Patents by Inventor Melinda Teresa Magerkurth

Melinda Teresa Magerkurth has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20210166327
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for interacting with smart contracts stored on a blockchain to control vehicle related activity. The systems and methods may include (1) receiving one or more transactions from one or more computing devices, the transactions associated with a particular vehicle and include a VIN for the vehicle and indicative of at least one of a trigger condition associated with the vehicle; (2) compiling the one or more transactions into a block of transactions; (3) distributing the block to a plurality of validation entities to form a consensus on an update to the distributed ledger; (4) routing the one or more transactions within the block to respective smart contracts associated with the VIN; and/or (5) automatically executing an action the particular smart contract directs should be performed in response to the particular trigger condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: William J. Leise, Jacob J. Alt, Jaime Skaggs, Eric Bellas, Shawn M. Call, Eric R. Moore, Melinda Teresa Magerkurth, Vicki King
  • Publication number: 20210166233
    Abstract: The present methods and systems relate to using and accessing data stored in a blockchain, and in particular, interacting with the blockchain and users via smart contracts to handle account funding and distribution methods. The methods and systems include receiving a transaction from a participant, and verifying the transaction, such as by accessing a smart contract stored on the blockchain and checking a set of parameters against a set of conditions stored in the smart contract. Depending on whether the set of parameters satisfy the conditions, the results may be communicated to participants about the success or failure of the transaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Jacob J. Alt, Eric Bellas, Jaime Skaggs, Shawn M. Call, Melinda Teresa Magerkurth, Vicki King, Charles H. Roscow, Scott Shoop, Greg Hayes, Robert Alpine Jennings, Amber Nelson-Wolfe, Shyam Tummala
  • Publication number: 20210133888
    Abstract: Systems and methods track a vehicle identifier or VIN on a blockchain maintained by a plurality of participants. One method may include (1) receiving, at a processor, a notification of a vehicle loss report from a first participant; (2) storing, at a memory coupled with the processor, the vehicle loss report on the blockchain; (3) generating, at the processor, a coverage amount based upon the vehicle loss report; (4) generating, at the processor, an order based upon the notification, wherein the order includes a repair assignment and a replacement vehicle request; (5) storing, at the memory, the repair assignment on the blockchain; (6) transmitting, at the processor, the order to at least a second participant; (7) receiving, at the processor, a repair estimate from the second participant; and/or (8) transmitting, at the processor, the repair estimate and the coverage amount to the first participant to facilitate maintaining a blockchain up-to-date.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: William J. Leise, Jacob J. Alt, Jaime Skaggs, Eric Bellas, Shawn M. Call, Eric R. Moore, Melinda Teresa Magerkurth, Vicki King
  • Patent number: 10943307
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for interacting with smart contracts stored on a blockchain to control vehicle related activity. The systems and methods may include (1) receiving one or more transactions from one or more computing devices, the transactions associated with a particular vehicle and include a VIN for the vehicle and indicative of at least one of a trigger condition associated with the vehicle; (2) compiling the one or more transactions into a block of transactions; (3) distributing the block to a plurality of validation entities to form a consensus on an update to the distributed ledger; (4) routing the one or more transactions within the block to respective smart contracts associated with the VIN; and/or (5) automatically executing an action the particular smart contract directs should be performed in response to the particular trigger condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: William J. Leise, Jacob J. Alt, Jaime Skaggs, Eric Bellas, Shawn M. Call, Eric R. Moore, Melinda Teresa Magerkurth, Vicki King
  • Patent number: 10929931
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed with respect to using a distributed ledger, such as a blockchain, for facilitating carrier discovery. More specifically, the distributed ledger may be utilized to track insured individuals, their insurance policies, the insurance companies holding each of their policies, etc. This may be useful for facilitating exchange of insurance information between drivers after an automobile accident when drivers want to exchange insurance information and/or verify that the other is insured, facilitating subrogation (e.g., when an insurance company pays for an first insured party's losses but subsequently pursues reimbursement from an insurance company of a second at-fault party), and/or facilitating a determination of whether a driver has excess liability coverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Ronny S. Bryant, Stacie A. McCullough, Mitchell J. Hill, Jacob J. Alt, Jaime Skaggs, Shawn M. Call, Eric Bellas, Vicki King, Melinda Teresa Magerkurth
  • Patent number: 10891694
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed with respect to using a blockchain for managing the subrogation claim process related to a vehicle accident, in particular, utilizing a vehicle's mode of operation as part of the subrogation process. An exemplary embodiment includes receiving sensor data; determining that a vehicle collision occurred based upon, at least in part, analysis of the sensor data, such as image, audio, telematics, or autonomous vehicle system data; determining an operational mode for the vehicle based upon, at least in part, analysis of the sensor data, and the operational mode at the time of the accident; determining a percentage of fault for a driver or autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle system, or lack thereof, based upon the sensor data, and whom or which autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle system was in control of the vehicle at the time of the vehicle collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: William J. Leise, Douglas A. Graff, Anthony McCoy, Jaime Skaggs, Shawn M. Call, Stacie A. McCullough, Wendy H. Clayton, Melinda Teresa Magerkurth, Kim E. Flesher, Travis Charles Runge
