U.S. patent application number 13/836604 was filed with the patent office on 2013-10-03 for systems and methods for certified location data collection, management, and utilization.
This patent application is currently assigned to THE TRAVELERS INDEMNITY COMPANY. The applicant listed for this patent is THE TRAVELERS INDEMNITY COMPANY. Invention is credited to Dean M. Collins, Michael Kimball, Thomas J. Maddalena, Thomas J. Roberts, Ann S. Tuttle.
Application Number | 20130262152 13/836604 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49236245 |
Filed Date | 2013-10-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130262152 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Collins; Dean M. ; et
al. |
October 3, 2013 |
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CERTIFIED LOCATION DATA COLLECTION,
MANAGEMENT, AND UTILIZATION
Abstract
Location information may be gathered, managed, stored, and/or
otherwise utilized to determine unique geo-referenced locations.
The geo-referenced locations may be utilized to inform various
processes and decisions such as insurance underwriting, risk
assessment, pricing, and risk/loss control.
Inventors: |
Collins; Dean M.;
(Manchester, CT) ; Roberts; Thomas J.;
(Wallingford, CT) ; Maddalena; Thomas J.;
(Winsted, CT) ; Tuttle; Ann S.; (Windsor, CT)
; Kimball; Michael; (East Hartford, CT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
THE TRAVELERS INDEMNITY COMPANY |
Hartford |
CT |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
THE TRAVELERS INDEMNITY
COMPANY
Hartford
CT
|
Family ID: |
49236245 |
Appl. No.: |
13/836604 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61616629 |
Mar 28, 2012 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 40/08 20130101;
G06F 16/29 20190101; G06F 16/22 20190101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/4 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 40/08 20060101
G06Q040/08 |
Claims
1. A method, comprising: receiving, by a processing device, an
indication of first location information descriptive of a first
location; determining, by the processing device, that the first
location information is also descriptive of a second location;
requesting, by the processing device and in response to the
determining that the first location information is also descriptive
of the second location, information that distinguishes the first
location from the second location; receiving, by the processing
device and in response to the requesting, new location information
that distinguishes the first location from the second location; and
creating, by the processing device, a data storage relationship
between the new location information and information associated
with at least one of the first location and the second
location.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first location is associated
with a first customer.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first location is also
associated with a second customer.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that the first
location information is also descriptive of the second location,
comprises: determining that the first location information matches
second location information stored in a database in association
with the second location.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that the first
location information is also descriptive of the second location,
comprises: determining that the first location information
conflicts with the second location information stored in a database
in association with the second location.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of first location
information descriptive of the first location is received from a
first customer.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first location information
comprises one or more of: (i) a state identifier; (ii) a city
identifier; (iii) a zip code identifier; (iv) a street name
identifier; and (v) a street number identifier.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the new location information
comprises one or more of: (i) a polygon identifier; (ii) a
structure identifier; (iii) a sub-structure identifier; and (iv) a
coordinate.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the requesting comprises:
transmitting a request for geo-location information to a mobile
device of a first customer at the first location.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the receiving of the new
location information, comprises: receiving, from the mobile device
of the first customer, the requested geo-location information.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving of the new
location information, comprises: receiving, from a mobile device of
a first customer, a photograph of the first location; and
electronically processing the photograph.
12. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining, by the
processing device and based at least in part on the new location
information, an existing amount of insurance exposure for a
particular structure at the first location.
13. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining, by the
processing device and based at least in part on the new location
information, whether to offer an underwriting product to a first
customer associated with the first location.
14. The method of claim 1, further comprising: identifying, by the
processing device and based at least in part on the new location
information, one or more potential customers that are within the
same structure at the first location as one or more existing
customers.
15. An apparatus, comprising: a processor; and a memory in
communication with the processor, the memory storing instructions
that when executed by the processor result in: receiving an
indication of first location information descriptive of a first
location associated with a first customer; determining that the
first location information is also descriptive of a second location
associated with a second customer; requesting, in response to the
determining that the first location information is also descriptive
of the second location associated with the second customer,
information that distinguishes the first and second locations;
receiving, in response to the requesting, new location information
that distinguishes the first and second locations; and creating a
data storage relationship between the new location information and
information associated with at least one of the first and second
locations.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first location
information comprises one or more of: (i) a state identifier; (ii)
a city identifier; (iii) a zip code identifier; (iv) a street name
identifier; and (v) a street number identifier.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the new location information
comprises one or more of: (i) a polygon identifier; (ii) a
structure identifier; (iii) a sub-structure identifier; and (iv) a
coordinate.
18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein execution of the
instructions by the processor further results in: transmitting a
request for geo-location information to a mobile device of a first
customer at the first location.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the receiving of the new
location information, comprises: receiving, from the mobile device
of the first customer, the requested geo-location information.
20. An article of manufacture comprising a computer-readable memory
storing instructions that when executed by a processor result in:
receiving an indication of first location information descriptive
of a first location associated with a first customer; determining
that the first location information is also descriptive of a second
location associated with a second customer; requesting, in response
to the determining that the first location information is also
descriptive of the second location associated with the second
customer, information that distinguishes the first and second
locations; receiving, in response to the requesting, new location
information that distinguishes the first and second locations; and
creating a data storage relationship between the new location
information and information associated with at least one of the
first and second locations.
21. The article of manufacture of claim 20, wherein the first
location information comprises one or more of: (i) a state
identifier; (ii) a city identifier; (iii) a zip code identifier;
(iv) a street name identifier; and (v) a street number
identifier.
22. The article of manufacture of claim 21, wherein the new
location information comprises one or more of: (i) a polygon
identifier; (ii) a structure identifier; (iii) a sub-structure
identifier; and (iv) a coordinate.
23. The article of manufacture of claim 20, wherein execution of
the instructions by the processor further results in: transmitting
a request for geo-location information to a mobile device of a
first customer at the first location.
24. The article of manufacture of claim 23, wherein the receiving
of the new location information, comprises: receiving, from the
mobile device of the first customer, the requested geo-location
information.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Location data, such as address data associated with a
customer, is often imprecise, incomplete, provided in
non-standardized formats, and/or overlaps or conflicts with other
location information. Such deficiencies in location information
cause various location-based attributes to remain hidden, which may
for example, hinder the effectiveness of various business
decisions. Insurance and/or other underwriting or risk-based
product quotations or sales may, for example, be adversely affected
by utilization of currently-available address or location data.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0002] An understanding of embodiments described herein and many of
the attendant advantages thereof may be readily obtained by
reference to the following detailed description when considered
with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0003] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system according to some
embodiments;
[0004] FIG. 2A is a top view of an example location according to
some embodiments;
[0005] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the example location of
FIG. 2A, according to some embodiments;
[0006] FIG. 2C is a top view of a portion of the example location
of FIG. 2A, according to some embodiments;
[0007] FIG. 2D is a perspective view of the example location of
FIG. 2A, according to some embodiments;
[0008] FIG. 3A is a block diagram of an example data storage
structure of a system according to some embodiments;
[0009] FIG. 3B is a block diagram of an example location data set
mapped to an example data storage structure of a system according
to some embodiments;
[0010] FIG. 3C is a block diagram of an example data storage
structure of a system according to some embodiments;
[0011] FIG. 3D is a block diagram of an example rule set of a
system according to some embodiments;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a method according to some
embodiments;
[0013] FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are diagrams of an example data storage
structure according to some embodiments;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a system according to some
embodiments;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a method according to some
embodiments;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a method according to some
embodiments;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of a method according to some
embodiments;
[0018] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a method according to some
embodiments;
[0019] FIG. 11 is a diagram of an exemplary risk matrix according
to some embodiments;
[0020] FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of a method according to some
embodiments;
[0021] FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an apparatus according to some
embodiments; and
[0022] FIG. 14A, FIG. 14B, FIG. 14C, and FIG. 14D are perspective
diagrams of exemplary data storage devices according to some
embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] Embodiments described herein are descriptive of systems,
apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture for certified
location data collection, management, and utilization. In some
embodiments, for example, location data may be collected,
retrieved, aggregated, sorted, filtered, standardized, and/or
otherwise processed to define relationships between various
location data elements or types.
[0024] As utilized herein, the term "certified location" generally
refers to a location that is uniquely identifiable. In some
embodiments, for example, a certified location comprises a specific
geo-referenced point or set of points defining a discrete area
and/or object (e.g., a uniquely identifiable place on the earth).
According to some embodiments, the level of granularity of data
descriptive of a certified location may change over time. A single
building on a parcel of land may comprise a certified location when
owned and/or operated by a single entity, for example, but in the
case that the building is sub-divided and/or becomes associated
with more than the single entity (e.g., acquires multiple tenants),
more detailed data may be stored distinguishing the different
portions of the building (e.g., uniquely). In some embodiments, a
certified location comprises a point and/or polygon representing a
unique location and identified by a unique identifier (e.g., a
certified location certificate number).
[0025] In accordance with some embodiments herein, uniqueness
and/or granularity of certified location data may be dependent upon
an existing data set. In the case of a database of customer data,
for example, a street address may be unique within the dataset, but
may not be unique with respect to geo-spatial, geo-political,
civil, municipal, and/or other considerations and/or data sets.
More than one person or business may occupy the street address, for
example, but only one of such individuals may be a customer for
which data is currently stored. In such embodiments, the street
address may comprise a certified location until more detailed data
and/or granularity is required to distinguish the information
descriptive of the location of the customer from information
descriptive of a location of another (e.g., new and/or prospective)
customer.
[0026] As utilized herein, the term "customer" may generally refer
to any type, quantity, and or manner of entity with or for which
location, underwriting product and/or policy, and/or underwriting
product risk and/or premium information may be determined in
accordance with embodiments described herein. A customer may
comprise an individual, personal, and/or business insurance policy
holder, for example, and/or may comprise an individual, family,
business, and/or other entity that seeks to price and/or obtain an
insurance and/or other underwriting product and/or policy as
described herein. A customer may have an existing business
relationship with other entities described herein, such as an
insurance company for example, or may not yet have such a
relationship--i.e., a "customer" may comprise a "potential
customer" (e.g., in general and/or with respect to a specific
product offering).
[0027] As utilized herein, the term "polygon" may generally refer
to any type, quantity, representation, and/or configuration of an
area and/or volume that is or becomes known or practicable. In some
embodiments, polygons may comprise regular polygons, irregular
polygons, and/or any other two or three-dimensional shape and/or
orientation that is or becomes known or practicable--e.g., circles,
ellipses, cones, pyramids, cylinders, and/or combinations of
various shapes. A land parcel, which is representative of one type
of polygon/area for example, may be defined in accordance with some
embodiments by one or more geospatial points and/or coordinates. In
some embodiments, a polygon may be identified by a representative
(e.g., best available) point and/or coordinate. According to some
embodiments, a polygon may be identified by a plurality of points
and/or coordinates such as may be representative of (and/or define)
one or more vertices, midpoints, endpoints, intersections, and/or
other geometric features of a polygon. Polygons may comprise a
variety of shapes and may be defined by various entities. Polygons
may be defined as (or by) tax parcels and corresponding geospatial
survey points, for example, or may be manually drawn on a map by an
insurance underwriter, analyst, agent, etc. (e.g., to define a
polygon as an area of interest to the insurance business, which may
or may not correspond in whole or in part to one or more tax or
zoning parcel boundaries). In some embodiments, a polygon may
define a certified location representing an area and/or object for
which an insurance and/or underwriting product is written (e.g., a
particular building, land parcel, apartment, and/or
structure--e.g., a cell tower). According to some embodiments, a
polygon may define a certified location representative of an area
and/or object associated with (but different from) an area and/or
object for which an insurance and/or underwriting product is
written (e.g., a property and/or structure adjacent to an insured
property).
[0028] As used herein, the term "network component" may refer to a
user or network device, or a component, piece, portion, or
combination of user or network devices. Examples of network
components may include a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) device
or module, a network processor, and a network communication path,
connection, port, or cable.
[0029] In addition, some embodiments are associated with a
"network" or a "communication network." As used herein, the terms
"network" and "communication network" may be used interchangeably
and may refer to any object, entity, component, device, and/or any
combination thereof that permits, facilitates, and/or otherwise
contributes to or is associated with the transmission of messages,
packets, signals, and/or other forms of information between and/or
within one or more network devices. Networks may be or include a
plurality of interconnected network devices. In some embodiments,
networks may be hard-wired, wireless, virtual, neural, and/or any
other configuration or type that is or becomes known. Communication
networks may include, for example, devices that communicate
directly or indirectly, via a wired or wireless medium such as the
Internet, intranet, LAN, WAN, Virtual Private Network (VPN),
Ethernet (or IEEE 802.3), Token Ring, or via any appropriate
communications means or combination of communications means.
Exemplary protocols include but are not limited to: Bluetooth.TM.,
Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Code Division Multiple Access
(CDMA), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Enhanced
Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), General Packet Radio Service
(GPRS), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS),
Digital AMPS (D-AMPS), IEEE 802.11 (WI-FI), IEEE 802.3, SAP, the
best of breed (BOB), and/or system to system (S2S).
[0030] In cases where video signals or large files are being sent
over the network, a broadband network may be used to alleviate
delays associated with the transfer of such large files, however,
such an arrangement is not required. Each of the devices may be
adapted to communicate on such a communication means. Any number
and type of machines may be in communication via the network. Where
the network is the Internet, communications over the Internet may
be through a website maintained by a computer on a remote server or
over an online data network, including commercial online service
providers, and/or bulletin board systems. In yet other embodiments,
the devices may communicate with one another over RF, cable TV,
and/or satellite links. Where appropriate, encryption or other
security measures, such as logins and passwords, may be provided to
protect proprietary or confidential information.
[0031] As used herein, the terms "information" and "data" may be
used interchangeably and may refer to any data, text, voice, video,
image, message, bit, packet, pulse, tone, waveform, and/or other
type or configuration of signal and/or information. Information may
comprise information packets transmitted, for example, in
accordance with the Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) standard.
Information may, according to some embodiments, be compressed,
encoded, encrypted, and/or otherwise packaged or manipulated in
accordance with any method that is or becomes known or
practicable.
[0032] As used herein, "determining" includes calculating,
computing, deriving, looking up (e.g., in a table, database, or
data structure), ascertaining, and/or recognizing.
[0033] A "processor" means any one or more microprocessors, Central
Processing Unit (CPU) devices, computing devices, microcontrollers,
and/or digital signal processors. As utilized herein, the term
"computerized processor" generally refers to any type or
configuration of primarily non-organic processing device that is or
becomes known. Such devices may include, but are not limited to,
computers, Integrated Circuit (IC) devices, CPU devices, logic
boards and/or chips, Printed Circuit Board (PCB) devices,
electrical or optical circuits, switches, electronics, optics
and/or electrical traces. A sub-class of computerized processors,
as utilized herein, may comprise "mechanical processors" which may
generally include, but are not limited to, mechanical gates,
mechanical switches, cogs, wheels, gears, flywheels, cams,
mechanical timing devices, etc.
[0034] The terms "computer-readable medium" and "computer-readable
memory" refer to any medium that participates in providing data
(e.g., instructions) that may be read by a computer and/or a
processor. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not
limited to non-volatile media, volatile media, and other specific
types of transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for
example, optical or magnetic disks and other persistent memory.
Volatile media include DRAM, which typically constitutes the main
memory. Other types of transmission media include coaxial cables,
copper wire, and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a
system bus coupled to the processor.
[0035] Common forms of computer-readable media include, for
example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape,
any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, Digital Video Disc (DVD), any
other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical
medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a
FLASH-EEPROM, a USB memory stick, a dongle, any other memory chip
or cartridge, a carrier wave, or any other medium from which a
computer can read. The terms "computer-readable memory" and/or
"tangible media" specifically exclude signals, waves, and wave
forms or other intangible or transitory media that may nevertheless
be readable by a computer.
[0036] Various forms of computer-readable media may be involved in
carrying sequences of instructions to a processor. For example,
sequences of instruction (i) may be delivered from RAM to a
processor, (ii) may be carried over a wireless transmission medium,
and/or (iii) may be formatted according to numerous formats,
standards or protocols. For a more exhaustive list of protocols,
the term "network" is defined above and includes many exemplary
protocols that are also applicable here.
[0037] In some embodiments, one or more specialized machines such
as a computerized processing device, a server, a remote terminal,
and/or a customer device may implement the various practices
described herein. A computer system of an insurance company may,
for example, comprise various specialized computers that interact
to perform risk assessments, insurance premium calculations, and/or
insurance product sales as described herein.
[0038] Turning first to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a system 100
according to some embodiments is shown. In some embodiments, the
system 100 may comprise a plurality of location data devices
102a-n. The location data devices 102a-n may collect and/or store
data descriptive and/or indicative of a location of one or more
objects or areas. The location data devices 102a-n may, for
example, comprise one or more sensors, databases, and/or
third-party data and/or sensing devices configured and/or situated
to determine location data. According to some embodiments, any or
all of the location devices 102a-n may be in communication with a
network 104. In some embodiments, the location data gathered and/or
stored by one or more of the location data devices 102a-n can be
queried, collected, sensed, looked-up, and/or otherwise obtained
and/or determined by a certified location device 110 (e.g., via the
network 104). The certified location device 110 may, for example,
comprise one or more computers and/or servers in communication with
the location data devices 102a-n (e.g., via the network 104). The
certified location device 110 may, in some embodiments, utilize the
location information from the location devices 102a-n to determine
and/or define one or more certified locations (e.g., points and/or
polygons). In some embodiments, the certified location device 110
may offer the location information and/or certified location
information for sale and/or subscription to various entities, for
various purposes. In some embodiments, the certified location
device 110 (and/or the location data devices 102a-n) may be in
communication with a database 140. The database 140 may store, for
example, location data obtained from the location data devices
102a-n, certified location data defined by the certified location
device 110, and/or instructions that cause various devices (e.g.,
the certified location device 110 and/or the location data devices
102a-n) to operate in accordance with embodiments described
herein.
