Social Network Risk Assessment Engine for Insurance Underwriting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Insurance companies face challenges in predicting safe drivers without detailed personal information, as existing methods rely on limited actuarial data and fail to assess risk effectively beyond individual features.

Innovation Solution

A system and method utilizing a social network interface and risk engine to collect and synthesize social perceptions of risk from connections between users, allowing for a more comprehensive risk assessment by analyzing social network data and integrating it with actuarial statistics and telematic data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional actuarial data based on individual features is used for risk assessment, then the assessment process is simple and quick, but the accuracy and reliability of risk prediction is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverisk assessment accuracyVSAvoidassessment system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple data sources including social network data, telematic driving data, and traditional actuarial data into a unified risk assessment model. This integration allows the system to leverage diverse information streams to improve prediction accuracy while distributing the complexity across multiple coordinated components rather than a single monolithic system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension to traditional risk assessment by incorporating social network relationships and peer driver behaviors. Instead of assessing risk based solely on individual driver characteristics, the system evaluates drivers within the context of their social networks and comparative peer groups, adding a relational dimension that enhances predictive power.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If detailed personal information is collected for risk assessment, then the accuracy of driver safety prediction improves, but the ease of operation and customer experience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver safety prediction accuracyVSAvoidinformation collection ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically collects and processes risk assessment data through integrated social network APIs and telematic devices without requiring manual input from customers. Drivers provide consent for data sharing, and the system autonomously aggregates social network information, driving behavior data, and actuarial information, eliminating the burden of detailed personal information collection while maintaining high assessment accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If social network data is integrated into risk assessment, then the reliability of risk prediction improves, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring relevant factors increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverisk prediction reliabilityVSAvoidsocial network data analysis difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs an intermediary processing layer that aggregates and normalizes social network data from multiple sources before feeding it into the risk assessment model. This intermediary component translates complex social network relationships into standardized risk indicators, making the data suitable for actuarial analysis while preserving the reliability benefits of social network information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If comprehensive data integration is performed for risk assessment, then the productivity of insurance underwriting improves, but the loss of information privacy increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunderwriting efficiencyVSAvoidinformation privacy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements differentiated data collection and processing based on local needs and consent preferences. Each driver can selectively control which data sources are accessed and how their information is used, allowing personalized privacy settings while maintaining underwriting productivity. The system processes only the minimum necessary data for each specific underwriting decision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS9996811B2System and method for assessing risk through a social network
Publication Date: 2018.06.12 CREDIT KARMA LLC
  • US9996811B2 patent drawing
  • US9996811B2 patent drawing
  • US9996811B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method for assessing risk through a social network includes receiving user social network data, generating a risk map from the user social network data, and calculating a risk assessment based on the risk map and the user social network data.