Specification
Adaptive Coupling-System Based on a Flexible Risk Transfer Structure
And Corresponding Method Thereof
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to automated insurance systems, in particular
coupling-systems for automated insurance systems, that offer risk sharing for a variable
number of risk exposure components by providing dynamic self-sufficient risk protection
for the risk exposure components by means of two complementary coupled insurance
systems; e.g., a n insurance system and a reinsurance system. In particular, the invention
relates to an event-driven switching device for the complementary switching of two
coupled, autonomously operated resource-pooling systems o n the basis of a flexible
and adaptable risk transfer structure and function in order to provide risk protection
with regard to the pooled risk exposure components by means of the two
complementary, activated resource-pooling systems associated with the insurance
systems.
Background of the Invention
Risk transfer has been used for a long time in the state of the art a s a
technical tool to manage the risk of uncertain losses, in particular to keep up operation
of functional, technical or business units. These days, significant risk exposure is
associated with many aspects in the life and non-life sectors. Risk exposed units, such a s
any kinds of objects, individuals, corporate bodies and/or legal entities, are necessarily
confronted with many forms of active and passive risk management †o hedge and
protect against the risk of certain losses and events. The prior art addresses such risk o f
loss, for example, based on transferring and pooling the risk of loss from a plurality of risk
exposed entities to a dedicated pooling entity. In essence, this can be executed by
effectively allocating the risk of loss to this pooling unit or entity in that resources of
associated units, which are exposed to a certain risk, are pooled. If one of the units is hit
by a n event that is linked to a transferred risk, the pooling entity directly intercepts the
loss or damage caused by the event by transferring resources from the pooled
resources to the affected unit. Pooling of resources can be achieved by exchanging
premiums that are to be paid for the transfer of the risk. This means that predefined
resource amounts are exchanged for the other unit thereby assuming the risk of loss.
As described above, insurance systems use resource-pooling systems to
pool the resources and risks of associated risk exposed components. However, to avoid
operational instabilities, often such resource pooling systems of on insurance system are
coupled to one or more other resource pooling systems in order to redistribute parts of
their pooled risks. Correspondingly, a loss that is to be covered can be segmented by
those coupled insurance systems, wherein for switching from one insurance system to
another insurance system, a n optimal risk transfer structure has to be provided by the
systems. The issue of providing optimal reinsurance solutions is a classical problem of
insurance systems, since the appropriate use of coupled secondary resource pooling
systems, as, e.g., reinsurance systems, is often a n effective risk management tool for
managing and mitigating the risk exposure of a primary system and for guaranteeing
operational stability and operational best mode practices for a minimal pooling of
necessary resources. However, the related effectiveness depends o n the choice of the
most optimized risk transfer structure. Typically, the technical problem of optimally
coupling insurance systems can be defined a s a n issue of optimization; meaning the
goal is minimizing the total risk exposure of a n insurance system under different
boundary criteria, such as, e.g., criteria of value a t risk or conditional value a t risk, i.e. by
finding the optimal balance between the benefit (reducing the risk by purchasing
reinsurance shares) and the cost (premiums) of the redistributed insurance risk shares.
Therefore, the object of the present invention addresses the technical problem of
coupling two resource pooling systems with the goal of pooling the risk exposure of
associated components and in seeking better and more effective technical
implementations on the basis of a n appropriate risk transfer structure.
The prior art specifies a plurality of systems addressing the above-mentioned
problem. For example, US 2004/0236698 A l describes a system for automated risk
management trade between two coupled systems; in particular, a insurance and a
reinsurance system. This system provides for the transfer of premiums and loss payments
directly between the risk-pooling systems. Further, the system allows for interactions
between the two coupled systems, which allows for decision-making functions
concerning reinsurance products. However, US 2004/0236698 A l does not describe how
a loss transfer structure should be designed for a specific insurance system, or how the
insurance system should optimize its own risk exposure for the process of determining
the mitigation of its own risk. Another example of the known prior art in the field of
automated risk transfer systems is US 201 1/01 12870 A l . US 201 1/01 12870 A l discloses a
system for determining a percentage for assigning , i.e., transfer-related risk in a n
insurance pool, wherein the transferred risks are shared via a secondary resource
pooling system that is based on predefined transfer-specific conditions of a reinsurance
contract. The system mainly allows for automatically providing information a s to losses,
which is transferred to the captive resource pooling system in insurer's system and
reinsurer's system. However, US 201 1/01 12870 A l does not disclose a general method for
determining the amount of the actual risk transfer. Still another example of a prior art
patent in the field of optimal risk transfer strategies is US 7,970,682 Bl . US 7,970,682 Bl
discloses a system that automatically provides a primary resource pooling system's risk
transfer structure for the purpose of accommodating the long-standing exposure of
liabilities, for achieving significant risk transfer to a third party (reinsurer), for reducing
potential financial reporting inconsistencies between hedge assets and liabilities, for less
operational risk, and finally for having less exposure to rollover risk (due to changes in
the cost of hedging instruments); i.e., in effect, tools for assuring the operational stability
of the primary resource pooling system. US 7,970,682 Bl is not specifically directed a t
optimizing the risk transfer structures of the pooled risk of a primary resource and risk
pooling system; instead, US 7,970,682 Bl is another example for a n optimization of the
primary insurance system's risk strategies. However, nothing in the prior art provides a
system for flexible risk transfer modeling by a segmentation of the risk transfer function in
several layers using different shares, which allows for individual optimization between
the pooled resources of the secondary resource pooling system (premium) and the
appropriate benefit level for operational stability of the primary resource pooling
system.