[0039] The location data devices 102a-n, in some embodiments, may
comprise any type, configuration, and/or combination of sensor,
computing, mobile electronic, location-sensing (e.g., Global
Positioning System (GPS)), network, user, and/or communication
devices that are or become known or practicable. The location data
devices 102a-n may, for example, comprise one or more Personal
Computer (PC) devices, computer workstations (e.g., underwriter
workstations), tablet computers, such as an iPad.RTM. manufactured
by Apple.RTM., Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., and/or cellular and/or
wireless telephones such as an iPhone.RTM. (also manufactured by
Apple.RTM., Inc.) or an Optimus.TM. S smart phone manufactured by
LG.RTM. Electronics, Inc. of San Diego, Calif., and running the
Android.RTM. operating system from Google.RTM., Inc. of Mountain
View, Calif. In some embodiments, a location data device 102a-n may
comprise one or more of a digital or analog camera/video device
(e.g., a Closed-Circuit TV (CCTV) camera, a webcam, satellite
imaging device, aerial imaging device, robotic imaging device,
and/or a Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ)-enabled camera), an optical sensor, a
laser sensor, a RADAR, LADAR, or SONAR sensor, a thermal sensor, an
electrical current sensor, an electro and/or magnetic field sensor,
a distance sensor, an acoustic sensor, any other type of sensor,
and/or any combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the location
data devices 102a-n may comprise tracking devices that are attached
to/carried by people, e.g., cell phones or Personal Digital
Assistant (PDA) devices (and/or location determining hardware
and/or software thereof or associated therewith), or the like,
Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tags, or other location
tracking devices located on or within people or objects, or on or
within clothing or items (e.g., jewelry, watches, etc.) attached to
people or objects, and capable of monitoring, storing and/or
transmitting their location.
[0040] The network 104 may, according to some embodiments, comprise
a Local Area Network (LAN; wireless and/or wired), Wide Area
Network (WAN; wireless and/or wired), cellular telephone network,
Bluetooth.RTM. network, Near-Field Communication (NFC) network,
and/or Radio Frequency (RF) network with communication links
between the location data devices 102a-n, the certified location
device 110, and/or the database 140. In some embodiments, the
network 104 may comprise direct communications links between any or
all of the components 102a-n, 110, 140 of the system 100. The
certified location device 110 may, for example, be directly
interfaced or connected to the database 140 via one or more wires,
cables, wireless links, and/or other network components, such
network components (e.g., communication links) comprising portions
of the network 104. In some embodiments, the network 104 may
comprise one or many other links or network components other than
those depicted in FIG. 1. The a location data device 102a-n may,
for example, be connected to the certified location device 110 via
various cell towers, routers, repeaters, ports, switches, and/or
other network components that comprise the Internet and/or a
cellular telephone (and/or Public Switched Telephone Network
(PSTN)) network, and which comprise portions of the network
104.
[0041] While the network 104 is depicted in FIG. 1 as a single
object, the network 104 may comprise any number, type, and/or
configuration of networks that is or becomes known or practicable.
According to some embodiments, the network 104 may comprise a
conglomeration of different sub-networks and/or network components
interconnected, directly or indirectly, by the components 102a-n,
110, 140 of the system 100. The network 104 may comprise one or
more cellular telephone networks with communication links between
the location data devices 102a-n and the certified location device
110, for example, and/or may comprise the Internet, with
communication links between the location data devices 102a-n and
the database 140, for example.
[0042] According to some embodiments, the certified location device
110 may comprise a device (or system) owned and/or operated by or
on behalf of or for the benefit of an insurance company. The
insurance company may utilize location information and/or certified
location information, in some embodiments, to manage, analyze,
design, rate, price, and/or otherwise structure insurance and/or
other underwriting products, and/or define, facilitate, and/or
influence other insurance and/or business processes. Certified
location information may, for example, enhance the accuracy of
insurance risk assessments and thus lead to more profitable and/or
reliable insurance product offerings. In some embodiments,
certified location information may be utilized to provide
discounted premiums and/or other incentives or benefits to
insurance customers. An insurance company may provide a discount to
a customer willing to allow the insurer (or a third party
benefiting the insurer) access to certified location information
(and/or access to location information via which the certified
location information may be determined). Discounts may be provided,
for example, for various levels of increasing detail of location
information that a customer is willing to provide to an insurance
company.
[0043] In some embodiments, the database 140 may comprise any type,
configuration, and/or quantity of data storage devices that are or
become known or practicable. The database 140 may, for example,
comprise an array of optical and/or solid-state hard drives
configured to store location data provided by the location data
devices 102a-n, certified location data (e.g., defined and/or
determined by the certified location device 110), and/or various
operating instructions, drivers, etc. While the database 140 is
depicted as a stand-alone component of the system 100 in FIG. 1,
the database 140 may comprise multiple components. In some
embodiments, a multi-component database 140 may be distributed
across various devices and/or may comprise remotely dispersed
components. Any or all of the location data devices 102a-n may
comprise the database 140 or a portion thereof, for example, and/or
the certified location device 110 may comprise the database or a
portion thereof.
[0044] In some embodiments, various user interfaces (not explicitly
shown in FIG. 1) may be utilized to enhance the ability to
comprehend or utilize location data and/or certified location data
(which may often represent complex geo-spatial relationships). An
application for a mobile device (such as an Apple.RTM. iPhone.RTM.
application, for example) may, in some embodiments, provide a
visual indication of certified location data gathered by (and/or
from) the location data devices 102a-n and/or processed by the
certified location device 110. According to some embodiments,
certified location data may be depicted visually on a map and/or as
a layer on a map, such as may be provided, for example, by
Google.RTM. Maps. Such visually-depicted certified location data
may comprise real-time, delayed, historical (e.g., historical
aggregate, average, trend), pre-defined, and/or predicted data. In
such a manner, for example, a customer of certified location data
may utilize a mobile and/or other device to view a map (and/or
other graphical depiction) of certified locations and utilize the
map to inform, facilitate, and/or conduct business decision-making
processes (such as risk assessments and/or underwriting
decisions).
[0045] Referring now to FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C, and FIG. 2D, a
top view of an example location 200, a first perspective view of
the example location 200, a zoomed-in top view of a portion 202 of
the example location 200, and a second perspective view of the
example location 200 according to some embodiments are shown,
respectively. The example location 200 may comprise a city block
and/or a portion of a certain area or zone such as a census tract,
voting district, United States Geological Survey (USGS) quadrangle,
media market, and/or zip code, for example. In some embodiments, as
depicted in FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C, and/or FIG. 2D, for example,
the example location 200 may comprise a plurality of polygons
210a-c (e.g., land parcels). The polygons 210a-c may, in some
embodiments, be defined by municipalities and comprise tax and/or
assessment parcels. In some embodiments, polygons 210a-c may be
defined by other entities (e.g., by an insurance company employee)
and/or be based on other geographic, economic, social, political,
and/or other demographic and/or business factors (e.g., based on
risk and/or other underwriting characteristics).
[0046] According to some embodiments, the polygons 210a-c may
comprise and/or be defined by one or more vertices 212 (depicted in
FIG. 2A and FIG. 2C, but not replicated in FIG. 2B or FIG. 2D, for
clarity). A first polygon 210a may, for example, be defined and/or
bounded by a first vertex 212a-1 (depicted at the upper-left of the
first polygon 210a), a second vertex 212a-2 (depicted at the
upper-right of the first polygon 210a and bordering with a second
polygon 210b), a third vertex 212a-3 (depicted at the lower-right
of the first polygon 210a and also bordering with the second
polygon 210b), and a fourth vertex 212a-4 (depicted at the
lower-left of the first polygon 210a). In some embodiments, the
second polygon 210b and/or a third polygon 210c may be defined by
and/or comprise vertices 212b-1, 212b-2, 212b-3, 212b-4 and 212c-1,
212c-2, 212c-3, 212c-4, respectively. In some cases, such as in the
case that the third vertex 212a-3 of the first polygon 210a and the
fourth vertex 212b-4 of the second polygon 210b coincide, a single
graphical point may be described and/or defined with reference to
either or both of the overlapping vertices 212a-3, 212b-4. Although
each of the polygons 210a-c is depicted in FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG.
2C, and/or FIG. 2D as comprising a rectilinear shape, a polygon
210a-c may comprise any type and/or configuration of shape that is
or becomes known or practicable, and may accordingly comprise
and/or be defined by any number of vertices 212. According to some
embodiments, such as in the case that a polygon 210a-c comprises an
ellipse, circle, and/or other non-rectilinear shape (not shown in
FIG. 2A or FIG. 2B), one or more of the vertices 212a-1, 212a-2,
212a-3, 212a-4, 212b-1, 212b-2, 212b-3, 212b-4, 212c-1, 212c-2,
212c-3, 212c-4 may be utilized to identify any desired geometric
point, midpoint, intersection, inflection, moment, etc.
[0047] In some embodiments, other (e.g., non-vertex) points 214 may
be associated with and/or define the polygons 210a-c. Points 214
may represent and/or define, for example, non-vertex attributes of
a given polygons 210a-c. In some embodiments, such as in the case
that the non-vertex attribute comprises a geometric attribute, the
points 214 may represent and/or define one or more of a centroid of
a polygon 210a-c, an offset from a corner or side of a polygon
210a-c, a midpoint of a line segment connecting two vertices 212,
and/or may identify one or more features of a polygon 210a-c (e.g.,
topological locations, zone boundary locations, structure
locations, and/or other reference locations). In some embodiments,
the points 214 may be defined by one or more coordinates such as
`x`, `y`, and/or `z` coordinates, Global Positioning System (GPS)
coordinates, Latitude and Longitude coordinates, etc. According to
some embodiments, one or more three-dimensional shapes (e.g.,
polyhedrons, ellipsoids, pyramids, cylinders, and/or combinations
thereof, etc.) may be utilized to identify and/or locate one or
more structures. A structure may be completely bounded and/or
enclosed or encompassed by a three-dimensional polygon shape and/or
representation, for example, or may be partially bounded, enclosed,
and/or encompassed. Various sensing devices such as a Light
Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) device may be utilized in some
embodiments to acquire and/or verify data descriptive of such
three-dimensional polygons. In some embodiments, the points 214 may
be utilized to define and/or identify a particular polygon 210a-c
(and/or a feature thereof).
[0048] According to some embodiments, a first point 214a-1 may be
identified as existing within the first polygon 210a. The first
point 214a-1 may, for example, comprise a single coordinate point
of-record (e.g., in a municipal assessor's office) in association
with the first polygon 210a. In some embodiments, a second point
214a-2 may identify a feature of the first polygon 210a. As
depicted at the example location 200 of FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C,
and/or FIG. 2D, for example, the polygons 210a-c may comprise
and/or have situated thereupon one or more structures 216. The
second point 214a-2, for example, may identify a location of a
first structure 216a-1 (e.g., a building such as a warehouse) of
the first polygon 210a. In some embodiments, one or more structures
216 may exist on a polygon 210a-c. In some embodiments, a structure
such as a second structure 216a-2 (e.g., a building such as an
apartment building) may extend across and/or exist in multiple
polygons 210a-c (in the case of the second structure 216a-2, for
example, existing in both the first and second polygons 210a-b).
According to some embodiments, the example location 200 may
comprise one or more customer locations 218 (e.g., areas, objects,
and/or points or boundaries associated with one or more individuals
and/or entities such as a customer of a business).
[0049] In some embodiments, a first customer location 218-1 may
identify a portion of the second structure 216a-2, within the first
polygon 210a, where a first customer (not explicitly shown)
resides, does business, etc. In some embodiments, a third point
214b in the second polygon 210b may identify a second location
218-2 of a second customer (e.g., a customer of an insurance
business as described with respect to some embodiments herein). As
depicted, for example, the third point 214b may identify the second
location 218-2 in the second structure 216a-2 on the second polygon
210b. According to some embodiments, the third point 214b and/or
the second location 218-2 of the second customer may coincide with,
conflict with, and/or be equivalent or similar to a third location
218-3 of a third customer. As depicted in FIG. 2B, for example, the
second location 218-2 may define an area of an upper floor of the
second structure 216a-2, while the third location 218-3 may define
an area of a lower floor of the second structure 216a-2, beneath
the second location 218-2. In some embodiments, the third point
214b may be associated with elevation, height, and/or floor data
that defines the second location 218-2. In some embodiments, a
fourth location 218-4 of a fourth customer may be identified in
another portion of the second structure 216a-2 on the second
polygon 210b.
[0050] In some embodiments, one or more points 214 may coincide
with, identify, and/or define one or more vertices 212 of the
polygons 210a-c. As depicted with respect to the third polygon
210c, for example, a fourth point 214c-1 may define a location of
the first vertex 212c-1 of the third polygon 210c and/or a fifth
point 214c-2 may define a location of the third vertex 212c-3 of
the third polygon 210c. In such a manner, for example, coordinate
data associated with the fourth and fifth points 214c-1, 214c-2 may
define a geospatial relationship between the third polygon 210c and
other geospatially referenced objects and/or areas (e.g., the other
polygons 210a-b).
[0051] FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are generally provided to illustrate
(via the example location 200) various difficulties associated with
identifying, defining, and/or otherwise determining certified
locations--especially with respect to customers of a business.
While much data regarding the example location 200 may exist, for
example, such data is generally stored and accessible only to the
extent determined useful by any entity that gathered or obtained
such data. The data is almost certainly not standardized and often
overlaps or conflicts with other data sets utilized for various
purposes. The data may be incomplete, inaccurate, and/or may
include (or lack) alternative spellings and/or identifiers (e.g.,
"vanity" addresses). These and other issues substantially hinder
determination of certified locations, particularly certified
locations of customers.
[0052] As an example, surveying data regarding the first polygon
210a may be memorialized on a municipal map (e.g., a zoning map)
that defines geo-referenced coordinates for each vertex 212a of the
first polygon 210a. The map may also define coordinates for each
corner of the first structure 216a-1. This data (e.g., the
coordinates) is merely displayed on a static map, however, and is
not stored in a database or otherwise accessible to being queried
or utilized electronically. Nor is this data typically stored in
association with other location information, such as street address
data. Thus, in the case an address of the first customer at the
first location 218-1 is known, the zoning information and/or
coordinate data is not likely known nor readily identifiable or
searchable. Similarly, if a coordinate of the first location 218-1
is known, street address information may not be discernible based
upon that information. Further, non-vertex points 214 such as the
first and second points 214a-1, 214a-2 are likely not noted on the
zoning maps. Thus, if the first customer (or an information
provider or providers who are providing information about that
customer or that address, polygon, parcel, and/or structure)
provides one or more of the first and second points 214a-1, 214a-2
as coordinate information descriptive of the first location 218-1
(e.g., via a mobile device), there may be no efficient manner to
determine from such coordinate information a street address of the
customer, much less which polygon 210a-c the customer is on, much
less which structure 216a-c the customer is in.
[0053] Even in the case that address information is available for a
particular polygon 210a-c, the address information generally
comprises a range of street addresses that have been allocated to
that particular polygon 210a-c--some or many of which may not be in
use. Street address information for the first polygon 210a may
indicate, for example, that addresses from one (1) to one hundred
(100) "Main Street" are assigned to the first polygon 210a. In the
case that it is known that the first location 218-1 of the first
customer has a street address of fifty (50) "Main Street", the
street address may be utilized to determine that the first location
218-1 is within the first polygon 210a. The street address does
not, however, allow for the determination of which of the first
structure 216a-1 and the second structure 216a-2 the first location
218-1 is within, nor does it provide any information regarding
geospatial orientation of the first location 218-1 (e.g., the
street address and/or the polygon and/or parcel information do not
allow for the determination of how far the first location 218-1 is
from the second or third locations 218-2, 218-3). In some
embodiments, a polygon 210a-c may only be associated with one of a
plurality of addresses located at the polygon 210a-c. The polygon
210a-c may have a "legal" and/or tax address, for example, and all
other mailing addresses at the polygon 210a-c may not be "legal"
and/or tax addresses, and may accordingly not be stored in
association with the polygon 210a-c.
[0054] In some cases, the first polygon 210a may only be associated
with a single exterior point or coordinate 214a-3 that does not
fall within the actual boundaries of the first polygon 210a. The
exterior point 214a-3 may, for example, have been assigned to
represent the location of the first polygon 210a at a time when
geospatial accuracies were lower and/or may represent the best
available geospatial information descriptive of the first polygon
210a.
[0055] Similarly, while street address information may be utilized
to determine that the first location 218-1 is within the first
polygon 210a and the fourth location 218-4 is within the second
polygon 210b, there is currently no manner to discern that both
locations 218-1, 218-4 are within the same second structure 216a-2.
Nor does knowledge that the second location 218-2 and the fourth
location 218-4 are in the second polygon 210b allow for specific
identification of a certified location for either respective
customer, as there is no information distinguishing between the
second structure 216a-2 and the third structure 216b (e.g.,
particularly in the case that the second and third structures
216a-2, 216b are connected and/or are otherwise considered to
comprise the same and/or overlapping street addresses). In some
embodiments, structures 216 (and/or polygons 210a-c) may not be
associated with street address information. In the case that a
structure comprises a structure not operated as a home or business,
such as the fourth structure 216c for example, no mailing address
may be required, assigned, and/or otherwise applicable. Similarly,
a polygon 210a-c may comprise and/or define a non-address area such
as a field, stream, intersection, zone, region, etc.
