Researchers Submit Patent Application, “Total Loss Evaluation And Handling System And Method”, for Approval (USPTO 20220292602): Allstate Insurance Company

2022 OCT 04 (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 inventors DeWall, Joel (Libertyville, IL, US); Ejupi, Jamin (Libertyville, IL, US); Hanson, Randall M. (Lake Ozark, MO, US), filed on May 27, 2022, was made available online on September 15, 2022.

The patent’s assignee is Allstate Insurance Company (Northbrook, Illinois, United States).

News editors obtained the following quote from the background information supplied by the inventors: “Handling insurance claims can be a time-consuming and complex process for both the claimant and the claims processor. The claimant often starts the process with a first notice of loss to a claims processing office associated with an insurance company. Usually, a claims adjuster within the claims processing office is assigned to the case to assess the damage for which compensation is sought. The claims adjustment process can involve paperwork processing, telephone calls, and potentially face-to-face meetings between claimant and adjuster. In addition, time can elapse between a first notice of loss from the claimant and the final settlement of the claim.

“From these claims adjustment efforts insurance companies may compile large volumes of information regarding the circumstances that led to a loss and determinations of whether an estimated cost to repair a damaged item exceeds the value of the item. From this information insurance companies may be able to derive statistics that correlate the circumstances resulting in a loss with the determination of whether the damaged item should be repaired or simply replaced. Therefore a need exists for new approaches that leverage such information to streamline claims processing.”

As a supplement to the background information on this patent application, NewsRx correspondents also obtained the inventors’ summary information for this patent application: “The following presents a simplified summary of the present disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosures. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements or to delineate the scope of the claimed subject matter. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description provided below.

“A first aspect described herein provides a computer-implemented method of handling a loss involving an insured vehicle. A total loss evaluation and handling system may receive vehicle telematics data from a vehicle telematics device that monitors an insured vehicle. The total loss evaluation and handling system may determine that a loss involving the vehicle has occurred, and a total loss evaluator may select a set of total loss rules that are configured to determine whether the loss is a total loss. The total loss evaluator may apply the total loss rules selected to the vehicle telematics data received and determine whether the loss is a total loss based on the total loss rules applied. A total loss handler may obtain an estimated value of the vehicle and generate a settlement amount based on the estimated value. The total loss handler may then initiate a payment corresponding to the settlement amount to an individual associated with the insured vehicle as settlement for the total loss.

“A second aspect described herein provides a total loss evaluation and handling system. The total loss evaluation and handling system may include at least one processor and a vehicle telematics data store that stores vehicle telematics data received from a vehicle telematics device that monitors an insured vehicle. A total loss evaluator may determine that a loss involving the insured vehicle has occurred and select a set of total loss rules configured to determine whether the loss is a total loss. The total loss evaluator may apply the total loss rules selected to the vehicle telematics data received and determine that the loss is a total loss based on the total loss rules applied. A total loss handler may be configured to obtain an estimated value of the insured vehicle and generate a settlement amount based on the estimated value. The total loss handler may then initiate a payment corresponding to the settlement amount to an individual associated with the insured vehicle as settlement for the total loss.

“A third aspect described herein provides another computer-implemented method of handling a loss involving an insured vehicle. A total loss evaluation and handling system may receive vehicle telematics data from a vehicle telematics device that monitors an insured vehicle and determine that a loss involving the vehicle has occurred. The total loss evaluation and handling system may also receive, from a computing device operated by an individual associated with the insured vehicle, vehicle condition information that identifies damage that has occurred to one or more portions of the insured vehicle. A total loss evaluator may select a set of total loss rules configured to determine whether the loss is a total loss and apply the total loss rules selected to the vehicle telematics data and vehicle condition information received. The total loss evaluator may determine that the loss is a total loss based on the total loss rules applied. A total loss handler may obtain an estimated value of the vehicle, generate a settlement amount based on the estimated value, and initiate a payment corresponding to the settlement amount to the individual as settlement for the total loss. The total loss handler may also submit a car rental request to a car rental system and a tow service request to a tow service system. The car rental request and the tow service request may identify the geographic location of the vehicle as indicated in the vehicle telematics data received. The tow service request may also identify a unique identifier associated with the vehicle.

“The details of these and other embodiments of the disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and description below. Other features and advantages of aspects of the disclosure will be apparent from the description, drawings, and claims.”

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“1. A telematics-based method of detecting and processing a loss involving an insured vehicle comprising: receiving, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, vehicle telematics data from a vehicle telematics device on the insured vehicle; receiving, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, vehicle state data from a claimant computing device; wherein the vehicle state data comprises information corresponding to damage of at least one component of the insured vehicle; determining, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, that the loss of the insured vehicle has occurred based on the vehicle telematics data and the vehicle state data received; applying, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, a first total loss rule of a set of total loss rules to a portion of the vehicle telematics data; determining, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, that the portion of the vehicle telematics data exceeds a predetermined threshold; applying, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, a second total loss rule of the set of total loss rules to a portion of the vehicle state data; determining, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, that the portion of the vehicle state data exceeds a predetermined threshold; based on determining that the portion of the vehicle telematics data exceeds a predetermined threshold and the portion of the vehicle state data exceeds a predetermined threshold, determine, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, that the loss is a total loss; and generating, by the total loss evaluation and handling system and based on determining that the loss is a total loss, a settlement amount.

“2. The telematics-based method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle telematics data comprises information corresponding to an impact force experienced by the insured vehicle.

