Systems and methods for proximate event capture

• US 10,023,201 B1
• Filed: 04/18/2016
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Fiedler, Kevin K., Livesay, Don M., Danko, Amanda S., Szentes, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafi, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US15/131,584
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 701 322, 701 323
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/182 Brake pressure, e.g. of fluid or between pad and disc
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/22 Psychological state; Stress level or workload
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/26 Incapacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/10 related to vehicle motion
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A method includes collecting first data from a first sensor associated with a vehicle and determining, based on the first data, that an event involving the vehicle may occur. The method includes identifying a second sensor located within a proximity of the vehicle and causing the second sensor to collect second data. The method also includes associating the first data and the second data with a first event associated with the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for collecting and managing sensor data in response to occurrence of an event, the method comprising executing instructions using a processor, the instructions for:

collecting first data from a first sensor associated with a vehicle;

determining, based on the first data, that an event involving the vehicle may occur;

identifying a second sensor located within a proximity of the vehicle;

causing the second sensor to collect second data;

associating the first data and the second data with a first event associated with the vehicle;

stitching two or more two dimensional images together into one or more three dimensional images describing the event involving the vehicle, wherein the two or more two dimensional images are included in at least one of the first data and the second data, and wherein the one or more three dimensional images comprise a reconstruction of the event involving the vehicle; and

providing the reconstruction of the event involving the vehicle to an insurance entity for insurance claims processing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a mobile device located within the vehicle comprises the first sensor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the event comprises a mechanical failure of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the event comprises a heart rate of a driver of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data includes at least one of velocity, acceleration, braking force, or distance between the vehicle and another object.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the second sensor comprises:

determining a location of the vehicle; and

cross-referencing the location with a database of devices registered with a communication engine to identify a plurality of nearby devices within a radius of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second sensor is a component of a nearby vehicle or a mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is embedded into glass of a windshield of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data includes weather sensor data.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

sending an alert to at least one of the plurality of nearby devices based on the event.

11. A system comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing instructions that cause the processor to effectuate operations, the processor is configured to;

collect first data from a first sensor associated with a vehicle;

determine, based on the first data, that an event involving the vehicle may occur;

identify a second sensor located within a proximity of the vehicle;

cause the second sensor to collect second data;

associate the first data and the second data with a first event associated with the vehicle;

stitch two or more two dimensional images together into one or more three dimensional images describing the event involving the vehicle, wherein the two or more two dimensional images are included in at least one of the first data and the second data, and wherein the one or more three dimensional images comprise a reconstruction of the event involving the vehicle; and

providing the reconstruction of the event involving the vehicle to an insurance entity for insurance claims processing.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein a mobile device located within the vehicle comprises the first sensor.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the event comprises a vehicular accident.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the event comprises a medical condition of a driver of the vehicle.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein identifying the second sensor comprises:

determining a location of the vehicle; and

cross-referencing the location with a database of devices registered with a communication engine to identify a plurality of nearby devices within a radius of the vehicle.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the second sensor is a component of a nearby vehicle.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the second sensor is a mobile device.

18. A nontransitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that cause a processor executing the instructions to effectuate operations, the operations comprising:

collecting first data from a first sensor associated with a vehicle;

determining, based on the first data, that an event involving the vehicle may occur;

identifying a second sensor located within a proximity of the vehicle;

causing the second sensor to collect second data;

associating the first data and the second data with a first event associated with the vehicle;

stitching two or more two dimensional images together into one or more three dimensional images describing the event involving the vehicle, wherein the two or more two dimensional images are included in at least one of the first data and the second data, and wherein the one or more three dimensional images comprise a reconstruction of the event involving the vehicle; and

providing the reconstruction of the event involving the vehicle to an insurance entity for insurance claims processing.

19. The nontransitory storage medium of claim 18, wherein identifying the second sensor comprises:

determining a location of the vehicle; and

cross-referencing the location with a database of devices registered with a communication engine to identify a plurality of nearby devices within a radius of the vehicle.

20. The nontransitory storage medium of claim 18, wherein the second sensor is a component of a nearby vehicle or a mobile device.