[0056] In some embodiments, accuracies, confidence levels, and/or
probabilities associated with points 214 (and/or other location
data) may be utilized to make determinations regarding certified
location data. As depicted in FIG. 2C, for example, the portion 202
of the example location 200 may comprise three different points 214
labeled "A", "B", and "C", respectively. In some embodiments, the
points "A", "B", and/or "C" may be similar to and/or associated
with one or more of the points 214 depicted in FIG. 2A. The second
point 214a-2 of FIG. 2A may, for example, be based on and/or
otherwise associated with the point "A" of FIG. 2C. In some
embodiments for example, the point "A" may comprise a
representation of location information acquired with respect to
and/or determined to be descriptive of the first structure
216a-1.
[0057] According to some embodiments, the point "A" may be
determined to be associated with one or more confidence levels
"A1", "A2", and/or "A3" (e.g., areas, zones, and/or volumes). A
first set and/or pre-determined distance/radius from the point "A"
may be determined to represent a first confidence level "A1", a
second set and/or pre-determined distance/radius from the point "A"
may be determined to represent a second confidence level "A2",
and/or a third set and/or pre-determined distance/radius from the
point "A" may be determined to represent a third confidence level
"A3". In some embodiments, the confidence levels "A1", "A2", "A3"
may be utilized to determine a likelihood and/or probability (e.g.,
a weight, score, etc.) that the point "A" accurately represents
and/or identifies (e.g., locates) the first structure 216a-1. In
the case that it is known that the point "A" is supposed to
represent the first structure 216a-1, for example, because the
second confidence level "A2" overlaps with a portion of the first
structure 216a-1, an inference may be made that the point "A"
(and/or related location information) is not as accurate is it
could be and/or as desired (such as in a case where the first
confidence level "A1" overlapped with a portion of the first
structure 216a-1), but is not inaccurate. In some embodiments, a
score and/or weight may be assigned to the point "A" based on one
or more of the confidence levels "A1", "A2", and/or "A3" and their
relation to various location components, such as polygons 210a-c,
structures 216a-1, 216a-2, 216b and/or customer location 218-1.
[0058] In some embodiments, inaccuracy may be assumed in a case
where the point "A" is supposed to represent the second structure
216a-2. As the second structure 216a-2 falls outside of even the
third confidence level "A3", it may be assumed that the point "A"
is inaccurate or suspect (e.g., a low likelihood of being accurate
and/or useful). In some embodiments, a relative comparison of the
proximity of the point "A" to the different structures 216a-1,
216a-2 may be utilized to determine which (if any) structure
216a-1, 216a-2 the point "A" is likely associated with (and/or
descriptive of). As the point "A" is closer to the first structure
216a-1 than the second structure 216a-2 (utilizing the confidence
levels "A1", "A2", and/or "A3" or straight distance measurements),
for example, it may be determined that the point "A" is descriptive
of and/or associated with the first structure 216a-1 (as opposed to
the second structure 216a-2).
[0059] According to some embodiments, such as in the case of the
point "B", confidence levels "B1", "B2", and/or "B3" may be
utilized to determine a likelihood of accuracy (and/or association)
of the point "B". As even the tightest depicted confidence level
"B1" overlaps or includes portions of both the first polygon 210a
and the third polygon 210c, for example, it may be determined that
point "B" has a low confidence score/rank due to the close
proximity of the various polygons 210a, 210c. In some embodiments,
a rank, weight, and/or score may be assigned to the point "B" with
respect to each proximate polygon 210a-c, structure 216a-1, 216a-2,
216b, and/or customer/business location 218-1. The point "B" may be
determined to have a qualitative rank of "VERY HIGH" or a
quantitative rank of "0" with respect to the third polygon 210c,
for example, may be determined to have a "HIGH" and/or "1"
rank/score with respect to the first polygon 210a, and/or may be
determined to have a "LOW" and/or "14" rank/score with respect to
the second polygon 210b. According to some embodiments (as
described in more detail hereinafter), such confidence levels "B1",
"B2", "B3" (and/or "A1", "A2", "A3"), weights, scores, and/or
rankings may be utilized with respect to points 214 (such as points
"A" and/or "B") and/or other location information for comparative
analysis to determine certified location data.
[0060] In some embodiments, such as depicted with respect to point
"C" in FIG. 2C, confidence levels "C1", "C2", "C3" may be defined,
expressed, and/or depicted in various manners (e.g., not limited to
radial and/or circular projects and/or areas). Rectilinear
confidence levels "C1", "C2", "C3" as depicted in FIG. 2C, for
example, may be useful in various cases such as in the case that
the point "C" is known (or believed) to be within the second
structure 216a-2. In the case that data descriptive of the point
"C" is received from a field agent and/or customer known to have a
customer location 218-1, for example, the confidence levels "C1",
"C2", "C3" may be utilized to determine (i) whether the customer
location 218-1 information already on file is accurate, (ii) a
layout and/or configuration of the customer location 218-1 (and/or
the second structure 216a-2), and/or (iii) how likely it is that
the customer location 218-1 is within the second structure 216a-2
(e.g., as opposed to the third structure 216b). Similarly,
confidence levels "C1", "C2", "C3" may comprise height and/or
elevation data and/or extend into, cross, and/or define one or more
horizontal planes (e.g., representing different floors of the
second structure 216a-2). In such a manner, for example, the
confidence levels "C1", "C2", "C3" may be utilized to rank, score,
and/or determine a likelihood that the customer location 218-1 is
on a given floor of the second structure 216a-2 (and/or to assist
in determining features of the second structure 216a-2, such as
number of floors).
[0061] In some embodiments, other location-related information may
be depicted and/or utilized in conjunction with the example
location 200. As depicted in FIG. 2D, for example, one or more of a
fall risk zone 220, a terrorist risk zone 222, and/or a weather
risk zone 224 may be associated with the example location 200, one
or more of the polygons 210a-c, one or more of the structures
216a-1, 216a-2, 216b, 216c, and/or one or more customer and/or
business locations 218 (most not reproduced in FIG. 2D for clarity
of depiction). According to some embodiments, such risk zones 220,
222, 224 may be determined, calculated, depicted, and/or utilized
based on certified location data gathered, compiled, aggregated,
analyzed, and/or otherwise processed as described herein. Once the
spatial (e.g., geo-spatial and/or relational) relationships of the
polygons 210a-c, the structures 216a-1, 216a-2, 216b, 216c, and/or
the business locations 218 are determined, for example, different
risks, likelihoods of risk, and/or risk scores or weights may be
determined and/or visualized.
[0062] With respect to the fall risk zone 220, for example,
assuming the height of the fourth structure 216c is known or
determined, the fall risk zone 220 may be calculated, graphed,
and/or depicted to define a fall risk area 220a (and/or volume)
that is subject to risk due to objects falling from the fourth
structure 216c (and/or due to a collapse of the fourth structure
216c itself). In some embodiments, such as depicted in FIG. 2D, in
the case that the fall risk area 220a (and/or volume) overlaps with
and/or includes the first structure 216a-1, a structure risk area
220b may be defined that represents an area, portion, and/or volume
of the first structure 216a-1 that is subject to risk due to
potential problems with the fourth structure 216c. In some
embodiments, the structure risk area 220b may be utilized to
determine a likely magnitude of potential loss occurring to the
first structure 216a-1 due to the fourth structure 216c. In some
embodiments, such loss prediction determinations may include
analysis of other data descriptive of the fourth structure 216c. In
the case that the fourth structure 216c comprises a radio tower or
antenna mast, for example, and assuming the structure risk area
220b as depicted in FIG. 2D, it may be determined that likely
damage to the first structure 216a-1 may be limited to roofing
and/or roof member damage (e.g., as opposed to severe structural
damage, internal building system losses, etc.).
[0063] In some embodiments, terrorist risk zone 222 may be utilized
to determine how relationships in location information (e.g.,
certified location information) are likely to affect risk. As
depicted in FIG. 2D, for example, in the case that an explosion
and/or other catastrophic accident and/or terrorist event in front
of the second structure 216a-2 (e.g., on "Main St.") is modeled to
occur, the terrorist risk zone 222 may be defined and/or depicted.
In some embodiments, such as in the case that the terrorist risk
zone 222 comprises a hemispherical shape as depicted, a ground
blast zone 222a, a building surface blast zone 222b, a peripheral
building surface damage zone 222c, and/or a structural failure zone
222d may be determined.
[0064] According to some embodiments, such as in the case that the
first polygon 210a is associated with and/or comprises mailing
addresses on "Main St." and the second polygon 210b is associated
with and/or comprises mailing addresses on "Side St.", in the
absence of certified location information that allows visualization
(and/or computation) based on the actual physical and/or locational
relationships as depicted at the example location 200, one would
not be able to easily determine that the terrorist risk zone 222
(due to a threat/event on "Main St.") may impact addresses on "Side
St." As depicted, for example, unless it is known (e.g., via
utilization of certified location systems and methods described
herein) that the second structure 216a-2 comprises addresses on
both "Main St." and "Side St.", the potential risk of loss may be
grossly underestimated. Assume, for example, that an insurance
company has many customers (not shown) in the second structure
216a-2 situated in/on the first polygon 210a (and accordingly all
having mailing, business, domicile, and/or tax addresses on "Main
St."). A new potential customer comes forth and requests an
insurance policy protecting their home/business located at "2 Side
St."--and situated as depicted at the fifth customer location 218-5
in FIG. 2D. Without access to certified location information and
the various relationships associated therewith as described herein,
the insurance company may see no particular risk in underwriting a
policy for the new customer (even if the potential threat
represented by the terrorist risk zone 222 is known), and may
accordingly take on the new account/policy.
[0065] With the advantage of embodiments described herein, the
insurance company could realize that the fifth customer location
218-5 actually falls within the terrorist risk zone 222 (and/or the
structural failure zone 222d associated therewith) due to a
potential "Main St." event. Such information may accordingly be
utilized to determine, with a much higher degree of accuracy and/or
confidence, whether underwriting such a policy would be within the
risk appetite for the insurance company. Similarly, existing
policies and/or exposures may be reviewed to determine an overall
risk/loss level associated with any given event (such as
represented by the terrorist risk zone 222). Such information may
then be utilized to reduce risk (e.g., by modifying, cutting,
and/or freezing policies and/or policy underwriting) to within
acceptable limits (e.g., presuming that previous "blind" practices
have resulted in overexposure due to incomplete location
relationship information).
[0066] In some embodiments, the weather risk zone 224 may be
utilized to determine locational relationship-based damage and/or
risk likelihoods. In the case of a wind, hail, storm surge, and/or
other weather events, such as depicted by the weather risk zone
224, for example, it may be determined that certain locational
elements, such as structures 216a-1, 216a-2, 216b, may be more or
less likely to result in claims, damage, and/or losses due to a
particular event. Upper-level floors of the third structure 216b
may be exposed to the weather risk zone 224, for example, while
lower-level floors may be shielded by the second structure 216a-2.
Such risk information may be utilized to develop risk scores for
different certified locations such as, for example, different
apartments/businesses in the same structure 216a-1, 216a-2, 216b.
In the absence of certified location information and/or
relationships, too much or too little risk exposure may be
experienced with respect to underwriting products sold for the
example location 200. In the case that the weather risk zone 224
represents a known high likelihood of wind damage, for example, the
risk coverage associated with policies written for customers in the
third structure 216b may be lower than desired (e.g., the shielded
lower floors have lower risk), resulting in lower revenue and/or
profits than are possible/desirable. The availability and knowledge
of the locational relationships based on certified location data
allow for such otherwise missed revenues and/or profits to be
realized while maintaining desired levels of risk exposure.
[0067] According to some embodiments, any or all of the components
210a-c, 212a-c, 214a-c, 216a-c, 218, 220, 222, 224 of and/or
associated with the example location 200 may be similar in
configuration and/or functionality to any similarly named and/or
numbered components described herein. Fewer or more components
210a-c, 212a-c, 214a-c, 216a-c, 218, 220, 222, 224 and/or various
configurations of the components 210a-c, 212a-c, 214a-c, 216a-c,
218, 220, 222, 224 may be included in and/or in association with
the example location 200 without deviating from the scope of
embodiments described herein. While multiples of some components
210a-c, 212a-c, 214a-c, 216a-c, 218 are depicted and while single
instances of other components 218, 220, 222, 224 are depicted, for
example, any component 210a-c, 212a-c, 214a-c, 216a-c, 218, 220,
222, 224 depicted in and/or in association with the example
location 200 may comprise a single object and/or component, a
combination of objects and/or components 210a-c, 212a-c, 214a-c,
216a-c, 218, 220, 222, 224, and/or a plurality of objects and/or
components, as is or becomes desirable and/or practicable.
[0068] Turning now to FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 3C, and FIG. 3D, block
diagrams of various components of a system 300 in accordance with
some embodiments are shown. In FIG. 3A, a first example data
storage structure 340a of the system 300 according to some
embodiments is shown. The first example data storage structure 340a
may, for example, depict how data representing some of the various
aspects and/or objects and/or components depicted in FIG. 2A, FIG.
2B, FIG. 2C, and/or FIG. 2D may be stored. In some embodiments, the
first example data storage structure 340a may comprise a location
ID field 344a-1, a structure ID field 344a-2, an address field
344a-3, a city field 344a-4, a state field 344a-5, a zip field
344a-6, a structure polygon field 344a-7, a parcel polygon field
344a-8, a point field 344a-9, and/or a point confidence field
344a-10. As depicted, for example, a particular structure at "123
Main Street" in "Anytown, VA" may be defined by a series of
coordinates stored in the structure polygon field 344a-7 (any or
all of which may be similar to the vertices 212 and/or points 214
of FIG. 2A and/or FIG. 2C), thereby defining a polygon representing
(and/or defining) the structure. In some embodiments, a point may
be associated with the address and/or the structure and coordinate
data for the point may be stored in the point field 344a-9.
According to some embodiments, a confidence level (and/or
likelihood or probability) descriptive of the association between
the point and the structure and/or the address may stored in the
point confidence field 344a-10 (such as data descriptive of one or
more of the confidence levels, scores, ranks, and/or weights "A1",
"A2", "A3", "B1", "B2", "B3", "C1", "C2", and/or "C3" of FIG. 2C).
In some embodiments, although not explicitly shown in FIG. 3A, one
or more other confidence levels may also or alternatively be
stored, such as representing a confidence level of an association
between a structure and a parcel and/or representing a confidence
level associated with any particular polygon (e.g., a parcel and/or
structures boundaries)--such as data descriptive of one or more of
the confidence levels, scores, ranks, and/or weights "A1", "A2",
"A3", "B1", "B2", "B3", "C1", "C2", and/or "C3" of FIG. 2C. In some
embodiments, such as in the case that the first example data
storage structure 340a stores certified location information, the
location ID field 344a-1 may comprise a certified location
identifier and/or certificate, such as a unique, encoded, and/or
encrypted identifier.
[0069] In some embodiments, location and/or location relationship
data may be gathered and/or stored in a variety of ways. In FIG.
3B, for example, a block diagram of an example location data set
302 (e.g., comprising data descriptive of a polygon 310, one or
more points 314a-d, and/or one or more structures 316a-c) mapped to
a second example data storage structure 340b of the system 300
according to some embodiments is shown. Data descriptive of (and/or
derived from) the various points 314a-d, structures 316a-c, and/or
polygon 310, for example, may be mapped to and/or otherwise stored
in a location data table 344b-1. In some embodiments, the location
data table 344b-1 may be utilized to develop, calculate, and/or
otherwise define or determine a certified location metric such as
the depicted certified location certificate number 344b-2. The
certified location certificate number 344b-2 may be similar to the
location ID field 344a-1, for example, and/or may otherwise
comprise a unique identifier of a particular geo-location. In some
embodiments, the location data table 344b-1 may be configured to
store information descriptive of one or more "alias/alternates", as
depicted. An alias and/or alternate may, for example, comprise an
alias for an address (and/or structure), such as a `vanity` address
or local or informal name or variant, and/or a common (on general
and/or with respect to a specific individual--such as a specific
underwriter and/or agent) misspelling and/or mistake. In such a
manner, for example, one or more users may be permitted to
interface with the system 300 utilizing one or more informal,
vanity, and/or incorrect address, structure, and/or other
identifiers, while maintaining the ability of the system 300 to
identify unique, e.g., certified, locations.
[0070] According to some embodiments, such as depicted in FIG. 3C,
a block diagram of a third example data storage structure 340c of
the system 300 according to some embodiments is shown. The third
example data storage structure 340c may, for example, be utilized
in conjunction with the location data table 344b-1 and/or the
certified location certificate number 344b-2 to determine various
aggregate insurance (and/or other business) metrics for the
particular certified location certificate number 344b-2 (e.g., and
accordingly for the particular certified location for which the
certified location certificate number 344b-2 is descriptive). The
third example data storage structure 340c may, in some embodiments
(such as depicted in FIG. 3C), comprise an insurance account
numbers field 344c-1, a claim losses field 344c-2, and/or an other
insurance account information field 344c-3. The certified location
certificate number 344b-2 (and/or the location data table 344b-1)
may be utilized, for example, to determine aggregate losses (actual
and/or predicted), exposure and/or risk levels, and/or other
certified location-based metrics for any given polygon, parcel,
structure, etc. Such information may then be utilized, in some
embodiments, to determine whether and/or to what extent (or on what
terms) an insurance policy and/or other underwriting product should
be written, sold, re-written, renewed, modified, etc.
