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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a computerized system for automatically
generating documents, and more particularly to a rule based system that
assembles documents based on rule sets assigned to clauses of text. The
present invention is particularly suitable for use in generating insurance
policies.
Various computer assisted documentation systems are known in the art. For
example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,366 to Buchanan, et al. discloses a document
generation system for enhancing or replacing the dictation and
transcription process. Standard ("boiler-plate") paragraphs are assembled
by selecting the desired paragraphs from a checklist. The resultant
document can be customized by inserting words into the document through
the use of a word processor. The documents are not assembled by any type
of rule checking process, and it is possible to end up with a document
having conflicting or inconsistent paragraphs.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,526 to Luchs, et al. relates to a computerized
insurance premium quote request and policy issuance system that prepares
and writes insurance contracts. Entered or stored data is merged with
predetermined text data to compile data for a final insurance document.
The compiled data is then communicated to a printer for printing the
insurance document. This system is not a rule based system, and requires
an ongoing dialog with a user (e.g., insurance agent or underwriter) to
create an insurance policy.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,539 to Fox discloses a system for writing a policy
insuring against the occurrence of a specified weather condition. The
system computes a premium based on various parameters, and provides a
policy by filling in blanks on a preprinted insurance policy form. A
printer is provided for filling in the blank spaces provided on the
preprinted form, including the name of the party which is to own the
policy, the amount of the insurance, the weather condition insured
against, the location or locations of interest, the time period of
interest, the amount of the premium and other such information. The
completed form is then available for submission to the party which is to
own the policy.
The generation of an insurance policy that does not rely on a preprinted
form is a complicated task. In the past, insurance policies have been
assembled from a standard, preprinted "core policy" that is modified by
"endorsements" attached thereto. The endorsements are separate printed
sheets that add, delete, or provide substitutes for specific policy
provisions. This industry practice results in a policy that can be
difficult to follow and understand.
The generation of an insurance contract is further complicated by Various
state laws that require different language for essentially the same
coverage in different states. Certain states have other requirements that
result in the addition of special clauses to the insurance policy. Prior
to issuing a policy, it is critical to verify that the specific
requirements of applicable state laws and regulations have been complied
with in all respects. The collation of the proper endorsement pages with a
core policy and verification for compliance with the relevant state laws
is a complicated and time consuming process.
It would be advantageous to provide a rule based computer system for
generating insurance policy contracts. Such a system would use rules to
test each potential policy clause against the coverages desired to
determine which clauses are required and valid for the insurance coverage
requested by a proposed insured. It would be further advantageous for such
a system to provide a complete contract, without the need for separate
endorsement pages that modify clauses on other pages of the document. Such
a policy would be complete from start to finish, with all clauses in the
proper order and containing the proper language to meet appropriate state
requirements. It would be still further advantageous to enable the
generation of complete and correct insurance policies from an input file
created by a system user. The system should enable a user to merely enter
the coverages desired into a computer, and should then prompt the user for
any additional information necessary (such as endorsements desired) based
on the initial coverages indicated. After generating a complete policy
based on the requested coverages and endorsements, it would be
advantageous for the system to format and print the policy for issuance by
an insurance company.
The present invention provides a rule based document generation system
having the aforementioned advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a rule based document generation
system is provided for constructing insurance policies in response to
coverage information input by a user. The system includes a computer
system and memory means associated with the computer system for storing a
library of insurance policy clauses and a rule set for each clause. Means
are provided for entering coverage information to the computer system
identifying at least one coverage to be provided in an insurance policy.
Means are provided for processing the rule sets in the computer system to
identify those that are satisfied by the entered coverage information.
Means responsive to the processing means retrieve the clauses associated
with the identified rule sets from memory. The retrieved clauses are then
assembled into an insurance policy.
