Granted Patent B2

US 12,657,635 · App. 18/483,425 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Inventors: Suchandra Banerjee (Northbrook, IL); Jennifer A. Brandmaier (Chicago, IL); Mark E. Faga (Evanston, IL); Robert H. Johnson (Hoffman Estates, IL); Clint J. Marlow (Barrington Hills, IL); Curtis Murphy (Northbrook, IL); Kurt M. Stricker (Northfield, IL); Josh Campbell (Northbrook, IL)

Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company

G06Q40/08

Abstract

Claims (51)

1 . A pre-claim consultation system comprising:

an enhanced claims processing data server, the enhanced claims processing data server comprising at least one processor and a memory storing computer-executable instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

communicate, to a device, instructions to a) capture a plurality of images corresponding respectively to photo categories related to an insured item comprising at least an entire vehicle, a vehicle identification number (VIN), and a damaged area, and b) present, on a display screen of the device, a viewfinder for a camera and a visual marker within the viewfinder indicating a location at which to position at least a portion of a view of the insured item to facilitate proper positioning for capturing images within the viewfinder;

receive, from a mobile device, at least one photo corresponding to one or more of the photo categories;

receive, from the mobile device, damage data related to the insured item;

determine that the damage data is related to the insured item corresponding with an insured individual;

retrieve, from a database, policy information data corresponding with the insured individual;

process the damage data and the policy information data using at least one automated algorithm that, when executed, compares coordinates of points in the at least one photo with corresponding coordinates in a reference image of a similar vehicle and isolates the damaged area in the at least one photo based on the comparison to generate technical assessment parameters;

determine, based on automated comparison of the technical assessment parameters, a recommendation regarding claim submission;

transmit, to the mobile device, the recommendation regarding claim submission; and

transmit, to the mobile device, at least one incentive based upon the processing of the damage data and the policy information data.

2 . The pre-claim consultation system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one incentive relates to one or more of an offer for an insurance policy that better covers any assessed loss for the insured item, or an offer to pay for the assessed loss or a portion thereof if the insured individual agrees to become a customer.

3 . The pre-claim consultation system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further caused to:

provide access, to the mobile device, to a portal enabling access to services provided by third parties, wherein the third parties comprise one or more of repair agencies, junkyards, vehicle dealers, and governmental agencies.

4 . The pre-claim consultation system of claim 1 , wherein determining the recommendation comprises calculating one or more of a projected increase in premium amount and a projected settlement amount for submitting the claim.

5 . The pre-claim consultation system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one automated algorithm, when executed, calculates area measurements of the isolated damaged areas.

6 . The pre-claim consultation system of claim 1 , wherein the technical assessment parameters comprise damage location and damage depth.

7 . The pre-claim consultation system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one automated algorithm, when executed, determines the damage depth using stereoscopic methods.

8 . A computer-implemented method of providing a pre-claim consultation, the method performed by an enhanced claims processing data server, the method comprising:

communicating, to a device, instructions to a) capture a plurality of images corresponding respectively to photo categories related to an insured item comprising at least an entire vehicle, a vehicle identification number (VIN), and a damaged area, and b) present, on a display screen of the device, a viewfinder for a camera and a visual marker within the viewfinder indicating a location at which to position at least a portion of a view of the insured item to facilitate proper positioning for capturing images within the viewfinder;

receiving, by an enhanced claims processing data server and from a mobile device, at least one photo corresponding to one or more of the photo categories;

receiving, from the mobile device, damage data related to the insured item; determining that the damage data is related to the insured item corresponding with an insured individual;

retrieving, from a database, policy information data corresponding with the insured individual;

processing the damage data and the policy information data using at least one automated algorithm that, when executed, compares coordinates of points in the at least one photo with corresponding coordinates in a reference image of a similar vehicle and isolates the damaged area in the at least one photo based on the comparison to generate technical assessment parameters;

determining, based on automated comparison of the technical assessment parameters, a recommendation regarding claim submission;

transmitting, to the mobile device, the recommendation regarding claim submission; and

transmitting, to the mobile device, at least one incentive based upon the processing of the damage data and the policy information data.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein transmitting the at least one incentive relates to one or more of an offer for an insurance policy that better covers any assessed loss for the insured item, or an offer to pay for the assessed loss or a portion thereof if the insured individual agrees to become a customer.

10 . The method of claim 8 further comprising:

providing access, via a network and to the mobile device, to a portal enabling access to services provided by third parties, wherein the third parties comprise one or more of repair agencies, junkyards, vehicle dealers, and governmental agencies.

11 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

transmitting, via a network to the mobile device of the individual and based on the policy information data, upsell material data comprising one or more of information about new products, special promotions, and discounts.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein determining the recommendation comprises calculating one or more of a projected increase in premium amount and a projected settlement amount for submitting the claim.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least one automated algorithm, when executed, calculates area measurements of the isolated damaged areas.

14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the technical assessment parameters comprise damage location and damage depth.

15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions, that when executed by one or more processors of an enhanced claims data server of an enhanced claims processing system, cause the enhanced claims processing system to:

communicate, to a device, instructions to a) capture a plurality of images corresponding respectively to photo categories related to an insured item comprising at least an entire vehicle, a vehicle identification number (VIN), and a damaged area, and b) present, on a display screen of the device, a viewfinder for a camera and a visual marker within the viewfinder indicating a location at which to position at least a portion of a view of the insured item to facilitate proper positioning for capturing images within the viewfinder;

receive, via a network and from a mobile device, at least one photo corresponding to one or more of the photo categories;

receive, via the network and from the mobile device, damage data related to the insured item;

determine that the damage data is related to the insured item corresponding with an insured individual;

retrieve, from a database, policy information data corresponding with the insured individual;

process the damage data and the policy information data using at least one automated algorithm that, when executed, compares coordinates of points in the at least one photo with corresponding coordinates in a reference image of a similar vehicle and isolates the damaged area in the at least one photo based on the comparison to generate technical assessment parameters;

determine, based on automated comparison of the technical assessment parameters, a recommendation regarding claim submission; and

transmit, to the mobile device, at least one incentive based upon the processing of the damage data and the policy information data.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the at least one incentive relates to one or more of an offer for an insurance policy that better covers any assessed loss for the insured item, or an offer to pay for the assessed loss or a portion thereof if the insured individual agrees to become a customer.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein if the insured individual agrees to become a customer, the at least one incentive further relates to an extension of accident forgiveness for an accident related to the insured item.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , the enhanced claims processing system further caused to:

provide access, via the network and to the mobile device, to a portal enabling access to services provided by third parties, wherein the third parties comprise one or more of repair agencies, junkyards, vehicle dealers, and governmental agencies.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the at least one automated algorithm, when executed, calculates area measurements of the isolated damaged areas.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the technical assessment parameters comprise damage location and damage depth.

21 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the at least one automated algorithm, when executed, further subtracts coordinates of undamaged portions in the at least one photo to isolate damaged areas.

Continuity (7)

References Cited (394)