In summary, in the prior art, existing systems, which operation are a t least
partially based o n risk transfer schemes or structures come in many different forms,
wherein they often have very different objectives and operational approaches.
However, typically, the range of schemes or structures of the prior art systems are
specific to one particular locality, sector or country, supporting the view that there is no
'one-size-fits-air solution in the prior art. Furthermore, the optimization of the prior art
systems is restricted to their structure, upon which they are based on, i.e. either by a
proportional or nor-proportional approach. Therefore, the optimizations of the prior art
systems are technically bound to their chosen risk transfer structure, a s proportional or
non-proportional. So, the prior art systems do technically not allow a flexible,
completely problem-specific adapted optimization by means of determining a n
appropriately adapted risk transfer function, moreover not by a dynamically or semidynamically
self-adapted risk transfer structure by means of the systems. Starting form
the prior art systems, constructing and assessing the effectiveness and sustainability of a
risk transfer structure, particularly in the context of adaptation of complementary
coupled systems, is a technical challenge. This goes beyond pure economic costbenefit
analysis, and it needs to include the recognition of the different optimization
objectives such a s vulnerability reduction, commercial viability, affordability, and the
financial sustainability of a scheme in the context of changing risk levels due to
optimizing risk transfer structures, but is a technical challenge on the construction a n
technical basis of such systems, themselves.
Summary of the Invention
It is one object of the present invention to provide a system and method for
sharing the risk of risk events of a variable number of risk exposure components by
providing dynamic, self-sufficient risk protection for the risk exposure components; this is
achieved by means of a primary resource-pooling system, which is stabilized and
optimized by a n appropriate partial risk transfer to at least one secondary resource and
risk pooling system using a n optimized risk transfer structure. In particular, the system
provides a n automated switching mechanism between the two coupled systems and
offers a measure for the optimization of the systems. A further object of the invention
seeks to provide a way to technically capture, handle and automate complex, related
risk transfer structures and switching operations of the insurance industry that are related
to optimally shared risks and transfer operations. Another object of the invention seeks
to synchronize and adjust such operations based on technical means. In contrast to
standard practice, the resource-pooling systems creates a reproducible operation with
the desired, technically based, repetitious accuracy that relies on technical means,
process flow and process control/operation.
According †o the present invention, these objects are achieved,
particularly, with the features of the independent claims. In addition, further
advantageous embodiments can be derived from the dependent claims and the
related descriptions.
According to the present invention, the above-mentioned objects for
complementary switching of two coupled, autonomously operated insurance systems
that are provided for the purpose of self-sufficient risk protection of a variable number
of risk exposure components are achieved, particularly, in that a system is envisioned
that includes a n event-triggered switching device; and said switching device operates
with two coupled, automated resource-pooling systems that are associated with the
insurance systems, and wherein the risk exposure components are connected to the
resource-pooling system of the first insurance system by means of a plurality of first
payment-transfer modules configured to receive and store payments from the risk
exposure components for pooling their risks, and wherein the first resource-pooling
system is connected to the second resource-pooling system of the second insurance
system by means of a second payment-transfer module configured to receive and
store payments from the resource-pooling system of the first insurance system for
transferring segmentation layers of the pooled risks of the risk exposure components
from the first insurance system to the second insurance system; and in that the switching
device comprises a top-down table providing data structures for storing a plurality of
variable risk transfer segments that comprise a n assigned segment value, and wherein
a n adaptable risk transfer function is provided by the structure of the plurality of
variable risk transfer segments by means of a n assembly module; and in that by means
of a core engine of the switching device a payment parameter is assigned to each
variable risk transfer segment of the top-down table and accumulated to form a total
payment sum, and wherein the switching device comprises a capturing device for
capturing payment transfer parameters from the first payment-transfer module to the
second payment-transfer module, and wherein, upon triggering a transfer of the total
payment sum at the second payment-transfer module, the risk exposure of the first
insurance system associated with the variable risk transfer segments is transferred to the
second insurance system; in that the core engine comprises event-driven triggers that
trigger in a data flow pathway of measuring devices, which are associated with the risk
exposure components, a signal for the occurrence of a risk event, and wherein, in case
of a triggering of a n occurrence of a risk event in the data flow pathway, the
corresponding variable risk segment is determined within the top-down table by means
of the core engine, particularly based o n the measured actual loss; and in that, in case
of the occurrence of a risk event, a n activation signal is generated by means of the
switching device based o n the determined variable risk segment and the measured
actual loss, and wherein the switching device triggers the complementary activation of
the first and second resource pooling system by means of the generated activation
signal by transferring the activation to the first and/or second resource pooling system
to provide risk protection for the risk exposure components. The data structure of the
top-down table for storing the variable risk transfer segments can a t least, for example,
comprise, for each of the stored risk segments, parameters that indicate the size of the
variable risk transfer segments and the payment parameters that are assigned to each