[0071] In some embodiments, various rules and/or logic may be
implemented, consulted, defined, and/or determined with respect to
determining whether a given location is unique and/or whether
and/or to what extent the location bears a relationship to one or
more other locations. Referring to FIG. 3D, for example, a block
diagram of an example rule set 342 of the system 300 according to
some embodiments is shown. The example rule set 342 may, for
example, provide guidance regarding how likely a particular outcome
may be with respect to incoming and/or stored data. Assume, for
example, that data descriptive of one or more locations and/or
locational elements is already stored in a database (e.g., one or
more of the example data storage structures 340a-c; otherwise, not
shown in FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 3C, and/or FIG. 3D). The data may
define one or more polygons, parcels, points, structures,
addresses, and/or customer locations. In some embodiments, new
information may be received, such as with respect to a potential
new customer, account, etc.
[0072] According to some embodiments, the new information may be
descriptive of a particular building (e.g., as depicted with
respect to the example rule set 342). The building may accordingly
be considered a "candidate building" (e.g., a candidate for a new
policy and/or a candidate for being a new building not yet
represented in and/or by the stored data). As depicted in FIG. 3D,
the candidate building's name may be compared (in accordance with
the example rule set 342) to existing/stored building names.
Similarly, the candidate building address may be compared to
existing/stored addresses. Inferences, probabilities, decisions,
and/or decision inputs may accordingly be defined based on such
comparisons. For example, in the case that the candidate building
name is the same as (and/or substantially similar to; e.g.,
spelling and/or abbreviation variants) one already stored in a
database, and the candidate building address matches (and/or
substantially matches; e.g., spelling and/or abbreviation variants)
the address for the similarly-named building, it can be inferred
that the most common conclusion would be that the buildings are the
same. In some embodiments, in such a case, the example rule set 342
may dictate that the two buildings should be considered the same.
In which case, for example, any new data may be merged with and/or
reconciled with existing/stored data with respect to the
building.
[0073] In some embodiments, such as in the case that the candidate
building name is the same/similar to a known building and the
addresses are also the same/similar, this may be considered a "less
common" indicator that the buildings are different. The buildings
in such a case could be different, such as in the case that the
name provided is "residence hall" and, for example, many "residence
hall" buildings exist on a given college campus. The probabilities,
weights, and/or logic associated with such "most common" and/or
"less common" results based on a given data set may be utilized, in
some embodiments, to inform a rules-based decision making process
regarding whether the incoming data is likely to be descriptive of
a location for which data is already stored. In such a manner, for
example, certified location data may be supplemented with incoming
data to expand the certified location data set based on
determinations regarding whether the incoming data is indeed `new`.
According to some embodiments, new and/or conflicting data may be
processed by and/or through one or more rules (such as the example
rule set 342) to correct errors in and/or update existing certified
location data with newer, more accurate, and/or supplemental
data.
[0074] According to some embodiments, such as in the case that the
candidate building name is the same/similar to a known building but
the addresses are different, this may be considered a "common"
indicator that the buildings are the same. The buildings in such a
case could be the same, such as in the case that a single building
with a single name is situated on a street corner and/or otherwise
comprises addresses on multiple streets.
[0075] In some embodiments, such as in the case that the candidate
building name is the same/similar to a known building but the
addresses are different, this may be considered a "less common"
indicator that the buildings are different. The buildings in such a
case could be different, such as in the case that the name actually
identifies an area (such as "State House Square") comprising
multiple buildings.
[0076] According to embodiments, such as in the case that the
candidate building name is different from a known building but the
addresses are the same/similar, this may be considered a "common"
indicator that the buildings are the same. The buildings in such a
case could be the same, such as in the case that the names comprise
variants and/or local, slang, and/or unofficial names. For example,
in the case that the two names are "Chem" and "Chemistry"--both
descriptive of a particular chemistry building having a particular
address.
[0077] In some embodiments, such as in the case that the candidate
building name is different from a known building but the addresses
are the same/similar, this may be considered a "common" indicator
that the buildings are different. The buildings in such a case
could be different, such as in the case that the names comprise
various company and/or other informal designations, such as
department names.
[0078] According to some embodiments, such as in the case that the
candidate building name is different from a known building and
addresses are different, this may be considered a "most common"
indicator that the buildings are different. The buildings in such a
case are likely different, for example, if the candidate is
"Library" at "12 Learning Lane" while the stored data is "Math
Building" at "14 College Way".
[0079] In some embodiments, such as in the case that the candidate
building name is different from a known building and addresses are
different, this may be considered a "least common" indicator that
the buildings are the same. The buildings in such a case may
sometimes be the same, for example, in the case that a particular
building with different input name variants straddles and/or spans
addresses on two or more roads (or road names). For example, if the
candidate is "Chem" at "1 Oak St." and the stored info is
"Chemistry" at "12 University Dr." (or "Route 1", where "Route 1"
and "Oak St." coincide), the buildings may be considered the
same.
[0080] Rules sets, logic, and/or instructions, such as the example
rule set 342, may be utilized to compare location information other
than or in addition to the building name and address data described
with respect to FIG. 3D. While the system 300 is depicted in FIG.
3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 3C, and FIG. 3D as comprising the various example
data storage structures 340a-c and other components 302, 310,
314a-d, 316a-c, 342, 344a-c, fewer or more such components 302,
310, 314a-d, 316a-c, 340a-c, 342, 344a-c may be included in the
system 300 without deviating from the scope of some
embodiments.
[0081] In some embodiments, fewer or more data fields than are
shown may be associated with the example data storage structures
340a-c. Only a portion of one or more databases and/or other data
stores is necessarily shown in any of FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 3C,
and/or FIG. 3D, for example, and other database fields, columns,
structures, orientations, quantities, and/or configurations may be
utilized without deviating from the scope of some embodiments.
According to some embodiments, any or all of the components 302,
310, 314a-d, 316a-c, 340a-c, 342, 344a-c of the system 300 may be
similar in configuration and/or functionality to any similarly
named and/or numbered components described herein.
[0082] According to some embodiments, systems, methods, and
articles of manufacture described herein may be utilized to gather
location data (e.g., via the location data devices 102a-n of FIG. 1
and/or with respect to one or more locations, such as the example
location 200 of FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C, and/or FIG. 2D), form,
identify, define, and/or otherwise determine relationships between
the various location data (e.g., via the certified location device
110 of FIG. 1), and/or utilize such data (e.g., certified location
data) to inform or facilitate various processes and/or perform
various tasks as described herein.
[0083] Turning to FIG. 4, for example, a flowchart of a method 400
according to some embodiments is shown. In some embodiments, the
method 400 may be performed and/or implemented by and/or otherwise
associated with one or more specialized and/or specially-programmed
computers, computer terminals, computer servers, computer systems
and/or networks, and/or any combinations thereof (e.g., by one or
more third-party and/or insurance company and/or underwriter
computers, such as, e.g., the certified location device 110 of FIG.
1). The functional diagrams and flow diagrams described herein do
not necessarily imply a fixed order to any depicted actions, steps,
and/or procedures, and embodiments may generally be performed in
any order that is practicable unless otherwise and specifically
noted. Any of the processes and methods described herein may be
performed and/or facilitated by hardware, software (including
microcode), firmware, or any combination thereof. For example, a
storage medium (e.g., a hard disk, Universal Serial Bus (USB) mass
storage device, a RAM device, a cache memory device, and/or Digital
Video Disk (DVD)) may store thereon instructions that when executed
by a machine (such as a computerized processor) result in
performance according to any one or more of the embodiments
described herein.
[0084] In some embodiments, the method 400 may comprise improving
location data, at 402. The improving may comprise, for example,
receiving and/or retrieving location data. According to some
embodiments, the improving may comprise gathering information
descriptive of (i) street address data, (ii) land parcel data,
(iii) structure data, and/or (iv) coordinate data. Various data
devices (e.g., the location data devices 102a-n of FIG. 1) and/or
sources (e.g., the database 140 of FIG. 1 and/or the example data
storage structures 340a-c of FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, and/or FIG. 3C) may
be utilized, for example, to gather, acquire, assemble, and/or
aggregate data regarding various locations. In some embodiments,
the gathered data may be descriptive of and/or with respect to a
plurality of customers. A business such as an insurance company
may, for example, gather and/or receive data descriptive of
locations of various customers and/or insured objects, places,
areas, etc. According to some embodiments, the location data may be
gathered and/or received from any quantity, type, and/or
combination of data sources that is or becomes known or
practicable.
[0085] In some embodiments, data may be retrieved and/or received
from various third-party data sources. A third-party data vendor
may provide street address information based on a customer's
telephone number, for example, or may utilize land parcel address
block assignments to determine which land parcel a customer resides
on (and/or does business at). In some embodiments, location data
may be manually and/or electronically sourced, mined, scanned,
copied, scraped, and/or otherwise obtained from various municipal,
public, private, and/or third-party sources. In some embodiments,
the location data may be gathered utilizing one or more mobile
devices. Customers, field agents, and/or third-party personnel may,
for example, utilize mobile computing device with location
identification capabilities (e.g., GPS or cell-tower triangulation)
to provide location data that is received by a central controller
and/or certified location system.
[0086] In some embodiments, the improving may comprise
standardizing and/or de-duplicating location data received as input
(e.g., from a customer) and/or validating the location data (e.g.,
a mailing address) against known and/or available location data
(e.g., a list of known mailing address). In some embodiments, a
confidence level and/or code may be established based on the
quality and/or content of the location data and/or upon the results
of the verification process. In some embodiments, the location data
may comprise a variety of information including, but not limited
to, street and/or mailing address data, vanity address data (e.g.,
informal place and/or street address name (e.g., "30 Rock"), area
and/or attraction name data (e.g., Madison Square Garden),
geospatial coordinates, an intersection identifier, suite number,
floor or level number, utility information (e.g., telephone pole
number), and/or building and/or structure characteristic data
(e.g., brick exterior, flat roof, adjacent to town park).
[0087] According to some embodiments, the method 400 may comprise
searching for existing location records, at 404. Any or all
location information received, retrieved, and/or otherwise
determined at 402, for example, may be utilized to query one or
more databases and/or other data stores to determine whether
(and/or a likelihood or probability of whether) the location data
matches data already stored and/or available. In the case that a
match is determined, the existing database record may be utilized
and/or updated. In the case that no match is found, a new database
record may be created to store the location information. According
to some embodiments, such as in the case that a partial match is
found, one or more algorithms and/or procedures may be executed to
determine a probability associated with the match. Spelling and/or
data entry variations may be analyzed, for example, to determine a
likelihood that both the incoming and previously stored/available
matched location information is descriptive of the same geographic
point, polygon, parcel, building, etc.
[0088] In some embodiments, the method 400 may comprise gathering
geospatial data, at 406. Geospatial data descriptive of the
location data (received at 402 and/or identified at 404) may, for
example, comprise data descriptive of various levels of geospatial
detail. In some embodiments, the geospatial data may comprise
detailed address information, polygon and/or polygon boundary
information, parcel and/or parcel boundary information, coordinate
data, and/or structure or sub-structure data. According to some
embodiments, the best available geospatial data may be identified.
In the case of an apartment in an apartment building, for example,
the mailing address, parcel identifier, structure identifier, floor
number, security system zone, and/or geographic coordinate (and/or
elevation) may be determined. In some embodiments, such as in the
case that the location information does not conflict/match with
already stored information, any level of uniqueness (e.g., zip
code, street name, mailing address) may be utilized that is or
becomes practicable or desirable. It may be desirable, for example,
to only search for (and/or pay for) and store enough geospatial
data to uniquely identify a location data record with respect to
other stored location data records.
[0089] According to some embodiments, the method 400 may comprise
identifying associations, at 408. The location data and the
associated geospatial data from 402, 404, and/or 406 may, for
example, be compared to other known locations and/or location data
records to determine one or more relationships there between (e.g.,
utilizing stored rules, logic, and/or instructions such as the
example rule set 342 of FIG. 3D). In the case that the geospatial
location data comprises a definition of a polygon defining a land
parcel, for example, other known polygons (e.g., land parcel and/or
structure polygons) that intersect with the polygon of the location
data and/or are otherwise proximate to the polygon of the location
data, may be identified. In some embodiments, the relationship may
comprise the polygon of the location data being disposed within
another known polygon (partially or entirely; or vice versa; such
as a structure polygon residing within the boundaries of a land
parcel polygon) and/or a point associated with the location data
being disposed within a known polygon (e.g., a roof centroid of a
structure being disposed within the polygon defining the boundaries
of the structure). According to some embodiments, proximity and/or
other relationships may be analyzed to determine a nature and/or
likelihood of relation. In the case that a coordinate point of the
location data falls near, but not within, a parcel and/or structure
polygon, for example, one or more routines and/or procedures may be
executed to determine a probability that the point is associated
with the nearby parcel/structure (and/or to determine which nearby
parcel and/or structure the point is likely associated with). In
the case that two polygons descriptive of the same type of object
(e.g., the same level of geospatial data), such as two land parcel
polygons, overlap and/or overlap by some threshold percentage or
amount (e.g., fifty percent (50%) overlap), a quality control check
may be initiated to determine why such overlap exists. According to
some embodiments, analysis of conflicting location data may lead to
data modification decisions and/or the location and/or geospatial
data may otherwise be modified (e.g., new and/or better location
and/or geospatial data may be located based on an analysis).
[0090] In some embodiments, the method 400 may comprise
disambiguating the location data, at 410. In the case that one or
more associations are identified at 408, for example, information
distinguishing associated and/or conflicting location data may be
determined. In the case that two buildings are identified at a
single address (or more than one building is possible based on the
location data from 402), for example, distinguishing information
such as coordinate data, structure type, year built, number of
stories, size, etc, may be utilized to separately identify the two
structures. In some embodiments, one or more stored rules, logic
processes, instructions, and/or programs may be utilized to
analyze, interpret, interpolate, make educated assumptions
regarding, and/or otherwise process received and stored data via
one or more data comparisons (e.g., utilizing stored rules, logic,
and/or instructions such as the example rule set 342 of FIG.
3D).
[0091] According to some embodiments, the method 400 may comprise
assigning a unique identifier, at 412. The various overlapping
and/or conflicting structures from the example at 410, for example,
may each be assigned a unique identifier--e.g., a "certified
location" identifier, such as the certified location certificate
number 344b-2 of FIG. 3B and/or FIG. 3C and/or the location ID
field 344a-1 of FIG. 3A. In some embodiments, such as in the case
that multiple apartments or even rooms in a building are
disambiguated (e.g., at 410), the unique certified location
identifier may be assigned (and/or may be unique) for each such
room, apartment, etc. According to some embodiments, identifiers
(e.g., unique identifiers) may be stored for every distinguishable
polygon and/or point representing various geographic locations. In
some embodiments, the assigning may comprise storing (e.g., in a
database device, such as the database 140 of FIG. 1 and/or in a
data storage structure such as one or more of the example data
storage structures 340a-c of FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, and/or FIG. 3C)
information defining data storage relationships between (a) the
street address data and the land parcel data, (b) the land parcel
data and the structure data, and one or more of (c) the land parcel
data and the coordinate data, and (d) the structure data and the
coordinate data. In some embodiments, relationships may be
automatically and/or electronically constructed based on the
underlying location data. Land parcel data may be stored with
indication of which street addresses correspond to a particular
land parcel, for example, and/or street addresses may be stored
with indications of which land parcel(s) corresponds to a
particular street address. Similarly, land parcel data may be
stored with indication of which structures are located on (or at
least partially on) a particular land parcel, and/or structure data
may be stored with indications of which land parcels are associated
with a particular structure. In some embodiments, coordinates
associated with a particular structure and/or land parcel may be
stored in relation to the particular structure and/or land parcel.
Various vertex, centroid, edge, border, and/or other coordinate
points (e.g., the vertices 212 and/or the points 214 of FIG. 2A
and/or FIG. 2C) descriptive of a structure and/or parcel may, for
example, be stored in a database record associated with the given
structure and/or parcel.
[0092] In some embodiments, the method 400 may comprise determining
location relationships, at 414. The determining may comprise, for
example, determining (e.g., based on the defined data storage
relationships and/or the unique identifier(s) assigned at 412)
which of a plurality of objects (e.g., customers, structures,
rooms, apartments) are at least one of: (1) located on the same
land parcel, and (2) located in the same building. According to
some embodiments, the location data may be stored in such a manner
that information defining any pertinent aspect of a location may be
utilized to determine any other pertinent aspect of the location.
For example, in the case that a street address is known or
provided, any or all of a land parcel and structure for that
particular location (e.g., a certified location) may be identified
utilizing the stored relationships (e.g., stored and/or defined at
404). In some embodiments, the relationships and/or the determining
may comprise utilization of the coordinate information. In the case
that a coordinate of a street address and/or customer location is
known and/or provided (e.g., via a mobile computing device), for
example, the coordinate information stored with respect to the land
parcels and/or structures may be queried to determine which land
parcel(s) and/or which structure(s) correspond to the provided
coordinate. In the case that a range of coordinates (and/or
elevation data) are stored with respect to a particular structure,
such as vertex coordinates for example, a query coordinate may be
compared to the structure coordinates (e.g., via a calculation, by
analyzing the range of structure coordinates, by analyzing a matrix
of structure coordinates, and/or any combination thereof) to
determine if the query coordinate is descriptive of the structure.