The apparatus can further comprise a printer coupled to the computer system
for printing the insurance policy. The printer portion of the computer
system can comprise a separate computer remote from the computer that
processes the rule sets. In such an embodiment, the memory means can
comprise a first memory for storing the rule sets and a second memory for
storing the actual insurance policy clauses. The means for entering
coverage information and means for processing the rule sets comprise a
first computer of the computer system coupled to the first memory for
providing a list of the insurance policy clauses that correspond to the
identified rule sets. The retrieving means comprise a second computer of
the computer system coupled to the second memory for retrieving the
clauses set forth on said list and formatting them for printing.
The rule sets can each comprise, for example, at least one character
identifying either a rule or a coverage and at least one operator to be
applied to the character. In this manner, individual clauses can be
associated with a specific coverage or group of coverages, and the clause
will be selected only if the coverage(s) selected require that clause.
In another embodiment, a rule based document generation system is provided
for constructing insurance policies in response to coverage information
input to the system. A computer system is associated with memory means
that store (i) a library of insurance policy clauses, (ii) a rule set for
each insurance policy clause, (iii) a library of endorsements (i.e.,
modifiers), and (iv) a rule set for each endorsement. Means are provided
for entering coverage information to the computer system identifying at
least one coverage to be provided in an insurance policy. The computer
system includes first means for processing the rule sets associated with
the insurance policy clauses to identify and provide a list of the
insurance policy clauses whose rule sets are satisfied by the entered
coverage information. Second means process the rule sets associated with
the endorsements to identify and provide a list of the endorsements whose
rule sets are satisfied by the insurance policy clauses identified by the
first processing means. The endorsements on the list are selectable by a
user to provide endorsement clauses for modifying insurance policy clauses
identified by the first processing means. Means are provided for revising
the list of insurance policy clauses with data identifying endorsement
clauses corresponding to endorsements selected from the list of
endorsements. The insurance policy clauses and the endorsement clauses
identified by the revised list are assembled into the insurance policy.
In the foregoing embodiment, the first processing means can comprise means
for tentatively identifying a clause associated with a rule set that is
satisfied by the entered coverage information. Means responsive to the
entered coverage information determine whether the tentatively identified
clause is valid for use in the insurance policy. Means responsive to the
determining means identify a substitute clause instead of the tentatively
identified clause in the event that the tentatively identified clause is
invalid for use in the insurance policy. For example, a tentatively
identified clause may not be valid for use in a particular state. In this
instance, the entered coverage information (which includes the policy
owner's state) is used to determine that a substitute clause must be
provided instead of the tentatively identified clause in order for the
policy to be valid in the policy holder's state.
Insurance policy clauses may become obsolete over time. It is desired to
maintain a history of such clauses, so that an insurance company will
always have a record of what clauses it has used in its policies at any
given time. Such a history will also enable the insurance company to
recreate a policy from a prior time period if necessary for claims
coverage or legal proceedings. In order to accomplish this, the present
invention provides an alias file for cross-referencing obsolete insurance
policy clauses to corresponding replacement clauses. The second processing
means examine the alias file and identify endorsements whose rule sets are
satisfied by obsolete insurance policy clauses that have been replaced by
replacement clauses identified by the first processing means.
The present invention further provides means for formatting an insurance
policy for printing after retrieving the insurance policy clauses and
endorsement clauses identified by the revised list. The formatting means
are responsive to header information appended to the retrieved insurance
policy and endorsement clauses.
The system can also provide null clauses in the library of insurance policy
clauses. The null clauses each have a corresponding rule set, and provide
space into which endorsements can subsequently be inserted. The null
clauses can also be used to replace insurance policy clauses, resulting in
the deletion of the insurance policy clause. Any null clauses that are not
used are deleted prior to printing the insurance policy.
The memory means can comprise a first memory for storing the rule sets and
a second memory for storing the insurance policy clauses and endorsement
clauses. In such an embodiment, the means for entering coverage
information, together with the first and second means for processing the
rule sets and the revising means can all comprise a first computer of said
computer system coupled to the first memory for providing the lists of
clauses and endorsements. The assembling means comprise a second computer
of the computer system coupled to the second memory.
