate data from multiple quotes for comparison.

“Hence, a need exists for an insurance point of sale system and method that enables faster and more efficient interactions than currently available. In addition, a need exists for a mobile insurance point of sale system that utilizes scanning and other technology resident in a user’s mobile device to eliminate typing or manual entry of insurance data necessary to obtain an insurance rating, a price for the proposed policy and finally a binding agreement for insurance coverage. Still further, there exists a substantial unmet need for such a system capable of providing timely and periodic assessment of improved insurance policies based on either coverage or price. Further, a need exists for such a system and method that can provide multiple insurance quotes to a user from multiple providers based on automated data input with minimal manual entry by the user. Still further, a need exists for such a system and method that will allow a user to directly and conveniently purchase insurance from a mobile device. Finally, a need exists for a virtual interactive insurance identification card that simplifies interaction by the insured user after obtaining coverage.”

As a supplement to the background information on this patent application, NewsRx correspondents also obtained the inventor’s summary information for this patent application: “The present invention is a system and method for expediting vehicle insurance purchases using a mobile device while reducing input errors. The method and system is further applicable to purchasing other types of insurance. A potential customer, insurance applicant, or agent, hereinafter, a “user,” is able to rate and purchase insurance with a mobile computing device, such as a smart phone. A user wishing to purchase vehicular insurance, according to the system and method of the present invention, is able to avoid visiting the office of an insurance agent. Likewise, the present invention avoids the need for an insurance agent to visit the user. Further, a user need not have a laptop or desktop computer t to purchase vehicular insurance. Every aspect of the insurance transaction may be completed via the user’s mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet. Additionally, even where the mobile device does not have cellular connectivity, Wi-Fi wireless connectivity may be used.

“The present invention provides a more efficient, convenient, and less error-prone alternative to current methods of: a) obtaining insurance quotes, b) comparing multiple quotes, c) purchasing insurance, d) obtaining updated insurance quotes, and e) accessing various services associated with insurance coverage via a digital insurance ID and dashboard. The present invention expedites the insurance application and binding process. In addition, the invention avoids the entry of incorrect information which decelerates the application and binding process via the integration of several features and functions used to qualify and confirm the accuracy and legitimacy of all information gathered from an applicant for insurance. The present invention relies on input methods that eschew the use of a textual or QWERTY keyboard, thereby eliminating the inevitable input of incorrect information caused by the use of a small keyboard on a mobile device.

“According to an embodiment of the invention, a user collects necessary information using a mobile device configured to execute and run a purpose-built point-of-sale software application for that purpose, hereinafter the “POS application.” A user is typically an insurance applicant, but in other embodiments, the invention supports use by an insurance agent. The POS application likewise is configured to transmit collected information to other components of the system that process the data either locally or remotely. For example, a user will scan a driver’s license using the POS application on a mobile device, e.g., a smart phone and extract relevant driver information that can then be used to obtain additional driver information from other remote sources.

“Likewise, a user will scan a vehicle barcode and vehicle identification number, i.e., the VIN, using the POS application with the mobile device. The POS application then causes certain collected information to be transmitted to a central processing center of one or more potential insurers or a cloud-based server structure that runs and maintains the quote engine for one or more insurance providers. A centralized server processes and verifies the submitted information where a quote engine applies various pricing and coverage algorithms, and finally, one or more quotes are then transmitted for display to the user applicant. If the applicant confirms and approves one of the quotes, the system communicates with the selected insurance provider and causes the insurance provider to create an insurance policy and forward the ultimate policy to the applicant along with a request for signature and payment via credit card or other electronic method. The POS application processes payment and once payment has been received and confirmed by the insurer, a digital virtual interactive insurance verification card is issued to the applicant via the POS application. The digital virtual interactive insurance verification card serves as a convenient and effective dashboard through which the insured user is subsequently able to access all information and services associated with their insurance policy and coverage without having to use the original POS application.

“The accompanying drawings numbered herein are given by way of illustration only and are not intended to be limitative to any extent. Commonly used reference numbers identify the same or equivalent parts of the claimed invention throughout the several Figures.”

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“1. A vehicular insurance point-of-sale system for a mobile user applicant comprising: a. a mobile device; b. extended network architecture and infrastructure accessible by said mobile device; c. a point-of-sale software application executable on said mobile device; and, d. said point-of-sale software application configured to operate on said mobile device and use one or more features of said mobile device such that all input into said point-of-sale software application by a user applicant does not require the use of a keyboard interface on a screen of said mobile device.

“2. The vehicular point-of-sale system of claim 1 wherein said mobile device includes one or more input modes comprising: a. a camera; b. a scanner; c. touch input; d. a numeric keypad; e. audio input; and, f. voice recognition.

“3. The vehicular point-of-sale system of claim 1 wherein said point-of-sale system leverages one or capabilities of said mobile device including: a. phone mode; b. voice recorder mode; c. text messaging mode; d. e-mail mode; e. digital camera mode; f. digital video recording mode; g. photograph gallery mode; h. video gallery mode; and, i. GPS mode.