variable risk transfer segment of the top-down table. Further, the data structure can,
e.g., comprise a parameter indicating the accumulated total payment sum that is
required by the second resource pooling system from the first resource pooling system
for transferring the risk corresponding to the defined risk transfer structure by means of
the variable risk transfer segments. A loss that is associated with the risk event and
allocated with a pooled risk exposure component can be, e.g., distinctly covered by
the first resource pooling system of the first insurance system, such a s by means of a
transfer of payments from the first resource pooling system to said risk exposure
component, and wherein a second transfer of payment from the second resource
pooling system to the first resource pooling system is triggered by means of the
generated activation signal based on the determined variable risk segment within the
top-down table and the measured actual loss of the risk exposure component or the
adaptable risk transfer function provided by the assembly module. However, a s a n
embodied variant, it is also possible that the loss, which corresponds to the risk
transferred to the second resource pooling system a s defined by the corresponding risk
segments, is directly covered by the second resource pooling system in that resources
are transferred from the second resource pooling system to the concerned risk
exposure components. The invention has, inter alia, the advantage that the system
provides the technical means for optimizing the coupling and switching of coupled
resource pooling systems, thereby providing a n effective risk protection of risk exposed
components. The inventive system further allows for a more flexible risk transfer structure;
this is achieved by a segmentation of the risk transfer function into several layers with
different shares, instead of using a purely proportional or non-proportional risk transfer
structure. Moreover, the risk structure is easily adaptable by the first and/or second
resource pooling system to the technical or otherwise individual conditions and
requirements thereof. The segmentation allows a n optimized adjustment of the risk
transfer structure to a specific requirements of the insurance system; i.e., the primary
insurance system's risk exposure. Due to the better adjustment of risk transfer structure
and/or function, the provided solution can offer the advantages of proportional and
non-proportional risk transfer. The need for optimized insurance system coupling and
switching is a typical technical problem in the field of insurance technology; and the
appropriate use of a risk transfer coupling structure is a necessary requirement for a n
effective and optimized risk management tool for the purpose of managing and
mitigating the primary resource pooling's risk exposure. However, effectiveness depends
on the choice of the most optimized risk transfer structure, which is implemented in the
context of the switching functionality of the two coupled systems. The invention
provides supremely optimized coupling based on the classically prevalent interest of
managing the two coupled risk transfer systems, seeking better and more effective
operation and strategies based on a n appropriate risk transfer structure. The system has,
furthermore, the advantage that smaller pooled resources, in contrast to traditional
coupled resource pooling systems, are sufficient to allow for a safe operation of the
system. In addition, the operational aspects of the system are transparent to operators
a s well a s covered risk units, since payment is transferred in response to individually
adaptable risk transfer structures and related to certain definable triggers in the context
of the information pathways. Finally, the inventive system provides a new modality for
optimizing the underlying risk transfer structure in the service of risk transfer and sharing
of two coupled insurance systems by using several layers of different sharing, thereby
allowing, for example, for combining the advantages of proportional and nonproportional
risk transfer.
In one embodied variant, the switching device can, e.g., comprise
capturing means that capture a transfer of payment assigned to one of the variable risk
transfer segments from the first insurance system a t the second payment-transfer
module, wherein the assigned variable risk transfer segment is activated, and wherein
the risk exposure of the first insurance system associated with the assigned variable risk
transfer segment is transferred to the second insurance system. This embodiment variant
has, inter alia, the advantage that also single risk segments can be activated allowing
a distinct and discrete risk transfer from the first to the second resource pooling system.
In another embodied variant, the risk exposure of the first insurance system
associated with the variable risk transfer segments of the top-down table is only
transferred to the second insurance system if a seamless risk transfer function can be
provided by the structure of risk transfer segments, which provide the risk transfer
functionality by means of a n assembly module. This embodied variant has, inter alia,
the advantage that the problems of a non-continuous risk transfer structure are
avoided, which, for example, can be a problem when processing the optimization of
the risk transfer structure of the system, i.e. the underlying risk transfer functionality, by
means of the assembly module.
In a further embodied variant, the risk transfer functionality is comprised of
the plurality of stored, variable risk transfer segments, wherein the first resource pooling
system comprises a n interface module for accessing and adapting the assigned
segment value of each of the variable risk transfer segments prior to the transfer of the
payment sum from the first resource pooling system to the second resource pooling
system. This embodied variant has, inter alia, the advantage that the risk transfer
structure can be dynamically adjusted and, moreover, selected and/or optimized
directly by the first resource pooling system or the associated insurance system.
In still another embodied variant, the assembly module of the switching
device comprises means for processing risk-related component data and for providing
data a s to the likelihood of said risk exposure for one or a plurality of the pooled risk
exposure components, in particular, based on risk-related component data, and
wherein the receipt and preconditioned storage of payments from risk exposure
components for the pooling of their risks can be dynamically determined based on the
total risk and/or the likelihood of risk exposure of the pooled risk exposure components.