In some embodiments, such as in the case that a provided and/or
available coordinate is utilized to identify a customer, parcel,
structure, and/or address, but does not fall within the boundaries
of the parcel and/or structure (e.g., the coordinate falls in or on
a nearby street or sidewalk), the determining may comprise
analyzing the proximity of the coordinate to other coordinates
stored in association with nearby parcels and/or structures (e.g.,
to determine which parcel and/or structure is most likely to be
represented by the coordinate). In some embodiments, one or more
stored rules, logic processes, instructions, and/or programs may be
utilized to determine the location relationships utilizing various
available location data (e.g., utilizing stored rules, logic,
and/or instructions, such as the example rule set 342 of FIG.
3D).
[0093] In such a manner, for example, it may be determined which
customers (and/or other individuals or entities) share common
spaces such as land parcels and/or structures. As described herein,
commonality of parcel and/or structure association between
customers may be utilized to inform, facilitate, and/or conduct
various business processes. In one example utilized throughout
herein, an insurance company may utilize knowledge of common
customer attributes (e.g., mailing address, parcel ID, structure
ID, zip code, floor, and/or elevation) to determine (i) how many
customers exist in the same building (or on the same parcel of
land), (ii) how much insurance risk has been underwritten for a
given structure and/or parcel, (iii) whether an underwriting
product for a particular structure/parcel should be written (e.g.,
based on current exposure and/or risk), (iv) claim/loss data for a
given structure/parcel, and/or (v) one or more prospective
customers (e.g., in relation to one or more customers already
underwritten in a particular building and/or on a particular
parcel). In some embodiments, business decisions, such as
underwriting, pricing, risk, and/or claim/loss decisions, may be
based on a plurality of identifiable structures and/or land parcels
(e.g., based on certified location data) that are of particular
interest--e.g., a group of buildings may be analyzed together
and/or a city block may be analyzed as a whole. In some
embodiments, stored relationships utilized to determine certified
locations may be determined with reference to one or more
particular database and/or data storage structures via which such
stored relationships are defined.
[0094] Referring to FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, for example, diagrams of
an example data storage structure 540 according to some embodiments
are shown. In some embodiments, the data storage structure 540 may
comprise a plurality of data tables such as a customer table 540a,
a polygon table 540b, a structure table 540c, a coordinate table
540d, a structure history table 540e, and/or a sub-structure table
540f. The data tables 540a-f may, for example, be utilized (e.g.,
at 404 of the method 400 of FIG. 4) to store location and/or
certified location information.
[0095] The customer table 540a may comprise, in accordance with
some embodiments, a customer IDentifier (ID) field 544a-1, an
apartment number field 544a-2, a suite number field 544a-3, a
street number field 544a-4, a street name field 544a-5, a city
field 544a-6, a state field 544a-7, a zip code field 544a-8, a
zip+4 field 544a-9, a polygon ID field 544a-10, a structure ID
field 544a-11, and/or a sub-structure ID field 544a-12. Any or all
of the ID fields 544a-1, 544a-10, 544a-11, 544a-12 may generally
store any type of identifier that is or becomes desirable or
practicable (e.g., a unique identifier, an alphanumeric identifier,
and/or an encoded identifier). As an example of how the example
data structure 540 may be utilized in accordance with some
embodiments, the first and third records in the customer table 540a
(i.e., customers "1234-5678" and "CHRIS3482") may correspond to the
second and fourth customer locations 218-2, 218-4 of the example
location 200 of FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B herein. It can be readily
determined from the data in the customer table 540a that the two
customers have different street/mailing addresses, albeit in the
same city. An advantage of the example data structure 540 is that
by utilizing the polygon ID field 544a-10, structure ID field
544a-11, and/or sub-structure ID field 544a-12, it may be readily
determined that even though the addresses of the customers are
different, they reside and/or do business in the same building (and
on the same parcel of land).
[0096] The polygon table 540b may comprise, in accordance with some
embodiments, a polygon ID field 544b-1, a parcel type field 544b-2,
a centroid coordinate ID field 544b-3, a first vertex coordinate ID
field 544b-4, and/or an `n.sup.th` vertex coordinate ID field
544b-n. The structure table 540c may comprise, in accordance with
some embodiments, a structure ID field 544c-1, a polygon ID field
544c-2, a structure type field 544c-3, a sub-structure flag field
544c-4, a year built field 544c-5, a year renovated field 544c-6, a
centroid coordinate ID field 544c-7, a first corner coordinate ID
field 544c-8, and/or an `n.sup.th` corner coordinate ID field
544c-n. In some embodiments, such as in the case that different
data for the year built field 544c-5 is gathered from different
sources (e.g., different customers) with respect to the same
structure, the data may be analyzed to determine various attributes
of the year the structure was built such as, but not limited to:
which year built data is likely to be correct, what the average
year built is based on stored data, and/or whether the stored data
is indicative of any events such as renovations (e.g., that has
incorrectly been stored as an indication of what year the structure
was erected). In some embodiments, the coordinate fields 544c-7,
544c-8, 544c-n may also or alternatively comprise a single field
storing a representative (e.g., "best" available point) and/or
aggregate point and/or coordinate value. However the
point/coordinate information is stored in the polygon table 540b,
the information may generally represent and/or define one or more
polygons associated with and/or defining one or more parcels.
[0097] The coordinate table 540d may comprise, in accordance with
some embodiments, a coordinate ID field 544d-1, a coordinate type
field 544d-2, a confidence level field 544d-3, a latitude field
544d-4, a longitude field 544d-5, and/or an elevation field 544d-6.
The structure history table 540e may comprise, in accordance with
some embodiments, a structure ID field 544e-1, an event type field
544e-2, an event date field 544e-3, and/or a loss amount field
544e-4. The sub-structure table 540f may comprise, in accordance
with some embodiments, a structure ID field 544f-1, a sub-structure
ID field 544f-2, a sub-structure type field 544f-3, a sub-structure
first corner coordinate ID field 544f-4, and/or a sub-structure
`n.sup.th` corner coordinate ID field 544f-n.
[0098] In some embodiments, certified locations may be defined by
relationships established between two or more of the data tables
540a-f. As depicted in the example data storage structure 540, for
example, a first relationship "A" may be established between the
customer table 540a and the polygon table 540b. In some embodiments
(e.g., as depicted in FIG. 5A), the first relationship "A" may be
defined by utilizing the polygon ID field 544a-10 as a data key
linking to the polygon ID field 544b-1. According to some
embodiments, the first relationship "A" may comprise any type of
data relationship that is or becomes desirable, such as a
one-to-many, many-to-many, or many-to-one relationship. In the case
that multiple customers are likely to reside and/or do business at
a particular polygon (e.g., a particular land parcel), the first
relationship "A" may comprise a many-to-one relationship (e.g.,
many customers per single polygon/parcel--such as the two customer
records in the customer table 540a that are depicted as linking to
the polygon table 540b via the first relationship "A"). In such a
manner, for example, a customer and/or the customer's address may
be associated and/or linked with one or more underlying
polygons/land parcels. While the example first relationship "A"
represents a link and/or relationship between one or more customer
and one or more certified locations, in accordance with some
embodiments, customer information and/or relationships may not be
necessary and/or desired. Certified location information may be
utilized without customer information, for example, to determine,
plan, inform, and/or facilitate various processes such as may be
implemented by various types of organizations (e.g., utility
companies, municipalities, banking institutions, etc.).
[0099] According to some embodiments, a second relationship "B" may
be established between the customer table 540a and the structure
table 540c. In some embodiments (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 5A), the
second relationship "B" may be defined by utilizing the structure
ID field 544a-11 as a data key linking to the structure ID field
544c-1. According to some embodiments, the second relationship "B"
may comprise any type of data relationship that is or becomes
desirable, such as a one-to-many, many-to-many, or many-to-one
relationship. In the case that multiple customers are likely to
reside and/or do business in a particular structure/building, the
second relationship "B" may comprise a many-to-one relationship
(e.g., many customers per single structure--such as the two
customer records in the customer table 540a that are depicted as
linking to the structure table 540c via the second relationship
"B"). In such a manner, for example, a customer and/or the
customer's address may be associated and/or linked with one or more
particular structures.
[0100] Utilizing the first and second relationships, "A" and "B",
it may accordingly be possible to readily identify for any
particular customer and/or address one or more specific land
parcels and/or one or more specific buildings associated therewith.
In such a manner, for example, the identity and/or number of
customers residing at a particular parcel/building may be
determined (e.g., at 406 of the method 400 of FIG. 4). In some
embodiments, such as in the case that the structure table 540c
comprises the polygon ID field 544c-2, a third relationship "C" may
also or alternatively be utilized to link particular structures to
particular polygons/land parcels. In some embodiments, the third
relationship "C may be utilized in addition to or in place of the
second relationship "B".
[0101] In some embodiments, a fourth relationship "D" may be
established between the polygon table 540b and the coordinate table
540d (depicted as linking between FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B via the
numeral "1"). In some embodiments (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 5A and
FIG. 5B), the fourth relationship "D" may be defined by utilizing
any or all of the various coordinate ID fields 544b-3, 544b-4,
544b-n as a data key linking to the coordinate ID field 544d-1.
According to some embodiments, the fourth relationship "D" may
comprise any type of data relationship that is or becomes
desirable, such as a one-to-many, many-to-many, or many-to-one
relationship. In the case that polygons/parcels are likely to have
unique centroids, the fourth relationship "D" utilizing the
centroid coordinate ID 544b-3 may comprise a one-to-one
relationship. In the case that multiple polygons/parcels are likely
to share coordinates (e.g., adjoining polygons/land parcels such as
the first and second polygons 210a-b of FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C,
and/or FIG. 2D), the fourth relationship "D" may comprise a
many-to-one relationship. In such a manner, for example, a
polygon/parcel may be associated and/or linked with one or more
coordinates. As described in accordance with some embodiments
herein, the coordinates associated with a polygon/land parcel may
be utilized to establish and/or verify relationships between the
polygon/parcel and one or more customers, addresses,
points/coordinates, and/or structures (and/or sub-structures),
and/or any combinations thereof.
[0102] In some embodiments, a fifth relationship "E" may be
established between the structure table 540c and the coordinate
table 540d (depicted as linking between FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B via a
second depiction of the numeral "1"). In some embodiments (e.g., as
depicted in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B), the fifth relationship "E" may be
defined by utilizing any or all of the various coordinate ID fields
544c-7, 544c-8, 544c-n as a data key linking to the coordinate ID
field 544d-1. According to some embodiments, the fifth relationship
"E" may comprise any type of data relationship that is or becomes
desirable, such as a one-to-many, many-to-many, or many-to-one
relationship. In the case that structures are likely to have unique
centroids, the fifth relationship "E" utilizing the centroid
coordinate ID 544c-7 may comprise a one-to-one relationship. In the
case that multiple structures are likely to share coordinates
(e.g., adjoining structures such as the second and third structures
216a-2, 216b of FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C, and/or FIG. 2D), the
fifth relationship "E" may comprise a many-to-one relationship. In
such a manner, for example, a structure may be associated and/or
linked with one or more coordinates. As described in accordance
with some embodiments herein, the coordinates associated with a
structure may be utilized to establish and/or verify relationships
between the structure and one or more customers, addresses,
polygons, parcels, and/or sub-structures.
[0103] According to some embodiments, a sixth relationship "F" may
be established between the structure table 540c and the structure
history table 540e (depicted as linking between FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B
via the numeral "2"). In some embodiments (e.g., as depicted in
FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B), the sixth relationship "F" may be defined by
utilizing the structure ID field 544c-1 as a data key linking to
the structure ID field 544e-1. According to some embodiments, the
sixth relationship "F" may comprise any type of data relationship
that is or becomes desirable, such as a one-to-many, many-to-many,
or many-to-one relationship. In the case that a structure is likely
to have multiple historical events associated therewith, the sixth
relationship "F" may comprise a one-to-many relationship. In the
case that multiple structures are likely to share certain
historical events (e.g., adjoining structures such as the second
and third structures 216a-2, 216b of FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C,
and/or FIG. 2D may be affected by a single fire, earthquake, etc.),
the sixth relationship "F" may comprise a many-to-many
relationship. In such a manner, for example, a structure may be
associated and/or linked with various historical events that may be
readily determined via the sixth relationship "F".
[0104] In some embodiments, a seventh relationship "G" may be
established between the structure table 540c and the sub-structure
table 540f (depicted as linking between FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B via the
numeral "3"). In some embodiments (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 5A and
FIG. 5B), the seventh relationship "G" may be defined by utilizing
the structure ID field 544c-1 as a data key linking to the
structure ID field 544f-1. According to some embodiments, the
seventh relationship "G" may comprise any type of data relationship
that is or becomes desirable, such as a one-to-many, many-to-many,
or many-to-one relationship. In the case that a structure is likely
to have multiple sub-structures (but a sub-structure is likely to
exist only within a single particular structure), the seventh
relationship "G" may comprise a one-to-many relationship. In such a
manner, for example, a structure may be associated and/or linked
with various sub-structures that may be readily determined via the
seventh relationship "G".
[0105] According to some embodiments, an eighth relationship "H"
may be established between the sub-structure table 540f and the
coordinate table 540d. In some embodiments (e.g., as depicted in
FIG. 5B), the eighth relationship "H" may be defined by utilizing
the coordinate ID field 544d-1 as a data key linking to either or
both of the sub-structure first corner coordinate ID field 544f-4
and the sub-structure `n.sup.th` corner coordinate ID field 544f-n.
According to some embodiments, the eighth relationship "H" may
comprise any type of data relationship that is or becomes
desirable, such as a one-to-many, many-to-many, or many-to-one
relationship. In the case that a sub-structure is likely to have
multiple associated coordinates, the eighth relationship "H" may
comprise a many-to-one relationship. In such a manner, for example,
a sub-structure may be associated and/or linked with various
coordinates that may be readily determined via the eighth
relationship "H".
[0106] In some embodiments, fewer or more data fields than are
shown may be associated with the data tables 540a-f. Only a portion
of one or more databases and/or other data stores is necessarily
shown in any of FIG. 5A and/or FIG. 5B, for example, and other
database fields, columns, structures, orientations, quantities,
and/or configurations may be utilized without deviating from the
scope of some embodiments. According to some embodiments, such as
in the case that addresses are desired to be linked to polygons,
parcels, and/or structures while retaining flexibility to associate
different customers with various addresses, a separate address
table (not shown) may be utilized. Further, the data shown in the
various data fields is provided solely for exemplary and
illustrative purposes and does not limit the scope of embodiments
described herein.
[0107] Referring now to FIG. 6, a block diagram of a system 600
according to some embodiments is shown. In some embodiments, the
system 600 may comprise a plurality of data sources 602a-c, a
certified locations service layer 610, an enterprise services layer
612, a plurality of user devices 620a-e, a plurality of databases
640a-d, an Extract Transform and Load (ETL) service 660, and/or a
geo-server 662. According to some embodiments, any or all of the
components 602a-c, 610, 612, 620a-e, 640a-d, 660, 662 of the system
600 may be similar in configuration and/or functionality to any
similarly named and/or numbered components described herein. Fewer
or more components 602a-c, 610, 612, 620a-e, 640a-d, 660, 662
and/or various configurations of the components 602a-c, 610, 612,
620a-e, 640a-d, 660, 662 may be included in the system 600 without
deviating from the scope of embodiments described herein. While
multiples of some components 602a-c, 620a-e, 640a-d are depicted
and while single instances of other components 610, 612, 660, 662
are depicted, for example, any component 602a-c, 610, 612, 620a-e,
640a-d, 660, 662 depicted in the system 600 may comprise a single
device, a combination of devices and/or components 602a-c, 610,
612, 620a-e, 640a-d, 660, 662, and/or a plurality of devices, as is
or becomes desirable and/or practicable.
[0108] In some embodiments, a map data source 602a, a hosted map
layers data source 602b, and/or an address scrubbing/geocoding data
source 602c may be hosted, by the certified locations service layer
610. The certified locations service layer 610 may, for example,
provide access, via the enterprise service layer 612, to a
front-end device 620a, a risk control device 620b, a claims device
620c, and/or a certified location data steward device 620d.
According to some embodiments, the certified locations service
layer 610 may provide access to one or more of the databases
640a-d. The certified locations service layer 610 may, for example,
provide access to a back-end database 640a, a transactional
database 640b, a data store 640c, and/or a data warehouse 640d. In
some embodiments, access to the various data sources 602a-c and/or
databases 640a-d may be limited and/or managed. The front-end
device 620a, risk control device 620b, and/or claims device 620c
may, for example, be permitted to query any or all of the various
data sources 602a-c and/or databases 640a-d, but may only be able
to write to (e.g., modify) the transactional database 640b. Certain
devices (and/or users) such as the certified location data steward
device 620d may have expanded access to the system 600 and may be
able to access the certified locations service layer 610 directly
(e.g., instead of or in addition to having access via the
enterprise services layer 612) and/or may have write/edit access
directly to the data warehouse 640d.
[0109] According to some embodiments, data descriptive of customer
(and/or insurance object) locations may be retrieved from the data
sources 602a-c and/or may be entered via one or more of the user
devices 620a-e. An insurance agent (and/or underwriter, actuary,
and/or operations personnel) operating the front-end device 620a
may, for example, enter and/or retrieve data descriptive of a
location of a customer (and/or a location associated with an object
desired to be insured by the customer). In some embodiments, the
location data may be stored in the transactional database 640b. In
some embodiments, other data such as insurance policy data,
coverage data, and/or underwriting rules or questions may be stored
in the data store 640c. In such a manner, for example, the
insurance agent (and/or Customer Service Representative (CSR)
and/or underwriter) may access, retrieve, and/or define customer
location information and utilize the system 600 to quote and/or
sell an underwriting and/or other type of product to the
customer.