A method is provided for automatically generating documents by assembling a
plurality of clauses selected from a library of clauses stored in a
computer system. Any type of document, including insurance policy
documents, can be generated in accordance with the inventive method. The
method comprises the steps of inputting the library of clauses into the
computer system. A rule set is assigned to each of the clauses. Each rule
set provides at least one rule that must be satisfied in order to include
the clause associated therewith in a document. The rule sets are input to
the computer system. Document parameters (e.g., desired insurance
coverages and a policy holder's state of residence) are input into the
computer system. Each rule set is tested in the computer to identify those
that are satisfied by the document parameters. The clauses to which the
identified rule sets are assigned are retrieved and assembled into the
document.
A history of obsolete clauses can be maintained in the computer system by
the steps of assigning a new rule set to each obsolete clause to prevent
the identification of the obsolete clause during the testing step. A
replacement clause is input to the computer for each obsolete clause that
is to be replaced. A rule set is provided for each replacement clause and
an alias file is provided that cross-references the obsolete clauses to
corresponding replacement clauses.
In a specific embodiment of the inventive method, the document is an
insurance policy and the clauses comprise insurance policy clauses. In
such an embodiment, the method comprises the further steps of inputting a
library of endorsements into the computer system. After the clauses
satisfied by the document parameters have been identified, the
endorsements which can be used to modify the identified clauses are
detected. Endorsements that are desired for the insurance policy are
selected from the detected endorsements. The selected endorsements are
retrieved from memory instead of the corresponding insurance policy
clauses modified thereby. The remaining insurance policy clauses are also
retrieved and assembled together with the retrieved endorsement clauses
into the insurance policy.
In a more specific embodiment, the clauses to which the identified rule
sets are assigned are tested to determine whether the clause is valid for
use in the insurance policy. A substitute clause is identified for
retrieval instead of the identified clause in the event that the
identified clause is invalid for use in the insurance policy.
Obsolete insurance policy clauses are cross-referenced to replacement
clauses to obviate the need to amend endorsement rule sets each time a
replacement clause is added. When an endorsement rule set identifies an
obsolete insurance policy clause, the cross-reference list (alias file)
enables the most current replacement clause to be located.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the main components of a computer system
in accordance with the present invention;
FIGS. 2a to 2c provide a high level flowchart illustrating the three main
processing phases in a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a more detailed flowchart illustrating the process by which an
initial list of endorsement choices is generated in accordance with the
preferred embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a routine for creating headers that are
used to format documents generated by the system of the present invention;
and
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a routine for assembling selected
clauses into a final document.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The present invention provides a rule based document generation system.
Although the invention is described herein in connection with the
generation of insurance policy documents, it is noted that the invention
is also useful in the generation of other types of documents, such as
business contracts, technical documents, prospectuses, wills, and any
other documents that can be assembled from a plurality of standard
clauses.
In the illustrated embodiment, insurance policies are built from a software
library of coverage provisions that can be rearranged and used in any
number of ways according to the needs and coverage preferences of a
proposed insured. A policy built by the system is printed as a complete,
final document that does not require separate endorsement pages to be
added to delete, replace or supplement core policy provisions. By enabling
the quick and efficient generation of customized policies, coverage
options are increased and a diverse range of policy holders can be
accommodated.
FIG. 1 illustrates the main components of a system in accordance with the
present invention. A main processor 13, such as a mainframe computer,
interfaces with a user through a terminal 11. Processor 13 is coupled to
conventional memory (e.g., magnetic disk storage) that stores a library of
standard insurance policy clauses 17 together with insurance policy rule
sets 19. In accordance with the present invention, each insurance policy
clause has a rule set assigned thereto for use in determining which
clauses should be included in a given insurance policy. The processor
memory also stores a library of endorsement clauses 21 (sometimes referred
to herein as "modifiers") and endorsement rule sets 23. Each endorsement
clause has a corresponding endorsement rule set assigned thereto, for use
in providing a list of endorsements that can be selected by a user for an
insurance policy being built. Unlike prior insurance policies, wherein
endorsements are provided as separate pages that modify clauses contained
in the printed policy, the endorsement clauses in the present invention
are printed instead of the corresponding insurance policy clauses.