This embodied variant has, inter alia, the advantage that the operation of the first
and/or second resource-pooling system can be dynamically adjusted to changing
conditions in relation to the pooled risk, as, for example, a change of the environmental
conditions or risk distribution, or the like, of the pooled risk components. A further
advantage is that the system does not require any manual adjustments, when it is
operated in different environments, places or countries, because the size of the
payments of the risk exposure components is directly related to the total pooled risk.
In one embodied variant, the assembly module of the switching device
comprises means for processing risk-related component data and for providing
information a s to the likelihood of said risk exposure for one or a plurality of the pooled
risk exposure components, in particular, based on risk-related component data, and
wherein the receipt and preconditioned storage of payments from the first resource
pooling system to the second resource pooling system for the transfer of its risk can be
dynamically determined based o n the total risk and/or the likelihood of risk exposure of
the pooled risk exposure components. This embodied variant has, inter alia, the
advantage that the operation of the first and/or second resource-pooling system can
be dynamically adjusted to changing conditions of the pooled risk, as, for example,
changes of the environmental conditions or risk distribution, or the like, of the pooled risk
components. A further advantage is the fact that the system does not require any
manual adjustments, when it is operated in different environments, places or countries,
because the size of the payments of the risk exposure components is directly related to
the total pooled risk.
In one embodied variant, the number of pooled risk exposure components
is dynamically adjusted by means of the first resource-pooling system to a range where
non-covariant, occurring risks covered by the resource-pooling system affect only a
relatively small proportion of the total pooled risk exposure components a t any given
time. Analogously, the second resource pooling system can, e.g., dynamically adjust
the number of pooled risk shares transferred from first resource pooling systems to a
range where non-covariant, occurring risks covered by the second resource-pooling
system affect only a relatively small proportion of the total pooled risk transfers from first
resource pooling systems a t any given time. This variant has, inter alia, the advantage
that the operational and financial stability of the system can be improved.
In one embodied variant, the risk event triggers are dynamically adjusted
by means of a n operating module based o n time-correlated incidence data for one or
a plurality of risk events. This embodied variant has, inter alia, the advantage that
improvements in capturing risk events or avoiding the occurrence of such events, e.g.
by improved forecasting systems etc., can be dynamically captured by the system and
dynamically affect the overall operation of the system based on the total risk of the
pooled risk exposure components.
In another embodied variant, upon each triggering of a n occurrence,
where parameters indicating a risk event are measured, by means of a t least one risk
event trigger, a total parametric payment is allocated with the triggering, and wherein
the total allocated payment is Transferable upon a triggering of the occurrence. The
predefined total payments can, e.g., be leveled to any appropriate lump sum, such as,
for example, a predefined value, or any other sum related to the total transferred risk
and the amount of the periodic payments of the risk exposure component. This variant,
inter alia, has the advantage that the parametric payments or the payments of
predefined amounts, which, a s in the embodied variant, may also depend o n a first,
second, third or a plurality of trigger levels, i.e. the different stages of triggers, and allow
for a n adjusted payment of the total sum that can, e.g., be dependent o n the stage of
the occurrence of a risk event, a s triggered by the system.
In one embodied variant, a periodic payment transfer from the risk
exposure components to the resource pooling system via a plurality of payment
receiving modules is requested by means of a monitoring module of the resourcepooling
system, wherein the risk transfer or protection for the risk exposure components
is interrupted by the monitoring module, when the periodic transfer is no longer
detectable by means of the monitoring module. As a variant, the request for periodic
payment transfer can be interrupted automatically or waived by means of the
monitoring module, when the occurrence of indicators for a risk event is triggered in the
data flow pathway of a risk exposure component. These embodied variants have, inter
alia, the advantage that the system allows for further automation of the monitoring
operation, especially of its operation with regard to the pooled resources.
In a further embodied variant, a n independent verification risk event trigger
of the first and/or second resource pooling system is activated in cases when the
occurrence of indicators for a risk event is triggered in the data flow pathway of a risk
exposure component by means of the risk event triggers, and wherein the independent
verification risk event trigger, additionally, issues a trigger in the event of the occurrence
of indicators regarding risk events in a n alternative data flow pathway with
independent measuring parameters from the primary data flow pathway in order to
verify the occurrence of the risk event a t the risk exposure component. In this variant,
the transfer of payments is only assigned to the corresponding risk exposure
component, if the occurrence of the risk event a t the risk exposure component is
verified by fhe independent verification risk event trigger. These embodied variants
have, inter alia, the advantage that the operational and financial stability of the system
can thus be improved. In addition, the system is rendered less vulnerably relative to
fraud and counterfeit.
