State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Assigned Patent for Improved Assisted Living Environments

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 29 -- State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance, Bloomington, Illinois, has been assigned a patent (No. 10,573,146, initially filed Oct. 2, 2015) by 15 co-inventors for "systems and methods for improved assisted or independent living environments." The co-inventors are Jackie O Jordan II, Bloomington, Illinois, John Donovan, Bloomington, Illinois, David Turrentine, Bloomington, Illinois, Torri Wollenschlager, Bloomington, Illinois, Bryan R. Nussbaum, Bloomington, Illinois, Deanna Stockweather, Normal, Illinois, Jeffrey W. Stoiber, Bloomington, Illinois, Kerstin Markwardt, Phoenix, Arizona, Gail L. Carlson, Bloomington, Illinois, Kyle C. Schiebel, Bloomington, Illinois, Troy Winslow, Bloomington, Illinois, Joseph P. Harr, Bloomington, Illinois, Ellakate Wagner, Bloomington, Illinois, Michael Harris Jr., Normal, Illinois, and Jennylind Sun, Bloomington, Illinois.

The full-text of the patent can be found at 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=10,573,146.PN.&OS=PN/10,573,146&RS=PN/10,573,146

The abstract states: "The present embodiments relate to detecting instances of individuals being in peril within an independent or assisted living environment. According to certain aspects, with an individual's permission or affirmative consent, a hardware controller (such as a smart or interconnected home controller, or even a mobile device) may receive and analyze sensor data detected within the independent or assisted living environment to determine whether an individual may be in peril. In this circumstance, the hardware controller may generate a notification that indicates the situation and may communicate the notification to a proper individual, such as a family member or care giver, who may be in a position to mitigate or alleviate any risks posed by the situation. The foregoing functionality also may be used by an insurance provider to generate, update, or adjust insurance policies, premiums, rates, or discounts, and/or make recommendations to an insured individual."

Written by Ajita Mishra; edited by Sudarshan Harpal.