Printing of the final policy is provided by a print system 15 coupled to
main processor 13. Print system 15 may be remote from the main processor,
in which case the print system comprises a separate computer of the
overall "computer system." An insurance policy record generated by the
main processor, containing a list of the insurance policy clauses and
modifiers to be printed, is transmitted to the print system, e.g., via
modem or on magnetic media. The print system is coupled to a printer
database 25, which contains the text of all of the insurance policy
clauses and endorsement clauses. The clauses identified in the insurance
policy record are retrieved from the printer database, formatted, and
printed by the print system 15 to provide the final, complete policy. In
such an embodiment, the libraries of insurance policy clauses 17 and
endorsement clauses 21 are provided at the main processor 13 only for use
in maintaining the system by adding new clauses and rule sets; they are
not used in printing the final policies.
In order to create an insurance policy, a user selects one or more desired
coverages from a list of coverages displayed at terminal 11. For example,
in building a specialty marine insurance policy, the user may be offered,
via a menu provided on terminal 11, a choice of property coverages such as
Builders' Risk, Computerized Business Equipment, Contractor's Equipment,
Installation, and Scheduled Property. The user will also input the name of
the proposed policy holder, the policy holder's state of domicile, the
effective dates of the policy, and other relevant coverage information.
In response, main processor 13 will test each insurance policy clause rule
set provided in library 19 to determine which of the rule sets are
satisfied by the entered coverage information. Each of the rule sets
contains information identifying which insurance policy clause it
corresponds to. The insurance policy clauses that correspond to the rule
sets satisfied by the entered coverage information are listed by clause
numbers. The endorsement rule sets are then tested to determine which are
satisfied by the listed insurance policy clauses. A list of the applicable
endorsements is then presented to the user, who selects the endorsements
which are desired. The desired endorsements are used to replace insurance
policy clauses, and a policy record containing a list of the remaining
insurance policy clauses and the selected endorsements is generated for
use by the print system in printing the final insurance policy.
Table 1 provides a representative sample of insurance policy rule sets.
TABLE 1
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.vertline. Section A- Coverage
.vertline. 1. Covered Property
Numbered Clause?
Bold?
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0001 A+ N N
0405 A+ Y Y
0353 a+bcde! N N
0354 b+acde! N N
0355 c+abde! N N
0356 d+abce! N N
0357 e+abcd! N N
0358 abcde*02# N N
0359 a+02# Y N
0360 b+02#cde* Y N
0401 b+02#cde! Y N
0361 c+02#de* Y N
0402 c+02#de! Y N
0362 d+02#e+ Y N
0403 d+02#e! Y N
0404 e+02# Y N
9999 A+ Y N
0025 A+ Y Y
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Rule Key:
A = Include Always
N = Include Never
a = Scheduled Property
b = Builders' Risk
c = Contractors' Equipment
d = Computerized Business Equipment
e = Installation Floater
Format: abc+abc*abc!99#99
Operators:
+ = must have all
* = must have one of set
! = must not have any of set
# = total number coverages selected must be >
@ = total number coverages selected must be
Operators apply to all characters that precede the operator, back to the
previous operator or beginning of the rule. All rules must end in an
operator.
