IP Library Granted Patent US 10,796,374
Granted Patent B1
US 10,796,374 · App. 15/975,906 · Granted Oct 6, 2020

System and method for virtual inspection of a structure

Inventors: Matthew Cuttell (Bloomington, IL); Timothy Kiper (Normal, IL)
Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
G06Q40/08G06K9/00637G06Q30/0278
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,796,374
App. No.
15/975,906
Granted
Oct 6, 2020
Kind
B1
Abstract

A computer implemented method for linking an underwriting action to a customer is presented. The method receives an inspection model corresponding to a geographic location associated with a structure and determines that a virtual inspection is necessary based on the inspection model. The method also retrieves a first aerial image corresponding to the geographic location and a second aerial image corresponding to the geographic location and a time threshold. The method further receives a comparison data value corresponding to the first and second aerial image, determines an underwriting action based on the comparison data and links the underwriting action to a customer account.

Claims (58)

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

retrieving, via a computer network, an aerial image, the aerial image corresponding to a geographic location associated with a structure;

analyzing, at the one or more processors, the aerial image to (i) identify a first object and a second object within the aerial image, and (ii) determine a distance between the first object and the second object, wherein

identifying the first object includes (i) identifying a first object data category corresponding to the first object, and (ii) determining an objective or subjective data value descriptive of the first object and corresponding to the first object data category, and

identifying the second object includes (i) identifying a second object data category corresponding to the second object and different than the first object data category, and (ii) determining an objective or subjective data value descriptive of the second object and corresponding to the second object data category;

determining, at the one or more processors, that the distance between the first object and the second object is within a threshold distance; and

based upon the determining that the distance between the first object and the second object is within the threshold distance, flagging, at the one or more processors, a customer account that is associated with the geographic location.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, via the computer network, an inspection model that corresponds to the geographic location associated with the structure.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the method further comprises:

determining, at one or more processors, that a virtual inspection is necessary based upon the inspection model.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein retrieving the aerial image comprises:

accessing, via the computer network, one or more aerial image databases; and

determining, at the one or more processors, that at least one of the one or more aerial image databases contains an aerial image corresponding to the geographic location.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein retrieving the aerial image comprises:

accessing, via the computer network, one or more aerial image databases; and

determining, at the one or more processors, that at least one of the one or more aerial image databases contains an aerial image corresponding to the geographic location.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first object data category is a house, and the second object data category is a pool.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first object data category is a house, and the second object data category is a garage.

8. A computer device, comprising;

one or more processors; and

one or more memories coupled to the one or more processors;

wherein the one or more memories include computer executable instructions stored therein that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

retrieve, via a computer network, an aerial image that corresponds to a geographic location associated with a structure;

analyze the aerial image to (i) identify a first object and a second object within the aerial image, and (ii) determine a distance between the first object and the second object, wherein

identifying the first object includes (i) identifying a first object data category corresponding to the first object, and (ii) determining an objective or subjective data value descriptive of the first object and corresponding to the first object data category, and

identifying the second object includes (i) identifying a second object data category corresponding to the second object and different than the first object data category, and (ii) determining an objective or subjective data value descriptive of the second object and corresponding to the second object data category;

determine that the distance between the first object and the second object is within a threshold distance; and

based upon the determining that the distance between the first object and the second object is within the threshold distance, flag a customer account that is associated with the geographic location.

9. The computer device of claim 8 , wherein the one or more memories include computer executable instructions stored therein that, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

receive, via the computer network, an inspection model, wherein the inspection model corresponds to the geographic location associated with the structure.

10. The computer device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more memories include computer executable instructions stored therein that, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

determine that a virtual inspection is necessary based upon the inspection model.

11. The computer device of claim 10 , wherein to retrieve the aerial image, the computer executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

access, via the computer network, one or more aerial image databases; and

determine that at least one of the one or more aerial image databases contains an aerial image corresponding to the geographic location.

12. The computer device of claim 8 , wherein to retrieve the aerial image, the computer executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

access, via the computer network, one or more aerial image databases; and

determine that at least one of the one or more aerial image databases contains an aerial image corresponding to the geographic location.

13. The computer device of claim 8 , wherein the first object data category is a house, and the second object data category is a pool.

14. The computer device of claim 8 , wherein the first object data category is a house, and the second object data category is a garage.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising non-transitory computer readable instructions stored thereon, the instructions when executed on one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:

retrieve, via a computer network, a first aerial image, wherein the first aerial image corresponds to a geographic location associated with a structure;

analyze the aerial image to (i) identify a first object and a second object within the aerial image, and (ii) determine a distance between the first object and the second object, wherein

identifying the first object includes (i) identifying a first object data category corresponding to the first object, and (ii) determining an objective or subjective data value descriptive of the first object and corresponding to the first object data category, and

identifying the second object includes (i) identifying a second object data category corresponding to the second object and different than the first object data category, and (ii) determining an objective or subjective data value descriptive of the second object and corresponding to the second object data category;

determine that the distance between the first object and the second object is within a threshold distance; and

based upon the determining that the distance between the first object and the second object is within the threshold distance, flag a customer account that is associated with the geographic location.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , the instructions when executed on one or more processors further cause the one or more processors to:

receive, via the computer network, an inspection model, wherein the inspection model corresponds to the geographic location associated with the structure.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , the instructions when executed on one or more processors further cause the one or more processors to:

determine that a virtual inspection is necessary based upon the inspection model.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein to retrieve the aerial image, the instructions when executed on the one or more processors further cause the one or more processors to:

access, via the computer network, one or more aerial image databases; and

determine that at least one of the one or more aerial image databases contains an aerial image corresponding to the geographic location.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein to retrieve the aerial image, the instructions when executed on the one or more processors further cause the one or more processors to:

access, via the computer network, one or more aerial image databases; and

determine that at least one of the one or more aerial image databases contains an aerial image corresponding to the geographic location.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2020
From: CUTTELL, MATTHEW; KIPER, TIMOTHY
To: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
Reel/Frame 051609/0918 →
Continuity (1)
Continuation 14262102 · Apr 25, 2014
Cited By (3)
US 12,200,037 US 12,468,800 US 12,536,639