In a embodied variant, a system is provided for adaptive operation of a n
autonomously operated risk-transfer systems by providing self-sufficient risk protection of
a variable number of risk exposure components by means of a n automated resourcepooling
system capable of pooling resources and absorbing transferred risks, wherein
the risk exposure components are connected to the resource-pooling system by means
of a payment-transfer module configured for receiving and storing payments from the
risk exposure components for the pooling of their risks. The risk-transfer systems can
comprise or be associated with insurance systems, a s e.g. primary insurance systems, or
any kind of financial systems or business units capable of absorbing transferred risks. For
example, the inventive system for risk-transfer can be applied to or extended to assetbased
systems, a s operational units of financial instituts etc. In this embodied variant, a
switching device comprises a top-down table providing data structures for storing a
plurality of variable risk transfer segments comprising a n assigned segment value
providing a measure for a segmented part of the pooled risk, wherein a n adaptable risk
transfer function is provided by the structure of the plurality of variable risk transfer
segments by means of a n assembly module. By means of a core engine of the
switching device, a payment parameter is assigned to each variable risk transfer
segment of the top-down table and accumulated over all variable risk transfer
segments to a total payment sum, wherein the switching device comprises a capturing
device for capturing payment transfer parameters from the risk exposure components
to the payment-transfer module, and wherein, upon triggering a transfer of the total
payment sum a t the payment-transfer module, the risk exposure of the risk exposure
component assigned to the transfer of the payment sum is transferred to the insurance
system. The core engine comprises event-driven triggers for the triggering, in a data
flow pathway, of measuring devices associated with the risk exposure components for
the occurrence of a risk event, and wherein, in case of a triggering of a n occurrence of
a risk event in the data flow pathway, the corresponding variable risk segment is
determined within the top-down table by means of the core engine based o n the
measured actual loss. In case of the occurrence of a risk event, a n activation signal is
generated by means of the switching device based o n the determined variable risk
segment and the measured actual loss, wherein the switching device triggers the
activation of the resource-pooling system by means of the generated activation signal
by transferring the activation to the resource pooling system to provide risk protection
to the risk exposure components, and wherein the activation of the resource pooling
system is based on the adaptable risk transfer function.
In addition to the system, a s described above, and the corresponding
method, the present invention also relates to a computer program product that
includes computer program code means for controlling one or more processors of the
control system in such a manner that the control system performs the proposed
method; and it relates, in particular, to a computer program product that includes a
computer-readable medium that contains therein the computer program code means
for the processors.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The present invention will be explained in more detail, by way of example,
with reference to the drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a block diagram illustrating schematically a n exemplary
system 1with an event-triggered switching device 11 for complementary switching of
two coupled, autonomously operated insurance systems by providing a self-sufficient
risk protection of a variable number of risk exposure components 2 1, 22, 23 by means of
two automated resource-pooling systems 10, 12. The switching device 11 comprises a n
adaptable top-down table 7 providing data structures 7 11, 712, 713 for storing a
plurality of variable risk transfer segments 721 , 722, 723 comprising a n assigned segment
value 5 11, 5 12, 5 13, wherein a n adaptable risk transfer function 73 is provided by the
structure 74 of the segments 721 , 722, 723.
Figure 2 shows a block diagram illustrating schematically the coupling
structure of prior art systems using either a proportional or non-proportional switching
structure.
Figure 3 shows a block diagram illustrating schematically the coupling
structure of prior art systems using either a proportional or non-proportional switching
structure, in contrast to a n optimized coupling structure based on a n optimized risk
transfer function.
Figures 4 and 5 show block diagrams illustrating schematically a n exemplary
segmentation of a risk transfer structure by a plurality of variable risk transfer segments
721 , 722, 723 by means of a top-down table 7 of the switching device 11, comprising a n
assigned segment value 5 11, 5 12, 5 13 for a segmented part of the pooled risk, i.e. a
particular risk contribution 5 1i to the total pooled risk of the first resource pooling system.
Figure 6 shows block diagrams illustrating schematically a n exemplary
overall optimization process, a s conducted by the calculation engine of the assembly
module 5. To start the optimization process by means of the calculation engine of the
assembly module 5, standard values, a s widely accepted quantities like the ratio
between total risk transfer costs divided by the capital costs, can e.g. be used.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
Figure 1 illustrates, schematically, a n architecture for a possible
implementation of a n embodiment of the system 1 with a n event-triggered switching
device 11 for complementary switching of two coupled, autonomously operated
insurance systems by providing self-sufficient risk protection of a variable number of risk
exposure components 2 1, 22, 23 by means of two automated resource-pooling systems
10, 12 that are associated with the insurance systems. In Figure 1, reference numeral 1
refers to a system for providing optimized risk protection related to risk exposure
components 2 1, 22, 23... with the associated coupled resource-pooling systems 10, 12.
The resource-pooling systems 10, 12, which are coupled, steered and/or operated by
means of the switching device 11, provide dynamic self-sufficient risk protection and a
corresponding risk protection structure for the variable number of risk exposure
components 2 1, 22, 23; i.e., units exposed to defined risk events, wherein the
occurrence of such risk events is measurable and triggerable by means of appropriate
measuring devices and/or trigger modules triggering in the data flow pathway of
output data; i.e., measuring parameters of the measuring devices. The system 1
includes at least one processor and associated memory modules. The system 1 can also
include one or more display units and operating elements, such a s a keyboard and/or
graphic pointing devices, such a s a computer mouse. The resource-pooling systems 10
and 12 are technical devices comprising electronic means that can be used by service
providers in the field of risk transfer or insurance technology for the purpose of risk
transfer a s it relates to the occurrence of measurable risk events. The invention seeks to
capture, handle and automate by technical means complex related operations of the
automated insurance systems, in particular in a n effort of optimizing the interaction of
coupled systems, and to reduce the operational requirements. Another aspect that is
addressed is finding ways to synchronize and adjust such operations related to coupling
or switching of resource pooling systems, which are directed a t proved risk protection of
risk exposed units based on technical means. In contrast to the standard practice, the
resource-pooling systems also achieve reproducible, dynamically adjustable operations
with the desired technical, repeating accuracy, because it is completely based o n
technical means, a process flow and process control/operation.