Example:
ab+cd*e!03
ab+ must have both "a" and "b
cd* must also have either "c" or "d" or both
e! must not have "e
03# must have at least 3 coverages selected
The rule sets provided in the second column of Table 1 each comprise a
string of at least one character identifying either a rule (A, N) or a
coverage (a, b, c, d, e), and at least one operator (+, *, !, #, @) to be
applied to the preceding character(s). Further, the rule sets are each
referenced to a particular numbered clause provided in the first column of
Table 1. Thus, for example, clause 0001 has the rule set A+ assigned to
it. The designation A+ means that the associated clause will always be
printed in every insurance policy. Thus, clauses 0001, 0405, 9999, and
0025 will be present in every insurance policy created using the rule
table.
On the other hand, in order for clause 0353 to appear in an insurance
policy, the user must have selected scheduled property ("a") without
having selected Builders' Risk ("b"), Contractors' Equipment ("c"),
Computerized Business Equipment ("d"), or the Installation Floater ("e").
This result is dictated by rule a+bcde! associated with clause 0353. If
the user selected at least two types of coverage, one of them being
Contractors' Equipment ("c") and one of Computerized Business Equipment
("d") or the Installation Floater ("e") as indicated by rule c+02#de*,
clause 0361 will be provided in the policy.
Special note should be taken of clause 9999, which is always included in
response to its rule set A+. In the illustrated embodiment, all clauses
from 9000 to 9999 are null clauses. These clauses consist only of the word
"NULL" followed by a hard return ("ENTER"). Null clauses serve as place
holders for endorsements that may later be inserted into the policy, or as
a means to reset counters. They may also be used as replacements for
insurance policy clauses that are to be deleted. Null clauses are not
printed into the final policy. Prior to writing a final policy to an
output file, all remaining null clauses are removed. The presence of
clause 9999 in the rule table portion illustrated in Table 1 indicates
that it may be necessary to insert an endorsement clause immediately prior
to insurance policy clause 0025. In order to provide a tentative list of
the insurance policy clauses for a policy, the system of the present
invention will look at each and every rule set provided in the rule table
and identify, by clause number, the clauses whose rule sets are satisfied
by the coverage information input by the user.
Each of the insurance policy clauses (other than null clauses) designated
by the clause numbers in the first column of the rule table comprises one
or more paragraphs of text which, if selected and not replaced by an
endorsement clause, will be present in the final printed policy. As will
be appreciated from the above discussion, only those clauses whose
assigned rule sets are satisfied by the coverage information entered by a
user will be retrieved for inclusion in the final policy.
Endorsement rule sets are processed in a similar manner. Table 2
illustrates a portion of an endorsement rule table.
TABLE 2
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ENDORSEMENT
0010 Colorado State Amendatory
CLS0105 CLS2164
CLS9055 CLS2114
CLS9069 CLS2115
ENDORSEMENT
0009 California State Amendatory
CLS0105 CLS2163
CLS9055 CLS2112
ENDORSEMENT
0011 Connecticut State Amendatory
CLS0105 CLS2118
CLS9055 CLS0336
ENDORSEMENT
0012 Florida State Amendatory
CLS0105 CLS2165
CLS9055 CLS2119
CLS0219 CLS2121
CLS0124 CLS2120
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Each endorsement rule set includes one or more substitution records that
indicate which specific endorsement clauses are to replace specific
insurance policy clauses. For example, endorsement rule set 0010
designates three endorsement clauses CLS2164, CLS2114, and CLS2115 that
are to replace respective insurance policy clauses CLS0105, CLS9055, and
CLS9069 when the Colorado State Amendatory endorsement is selected. The
endorsement substitutions are read from right to left, such that the
modifier clauses in the right most column of a selected endorsement will
replace the corresponding insurance policy clauses in the lefthand column
of the selected endorsement.
A preferred embodiment for generating an insurance policy in accordance
with the present invention is illustrated in the high level flowchart of
FIGS. 2a to 2c, in which the bold lines represent data flow and the
regular lines represent logic flow. The process includes three phases.
During Phase I, a determination is made as to which insurance policy
clauses are to be included in the policy, barring any substitutions
mandated by subsequently selected endorsements. A system user is provided
with a list of endorsements that could apply to the insurance policy
clauses | | |
