Smart Home Controller for Homeowner-Directed Property Risk Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems lack the ability to effectively aggregate and analyze data from smart appliances to detect and mitigate insurance-related risks in homes, such as damage from water, fire, or equipment failure, leading to potential property damage and increased insurance claims.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that utilizes a smart home controller to monitor various conditions within a property, receive sensor data, detect potential insurance-related events, and transmit instructions to connected devices to prevent or mitigate damage, leveraging wireless communication networks and processors to automate responses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If smart appliances communicate data via mesh networks, then data availability for risk detection is improved, but the ability to aggregate and analyze this data effectively is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system comprising a server and processing apparatus that receives data from multiple smart appliances via mesh networks. This intermediary aggregates sensor data, analyzes patterns, and generates risk assessments, effectively bridging the gap between distributed data collection and actionable risk detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a universal data processing platform that can handle multiple types of sensor data from various appliance sources (temperature, humidity, motion, etc.) and perform multiple functions including risk detection, pattern recognition, and predictive analytics, making the system adaptable to different risk scenarios.
2Reliability
If the system automatically detects and mitigates risks, then property damage is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into distinct functional modules: data collection layer (smart appliances), data transmission layer (mesh network), data processing layer (server with processing apparatus), and action execution layer (mitigation devices). This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The server acts as an intermediary that manages the complexity of coordinating multiple appliances and mitigation devices. It centralizes the decision-making logic for risk mitigation, simplifying the control architecture while enabling automated property protection.
3Loss of energy
If timely mitigation actions are taken, then insurance claims are decreased, but response time requirements increase system reactivity
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary risk assessment and pattern recognition by continuously analyzing sensor data before actual damage occurs. It identifies early warning signs and potential risk patterns, enabling preventive actions to be taken before insurance claims are triggered, thereby reducing losses while maintaining appropriate response timing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where sensor data from appliances is constantly monitored, analyzed, and used to adjust risk assessments. This feedback mechanism enables the system to respond dynamically to changing conditions, optimizing the timing of mitigation actions to maximize loss prevention while avoiding premature or unnecessary interventions.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for homeowner-directed risk mitigation for damage to a property associated with insurance-related events are provided. A smart home controller may analyze data received from a plurality of smart devices disposed on, or proximate to, a property as well as data received from an insurance provider. If it is determined that an actual or potential risk of property damage exists, the smart home controller may transmit an alert to a homeowner detailing the risk. The homeowner may respond to the alert by transmitting an instruction to mitigate or prevent damage associated with the risk back to the smart home controller. Subsequently, the smart home controller may transmit information about the actual or potential risks and any homeowner-directed mitigative actions to an insurance provider. The insurance provider may interpret the transmitted data and perform insurance activities, such as providing discounts and adjusting an insurance policy associated with the property.