  • Patent number: 10872381
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed with respect to using a blockchain for managing the subrogation claim process related to a vehicle collision, in particular, utilizing evidence oracles as part of the subrogation process. An exemplary embodiment includes receiving recorded data from one or more connected devices at a geographic location; analyzing the recorded data, wherein analyzing the recorded data includes determining that an collision has occurred involving one or more vehicles; generating a transaction including the data indicative of the collision based upon the analysis; and transmitting the transaction to at least one other participant in the distributed ledger network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: William J. Leise, Douglas A. Graff, Anthony McCoy, Jaime Skaggs, Shawn M. Call, Stacie A. McCullough, Wendy H. Clayton, Melinda Teresa Magerkurth, Kim E. Flesher, Travis Charles Runge
  • Patent number: 10861015
    Abstract: The present methods and systems relate to using and accessing data stored in a blockchain, and in particular, interacting with the blockchain and users via smart contracts to handle account funding and distribution methods. The methods and systems include receiving a transaction from a participant, and verifying the transaction, such as by accessing a smart contract stored on the blockchain and checking a set of parameters against a set of conditions stored in the smart contract. Depending on whether the set of parameters satisfy the conditions, the results may be communicated to participants about the success or failure of the transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Jacob J. Alt, Eric Bellas, Jaime Skaggs, Shawn M. Call, Melinda Teresa Magerkurth, Vicki King, Charles H. Roscow, Scott Shoop, Greg Hayes, Robert Alpine Jennings, Amber Nelson-Wolfe, Shyam Tummala
  • Patent number: 10832242
    Abstract: The present methods and systems relate to using and accessing data stored in a blockchain, and in particular, interacting with the blockchain and users via smart contracts to handle account funding and distribution methods. The methods and systems include receiving a transaction from a participant, and verifying the transaction, such as by accessing a smart contract stored on the blockchain and checking a set of parameters against a set of conditions stored in the smart contract. Depending on whether the set of parameters satisfy the conditions, the results may be communicated to participants about the success or failure of the transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Jacob J. Alt, Eric Bellas, Jaime Skaggs, Shawn M. Call, Melinda Teresa Magerkurth, Vicki King, Charles H. Roscow, Scott Shoop, Greg Hayes, Robert Alpine Jennings, Amber Nelson-Wolfe, Shyam Tummala
  • Patent number: 10824747
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing and/or processing a blockchain to maintain data security for confidential and/or personal data are provided. According to certain aspects, the disclosed data security techniques may enable access sharing functionality utilizing the blockchain. For example, access sharing may be utilized to share policy information. The policy information may be associated with a smart contract. Accordingly, the policy information may be encrypted using a public key for the smart contract and compiled into a block of the blockchain. In response to a request to provide access to the information to a particular node, the private key for the smart contract may be encrypted using the public key for the particular node and compiled into a block of the blockchain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Melinda Teresa Magerkurth, Eric Bellas, Jaime Skaggs, Shawn M. Call, Eric R. Moore, Vicki King, Burton J. Floyd, David Turrentine, Steven T. Olson, Timothy Caleb Wells, Corin Rebekah Chapman, Edward W. Breitweiser, Robert Gomez, Shelia Cummings Smith
  • Patent number: 10824759
    Abstract: Methods and systems for processing a blockchain comprising a plurality of immutable sales records corresponding to sales made by agents of an entity are provided. According to certain aspects, a transaction request indicating a sale made by an agent of the entity may be received at a first node. A block including a sales record indicating the sale made by the agent may be added to a blockchain and transmitted to another node for validation. The first node may add the block to a copy of the blockchain, where the block may be identified by a hash value that references a previous block in the blockchain that includes at least one additional sales record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Melinda Teresa Magerkurth, Eric Bellas, Jaime Skaggs, Shawn M. Call, Eric R. Moore, Vicki King, Burton J. Floyd, David Turrentine, Steven T. Olson, Timothy Caleb Wells, Corin Rebekah Chapman, Edward W. Breitweiser, Robert Gomez, Shelia Cummings Smith
  • Patent number: 10824746
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing and/or processing a blockchain to maintain data security for confidential and/or personal data are provided. According to certain aspects, the disclosed data security techniques may enable access sharing functionality utilizing the blockchain. For example, access sharing may be utilized to file documents, share policy information, and/or comply with an audit. The data security techniques disclosed herein also enable the use of smart contracts to transfer funds associated with payment obligations and/or other forms of blockchain based payments, comply with anti-money laundering requirements, report industry data, validate interest payments and/or maintain agent sales data. Data security may be achieved through the use of public key/private key encryption techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Melinda Teresa Magerkurth, Eric Bellas, Jaime Skaggs, Shawn M. Call, Eric R. Moore, Vicki King, Burton J. Floyd, David Turrentine, Steven T. Olson, Timothy Caleb Wells, Corin Rebekah Chapman, Edward W. Breitweiser, Robert Gomez, Shelia Cummings Smith