[0110] In some embodiments, the transactional database 640b may be
interfaced with the data warehouse 640d on an intermittent basis
(e.g., nightly) such as by utilizing the ETL service 660 to update
the data warehouse 640d in a secure and controlled manner (e.g.,
based on the day's transactions stored in the transactional
database 640b). According to some embodiments, the geo-server 662
may be utilized to translate data and/or provide access to the data
warehouse 640d to an analytics device 620e. The analytics device
620e may comprise a device configured to execute data mining,
reporting, data visualization, and/or other data analysis tools.
The analytics device 620e may be utilized, for example, to
determine relationships between customers, certified locations,
buildings, parcels, and/or to determine business-specific
information such as (in the context of an insurance business) total
realized losses for a particular parcel or structure, total risk or
exposure for a particular parcel or structure, to conduct data
modeling, and/or to facilitate and/or conduct customer
prospecting.
[0111] According to some embodiments, the system 600 may be
utilized to determine and/or utilize certified location data as
described in accordance with embodiments described herein. In some
embodiments, the system 600 may be utilized to dynamically
determine and/or populate certified location data based on customer
transactions (e.g., conducted by the front-end device 620a).
Incoming data may be compared to existing data to determine, for
example, if data descriptive of a location already exists (e.g., in
the transactional database 640b and/or the data warehouse 640d) or
conflicts with previously stored information--e.g., a new customer
provides address information that is identical to a different and
existing customer. In some embodiments, such comparisons and/or
conflict determinations may be utilized to dynamically increase
data granularity/specificity defining one or more certified
locations. In some embodiments, in the case that a location has
already been certified, the certified location information may be
utilized to reference other previously developed and/or purchased
data.
[0112] Turning to FIG. 7, for example, a flowchart of a method 700
according to some embodiments is shown. According to some
embodiments, the method 700 may be implemented, facilitated, and/or
performed by or otherwise associated with any of the systems 100,
600 of FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 6 herein. In some embodiments, the method
700 may be performed and/or implemented by and/or otherwise
associated with one or more specialized and/or specially-programmed
computers, computer terminals, computer servers, computer systems
and/or networks, and/or any combinations thereof (e.g., by one or
more third-party and/or insurance company and/or underwriter
computers, such as, e.g., the certified location device 110 of FIG.
1).
[0113] According to some embodiments, the method 700 may comprise
receiving an indication of first location information descriptive
of a first location associated with a first customer, at 702. A
customer seeking an insurance product may, for example, provide
location and/or identifying information such as via a website
interface and/or via a device operated by an insurance agent and/or
customer service representative. In some embodiments, customer
location information may be received from one or more mobile
devices such as by receiving coordinate information from a mobile
device operated by the customer, a field agent, and/or other
personnel or entities at the desired customer location. According
to some embodiments, information received from the customer may be
utilized to query one or more data stores and/or data sources to
determine location information of the customer. The first location
information may be received from a variety of devices and/or
sources such as the location data devices 102a-n of FIG. 1, the
data sources 602a-c and/or the front-end device 620a, both of FIG.
6.
[0114] In some embodiments, the method 700 may comprise determining
that the first location information is also descriptive of a second
location associated with a second customer, at 704. A database such
as the database 140 of FIG. 1 and/or the transactional database
640b or data warehouse 640d of FIG. 6 may, for example, be queried
utilizing the first location information. Information corresponding
to the first location information may accordingly be identified if
already stored (e.g., with respect to a second location and/or
second customer). In some embodiments, the descriptiveness may
comprise a relationship of a certain degree, magnitude, and/or
weight. In the case that a street address for the customer matches
a street address for a customer record already stored in a
database, for example, a first degree of matching may be
determined. A second degree of matching may comprise, for example,
a correspondence between a coordinate, parcel identifier, and/or
structure identifier of the customers/locations. In some
embodiments, such as in the case that the customer's name or other
non-location information does not match that stored with respect to
the identified matching location record, an initial presumption of
conflicting location information may be identified (e.g., an
initial presumption that the first and second customers are
different individuals and/or entities). In the case that the
customer name matches the one on record for the corresponding
location information, a determination may be made that the customer
is an existing customer (e.g., the first and second customers are
the same) and/or that the first and second locations are the
same.
[0115] According to some embodiments, the method 700 may comprise
requesting (e.g., in response to the determining that the first
location information is also descriptive of the second location
associated with the second customer) information that distinguishes
the first and second locations, at 706. In the case that identical
information is already stored, an alert, message, and/or trigger
may be initiated. An insurance agent (or the customer, if the
customer is self-quoting a policy online) may be presented with a
pop-up message and/or prompt, for example, requesting that the
agent (and/or customer) verify that the first customer and/or the
first customer's location is different than the second customer
and/or the second customer's location. In some embodiments, if it
is determined that the first and second customers and/or locations
are different, the distinguishing information may be requested
and/or actively sought (e.g., by querying data sources and/or by
dispatching a field agent request for more detailed information).
According to some embodiments, the distinguishing information
requested and/or sought may comprise a specific type and/or piece
of information. In the case that both customers' street address
match, for example, structure information (e.g., suite, apartment
number, floor, elevation, building color, facade type, etc.) may be
requested/sought to determine if the customers are located within
the same building.
[0116] In some embodiments, the method 700 may comprise receiving
(e.g., in response to the requesting) third location information
that distinguishes the first and second locations, at 708. The
insurance agent, customer (first or second customer), an
underwriter, and/or a third-party data source or supplier may, for
example, provide the third location information to a central system
(e.g., via a website, workstation, and/or mobile device). In some
embodiments, such as in the case that the first customer and/or
agent are utilizing a mobile device at the first location, the
requesting at 706 and the receiving at 708 may be conducted
automatically and/or without input from the customer and/or agent.
An application running on the mobile device may automatically
interface with a central system, for example, to provide necessary
third location information such as coordinate, elevation,
directional, and/or other information. In some embodiments, the
customer and/or agent may send (and a central system may receive)
photographs, pictures, and/or images of the location. The photos
may be utilized to distinguish the first and second locations such
as in the case that photos and/or descriptions of the second
location are already stored and can be readily compared to the
newly-received photos to identify differences between the
locations. In some embodiments, image processing may be conducted
to electronically distinguish the locations based on received
photos (and/or other received distinguishing data).
[0117] According to some embodiments, the method 700 may comprise
creating a data storage relationship between the third location
information and at least one of the first and second locations, at
710. In the case that the third location information is descriptive
of the first location (e.g., and is received from the first
customer and/or an agent working with the first customer), for
example, the third location information may be stored in a
transactional database (e.g., the transactional database 640b of
FIG. 6) of an insurance company system to distinguish the first and
second locations. In such a manner, for example, less detailed
levels of location information may be required in a processing
system until a conflict or question is identified regarding the
described location. For example, in the case that an existing
customer has provided a street name and number defining address
information for a location, no further detail or granularity of
data may be required to be entered into a system. Upon entry of a
new customer into the system, however, the newly entered
information may be compared to the existing information to identify
any potential conflicts. If a conflict or match exists and it is
determined that the new customer is not the same as the existing
customer, the granularity of stored data for either or both of the
locations/customers may be required to be increased. Apartment
numbers, structure identifiers and/or attributes, suite numbers,
floor numbers, directional attributes (e.g., North-side, west
wing), and/or coordinates may, for example, be required to uniquely
identify the customers. As some or all of these more detailed
levels of location information may be more time-consuming,
expensive, and/or difficult to obtain, it may be desirable to only
require their entry in the case of an identified conflict--thus
reducing costs associated with a certified location system in
accordance with embodiments described herein.
[0118] Referring now to FIG. 8, a flow diagram of a method 800
according to some embodiments is shown. According to some
embodiments, the method 800 may be implemented, facilitated, and/or
performed by or otherwise associated with any of the systems 100,
600 of FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 6 herein. In some embodiments, the method
800 may be performed and/or implemented by and/or otherwise
associated with one or more specialized and/or specially-programmed
computers, computer terminals, computer servers, computer systems
and/or networks, and/or any combinations thereof (e.g., by one or
more third-party and/or insurance company and/or underwriter
computers, such as, e.g., the certified location device 110 of FIG.
1).
[0119] According to some embodiments, the method 800 may comprise
one or more actions associated with certified location data 802a-n.
The certified location data 802a-n of one or more objects that may
be related to and/or otherwise associated with an insurance product
and/or policy, for example, may be determined, calculated,
looked-up, and/or derived. In some embodiments, the certified
location data 802a-n may be gathered as raw data directly from one
or more location data sources as described herein. One or more
mapping and/or location determination products (e.g., maps,
software, applications, and/or devices) may, for example, provide
location data utilized to define the certified location data 802a-n
and/or may provide some or all of the certified location data
802a-n. In some embodiments, certified location data 802a-n may be
provided by an insured/policy holder and/or by a third-party (e.g.,
cell phone tracking via GPS and/or social media "check-in"
functionality; as received from the insured and/or from a
third-party such as a GPS tracking provider and/or social media
server).
[0120] As depicted in FIG. 8, certified location data 802a-n from a
plurality of sources may be gathered. The plurality of certified
location data 802a-n may comprise information indicative of one or
more locations of a plurality of objects and/or types of objects. A
first certified location data 802a may, for example, be descriptive
of flood zone information descriptive of a particular location
(e.g., a location associated with an insurance object), while other
certified location data 802n may be descriptive of weather events
and/or probabilities for a location. In some embodiments, the first
certified location data 802a may be descriptive of a unique
geo-coded location of a cellular telephone tower while other
certified location data 802n may be descriptive of a specific room
in a hotel.
[0121] According to some embodiments, the method 800 may also or
alternatively comprise one or more actions associated with
certified location processing 810. As depicted in FIG. 8, for
example, some or all of the certified location data 802a-n may be
determined, gathered, and/or otherwise obtained for certified
location processing 810. In some embodiments, certified location
processing 810 may comprise aggregation, analysis, calculation,
filtering, conversion, encoding and/or decoding (including
encrypting and/or decrypting), sorting, ranking, and/or any
combinations thereof. According to some embodiments, a processing
device may execute specialized program instructions to process the
certified location data 802a-n to define a certified location. Such
a certified location may, for example, be descriptive (in a
qualitative and/or quantitative manner) of a specific and/or unique
location such as a geo-coded and/or geo-referenced point, line,
area, and/or object/volume.
[0122] In some embodiments, certified location processing 810 may
comprise sophisticated, single variable or multivariate, single
order or multi-order certified location models and/or equations
that analyze the certified location data 802a-n and correlate it to
risks and/or losses, and/or for any other desired purposes. In some
embodiments, there may be other inputs, variables or events that
may be stored in association with and/or comprise the certified
location data 802a-n, such as severe weather events, natural
disasters, evacuation warnings/alerts, catastrophic events,
earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards, mudslides, typhoons,
wars, terrorist/enemy attacks, or the like. Such correlations may
be used, for example, to predict the level of risk and/or likely
severity of injury and/or losses associated with one or more
certified locations. In some embodiments, certified location data
802a-n may be utilized for planning crowd control resources,
natural or man-made resources, utilities, or infrastructure
management (e.g., water, electricity, fuel, etc.), or designing
escape or evacuation routes, or for any other desired purpose.
[0123] According to some embodiments, there may be a correlation
between a certified location defined by the certified location data
802a-n (and/or a portion thereof) and weather events when
determining risk of loss. For example, a given certified location
may correlate to a higher risk when there is ice, snow, or rain
likely to occur, than when it is dry (e.g., if the certified
location comprises a roadway segment or intersection).
[0124] In some embodiments, the method 800 may also or
alternatively comprise one or more actions associated with
insurance underwriting 820. Insurance underwriting 820 may
generally comprise any type, variety, and/or configuration of
underwriting process and/or functionality that is or becomes known
or practicable. Insurance underwriting 820 may comprise, for
example, simply consulting a pre-existing rule, criteria, and/or
threshold to determine if an insurance product may be offered,
underwritten and/or issued to customers, based on any relevant
certified location data 802a-n. One example of an insurance
underwriting 820 process may comprise one or more of risk
assessment 830 and/or premium calculation 840 (e.g., as shown in
FIG. 8). In some embodiments, while both the risk assessment 830
and the premium calculation 840 are depicted as being part of an
exemplary insurance underwriting 820 procedure, either or both of
the risk assessment 830 and the premium calculation 840 may
alternatively be part of a different process and/or different type
of process.
[0125] The certified location data 802a-n and/or a result of the
certified location processing 810 may, for example, be determined
and utilized to conduct risk assessment 830 for any of a variety of
purposes. In some embodiments (e.g., as shown), the risk assessment
830 may be conducted as part of a rating process for determining
how to structure an insurance product and/or offering. A "rating
engine" utilized in an insurance underwriting process may, for
example, retrieve certified location data 802a-n and/or a result of
the certified location processing 810 for input into a calculation
(and/or series of calculations and/or a mathematical model) to
determine a level of risk likely to be associated with a particular
object (e.g., an area, device, structure, a plurality of associated
(proximate, common ownership, etc.) structures, points,
coordinates, and/or locations, an entity, etc.).
[0126] According to some embodiments, the method 800 may also or
alternatively comprise one or more actions associated with premium
calculation 840 (e.g., which may be part of the insurance
underwriting 820). In the case that the method 800 comprises the
insurance underwriting 820 process, for example, the risk
assessment 830 may be utilized by a "pricing engine" to calculate
(and/or look-up or otherwise determine) an appropriate premium to
charge for an insurance policy associated with the object for which
the certified location data 802a-n was collected and for which the
risk assessment 830 was performed. In some embodiments, the object
analyzed may comprise an object for which an insurance product is
sought (e.g., the analyzed object may comprise a building for which
a home-owners policy is desired or a location for which business
insurance is desired). According to some embodiments, the object
analyzed may be an object other than the object for which insurance
is sought (e.g., the analyzed object may comprise a building in
which a business for which a business insurance policy is desired
is located--or located adjacent to or in proximity to). In some
embodiments, the risk assessment 830 may comprise a comparison of a
determined risk level or rating to one or more stored rules and/or
thresholds (e.g., a risk aggregation limit). If it is determined
that a particular structure (and/or plurality of structures,
location, and/or area) exceeds a particular risk limit, for
example, the method 800 may be altered, informed, and/or
influenced. A decision may be made with respect to a new insurance
policy for the same structure or other object, for example, to (i)
not underwrite the policy, and/or (ii) alter or set the premium
and/or deductible (or other product parameters) based on the
over-limit situation.
[0127] According to some embodiments, the method 800 may also or
alternatively comprise one or more actions associated with
insurance policy quote and/or issuance 850. Once a policy has been
rated, priced or quoted and the customer has accepted the coverage
terms, the insurance company may, for example, bind and issue the
policy by hard copy and/or electronically to the
customer/insured.
[0128] In general, a customer may visit a website and/or an
insurance agent, for example, provide the needed information about
the customer and type of desired insurance, and request an
insurance policy and/or product. According to some embodiments, the
insurance underwriting 820 is performed utilizing information about
the potential insured and the policy is issued based on the result
thereof. Insurance coverage may, for example, be evaluated, rated,
priced, and/or sold to one or more customers, at least in part
based on the certified location data 802a-n. In some embodiments,
an insurance company may have the potential customer indicate
electronically, on-line, or otherwise whether they have any
location sensing devices (and/or which specific devices they have)
and/or whether they are willing to install them or have them
installed. In some embodiments, this may be done by check boxes,
radio buttons, or other form of data input/selection, on a web page
and/or via a mobile device application.
[0129] According to some embodiments, the method 800 may also or
alternatively comprise one or more actions associated with claims
860. In the insurance context, for example, after an insurance
product is provided and/or policy is issued (e.g., via the
insurance policy quote and issuance 850), one or more insurance
claims may be filed against the product/policy. In some embodiments
(as depicted in FIG. 8), such as in the case that a first object
associated with the insurance policy is somehow involved with one
or more insurance claims 860, first certified location data 802a of
the object or related objects may be gathered and/or otherwise
obtained. According to some embodiments, such certified location
data 802a-n may comprise data indicative of the
uniquely-identifiable location of the object at the time of
casualty or loss (e.g., as defined by the one or more claims 860).
Information on claims may be provided to the certified location
processing 810, risk assessment 830, and/or premium calculation 840
to update, improve, and/or enhance these procedures and/or devices.
According to some embodiments, the first certified location data
802a may be utilized to plan, manage, and/or conduct catastrophe
("CAT") response activities. In the case of a claim event involving
a particular structure (e.g., a certified location), for example,
stored attributes of the structure (such as age, construction type,
configuration) may be utilized to determine, identify, and/or
select one or more CAT response agents having expertise, training,
and/or knowledge relating to one or more particular attributes of
the structure. According to some embodiments, such as in the case
of a multi-customer loss event (e.g., a catastrophic event such as
a flood, explosion, earth quake, etc.), the first certified
location data 802a may allow rapid and/or accurate prediction of
the extent of the loss event (e.g., with respect to a particular
company and/or customer-base). A disaster zone (such as one or more
of the fall risk zone 220, the terrorist risk zone 222, and/or the
weather risk zone 224 of FIG. 2D) may be compared to the first
certified location data 802a to determine, for example, how many
customers and/or customer accounts are likely to be affected, the
total possible or likely magnitude of loss (e.g., an aggregation of
policy limits in the affected zone), and/or the type(s) of loss. In
such a manner, for example, the magnitude, extent, and/or type of
CAT response may be planned, determined, and/or adjusted to suit
the particular loss event.
[0130] In some embodiments, the method 800 may also or
alternatively comprise insurance policy renewal review 870.
