IP Library Granted Patent US 12695285
Granted Patent B2
US 12695285 · App. 17/987,953 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Systems and methods for utilizing electricity monitoring devices to mitigate or prevent structural damage

Inventors: Erin Ann Olander (Bloomington, IL); Christopher N. Kawakita (Bloomington, IL); Jeff Riblet (Normal, IL)
Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
H02H3/04G05B15/02G06Q40/08H04W4/02G05B2219/163G05B2219/2642H02J3/001Y02B90/20Y04S20/14Y04S20/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12695285
App. No.
17/987,953
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems for identifying and correcting abnormal electrical activity about a structure are provided. An electricity monitoring device may monitor electrical activity including transmission of electricity via an electrical distribution board to devices about the structure. Electrical activity may be correlated with respective electrical devices to build an electrical profile indicative of the structure's electricity usage. Based on the electrical profile, abnormal electrical activity may be identified and corrective actions may be taken to mitigate or prevent structural damage.

Claims (42)

1 . A computer-implemented method of determining occupancy of a structure at a time of an abnormal event, the method comprising:

wirelessly detecting, via an electricity monitoring device positioned in a vicinity of an electrical distribution board of the structure, electricity flow to a plurality of electric devices associated with the structure, the electricity flow indicating electrical usage of the plurality of electric devices;

building, in at least one memory and via one or more processors, an electricity profile for the structure comprising electrical data based upon the electrical usage of the plurality of electric devices, the electricity profile comprising first expected electricity characteristics when the structure is occupied by one or more persons and second expected electricity characteristics when the structure is unoccupied by one or more persons;

receiving, via the one or more processors, an input indicating that the abnormal event occurred at a particular time resulting in damage to the structure;

identifying, in the at least one memory and via the one or more processors, event electrical data from the electrical data, the event electrical data comprising a portion of the electrical data associated with electricity flow wirelessly detected via the electricity monitoring device during a time period including the particular time the damage occurred to the structure;

and

determining, via the one or more processors, whether the structure was occupied by one or more persons at the particular time based upon comparing the event electrical data to the electricity profile stored in the at least one memory.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising determining at least one electrical characteristic of each of the plurality of electric devices, the at least one electrical characteristic comprising at least one of electricity usage, the electricity flow, or electricity consumption.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the electricity monitoring device wirelessly detects the at least one electrical characteristic of each of the plurality of electric devices.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein comparing the event electrical data of the plurality of electric devices during the time period including the particular time of the abnormal event to the electricity profile includes comparing an electricity consumption of the plurality of electric devices to an expected electricity consumption during the time period.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further including identifying each of the plurality of electric devices using the wirelessly detected electricity flow.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the input that the abnormal event occurred is received from a mobile device of a party associated with the structure.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the input that the abnormal event occurred includes an indication of damage to or a defect of one or more of the plurality of electric devices.

8 . A system configured to determine occupancy of a structure at a time of an abnormal event, the system comprising:

an electricity monitoring device positioned in a vicinity of an electrical distribution board of the structure;

one or more processors; and

one or more computer memories storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed via the one or more processors cause the electricity monitoring device to wirelessly detect electricity flow to a plurality of electric devices associated with the structure, the electricity flow indicating electrical usage of the plurality of electric devices;

wherein execution of the computer-executable instructions via the one or more processors causes the one or more processors to:

build an electricity profile for the structure comprising electrical data in the one or more computer memories based upon the electrical usage of the plurality of electric devices, the electricity profile comprising first expected electricity characteristics when the structure is occupied by one or more persons and second expected electricity characteristics when the structure is unoccupied by one or more persons;

receive an input indicating that the abnormal event occurred at a particular time resulting in damage to the structure;

identify event electrical data from the electrical data in the one or more computer memories, the event electrical data comprising a portion of the electrical data associated with electricity flow wirelessly detected via the electricity monitoring device during a time period including the particular time the damage occurred to the structure;

and

determine whether the structure was occupied by one or more persons at the particular time based upon comparing the event electrical data to the electricity profile stored in the one or more computer memories.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein execution of the computer-executable instructions via the one or more processors further causes the one or more processors to determine at least one electrical characteristic of each of the plurality of electric devices, the at least one electrical characteristic comprising at least one of electricity usage, the electricity flow, or electricity consumption.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the electricity monitoring device wirelessly detects the at least one electrical characteristic of each of the plurality of electric devices.

11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein execution of the computer-executable instructions via the one or more processors further causes the one or more processors to compare an electricity consumption of the plurality of electric devices to an expected electricity consumption during the time period.

12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein execution of the computer-executable instructions via the one or more processors further causes the one or more processors to identify each of the plurality of electric devices using the wirelessly detected electricity flow.

13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the input that the abnormal event occurred is received from a mobile device of a party associated with the structure.

14 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the input that the abnormal event occurred includes an indication of damage to or a defect of one or more of the plurality of electric devices.

15 . A system configured to determine occupancy of a structure at a time of an abnormal event, the system comprising:

an electricity monitoring device positioned adjacent an electrical distribution board of the structure to wirelessly detect electricity flow to each of a plurality of electric devices associated with the structure, the electricity flow indicating electrical usage of the plurality of electric devices; and

one or more processors in communication with one or more storage devices storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed via the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:

build an electricity profile for the structure comprising electrical data stored in the one or more storage devices based upon the electrical usage of the plurality of electric devices, the electricity profile comprising first expected electricity consumption when the structure is occupied by one or more persons and second expected electricity characteristics when the structure is unoccupied by one or more persons;

receive an input indicating that the abnormal event occurred at a particular time resulting in damage to the structure;

respond to receipt of the input that the abnormal event occurred at the particular time resulting in damage to the structure by identifying event electrical data from the electrical data in the one or more storage devices, the event electrical data comprising a portion of the electrical data associated with electricity flow wirelessly detected via the electricity monitoring device during a time period including the particular time the damage occurred to the structure;

and

determine whether the structure was occupied by one or more persons at the particular time based upon comparing the event electrical data to the electricity profile stored in the one or more storage devices.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein execution of the computer-executable instructions via the one or more processors further causes the one or more processors to identify each of the plurality of electric devices using the wirelessly detected electricity flow.

17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the input that the abnormal event occurred is received from a mobile device of a party associated with the structure.

18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the input that the abnormal event occurred includes an indication of damage to or a defect of one or more of the plurality of electric devices.

19 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the structure is a home.

20 . The system of claim 15 , wherein execution of the computer-executable instructions further causes the one or more processors to determine whether the abnormal event was voluntary.