SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING DEVICE REPLACEMENT WITHIN A CONNECTED PROPERTY
The present embodiments relate to assessing the need to replace a smart or other device within a home and facilitating device replacement. A smart home controller at the home may retrieve usage data associated with a device and compare the usage data to baseline usage data. Based upon the comparison, the controller may determine that the device needs replacement and, in response, may communicate information associated with a replacement device to a home owner. The home owner may assess whether to replace the device and, if so, may order a replacement device from (and/or schedule an installation of the replacement device with) an appropriate manufacturer or retailer. As a result, failing devices may be replaced prior to a failure that causes damage to the home, and/or home owners may be timely prompted to investigate or replace failing devices. Insurance discounts may be provided based upon with the risk prevention/mitigation functionality.
1 . A computer-implemented method of monitoring device usage within a property, the property populated with a hardware controller in communication with a plurality of devices, the hardware controller comprising a first special-purpose processor, the method comprising:
transmitting, by the hardware controller via a network connection, a request to an electronic device within the property for electronic device usage data by the electronic device over a specific time period;
in response to transmitting the request, receiving, by the hardware controller from the electronic device via the network connection, the electronic device usage data for the specific time period;
identifying, by the first special-purpose processor and based at least in part upon the electronic device usage data for the specific time period, an actual electronic usage amount of the device over a lifetime of the electronic device corresponding to a total operating time of the device different from the lifetime of the device;
accessing, by the hardware controller and from a data source associated with a third-party entity comprising at least one of a manufacturer or supplier of the device, a recommended lifetime electronic usage amount associated with the device;
determining, by the first special-purpose processor, to recommend replacement of the device by:
calculating, by the first special-purpose processor, a percentage representing a difference between the actual electronic usage amount and the recommended lifetime electronic usage amount;
determining, by the first special-purpose processor, that the percentage is within a predetermined threshold percentage of the recommended lifetime electronic usage amount, the predetermined threshold percentage being associated with an indication of when the actual electronic usage amount is nearing the recommended lifetime electronic usage amount; and
determining, by the first special-purpose processor, to recommend replacement of the electronic device based upon the percentage being within the predetermined threshold percentage of the recommended lifetime electronic usage amount.
2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 25 , wherein receiving the information associated with the replacement electronic device comprises:
receiving for-sale information associated with the replacement electronic device, the for-sale information identifying a for-sale location for the replacement electronic device and the price for the replacement electronic device.
3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 25 , wherein receiving the information associated with the replacement electronic device comprises:
receiving a discount offer for the replacement electronic device.
4 . (canceled)
5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 25 , further comprising:
receiving, by the hardware controller from the personal electronic device, a confirmation by the individual to purchase the replacement electronic device; and
facilitating, by the hardware controller, a purchase of the replacement electronic device with the third-party entity.
6 . (canceled)
7 . (canceled)
8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 25 , further comprising:
responsive to comparing the actual electronic usage amount to the recommended lifetime electronic usage amount, transmitting, by the hardware controller to the third-party entity, a request for the information associated with the replacement electronic device.
9 . A computer-implemented method of monitoring device usage within a property, the property populated with a hardware controller in communication with a plurality of devices, the method comprising:
transmitting, by a server via a network connection, a first request to the hardware controller to retrieve electronic device usage data over a specific time period associated with an electronic device disposed within the property;
transmitting, by the hardware controller via the network connection, a second request to the electronic device within the property for the electronic device usage data over the specific time period;
in response to transmitting the second request, receiving, by the hardware controller from the device via the network connection, the electronic device usage data over the specific time period;
in response to transmitting the first request, receiving, by the server via the network connection, the electronic device usage data by the electronic device over the specific time period;
identifying, by a first special-purpose processor of the server and based at least in part upon the electronic device usage data over the specific time period, an actual electronic usage amount of the device over a lifetime of the electronic device corresponding to a total operating time of the device different from the lifetime of the device;
accessing, by the server and from a data source associated with a third-party entity comprising at least one of a manufacturer or supplier of the device, a recommended lifetime electronic usage amount associated with the electronic device;
determining, by the first special-purpose processor, to recommend replacement of the device by:
calculating, by the first special-purpose processor, a percentage representing a difference between the actual electronic usage amount and the recommended lifetime electronic usage amount;
determining, by the first special-purpose processor, that the percentage is within a predetermined threshold percentage of the recommended lifetime electronic usage amount, the predetermined threshold percentage being associated with an indication of when the actual electronic usage amount is nearing the recommended lifetime electronic usage amount; and
determining, by the first special-purpose processor, to recommend replacement of the electronic device based upon the percentage being within the predetermined threshold percentage of the recommended lifetime electronic usage amount.