Certified location data 8702a-n may be utilized, for example, to
determine if and/or how an existing insurance policy (e.g.,
provided via the insurance policy quote and issuance 850) may be
renewed. According to some embodiments, such as in the case that an
insured is involved with and/or in charge of (e.g., responsible
for) providing the certified location data 802a-n, a review may be
conducted to determine if the correct amount, frequency, and/or
type or quality of the certified location data 8702a-n was indeed
provided by the insured during the original term of the policy. In
the case that the certified location data 802a-n was lacking, the
policy may not, for example, be renewed and/or any discount
received by the insured for providing the certified location data
802a-n may be revoked or reduced. In some embodiments, the customer
may be offered a discount for having certain location sensing
devices or being willing to install them or have them installed (or
be willing to adhere to certain thresholds based on measurements
from such devices).
[0131] According to some embodiments, the method 800 may also or
alternatively comprise one or more actions associated with
risk/loss control 880. Any or all data gathered as part of a claims
860 process, for example, may be gathered, collected, and/or
analyzed to determine how (if at all) one or more of a rating
engine (e.g., the risk assessment 830), a pricing engine (e.g., the
premium calculation 840), the insurance underwriting 820 process,
and/or the certified location processing 810 itself, should be
updated to reflect actual and/or realized risk, costs, and/or other
issues associated with the certified location data 802a-n. Results
of the risk/loss control 880 may, according to some embodiments, be
fed back into the method 800 to refine the risk assessment 830, the
premium calculation 840 (e.g., for subsequent insurance queries
and/or calculations), the insurance policy renewal review 870
(e.g., a re-calculation of an existing policy for which the one or
more claims 860 were filed), and/or the certified location
processing 810 to appropriately scale the output of the risk
assessment 880.
[0132] Turning now to FIG. 9, a flow diagram of a method 900
according to some embodiments is shown. In some embodiments, the
method 900 may comprise a certified location-based risk assessment
method which may, for example, be described as a "rating engine".
According to some embodiments, the method 900 may be implemented,
facilitated, and/or performed by or otherwise associated with any
of the systems 100, 600 of FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 6 herein. In some
embodiments, the method 900 may be associated with the method 800
of FIG. 8. The method 900 may, for example, comprise a portion of
the method 800 such as the risk assessment 830.
[0133] According to some embodiments, the method 900 may comprise
determining one or more loss frequency distributions for a class of
objects, at 902. In some embodiments, a first loss frequency
distribution may be determined, at 902a, based on certified
location data and/or metrics. Certified location data (such as the
certified location data 802a-n of FIG. 8) for an object class
and/or type may, for example, be analyzed to determine
relationships between certified location data and/or metrics and
empirical data descriptive of actual insurance losses for the
object types and/or classes of objects. A certified location data
processing and/or analytics system (e.g., the certified location
device 110 and/or the system 600 as described with respect to FIG.
1 and/or FIG. 6 herein) may, according to some embodiments, conduct
regression and/or other mathematical analysis on various certified
location metrics to determine and/or identify mathematical
relationships that may exist between such metrics and actual
sustained losses and/or casualties.
[0134] Similarly, at 902b, a second loss frequency distribution may
be determined based on non-certified location data. According to
some embodiments, the determining at 902b may comprise a standard
or typical loss frequency distribution utilized by an entity (such
as an insurance company) to assess risk. The non-certified location
metrics utilized as inputs in the determining at 902b may include,
for example, age of a building or car, driving record of an
individual, a criminal record of an individual, color of a vehicle,
etc. In some embodiments, the loss frequency distribution
determinations at 902a-b may be combined and/or determined as part
of a single comprehensive loss frequency distribution
determination. In such a manner, for example, expected total loss
probabilities (e.g., taking into account both certified location
data and non-certified location data) for an object type and/or
class may be determined. In some embodiments, this may establish
and/or define a baseline, datum, average, and/or standard with
which individual risk assessments may be measured.
[0135] According to some embodiments, the method 900 may comprise
determining one or more loss severity distributions for a class of
objects, at 904. In some embodiments, a first loss severity
distribution may be determined, at 904a, based on certified
location data and/or metrics. Certified location data (such as the
certified location data 802a-n of FIG. 8) for a class of objects
and/or for a particular type of object may, for example, be
analyzed to determine relationships between various certified
location data and/or metrics and empirical data descriptive of
actual insurance losses for such object types and/or classes of
objects. A certified location processing and/or analytics system
(e.g., the certified location device 110 and/or the system 600 as
described with respect to FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 6 herein) may,
according to some embodiments, conduct regression analysis on
various certified location metrics to determine and/or identify
mathematical relationships that may exist between such metrics and
actual sustained losses and/or casualties.
[0136] Similarly, at 904b, a second loss severity distribution may
be determined based on non-certified location data. According to
some embodiments, the determining at 904b may comprise a standard
or typical loss severity distribution utilized by an entity (such
as an insurance agency) to assess risk. The non-certified location
metrics utilized as inputs in the determining at 904b may include,
for example, cost of replacement or repair, ability to
self-mitigate loss (e.g., if a building has a fire suppression
system and/or automatically closing fire doors), etc. In some
embodiments, the loss severity distribution determinations at
904a-b may be combined and/or determined as part of a single
comprehensive loss severity distribution determination. In such a
manner, for example, expected total loss severities (e.g., taking
into account both certified location data and non-certified
location data) for a particular object type and/or class may be
determined. In some embodiments, this may also or alternatively
establish and/or define a baseline, datum, average, and/or standard
with which individual risk assessments may be measured.
[0137] In some embodiments, the method 900 may comprise determining
one or more expected loss frequency distributions for a specific
object in the class of objects, at 906. Regression and/or other
mathematical analysis performed on the certified location loss
frequency distribution derived from empirical data, at 902a for
example, may identify various certified location metrics and may
mathematically relate such metrics to expected loss occurrences
(e.g., based on historical trends). Based on these relationships, a
certified location loss frequency distribution may be developed at
806a for the specific object. In such a manner, for example, known
certified location metrics for a specific object may be utilized to
develop an expected distribution (e.g., probability) of occurrence
of certified location-related loss for the specific object.
[0138] Similarly, regression and/or other mathematical analysis
performed on the non-certified location loss frequency distribution
derived from empirical data, at 902b for example, may identify
various non-certified location metrics and may mathematically
relate such metrics to expected loss occurrences (e.g., based on
historical trends). Based on these relationships, a non-certified
location loss frequency distribution may be developed at 906b for
the specific object. In such a manner, for example, known
non-certified location metrics for a specific object may be
utilized to develop an expected distribution (e.g., probability) of
occurrence of non-certified location-related loss for the specific
object. In some embodiments, the non-certified location loss
frequency distribution determined at 906b may be similar to a
standard or typical loss frequency distribution utilized by an
insurer to assess risk.
[0139] In some embodiments, the method 900 may comprise determining
one or more expected loss severity distributions for a specific
object in the class of objects, at 908. Regression and/or other
mathematical analysis performed on the certified location loss
severity distribution derived from empirical data, at 904a for
example, may identify various certified location metrics and may
mathematically relate such metrics to expected loss severities
(e.g., based on historical trends). Based on these relationships, a
certified location loss severity distribution may be developed at
908a for the specific object. In such a manner, for example, known
certified location metrics for a specific object may be utilized to
develop an expected severity for occurrences of certified
location-related loss for the specific object.
[0140] Similarly, regression and/or other mathematical analysis
performed on the non-certified location loss severity distribution
derived from empirical data, at 904b for example, may identify
various non-certified location metrics and may mathematically
relate such metrics to expected loss severities (e.g., based on
historical trends). Based on these relationships, a non-certified
location loss severity distribution may be developed at 908b for
the specific object. In such a manner, for example, known
non-certified location metrics for a specific object may be
utilized to develop an expected severity of occurrences of
non-certified location-related loss for the specific object. In
some embodiments, the non-certified location loss severity
distribution determined at 908b may be similar to a standard or
typical loss frequency distribution utilized by an insurer to
assess risk.
[0141] It should also be understood that the certified
location-based determinations 902a, 904a, 906a, 908a and
non-certified location-based determinations 902b, 904b, 906b, 908b
are separately depicted in FIG. 9 for ease of illustration of one
embodiment descriptive of how certified location metrics may be
included to enhance standard risk assessment procedures. According
to some embodiments, the certified location-based determinations
902a, 904a, 906a, 908a and non-certified location-based
determinations 902b, 904b, 906b, 908b may indeed be performed
separately and/or distinctly in either time or space (e.g., they
may be determined by different software and/or hardware modules or
components and/or may be performed serially with respect to time).
In some embodiments, the certified location-based determinations
902a, 904a, 906a, 908a and non-certified location-based
determinations 902b, 904b, 906b, 908b may be incorporated into a
single risk assessment process or "engine" that may, for example,
comprise a risk assessment software program, package, and/or
module.
[0142] In some embodiments, the method 900 may comprise calculating
a risk score for the object, at 910. According to some embodiments,
formulas, charts, and/or tables may be developed that associate
various certified location and/or non-certified location metric
magnitudes with risk scores. High numbers of policy holders on a
particular parcel of land may be represented by a first certified
location metric, for example, that may equate to a risk score of
two (2), while high amounts of existing risk exposure in a
particular building (e.g., in a high-risk earthquake area)
represented by a second certified location metric may equate to a
risk score of ten (10). Risk scores for a plurality of certified
location and/or non-certified location metrics may be determined,
calculated, tabulated, and/or summed to arrive at a total risk
score for the object and/or for an object class. According to some
embodiments, risk scores may be derived from the certified location
and/or non-certified location loss frequency distributions and the
certified location and/or non-certified location loss severity
distribution determined at 906a-b and 908a-b, respectively. More
details on one similar method for assessing risk are provided in
Applicants' U.S. Pat. No. 7,330,820 entitled "PREMIUM EVALUATION
SYSTEMS AND METHODS" which issued on Feb. 12, 2008, the risk
assessment concepts and descriptions of which are hereby
incorporated by reference herein.
[0143] In some embodiments, the results of the method 900 may be
utilized to determine a premium for an insurance policy for the
specific object analyzed. Any or all of the certified location
and/or non-certified location loss frequency distributions of
906a-b, the certified location and/or non-certified location loss
severity distributions of 908a-b, and the risk score of 910 may,
for example, be passed to and/or otherwise utilized by a premium
calculation process via the node labeled "A" in FIG. 9.
[0144] Referring to FIG. 10, for example, a flow diagram of a
method 1000 (that may initiate at the node labeled "A") according
to some embodiments is shown. In some embodiments, the method 1000
may comprise a certified location-based premium determination
method which may, for example, be described as a "pricing engine".
According to some embodiments, the method 1000 may be implemented,
facilitated, and/or performed by or otherwise associated with any
of the systems 100, 600 of FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 6 herein. In some
embodiments, the method 1000 may be associated with the method 800
of FIG. 8. The method 1000 may, for example, comprise a portion of
the method 800 such as the premium calculation 840. Any other
technique for calculating an insurance premium that utilizes
certified location information described herein may be utilized in
accordance with some embodiments.
[0145] In some embodiments, the method 1000 may comprise
determining a pure premium, at 1002. A pure premium is a basic,
unadjusted premium that is generally calculated based on loss
frequency and severity distributions. According to some
embodiments, the certified location and/or non-certified location
loss frequency distributions (e.g., from 906a-b in FIG. 9) and the
certified location and/or non-certified location loss severity
distributions (e.g., from 908a-b in FIG. 9) may be utilized to
calculate a pure premium that would be expected, mathematically, to
result in no net gain or loss for the insurer when considering only
the actual cost of the loss or losses under consideration and their
associated loss adjustment expenses. Determination of the pure
premium may generally comprise simulation testing and analysis that
predicts (e.g., based on the supplied frequency and severity
distributions) expected total losses (certified location-based
and/or non-certified location-based) over time.
[0146] According to some embodiments, the method 1000 may comprise
determining an expense load, at 1004. The pure premium determined
at 1002 may not take into account operational realities experienced
by an insurer. The pure premium does not account, for example, for
operational expenses such as overhead, staffing, taxes, fees, etc.
Thus, in some embodiments, an expense load (or factor) is
determined and utilized to take such costs into account when
determining an appropriate premium to charge for an insurance
product. According to some embodiments, the method 1000 may
comprise determining a risk load, at 1006. The risk load is a
factor designed to ensure that the insurer maintains a surplus
amount large enough to produce an expected return for an insurance
product.
[0147] According to some embodiments, the method 1000 may comprise
determining a total premium, at 1008. The total premium may
generally be determined and/or calculated by summing or totaling
one or more of the pure premium, the expense load, and the risk
load. In such a manner, for example, the pure premium is adjusted
to compensate for real-world operating considerations that affect
an insurer.
[0148] According to some embodiments, the method 1000 may comprise
grading the total premium, at 1010. The total premium determined at
1008, for example, may be ranked and/or scored by comparing the
total premium to one or more benchmarks. In some embodiments, the
comparison and/or grading may yield a qualitative measure of the
total premium. The total premium may be graded, for example, on a
scale of "A", "B", "C", "D", and "F", in order of descending rank.
The rating scheme may be simpler or more complex (e.g., similar to
the qualitative bond and/or corporate credit rating schemes
determined by various credit ratings agencies such as Standard
& Poors' (S&P) Financial service LLC, Moody's Investment
Service, and/or Fitch Ratings from Fitch, Inc., all of New York,
N.Y.) of as is or becomes desirable and/or practicable. More
details on one similar method for calculating and/or grading a
premium are provided in Applicants' U.S. Pat. No. 7,330,820
entitled "PREMIUM EVALUATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS" which issued on
Feb. 12, 2008, the premium calculation and grading concepts and
descriptions of which are hereby incorporated by reference
herein.
[0149] According to some embodiments, the method 1000 may comprise
outputting an evaluation, at 1012. In the case that the results of
the determination of the total premium at 1008 are not directly
and/or automatically utilized for implementation in association
with an insurance product, for example, the grading of the premium
at 1010 and/or other data such as the risk score determined at 910
of FIG. 9 may be utilized to output the evaluation, e.g., an
indication of the desirability and/or expected profitability of
implementing the calculated premium. The outputting of the
evaluation may be implemented in any form or manner that is or
becomes known or practicable. One or more recommendations,
graphical representations, visual aids, comparisons, and/or
suggestions may be output, for example, to a device (e.g., a server
and/or computer workstation) operated by an insurance underwriter
and/or sales agent. One example of an evaluation comprises a
creation and output of a risk matrix which may, for example, by
developed utilizing Enterprise Risk Register.RTM. software which
facilitates compliance with ISO 17799/ISO 27000 requirements for
risk mitigation and which is available from Northwest Controlling
Corporation Ltd. (NOWECO) of London, UK.
[0150] Turning to FIG. 11, for example, a diagram of an exemplary
risk matrix 1100 according to some embodiments is shown. In some
embodiments (as depicted), the risk matrix 1100 may comprise a
simple two-dimensional graph having an x-axis and a y-axis. Any
other type of risk matrix, or no risk matrix, may be used if
desired. The detail, complexity, and/or dimensionality of the risk
matrix 1100 may vary as desired and/or may be tied to a particular
insurance product or offering. In some embodiments, the risk matrix
1100 may be utilized to visually illustrate a relationship between
the risk score (e.g., from 830 of FIG. 8 and/or from 910 of FIG. 9)
of an object and the total determined premium (e.g., from 840 of
FIG. 8 and/or 1008 of FIG. 10; and/or a grading thereof, such as
from 1010 of FIG. 10) for an insurance product offered in relation
to the object. As shown in FIG. 11, for example, the premium grade
may be plotted along the x-axis of the risk matrix 1100 and/or the
risk score may be plotted along the y-axis of the risk matrix
1100.
[0151] In such a manner, the risk matrix 1100 may comprise four (4)
quadrants 1102a-d (e.g., similar to a "four-square" evaluation
sheet utilized by automobile dealers to evaluate the propriety of
various possible pricing "deals" for new automobiles). The first
quadrant 1102a represents the most desirable situations where risk
scores are low and premiums are highly graded. The second quadrant
1102b represents less desirable situations where, while premiums
are highly graded, risk scores are higher. Generally,
object-specific data that results in data points being plotted in
either of the first two quadrants 1102a-b is indicative of an
object for which an insurance product may be offered on terms
likely to be favorable to the insurer. The third quadrant 1102c
represents less desirable characteristics of having poorly graded
premiums with low risk scores and the fourth quadrant 1102d
represents the least desirable characteristics of having poorly
graded premiums as well as high risk scores. Generally,
object-specific data that results in data points being plotted in
either of the third and fourth quadrants 1102c-d is indicative of
an object for which an insurance product offering is not likely to
be favorable to the insurer
[0152] One example of how the risk matrix 1100 may be output and/or
implemented with respect to certified location of an object will
now be described. Assume, for example, that a home owner's policy
is desired by a consumer and/or that a home owner's policy product
is otherwise analyzed to determine whether such a policy would be
beneficial for an insurer to issue. Typical risk metrics such as
the age of the building, a city in which the building is located,
and/or a type of construction of the building or insulation values
(e.g., energy ratings) may be utilized to produce expected loss
frequency and loss severity distributions (such as determined at
906b and 908b of FIG. 9).
