Distributed Ledger System for Managing Smart Home Data
Systems and methods are disclosed with respect to using a distributed ledger, such as a blockchain, for managing smart home data. Various entities may edit and/or access the distributed ledger, such as a server (e.g., of the insurance provider), a mobile device (e.g., a tablet, smart phone, or laptop of the insured or of a vendor), a desktop computer (e.g., of the insured or of a vendor), a smart device in a home (e.g., a smart thermostat, a smart carbon monoxide detector, a smart camera or microphone, or any other smart device), a home controller that manages other smart devices, a drone that surveys the home (e.g., for roof or siding damage), etc.
1 . A computer-implemented method for tracking home events, the method comprising:
implementing a plurality of servers, each of the plurality of servers maintaining a copy of a distributed ledger;
automatically detecting a home event via a home event sensor;
responding to automatically detecting the home event by storing to the distributed ledger a transaction record representing the home event detected via the home event sensor, wherein storing the transaction record includes:
(i) generating, at a first server from the plurality of servers, a transaction record including data corresponding to the home event;
(ii) proposing the transaction record to one or more other servers from the plurality of servers;
(iii) performing, via the plurality of servers, a consensus analysis of the transaction record utilizing a consensus mechanism; and
(iv) when the consensus analysis indicates that the plurality of servers have formed a consensus, storing the transaction record at the distributed ledger by storing the transaction record to each copy of the distributed ledger at the plurality of servers; and
performing an insurance function based upon the data corresponding to the automatically detected home event in the transaction record stored to the distributed ledger.
2 . (canceled)
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the home event is a smart home event, the smart home event being any one or more of: a motion; a door opening or closing; a window opening or closing; a temperature reading; a desired temperature setpoint; a carbon monoxide reading; a smoke reading; a light status; a water flow; and a utility meter reading.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the home event sensor is any one or more of: a motion sensor; an image sensor; a laser sensor; a light switch; a mechanical actuator; a thermostat; a carbon monoxide detector; a smoke detector; a water flow sensor; or a utility meter.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the insurance function is a calculation of a premium.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the insurance function is an assessment of damage or an estimate of a repair or replacement cost.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the data corresponding to the home event includes any one or more of the following: an identifier for an insurance policy covering the property; a description of the insurance policy; an identifier for an individual holding the insurance policy; an identifier for an insurance provider providing the insurance policy; a record of one or more claims filed under the insurance policy; one or more limits and/or premiums for the insurance policy; an indication of a detected motion at or near the property; an indication of a detected door opening or closing; an indication of a detected window opening or closing; a measured temperature; a temperature setpoint; a carbon monoxide reading; a status for a light at the property; a status for an oven at the property; a status for a refrigerator at the property; a status for HVAC equipment at the property; a status for a door lock at the property; a water flow; and a utility meter reading.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein storing the transaction record at the distributed ledger comprises: storing the transaction to a block.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein performing the consensus analysis comprises generating a hash value for the transaction, and utilizing the hash value for the transaction to generate a hash value for the block.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the consensus mechanism is: a proof of work mechanism, a proof of stake mechanism, or a proof of activity mechanism.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the consensus mechanism is: a proof of burn mechanism, a proof of capacity mechanism, or a proof of elapsed time mechanism.
12 . A system for tracking home events, the system comprising:
a home event sensor configured to automatically detect a home event;
a plurality of servers maintaining a distributed ledger for tracking home events, wherein each of the plurality of servers includes a memory storing: (A) a copy of the distributed ledger, and (B) instructions that, when executed, cause the respective server to generate, at the respective server, a transaction record including data corresponding to a particular home event in response to the home event sensor automatically detecting the particular home event;
wherein the plurality of servers are configured to: (i) perform a consensus analysis of the broadcasted transaction record utilizing a consensus mechanism; (ii) store the transaction record at the distributed ledger when the consensus analysis indicates that the plurality of servers have formed a consensus by storing the transaction record to each copy of the distributed ledger at the plurality of servers; and (iii) perform an insurance function based upon the data corresponding to the home event automatically detected via the home event sensor in the transaction record stored to the distributed ledger.
13 . (canceled)
14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the home event is a smart home event, the smart home event being any one or more of: a motion; a door opening or closing; a window opening or closing; a temperature reading; a desired temperature setpoint; a carbon monoxide reading; a smoke reading; a light status; a water flow; and a utility meter reading.
15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the home event sensor is any one or more of: a motion sensor; an image sensor; a laser sensor; a light switch; a mechanical actuator; a thermostat; a carbon monoxide detector; a smoke detector; a water flow sensor; or a utility meter.
16 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the insurance function is a calculation of a premium.
17 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the insurance function is an assessment of damage or an estimate of a repair or replacement cost.
18 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the data corresponding to the home event includes any one or more of the following: an identifier for an insurance policy covering the property; a description of the insurance policy; an identifier for an individual holding the insurance policy; an identifier for an insurance provider providing the insurance policy; a record of one or more claims filed under the insurance policy; one or more limits and/or premiums for the insurance policy; an indication of a detected motion at or near the property; an indication of a detected door opening or closing; an indication of a detected window opening or closing; a measured temperature; a temperature setpoint; a carbon monoxide reading; a status for a light at the property; a status for an oven at the property; a status for a refrigerator at the property; a status for HVAC equipment at the property; a status for a door lock at the property; a water flow; and a utility meter reading.
19 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of servers are configured to store the transaction record at the distributed ledger by storing the transaction to a block.
20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of servers are configured to perform the consensus analysis by generating a hash value for the transaction and utilizing the hash value for the transaction to generate a hash value for the block.