US 11030491

US patent 11030491, titled "Platform, systems, and methods for identifying property characteristics and property feature conditions through imagery analysis," was filed on January 22, 2021, and issued on June 8, 2021. The inventor is Takeshi Okazaki. The original assignee was Aon Benfield Inc., and it was reassigned to AON RE, INC. on August 2, 2024.

Abstract:
The patent describes methods and systems for automatically assessing property features. This involves applying a first machine learning analysis to imagery to identify property characteristics, and then a second machine learning analysis to classify the condition of each identified property feature.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1 (Method): This claim describes a method for assessing the repair or maintenance condition of a property using aerial images. It involves obtaining an aerial image, identifying specific features within that image that correspond to a property characteristic (e.g., a roof, a fence), using machine learning to classify what that characteristic is (e.g., roof shape), and also to classify its condition (e.g., good, bad). Finally, using both the characteristic and its condition, the method determines a risk estimate for potential damage to the property from disasters.

• Independent Claim 11 (System): This claim outlines a system designed to automatically categorize the repair condition of a property characteristic. The system includes processing hardware and computer instructions that, when executed, perform steps similar to Claim 1. Specifically, the system obtains an aerial image, identifies property features, classifies the characteristic, and classifies its condition. However, instead of determining a risk estimate, this system uses the characteristic and its condition to calculate a replacement cost for that property characteristic.

• Independent Claim 15 (Non-Transitory Computer Readable Medium): This claim covers a computer-readable storage medium containing instructions. When a computer's processing hardware executes these instructions, it enables the system to receive details about a property and its characteristics. It then obtains an aerial image, identifies features related to each specified property characteristic, and for each characteristic, determines both its classification (e.g., what kind of roof) and its condition (e.g., how well-maintained it is). Based on these classifications, the system then determines a risk estimate for potential disaster damage to the property.

USPTO and CAFC Docket Search:
A search of USPTO databases and CAFC 2026 dockets for patent number 11030491 did not yield specific, real-time docket entries or detailed prosecution history beyond the patent grant information. However, publicly available information indicates ongoing litigation related to this patent family, including a "US case filed in Delaware District Court" and a "PTAB case IPR2025-01360 filed (Not Instituted - Procedural)" [cite: https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=[70458621](/patent/70458621)&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=[US11030491](/patent/US11030491)(B2), https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/litigation/Delaware%20District%20Court/case/1%3A25-cv-00201, https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/ptab/case/IPR2025-01360].