The switching device 11 and/or the resource-pooling systems 10 and 12
comprise a n assembly module 5 for processing risk-related component data 2 11, 221 ,
231 and for providing the likelihood 212, 222, 232 of said risk exposure for one or a
plurality of the pooled risk exposure components 2 1, 22, 23, etc. based on the riskrelated
component data 2 11, 221 , 231 . The resource-pooling systems 10 and 12 a s well
a s the switching device 11 can be implemented a s a technical platform, which is
developed and implemented to provide risk transfer through a plurality of (but a t least
one) payment transfer modules 4 1 and 42. The risk exposure components 2 1, 22, 23, etc.
are connected to the resource-pooling system 10 by means of the plurality of payment
transfer modules 4 1 that are configured to receive and store payments 214, 224, 234
from the risk exposure components 2 1, 22, 23 for the pooling of their risks in a payment
data store 1. The storage of the payments can be implemented by transferring and
storing component-specific payment parameters. The payment amount can be
determined dynamically by means of the resource-pooling system 10 based o n total risk
of the overall pooled risk exposure components 2 1, 22, 23. For the pooling of the
resources, the system 1 can comprise a monitoring module 8 that requests a periodic
payment transfer from the risk exposure components 2 1, 22, 23, etc. to the resourcepooling
system 1 by means of the payment transfer module 4 1, wherein the risk
protection for the risk exposure components 2 1, 22, 23 is interrupted by the monitoring
module 8, when the periodic transfer is no longer detectable by means of the
monitoring module 8. In one embodied variant, the request for periodic payment
transfers is automatically interrupted or waived by means of the monitoring module 8,
when the occurrence of indicators for risk event is triggered in the data flow pathway of
a risk exposure component 2 1, 22, 23. Analogously, the first resource-pooling system 10
is connected to the second resource-pooling system 12 of the second insurance system
by means of a second payment-transfer module 42 that is configured for receiving and
storing payments from the resource-pooling system 10 of the first insurance system for
the transfer of risks associated with the pooled risks 50 of the risk exposure components
2 1, 22, 23 from the first insurance system 10 to the second insurance system 12. The
coupling and switching of the two complementary, autonomously operated resource
pooling systems 10, 12 is achieved by the event-triggered switching device 11 for
generating and transmitting appropriate steering signals to the first and second
resource pooling systems 10, 12.
As indicated in Figure 1, the system 1 includes a data storing module for
capturing the risk-related component data and multiple functional modules; e.g.,
namely the payment transfer modules 4 1 and 42, the core engine 3 with the risk event
triggers 3 1, 32, the assembly module 5 or the operating module 30. The functional
modules can be implemented a t least partly a s programmed software modules stored
on a computer readable medium, connected a s fixed or removable to the processor(s)
of system 1 or to associated automated systems. One skilled in the art understands,
however, that the functional modules can also be implemented fully by means of
hardware components, units and/or appropriately implemented modules. As illustrated
in Figure 1, system 1 and its components, in particular the first and second resource
pooling systems 10, 12, the switching device 11, the trigger modules 3 1,32, the
measuring devices 215, 225, 235 with the interfaces 213, 223, 232, the assembly module
5, and the payment transfer modules 4 1, 42, can be connected via a network 9 1, such
a s a telecommunications network. The network 9 1 can include a hard-wired or wireless
network; e.g., the Internet, a GSM network (Global System for Mobile Communication),
a n UMTS network (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) and/or a WLAN
(Wireless Local Region Network), and/or dedicated point-to-point communication lines.
In any case, the technical electronic money-related setup for the present system
comprises adequate technical, organizational and procedural safeguards to prevent,
contain and detect threats to the security of the structure, particularly counterfeiting
threats. The resource-pooling systems 10, 12 comprise, furthermore, all the necessary
technical means for electronic money transfer and link-up association; e.g., a s initiated
by one or more associated payment transfer modules 4 1, 42 via a n electronic network.