[0153] In some embodiments, certified location metrics of the
building (i.e., the object being insured) such as how many other
policies have been written for the building (e.g., current,
historical, for the same customer and/or for different customers),
whether the building (or a portion thereof) falls within (or
outside of) a particular zone (such as a flood zone, busyness zone
(e.g., as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/978,535
titled "RISK ASSESSMENT AND CONTROL, INSURANCE PREMIUMS
DETERMINATIONS, AND OTHER APPLICATIONS USING BUSINESS" filed on
Dec. 24, 2010 and Published as U.S. Patent Application Publication
No. 2001/0161119 on Jun. 30, 2011, the busyness concepts and
descriptions of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein),
and/or risk zone (e.g, as described in U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 13/334,897 titled "SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CUSTOMER-RELATED
RISK ZONES" filed on Dec. 22, 2011 and/or U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 13/335,476 titled "SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CLIENT-RELATED
RISK ZONES" filed on Dec. 22, 2011, the risk zone concepts and
descriptions of each of which are hereby incorporated herein by
reference)), what other buildings or features are located on the
same parcel of land, and/or a history of loss for the building
(e.g., for the same customer and/or for different customers) may
also be utilized to produce expected certified location loss
frequency and certified location loss severity distributions (such
as determined at 906a and 908a of FIG. 9). In some embodiments,
certified location metrics of objects other than building (i.e.,
other than the object being insured) such as structural stability
of an adjacent building, business activity types in adjacent
apartments/units and/or buildings, and/or characteristics of a
parcel of land upon which the building is situated and/or an
adjacent or proximate parcel of land may also or alternatively be
utilized to produce expected certified location loss frequency and
certified location loss severity distributions (such as determined
at 906a and 908a of FIG. 9). According to some embodiments,
singular loss frequency and loss severity distributions may be
determined utilizing both typical risk metrics as well as certified
location metrics (of the object being insured and/or of other
associated objects).
[0154] In the case that the building houses a plurality of
high-risk businesses (e.g., other than or including a business of
the potential insured), especially when compared to typical
buildings of the same type, the risk score for the building may be
determined to be relatively high, such as seventy-five (75) on a
scale from zero (0) to one hundred (100). Of course other
non-certified location factors such as the age of the consumer
and/or the number of inhabitants (and/or other factors) may also
contribute to the risk score for the building, consumer, and/or
insurance product associated therewith. Also, if the typical times
of day and/or days of the week are known for when particular
high-risk activities occur at or near the building (e.g., on the
same parcel of land), this can be correlated with historical and/or
predicted risk levels of the building at those times of day to
provided more accurate risk scores.
[0155] The total premium calculated for a potential insurance
policy offering covering the building (e.g., determined at 1008 of
FIG. 10) may, to continue the example, be graded between "B" and
"C" (e.g., at 1010 of FIG. 10) or between "Fair" and "Average". The
resulting combination of risk score and premium rating may be
plotted on the risk matrix 1100, as represented by a data point
1104 shown in FIG. 11. The data point 1104, based on the certified
location-influenced risk score and the accordingly certified
location-influenced premium calculation, is plotted in the second
quadrant 1102b, in a position indicating that while the risk of
insuring the building/consumer is relatively high, the calculated
premium is probably large enough to compensate for the level of
risk. In some embodiments, an insurer may accordingly look
favorably upon issuing such as insurance policy to the consumer to
cover the building/home in question and/or may consummate a sale of
such a policy to the consumer (e.g. based on the evaluation output
at 1012 of FIG. 10, such as decision and/or sale may be made).
[0156] Turning now to FIG. 12, a flow diagram of a method 1200
according to some embodiments is shown. In some embodiments, the
method 1200 may comprise a certified location-based risk loss
control method. According to some embodiments, the method 1200 may
be implemented, facilitated, and/or performed by or otherwise
associated with any of the systems 100, 600 of FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 6
herein. In some embodiments, the method 1200 may be associated with
the method 800 of FIG. 8. The method 1200 may, for example,
comprise a portion of the method 800 such as the risk/loss control
880. In some embodiments, the method 1200 may also or alternatively
be associated with any of the methods 900, 1000 described in
relation to FIG. 9 and/or FIG. 10 herein. The method 1200 may
comprise, in some embodiments for example, a continuation of the
certified location-based risk assessment method 900 of FIG. 9
and/or the certified location-based premium determination method
1000 of FIG. 10.
[0157] According to some embodiments, the method 1200 may comprise
receiving claim information, at 1202. A claim may be received from
an insured/policy holder with respect to a loss or casualty (e.g.,
an accident or any other loss event) sustained with respect to an
object covered by an insurance policy for which an insurance
company receives premiums, for example. In some embodiments, the
claim may be made with respect to an insurance product for which an
evaluation was output (e.g., during a sales and/or underwriting
process) such as at 1012 of FIG. 10. The claim information may
generally comprise and/or indicate data descriptive of the loss
such as severity and/or cause, or other information.
[0158] In some embodiments, the method 1200 may comprise receiving
a certified location metric associated with the claim, at 1104.
Information descriptive of a certified location metric and/or raw
certified location data associated with the severity and/or cause
of the loss, for example, may be provided by the consumer as part
of a claims process (e.g., may be received in conjunction with the
information received at 1202). According to some embodiments, the
certified location data and/or metric may be received from sources
other than the consumer. Returning to the example of the insured
building described with respect to FIG. 11, for example, the
homeowner may not have access to and/or may not be capable of
properly determining a number of inhabitants of the building where
(and when) an accident occurred (e.g., in the case of an apartment
building). Thus, in some embodiments, the insurer and/or a
third-party may utilize the claim information to locate, identify,
and/or retrieve certified location data for the building where the
accident occurred and at and/or around the time of the accident or
loss. According to some embodiments, the consumer may provide such
information, the building may be configured to provide desired
claim and/or certified location information, a third-party data
provider such information, and/or the insurance company may get it
directly from a sensing device.
[0159] In some embodiments, the method 1200 may comprise processing
the claim information and the certified location information, at
1206. The loss information and/or the certified location
information may be combined with previous and/or historic loss data
and/or certified location information, for example, to define a new
set of data that may be utilized to asses risk and/or determine
premiums for new insurance policies and/or products, and/or may be
utilized to update risk and/or pricing for one or more existing
policies (such as the policy of the example home owner), or it may
be utilized to update how the certified location information is
determined based on specific certified location data/sensors.
[0160] The method 1200 may, for example, update a rating engine at
1208 and/or update a pricing engine at 1210. According to some
embodiments, the new loss information and/or the new loss-related
certified location information may be fed back into one or more of
the rating engine and the pricing engine utilized by an insurer to
evaluate and/or structure insurance products and pricing thereof.
The certified location-based risk assessment method of 900 of FIG.
9 and/or the certified location-based premium determination method
1000 of FIG. 109 may, for example, be conducted and/or
re-conducted, based on the newly available claim and/or
claim-related certified location information. In such a manner,
insurance policy risk analysis and/or pricing may be updated to
reflect the most recent data available, increasing the probability
that the risk and pricing models will maintain appropriate levels
of accuracy.
[0161] Turning to FIG. 13, a block diagram of an apparatus 1300
according to some embodiments is shown. In some embodiments, the
apparatus 1300 may be similar in configuration and/or functionality
to any of the certified location device 110 of FIG. 1 and/or may
comprise a portion of the system 600 of FIG. 6 herein. The
apparatus 1300 may, for example, execute, process, facilitate,
and/or otherwise be associated with any of the methods 400, 700,
800, 900, 1000, 1200 described in conjunction with FIG. 4, FIG. 7,
FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, and/or FIG. 12 herein. In some
embodiments, the apparatus 1300 may comprise a processing device
1312, an input device 1314, an output device 1316, a communication
device 1318, and/or a memory device 1340. According to some
embodiments, any or all of the components 1312, 1314, 1316, 1318,
1340 of the apparatus 1200 may be similar in configuration and/or
functionality to any similarly named and/or numbered components
described herein. Fewer or more components 1312, 1314, 1316, 1318,
1340 and/or various configurations of the components 1312, 1314,
1316, 1318, 1340 may be included in the apparatus 1300 without
deviating from the scope of embodiments described herein.
[0162] According to some embodiments, the processing device 1312
may be or include any type, quantity, and/or configuration of
electronic and/or computerized processor that is or becomes known.
The processing device 1312 may comprise, for example, an Intel.RTM.
IXP 2800 network processor or an Intel.RTM. XEON.TM. Processor
coupled with an Intel.RTM. E7501 chipset. In some embodiments, the
processing device 1312 may comprise multiple inter-connected
processors, microprocessors, and/or micro-engines. According to
some embodiments, the processing device 1312 (and/or the apparatus
1300 and/or portions thereof) may be supplied power via a power
supply (not shown) such as a battery, an Alternating Current (AC)
source, a Direct Current (DC) source, an AC/DC adapter, solar
cells, and/or an inertial generator. In the case that the apparatus
1200 comprises a server such as a blade server, necessary power may
be supplied via a standard AC outlet, power strip, surge protector,
and/or Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) device.
[0163] In some embodiments, the input device 1314 and/or the output
device 1316 are communicatively coupled to the processing device
1312 (e.g., via wired and/or wireless connections and/or pathways)
and they may generally comprise any types or configurations of
input and output components and/or devices that are or become
known, respectively. The input device 1314 may comprise, for
example, a keyboard that allows an operator of the apparatus 1300
to interface with the apparatus 1300 (e.g., by a consumer, such as
to purchase insurance policies priced utilizing certified location
data and/or by an underwriter and/or insurance agent, such as to
evaluate risk and/or calculate premiums for an insurance policy).
In some embodiments, the input device 1314 may comprise a sensor
configured to provide information such as encoded certified
location information to the apparatus 1300 and/or the processing
device 1312. The output device 1316 may, according to some
embodiments, comprise a display screen and/or other practicable
output component and/or device. The output device 1316 may, for
example, provide insurance and/or investment pricing and/or risk
analysis to a potential customer (e.g., via a website) and/or to an
underwriter or sales agent attempting to structure an insurance
(and/or investment) product (e.g., via a computer workstation).
According to some embodiments, the input device 1314 and/or the
output device 1316 may comprise and/or be embodied in a single
device such as a touch-screen monitor.
[0164] In some embodiments, the communication device 1318 may
comprise any type or configuration of communication device that is
or becomes known or practicable. The communication device 1318 may,
for example, comprise a Network Interface Card (NIC), a telephonic
device, a cellular network device, a router, a hub, a modem, and/or
a communications port or cable. In some embodiments, the
communication device 1318 may be coupled to provide data to a
customer device (not shown in FIG. 13), such as in the case that
the apparatus 1300 is utilized as a certified location data portal.
The communication device 1318 may, for example, comprise a cellular
telephone network transmission device that sends signals indicative
of certified locations to customer and/or subscriber handheld,
mobile, and/or telephone devices. According to some embodiments,
the communication device 1318 may also or alternatively be coupled
to the processing device 1312. In some embodiments, the
communication device 1318 may comprise an IR, RF, Bluetooth.TM.,
and/or Wi-Fi.RTM. network device coupled to facilitate
communications between the processing device 1312 and another
device (such as a customer device and/or a third-party device).
[0165] The memory device 1340 may comprise any appropriate
information storage device that is or becomes known or available,
including, but not limited to, units and/or combinations of
magnetic storage devices (e.g., a hard disk drive), optical storage
devices, and/or semiconductor memory devices such as Random Access
Memory (RAM) devices, Read Only Memory (ROM) devices, Single Data
Rate Random Access Memory (SDR-RAM), Double Data Rate Random Access
Memory (DDR-RAM), and/or Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM). The
memory device 1340 may, according to some embodiments, store one or
more of certified location instructions 1342-1, risk assessment
instructions 1342-2, premium determination instructions 1342-3,
location data 1344-1, customer data 1344-2, and/or claim/loss data
1344-3. In some embodiments, the certified location instructions
1342-1, the risk assessment instructions 1342-2, and/or the premium
determination instructions 1342-3 may be utilized by the processing
device 1312 to provide output information via the output device
1316 and/or the communication device 1318 (e.g., the risk matrix
1100 of FIG. 11).
[0166] According to some embodiments, the certified location
instructions 1342-1 may be operable to cause the processing device
1312 to process location data 1344-1 as described herein. Location
data 1344-1 received via the input device 1314 and/or the
communication device 1318 may, for example, be analyzed, sorted,
filtered, decoded, decompressed, ranked, scored, plotted, and/or
otherwise processed by the processing device 1312 in accordance
with the certified location instructions 1342-1. In some
embodiments, raw location data 1344-1 descriptive of various
location-based attributes of an object and/or area may be fed by
the processing device 1312 through one or more mathematical and/or
statistical formulas and/or models in accordance with the certified
location instructions 1342-1 to define one or more certified
locations and/or associated data relationships that may then be
utilized for various purposes as described herein.
[0167] According to some embodiments, the risk assessment
instructions 1342-2 may be operable to cause the processing device
1312 to perform a risk assessment as described herein. Location
data 1344-1 (e.g., certified location data and/or relationships) of
an object and/or area may be analyzed to create loss distributions,
for example, that may be utilized to generate a risk score for an
object and/or area being insured (e.g., in accordance with the
method 900 of FIG. 9). The risk assessment instructions 1342-2 may,
in some embodiments, utilize the location data 1344-1 to determine
relationships between objects/areas for which insurance is sought
and related objects/areas that are not the subject of an insurance
product under evaluation (e.g., the location data 1344-1 may, in
addition to storing information on objects such as buildings that
are insured, store information relating such buildings to other
buildings, roads, intersections, and/or other externality objects
that may be related to the building).
[0168] In some embodiments, the premium determination instructions
1342-3 may be executed by the processing device 1312 to calculate
an insurance premium for an insurance product (e.g., based on the
location data 1344-1). According to some embodiments, the risk
assessment instructions 1342-2 and/or the premium determination
instructions 1342-3 may utilize the customer data 1344-2 and/or the
claim/loss data 1344-3 (such as by implementing the certified
location-based risk/loss control method 1200 of FIG. 12) to update
and/or revise risk and/or premium determinations, respectively. The
apparatus 1300 may function as a computer terminal and/or server of
an insurance and/or underwriting company, for example, that is
utilized to process insurance applications. In some embodiments,
the apparatus 1300 may comprise a web server and/or other portal
(e.g., an IVRU) that provides location data 1344-1 to consumers
and/or corporations.
[0169] Any or all of the exemplary instructions and data types
described herein and other practicable types of data may be stored
in any number, type, and/or configuration of memory devices that is
or becomes known. The memory device 1340 may, for example, comprise
one or more data tables or files, databases, table spaces,
registers, and/or other storage structures. In some embodiments,
multiple databases and/or storage structures (and/or multiple
memory devices 1340) may be utilized to store information
associated with the apparatus 1300. According to some embodiments,
the memory device 1340 may be incorporated into and/or otherwise
coupled to the apparatus 1300 (e.g., as shown) or may simply be
accessible to the apparatus 1300 (e.g., externally located and/or
situated).
[0170] In some embodiments, the apparatus 1300 may comprise a
cooling device 1350. According to some embodiments, the cooling
device 1350 may be coupled (physically, thermally, and/or
electrically) to the processing device 1312 and/or to the memory
device 1340. The cooling device 1350 may, for example, comprise a
fan, heat sink, heat pipe, radiator, cold plate, and/or other
cooling component or device or combinations thereof, configured to
remove heat from portions or components of the apparatus 1300.
[0171] Referring now to FIG. 14A, FIG. 14B, FIG. 14C, and FIG. 14D,
perspective diagrams of exemplary data storage devices 1440a-d
according to some embodiments are shown. The data storage devices
1440a-d may, for example, be utilized to store instructions and/or
data such as the location data 1344-1, the customer data 1344-2,
and/or the claim/loss data 1344-3, each of which is described in
reference to FIG. 13 herein. In some embodiments, instructions
stored on the data storage devices 1440a-d may, when executed by a
processor (such as the electronic processor 1312 of FIG. 13), cause
the implementation of and/or facilitate the methods 400, 700, 800,
900, 1000, 1200 described in conjunction with FIG. 4, FIG. 7, FIG.
8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, and/or FIG. 12, and/or portions thereof, as
described herein.
[0172] According to some embodiments, the first data storage device
1440a may comprise a CD, CD-ROM, DVD, Blu-Ray.TM. Disc, and/or
other type of optically-encoded disk and/or other computer-readable
storage medium that is or becomes know or practicable. In some
embodiments, the second data storage device 1440b may comprise a
USB keyfob, dongle, and/or other type of flash memory data storage
device that is or becomes know or practicable. According to some
embodiments, the third data storage device 1440c may comprise RAM
of any type, quantity, and/or configuration that is or becomes
practicable and/or desirable. In some embodiments, the third data
storage device 1440c may comprise an off-chip cache such as a Level
2 (L2) or Level 3 (L3) cache memory device. According to some
embodiments, the fourth data storage device 1440d may comprise an
on-chip memory device such as a Level 1 (L1) cache memory
device.
[0173] The data storage devices 1440a-d may generally store program
instructions, code, and/or modules that, when executed by an
electronic and/or computerized processing device cause a particular
machine to function in accordance with embodiments described
herein. In some embodiments, the data storage devices 1440a-d
depicted in FIG. 14A, FIG. 14B, FIG. 14C, and FIG. 14D are
representative of a class and/or subset of computer-readable media
that are defined herein as "computer-readable memory" (e.g., memory
devices as opposed to transmission devices). While
computer-readable media may include transitory media types, as
utilized herein, the term computer-readable memory is limited to
non-transitory computer-readable media.
[0174] The present disclosure provides, to one of ordinary skill in
the art, an enabling description of several embodiments and/or
inventions. Some of these embodiments and/or inventions may not be
claimed in the present application, but may nevertheless be claimed
in one or more continuing applications that claim the benefit of
priority of the present application. Applicants intend to file
additional applications to pursue patents for subject matter that
has been disclosed and enabled but not claimed in the present
application.
* * * * *