  • Patent number: 10817953
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for creating, maintaining, and interacting with a distributed ledger for VIN recordkeeping related to a particular vehicle. The systems and methods include the use of smart contracts, and receiving information about the vehicle, such as a description of the vehicle, whether the vehicle is covered by insurance, financial information related to the vehicle, and any maintenance data about the vehicle. This information may be used to create a distributed ledger for the particular vehicle, and during the vehicle's lifetime events related to the vehicle may be recorded in the distributed ledger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: William J. Leise, Jacob J. Alt, Jaime Skaggs, Eric Bellas, Shawn M. Call, Eric R. Moore, Melinda Teresa Magerkurth, Vicki King
  • Patent number: 10817891
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for identifying vehicle care that may reduce risk in fields not directly associated with a vehicle itself. One or more electronic sources may provide an indication of care (e.g., service, maintenance, or part configuration) of a vehicle by a user, and the vehicle care may be determined to be associated with a lowered risk for an entity (e.g., a home or business) operated by the same user in another field not associated with operation of the vehicle itself. In response, a user-specific reward may be generated and transmitted to the user, to further incentivize vehicle care and other risk averse behavior in the other field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Daryoush Hakimi-Boushehri, Wayne Walk, Melinda Teresa Magerkurth, Andrew Joseph Zeglin, EllaKate LeFebre, Jessica Lynn Shull
  • Patent number: 10776878
    Abstract: A data aggregation and processing engine optimizes underwriting decisions in the life insurance industry by using social media data to reduce the level of underwriting required. Social media data enables underwriting thresholds based on risk assessments and credibility correlations within publicly available social media data sets with options for opting into more detailed analysis of private social data. Activity monitors further refine appropriate underwriting actions together with correlations with provided biographical data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew Joseph Zeglin, Jessica Lynn Shull, David Turrentine, Edward W. Breitweiser, Melinda Teresa Magerkurth
  • Patent number: 10740849
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for interacting with smart contracts stored on a blockchain to control vehicle related activity. The systems and methods may include (1) receiving one or more transactions from one or more computing devices, the transactions associated with a particular vehicle and include a VIN for the vehicle and indicative of at least one of a trigger condition associated with the vehicle; (2) compiling the one or more transactions into a block of transactions; (3) distributing the block to a plurality of validation entities to form a consensus on an update to the distributed ledger; (4) routing the one or more transactions within the block to respective smart contracts associated with the VIN; and/or (5) automatically executing an action the particular smart contract directs should be performed in response to the particular trigger condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: William J. Leise, Jacob J. Alt, Jaime Skaggs, Eric Bellas, Shawn M. Call, Eric R. Moore, Melinda Teresa Magerkurth, Vicki King
  • Patent number: 10733160
    Abstract: Methods and systems maintain a distributed ledger of transactions pertaining to a particular vehicle. The method may include (1) receiving, by one or more processors, vehicle data from one or more remote computing devices; (2) detecting, by the one or more processors, a vehicle-related event from analysis of the vehicle data; (3) identifying, by the one or more processors, a VIN of the vehicle when a vehicle-related event is detected; (4) generating, by the one or more processors, a transaction including (i) the vehicle's VIN, and (ii) describing the vehicle-related event; and (5) transmitting, by the one or more processors, to a server the transaction to facilitate maintaining a VIN-based distributed ledger for the particular vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: William J. Leise, Jacob J. Alt, Jaime Skaggs, Eric Bellas, Shawn M. Call, Eric R. Moore, Melinda Teresa Magerkurth, Vicki King
  • Patent number: 10719501
    Abstract: The present embodiments relate to systems and methods for using a blockchain to record information related to processes and services in the vehicle industry. The systems and methods may include (1) receiving an indication of vehicle being involved a vehicle collision and a vehicle VIN; (2) accessing, at a memory, a loss history blockchain associated with the vehicle using the VIN as a key; (3) receiving vehicle sensor data generated or collected prior to, during, and/or after the vehicle collision; (4) creating a block to add to the loss history blockchain that includes the vehicle sensor data, or otherwise updating the loss history blockchain with the vehicle sensor data associated with the vehicle collision; (5) analyzing the vehicle sensor data to reconstruct the vehicle collision; and/or (6) updating the loss history blockchain to include and/or indicate the reconstructed vehicle collision by including the created block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: William J. Leise, Jacob J. Alt, Jaime Skaggs, Eric Bellas, Shawn M. Call, Eric R. Moore, Melinda Teresa Magerkurth, Vicki King