The monetary parameters can be based o n any possible electronic and transfer
means, such as, e.g., e-currency, e-money, electronic cash, electronic currency, digital
money, digital cash, digital currency, or cyber currency etc., which can only be
exchanged electronically. The first and second payment data stores 1, 62 provide the
means for associating and storing monetary parameters associated with a single of the
pooled risk exposure components 2 1, 22, 23. The present invention can involve the use
of the mentioned networks, such as, e.g., computer networks or telecommunication
networks, and/or the internet and digital stored value systems. Electronic funds transfer
(EFT), direct deposit, digital gold currency and virtual currency are further examples of
electronic money modalities. Also, transfers can involve technologies such a s financial
cryptography and technologies for enabling such transfers. For the transaction of the
monetary parameters, it is preferable that hard electronic currency is used, without the
technical possibilities for disputing or reversing charges. The resource-pooling systems
10, 12 support, for example, non-reversible transactions. The advantage of this
arrangement is that the operating costs of the electronic currency system are greatly
reduced by not having to resolve payment disputes. However, this way, it is also
possible for electronic currency transactions to clear instantly, making the funds
available immediately to the systems 10, 12. This means that using hard electronic
currency is rather akin to a cash transaction. However, also conceivable is the use of
soft electronic currency, such a s currency that allows for the reversal of payments, for
example having a "clearing time" of 72 hours, or the like. The way of the electronic
monetary parameter exchange applies to all connected systems and modules related
to the resource-pooling systems 10, 12 of the present invention, such as, e.g., the first
and second payment transfer modules 4 1, 42. The monetary parameter transfer to the
first and second resource-pooling system 10, 12 can be initiated by a payment-transfer
module 4 1 rsp. 42 or upon request by the related resource-pooling system 10 or 12.
The system 1 comprises a n event-driven core engine 3 comprising risk event
triggers 3 1, 32 for triggering component-specific measuring parameters in the data flow
pathway 2 13, 223, 233 of the assigned risk exposure components 2 1, 22, 23. The data
flow pathway 213, 223, 233 can, e.g., be monitored by the system by means of
measuring devices 215, 225, 235 that are connected to a data flow pathway 9 via the
interfaces 213, 223, 233; in particular, it can be monitored by the resource-pooling
systems 10 and/or 12 and/or the switching device 11, thereby capturing componentrelated
measuring parameters of the data flow pathway 213, 223, 233 a t least
periodically and/or within predefined time periods. According to a n embodied variant,
the data flow pathway 2 13, 223, 233 can, for example, also be dynamically monitored
by the system 1, such a s by triggering component-measuring parameters of the data
flow pathway 213, 223, 233 that are transmitted from associated measuring systems 215,
225, 235. Triggering the data flow pathway 213, 223, 233, which comprises dynamically
recorded measuring parameters of the concerned risk exposure components 2 1, 22, 23,
the system 1 is able to detect the occurrence of predefined risk events based on
predefined trigger parameters. Further, the system 1 can, e.g., also dynamically monitor
different stages during the progress of the impact of a risk event on the risk exposure
component 2 1, 22, 23 in order to provide appropriately adapted and gradated risk
protection for a specific risk exposure component 2 1, 22, 23. Such a risk protection
structure is based o n received and stored payments 214, 224, 234 from the related risk
exposure component 2 1, 22, 23 and/or related to the total risk 50 of the resourcepooling
system 10, based o n the overall transferred risks of all pooled risk exposure
components 2 1, 22, 23.
The switching device 11 comprises a top-down table 7, e.g. realized a s a
searchable, hierarchically structured data hash table. The top-down table 7 provides
hierarchical data structures 7 11, 7 12, 7 13 for storing a plurality of variable risk transfer
segments 721 , 722, 723 by means of assigned segment values 5 1 1, 5 12, 5 13. In this way,
the i-†h variable risk transfer segment 721 , 722, 723 comprises the i-†h measure for a part
of a segmented layer, i.e. a part of the i-†h risk contribution, of the total pooled risk 50.
By means of the measures of the parts of the segmented risk layers of the pooled risk,
a n adaptable risk transfer function 73 is provided by the structure 74 of the plurality of
variable risk transfer segments 721 , 722, 723 by means of the assembly module 5. For
example, the risk transfer function 73 can be generated by means of the assembly
module 5 by interpolating the assigned segment values 5 11, 5 12, 5 13 a s support points
or interpolation points. For connecting the supporting interpolation points, i.e. the
segment values 5 11, 5 12, 5 13, structured by the top-down structure of the variable risk
transfer segment 721 , 722, 723, the assembly module 5 can provide a polynomial or any
other appropriate approach for the risk transfer function 73, linking the different
segment values 5 11, 5 12, 5 13 to each other. The risk transfer function 73 generated by
the assembly module 5 and applied to the structure 74 can e.g. comprise a n
appropriate parameterization or interpolation function, a s e.g. any appropriate
continuous and/or stepless and/or smooth and/or analytic and/or polynomial and/or
lagrangian function. However, the assembly module 5 also can select simpler functions
to the structures 74, a s e.g. a convex and/or concave and/or exponential structure and
function, respectively, in order to provide the correct risk transfer. As a border case, the
risk transfer structure can even e.g. adopt a typical stop-loss structure based o n the
segment values 5 11, 5 12, 5 13. The selection of the appropriate risk transfer function 73
can e.g. be performed semi or fully automated by the system 1 from a predefined set
of risk transfer functions based o n e.g. definable selection criteria. As a variant, the
assembly module 5 can also provide the risk transfer, i.e. the appropriate transfer
function 73, by connecting the assigned segment values 5 11, 5 12, 5 13 a s support points
of the risk transfer interpolating or building otherwise a smooth connection over all
assigned segment values 5 11, 5 12, 5 13, e.g. in a continuously adjustable manner. As a n
additional embodiment variant, the input to the assembly module 5 for providing the
risk transfer function 73 can e.g. be directly parameters of a parameterizable form of a
risk transfer function 73, i.e. any appropriate continuous and/or stepless and/or smooth
and/or analytic and/or polynomial and/or lagrangian and/or convex/concave and/or
exponential function. In the latter embodiment variant, the risk transfer function 73 of
the system 1 is not based on risk transfer segments 721 , 722, 723 with assigned segment
values 5 11, 512, 513, but directly on the parameters of the function representing the risk
transfer structure 73. Therefore, in this case, the adjustment or optimization of the risk
transfer by the first insurance system 10 and/or the risk exposed components is directly
achieved by the operational parameters of a n appropriate risk transfer function 73. In
contrast, a s a further variant, the risk transfer performed by the system 1 can e.g.