“3. The telematics-based method of claim 2, wherein the first total loss rule is configured to determine whether the loss is a total loss based on the impact force experienced by the insured vehicle.

“4. The telematics-based method of claim 1, wherein the component of the insured vehicle comprises at least one of seats, tires, windows, air conditioning, navigation system, and entertainment system.

“5. The telematics-based method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle telematics data comprises a make, a model, and a year of the insured vehicle.

“6. The telematics-based method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle state data comprises information corresponding to the damage of a first component, a second component, and a third component of the insured vehicle.

“7. The telematics-based method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, prior vehicle state information corresponding to percentage of total loss of vehicles substantially similar to the insured vehicle; analyzing, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, the prior vehicle state information; and determining, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, the predetermined threshold corresponding to the vehicle telematics data.

“8. The telematics-based method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle telematics data comprises information corresponding to deceleration of the insured vehicle.

“9. The telematics-based method of claim 1, further comprising: establishing, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, a wireless data connection with one or more weather systems; receiving, by the total loss evaluation and handling system while the wireless data connection is established and from the one more weather systems, weather information corresponding to a geographic location of where the loss occurred; and applying, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, a third total loss rule of the set of total loss rules to a portion of the weather information received.

“10. A telematics-based total detection and processing system comprising: at least one processor; a vehicle telematics data store; a vehicle state data store; a total loss evaluator configured to: receive vehicle telematics data from a vehicle telematics device on a vehicle and store the vehicle telematics data on the vehicle telematics data store; receive vehicle state data from a claimant computing device; wherein the vehicle state data comprises information corresponding to the damage of at least one component of the vehicle and storing the vehicle state data on the vehicle state data store; determine that a loss of the vehicle has occurred based on the vehicle telematics data and the vehicle state data received; apply a first total loss rule of a set of total loss rules to a portion of the vehicle telematics data; determine that the portion of the vehicle state data exceeds a predetermined threshold; apply a second total loss rule of the set of total loss rules to a portion of the vehicle state data; determine that the portion of the vehicle state data exceeds a predetermined threshold; based on determining that the portion of the vehicle telematics data exceeds a predetermined threshold and the portion of the vehicle state data exceeds a predetermined threshold, determine that the loss is a total loss; and generate by the total loss evaluation and handling system and based on determining that the loss is a total loss, a settlement amount.

“11. The telematics-based total detection and processing system of claim 10, wherein the total loss evaluator is further configured to: receive, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, prior vehicle state information corresponding to percentage of total loss of vehicles substantially similar to the vehicle; analyze, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, the prior vehicle state information; and determine, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, the predetermined threshold corresponding to the vehicle telematics data.

“12. The telematics-based total detection and processing system of claim 10, wherein the total loss evaluator is further configured to: establish, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, a wireless data connection with one or more weather systems; receive, by the total loss evaluation and handling system while the wireless data connection is established and from the one more weather systems, weather information corresponding to a geographic location of where the loss occurred; and apply, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, a third total loss rule of the set of total loss rules to a portion of the weather information received.

“13. The telematics-based total detection and processing system of claim 10, wherein the vehicle telematics data comprises a make, a model, and a year of the vehicle.

“14. The telematics-based total detection and processing system of claim 10, wherein the component of the vehicle comprises at least one of seats, tires, windows, air conditioning, navigation system, and entertainment system.

“15. The telematics-based total detection and processing system of claim 10, wherein the vehicle telematics data comprises information corresponding to an impact force experienced by the vehicle.

“16. The telematics-based total detection and processing system of claim 15, wherein the first total loss rule is configured to determine whether the loss is a total loss based on the impact force experienced by the vehicle.

“17. A telematics-based total detection and processing apparatus comprising: one or more processors; and a memory storing computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: receive vehicle telematics data from a vehicle telematics device on a vehicle and store the vehicle telematics data on a vehicle telematics data store; receive vehicle state data from a claimant computing device; wherein the vehicle state data comprises information corresponding to the damage of at least one component of the vehicle and storing the vehicle state data on a vehicle state data store; determine that a loss of the vehicle has occurred based on at least one of the vehicle telematics data or the vehicle state data; apply a total loss rule of a set of total loss rules to at least one of a portion of the vehicle telematics data or the vehicle state data; determine that the portion of the at least one of the portion of the vehicle telematics data or the vehicle state data exceeds a predetermined threshold; based on determining that at least one of the portion of the vehicle telematics data or the vehicle state data exceeds a predetermined threshold, determine that the loss is a total loss; and generate, based on determining that the loss is a total loss, a settlement amount.

“18. The telematics-based total detection and processing apparatus of claim 17, wherein the one or more processors are further caused to: receive, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, prior vehicle state information corresponding to percentage of total loss of vehicles substantially similar to the vehicle; analyze, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, the prior vehicle state information; and determine, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, the predetermined threshold corresponding to the vehicle telematics data.

“19. The telematics-based total detection and processing apparatus of claim 17, wherein the one or more processors are further caused to: establish, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, a wireless data connection with one or more weather systems; receive, by the total loss evaluation and handling system while the wireless data connection is established and from the one more weather systems, weather information corresponding to a geographic location of where the loss occurred; and apply, by the total loss evaluation and handling system, a third total loss rule of the set of total loss rules to a portion of the weather information received.”

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

For additional information on this patent application, see: DeWall, Joel; Ejupi, Jamin; Hanson, Randall M. Total Loss Evaluation And Handling System And Method. Filed May 27, 2022 and posted September 15, 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=%2220220292602%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20220292602&RS=DN/20220292602

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