10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving for-sale information associated with a replacement electronic device, the for-sale information identifying a for-sale location for the replacement electronic device and a price for the replacement electronic device.
11 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising receiving a discount offer for a replacement electronic device.
12 . (canceled)
13 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving, by the server from a personal electronic device associated with an individual associated with the property, a confirmation by the individual to purchase a replacement electronic device; and
facilitating, by the server, a purchase of the replacement electronic device with the third-party entity.
14 . (canceled)
15 . (canceled)
16 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising:
responsive to comparing the actual electronic usage amount to the recommended lifetime electronic usage amount, transmitting, by the server to the third-party entity, a request for information associated with a replacement electronic device.
17 . A hardware controller for monitoring electronic device usage within a property, the hardware controller in communication with a plurality of devices, comprising:
a communication module adapted to retrieve electronic device usage data from an electronic device disposed within the property;
a memory adapted to store non-transitory computer executable instructions; and
a special-purpose processor adapted to interface with the communication module, wherein the special-purpose processor is configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the special-purpose processor to:
transmit, via the communication module, a request to the electronic device for electronic device usage data by the electronic device over a specific time period;
receive, via the communication module, the electronic device usage data for the specific time period;
in response to a transmission of the request, receive, from the electronic device, the electronic device usage data for the specific time period;
identify, based at least in part upon the electronic device usage data for the specific time period, an actual electronic usage amount of the device over a lifetime of the electronic device corresponding to a total operating time of the device different from the lifetime of the device;
access, from a data source associated with a third-party entity comprising at least one of a manufacturer or supplier of the device, a recommended lifetime electronic usage amount associated with the device;
determine to recommend replacement of the device by:
calculating a percentage representing a difference between the actual electronic usage amount and the recommended lifetime electronic usage amount;
determining that the percentage is within a predetermined threshold percentage of the lifetime electronic recommended usage amount, the predetermined threshold percentage being associated with an indication of when the actual electronic usage amount is nearing the recommended lifetime electronic usage amount; and
determining to recommend replacement of the electronic device based upon the percentage being within the predetermined threshold percentage of the lifetime electronic recommended usage amount.
18 . (canceled)
19 . The hardware controller of claim 17 , wherein the special-purpose processor is further configured to:
receive, from a personal electronic device associated with an individual associated with the property via the communication module, a confirmation by the individual to purchase a replacement electronic device, and
facilitate a purchase of the replacement electronic device with the third-party entity.
20 . (canceled)
21 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying, by the hardware controller, a policy associated with the electronic device;
generating, by the hardware controller, a proposed claim based at least in part upon the policy; and
transmitting, by the hardware controller to a personal electronic device associated with an individual associated with the property, the proposed claim, wherein the proposed claim includes one or more pre-populated fields.
22 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising automatically turning off the electronic device in response to the percentage being within the predetermined threshold percentage of the recommended lifetime electronic usage amount.
23 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the request to the electronic device via a second controller, wherein the second controller is in communication with the electronic device.
24 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving the electronic device usage data from the electronic device via a second controller, wherein the second controller is in communication with the electronic device.
25 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the hardware controller from the third-party entity associated with the electronic device, information associated with a replacement electronic device for the electronic device, wherein the information identifies the replacement electronic device and comprises at least one image of the replacement electronic device and a price for the replacement electronic device; and
communicating, by the hardware controller, the information to a personal electronic device of an individual associated with the property, wherein the personal electronic device comprises a second special-purpose processor that is configured to concurrently (i) display, in a user interface, the at least one image and the price, and (ii) enable the individual to select to purchase the replacement electronic device via a purchase selection displayed in the user interface.