“4. A method for expediting provision of vehicular insurance quotes to a user via a mobile device to complete an application process, comprising: a. downloading a point-of-sale software application and installing said POS application on said mobile device; b. selecting and launching said point-of-sale software application; c. a user applicant inputting login credentials and logging in to said point-of-sale software application d. said point-of-sale software application confirming a geographic location of the user applicant; e. entering driving information into said point-of-sale software application by imaging a driver license using a camera of said mobile device; f. extracting and storing driver information from a scan of the driver license; g. presenting said driver information to the user for confirmation or correction; h. presenting an option for the user to scan additional driver’s licenses; i. repeating steps e through h until all driver’s licenses have been scanned; j. transmitting said driver information to a customer information database; k. entering vehicular information into said point-of-sale software application by imaging a vehicle identification number using said camera of said mobile device; l. extracting and storing said vehicular information from a scan of the vehicle identification number; m. presenting said vehicular information to the user for confirmation or correction; n. presenting an option for the user to image additional vehicle identification numbers; o. repeating steps k through n until all vehicle identification numbers have been imaged; p. transmitting said vehicular information to said customer information database; q. confirming a garage address for each vehicle associated with a vehicle identification number; r. checking said garage address against the user location based on geographic positioning information provided to said point-of-sale software application by said mobile device geographic positioning features; s. if said garage address is remote from said user location, reconfirming with the user that said garage address is correct; t. transmitting said confirmation to said customer information database; u. sharing all customer information with one or more insurance carriers to allow generation of one or more insurance quotes for delivery and presentation to the applicant user via said point-of-sale software application on said mobile device; v. prompting the user applicant to select a quote from a list of available quotes; w. cancelling the application process if the user applicant does not select a quote; x. prompting the user applicant to confirm an insurance purchase transaction for a selected quote; y. presenting payment options to the user applicant; z. the user applicant selecting a payment option; aa. finalizing the insurance purchase transaction; bb. recording data associated with said insurance purchase transaction in said point-of-sale software application; and, cc. sending said data to said customer information database for final processing.

“5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of: a. the point-of-sale software application generating a temporary digital insurance identification card to serve as temporary proof of insurance; b. the insurance company issuing the quote accepted by the user applicant creating an insurance policy binding between the insurance company and the user applicant; c. the insurance company authorizing the point-of-sale software application to create and display to the user applicant a permanent digital insurance identification card, confirming completion of said insurance purchase transaction and establishing a contractually-binding policy.

“6. The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of: a. a central server in communication with said point-of-sale software application; b. said central server processing said driver information and said vehicular information transmitted to said customer information database for use in digitally accessing one or more third-party data sources containing additional said driver information and said vehicular information; c. said central server combining said additional driver information and said additional vehicular information from said one or more third-party sources to create a user applicant risk profile for use by the insurance company in providing an insurance quote to the user applicant.

“7. The method of claim 7 wherein said one or more third-party data sources are selected from the list of: a. the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System; b. state Department of Motor Vehicle systems; c. police records; d. fire and insurance records; e. credit scoring entities; f. vehicular data aggregators; and, g. proprietary vehicular and driver data sources.

“8. The method of claim 4 further comprising: a. said point-of-sale software application displaying an icon to an applicant user; b. said icon triggerable by said applicant user to directly call a data entry support person to assist in inputting all necessary information for the user by speaking with the data entry support person; c. said point-of-sale software application receiving all data inputted by the data entry support person for display to the applicant user for correction and confirmation.

“9. The method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of: a. upon finalization of the insurance purchase transaction process; b. replacing said point-of-sale software application icon displayed on a screen of said mobile device with an icon representing said permanent digital virtual insurance identification card; c. accessing the insured user’s information by selecting said icon representing said permanent digital virtual insurance identification card.

“10. An interactive virtual insurance identification card for display via a mobile device comprising: a. a digital front side; b. said digital front side displaying static information and one or more interactive objects; c. a digital rear side; d. said digital rear side displaying static information and one or more interactive objects.

“11. The interactive insurance virtual identification card of claim 10 wherein said interactive objects comprise: a. a virtual insurance identification button for causing said interactive virtual identification card display to flip from said digital front side to said digital rear side; b. a hyper-linked phone number for contacting an insurance representative; c. a policy icon to provide a user with access to all policy information; d. an accident icon to provide a user with access to an accident interface; e. a roadside assistance icon to allow a user to obtain roadside assistance via a hyperlinked telephone number and other direct digital communication features; f. a dollar sign icon to allow a user to request an updated insurance quote; and, g. a folder icon for accessing a data repository.

“12. The interactive virtual insurance identification card of claim 10 wherein selecting an icon representing the interactive virtual insurance identification card triggers the deployment of a radial menu having one or more interactive objects for access by a user.

“13. The system of claim 1 wherein said point-of-sale software application further includes an agent version for use by an insurance agent, said agent version further comprising: a. an initial agent interface; b. an agent login interface; c. a user account driver interface; d. a discount options interface; e. a policy term period interface; f. a cars insured interface; g. a coverages interface; h. an applicant quote interface; i. an additional certifications form interface; j. a signature interface; and, k. a payment information interface.”

For additional information on this patent application, see: Chappell, James Mark. System And Method For Expediting Purchase Of Vehicular Insurance. Filed October 11, 2021 and posted March 31, 2022. Patent URL: https://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=%2220220101446%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20220101446&RS=DN/20220101446

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