SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CLAIM PROCESSING VIA BLOCKCHAIN
The present embodiments relate to systems and methods for using a blockchain to record information related to processes and services in the vehicle industry. The systems and methods may include (1) receiving an insurance claim from a first participant, the insurance claim indicating that an insured asset has suffered a loss or been involved with an insurance-related event causing damage to the insured asset; (2) accessing, at a memory, the loss history blockchain using the identifier; (3) updating, at the memory, a block stored at the memory to associate the insurance claim with the individual or insured asset; and/or (4) transmitting the block to at least one other participant to facilitate maintaining the loss history blockchain related to the individual or the insured asset up-to-date.
1 . A computer-implemented method for tracking loss history for an individual or an insured asset, the individual and/or the insured asset having an identifier tracked by a loss history blockchain maintained by a network of nodes or participants, the method comprising:
receiving, at one or more processors coupled with a network interface, an insurance claim from a first participant, the insurance claim indicating that an insured asset has suffered a loss or been involved with an insurance-related event causing damage to the insured asset, wherein the indication includes a photograph;
hashing, via the one or more processors, the photograph;
receiving, at one or more processors coupled with a network interface, a loss report from a second participant that is a sensor system of the insured asset, the loss report including sensor data captured by the sensor system of the insured asset;
accessing, at a memory coupled with the one or more processors, the loss history blockchain using the identifier to identify a claim record corresponding to the identifier;
adding, via the one or more processors, the identifier, the indication of the insurance claim, the loss report, and the hash of the photograph to a transaction;
updating, at the memory, a block stored at the memory to link the transaction and the claim record; and
transmitting, via the one or more processors coupled with the network interface, the block to at least one other participant to facilitate maintaining the loss history blockchain related to the individual or the insured asset up-to-date.
2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein insurance claim is verified by a network of nodes forming a consensus to update the loss history blockchain prior to the block being added to the loss history blockchain.
3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the identifier is an individual identifier.
4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the individual identifier is a social security number or an insurance policy number.
5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the identifier is an asset identifier.
6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the asset identifier is a vehicle identification number or a home tax parcel number.
7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein updating the block includes:
creating, via the one or more processors, the block.
8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein accessing the loss history blockchain using the identifier includes:
searching, via the one or more processors, the loss history blockchain using the identifier for a block which includes the identifier; and
verifying, via the one or more processors, the identifier stored at the block.
9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , further comprising:
wherein, if the identifier is not stored at a block, generating, via the one or more processors, the claim record using the identifier;
adding, via the one or more processors, the transaction to a set of transactions; and
adding, via the one or more processors, the set of transactions and the claim record to the block.
10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein updating the loss history blockchain includes:
adding, via the one or more processors, the transaction to a set of transactions; and
adding, via the one or more processors, the set of transactions to the block.
11 . A system for tracking loss history for an individual or an insured asset, the individual and/or the insured asset having an identifier tracked by a loss history blockchain maintained by a network of nodes or participants, the system comprising:
a network interface configured to interface with a processor;
a memory configured to store non-transitory computer executable instructions and configured to interface with the processor; and
the processor configured to interface with the memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the system to:
receive an insurance claim from a first participant, the insurance claim indicating that an insured asset has suffered a loss or been involved with an insurance-related event causing damage to the insured asset, wherein the indication includes a photograph;
hash the photograph;
receive a loss report from a second participant that is a sensor system of the insured asset, the loss report including sensor data captured by the sensor system of the insured asset;
access the loss history blockchain using the identifier to identify a claim record corresponding to the identifier;
add the identifier, the indication of the insurance claim, the loss report, and the hash of the photograph to a transaction;
update a block stored at the memory to link the transaction and the claim record; and
transmit the block to at least one other participant to facilitate maintaining up-to-date the loss history blockchain related to the individual or the insured asset.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein insurance claim is verified by a network of nodes forming a consensus to update the loss history blockchain prior to the block being added to the loss history blockchain.
13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the identifier is an individual identifier.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the individual identifier is a social security number or an insurance policy number.
15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the identifier is an asset identifier.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the asset identifier is a vehicle identification number or a home tax parcel number.
17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein to update the block, the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:
create the block.
18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein to access the loss history blockchain using the identifier, the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:
search the loss history blockchain using the identifier for a block which includes the identifier; and
verify the identifier stored at the block.
19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:
wherein, if the identifier is not stored at a block, generate, the claim record using the identifier;
add the transaction to a set of transactions; and
add the set of transactions and the claim record to the block.
20 . The system of claim 11 , wherein to update the loss history blockchain, the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:
add the transaction to a set of transactions; and
add the set of transactions to the block.