directly be based on the variable risk transfer segments 721 , 722, 723 by means of
assigned segment values 5 1 1, 5 12, 5 13, wherein the value of the assigned segment
values 5 11, 512, 513 denote the switching threshold of the risk transfer, transferring the
risk above or below the segment values 5 11, 5 12, 5 13 to the second insurance system
12. In this embodiment variant, the risk transfer provided by the structure 74 is not
stepless, however, in the limes (edge) to very small width of the variable risk transfer
segments 721 , 722, 723, the risk transfer segments 721 , 722, 723 approach a seamless
and/or stepless risk transfer function by means of assigned segment values 5 1 1, 5 12, 5 13,
more and more.
In a further embodiment variant, the segment values 5 11, 512, 513 of the risk
transfer segments 721 , 722, 723 are self-adapted by means of the system 1, thereby
optimizing the resulting risk transfer function 73. However, the optimization can also be
performed by dedicated external means. The system 1 and/or the dedicated external
means can e.g. operate the optimization until a local or global maximum or minimum,
respectively, is achieved, or until a predefined target value is achieved. Finally, the
optimization can be based on different sets of optimization criteria or by a specific
selection a certain set of optimization criteria. As a condition for optimization, it is clear
that the risk transfer structure 74 and the assigned risk transfer function 73 should be
related to the risk assumed or predicted, and preferable, if the risk assessment is correct,
with the occurrence of the corresponding risk events within the defined time frame. In
a n embodiment variant, the trade-off between frequency and severity can be
considered, a s a boundary condition, to achieve a preferred or optimized risk transfer,
wherein the severity is the conditional expected loss (CEL) a s a consequent of the
occurrence of a risk event and the frequency of the occurrence of the risk event
and/or the frequency of loss is the probability of first dollar loss (PFL). In general, to
define the optimization parameter, a n approach can e.g. be chosen, where X denotes
a loss assessed by the fist insurance system 10 in absence of a coupled second
insurance system 12, wherein X is assumed a s a non-negative random variable o n the
probability space (, / , ¥) with a cumulative distribution function Fx(x) = ¥(X
Documents
Application Documents
| # |
Name |
Date |
| 1 |
201627034770-FER.pdf |
2020-05-26 |
| 1 |
Form 5 [12-10-2016(online)].pdf |
2016-10-12 |
| 2 |
Form 3 [12-10-2016(online)].pdf |
2016-10-12 |
| 2 |
201627034770-Correspondence-231116.pdf |
2018-08-11 |
| 3 |
Drawing [12-10-2016(online)].pdf |
2016-10-12 |
| 3 |
201627034770-Power of Attorney-231116.pdf |
2018-08-11 |
| 4 |
201627034770.pdf |
2018-08-11 |
| 4 |
Description(Complete) [12-10-2016(online)].pdf |
2016-10-12 |
| 5 |
Other Patent Document [16-11-2016(online)].pdf |
2016-11-16 |
| 5 |
abstract1.jpg |
2018-08-11 |
| 6 |
Form 26 [16-11-2016(online)].pdf |
2016-11-16 |
| 6 |
Form 18 [02-12-2016(online)].pdf |
2016-12-02 |
| 7 |
Form 3 [18-11-2016(online)].pdf |
2016-11-18 |
| 8 |
Form 26 [16-11-2016(online)].pdf |
2016-11-16 |
| 8 |
Form 18 [02-12-2016(online)].pdf |
2016-12-02 |
| 9 |
Other Patent Document [16-11-2016(online)].pdf |
2016-11-16 |
| 9 |
abstract1.jpg |
2018-08-11 |
| 10 |
201627034770.pdf |
2018-08-11 |
| 10 |
Description(Complete) [12-10-2016(online)].pdf |
2016-10-12 |
| 11 |
201627034770-Power of Attorney-231116.pdf |
2018-08-11 |
| 11 |
Drawing [12-10-2016(online)].pdf |
2016-10-12 |
| 12 |
Form 3 [12-10-2016(online)].pdf |
2016-10-12 |
| 12 |
201627034770-Correspondence-231116.pdf |
2018-08-11 |
| 13 |
Form 5 [12-10-2016(online)].pdf |
2016-10-12 |
| 13 |
201627034770-FER.pdf |
2020-05-26 |
Search Strategy
| 1 |
201627034770_searchE_21-05-2020.pdf |