System and method to adjust insurance rate based on real-time data about potential vehicle operator impairment

• US 10,163,163 B1
• Filed: 09/12/2014
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Original Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Inventors: He, Jibo, Fields, Brian Mark, Roberson, Steve, Cielocha, Steve C., Peng, Jufeng, Coltea, Julian
• Primary Examiner(s): Lemieux, Jessica
• Application Number:
  US14/484,760
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: 705 4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/066 actuating a signalling device B60K28/063 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0818 Inactivity or incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0827 due to sleepiness
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0836 due to alcohol
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0845 due to drugs
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/221 Physiology, e.g. weight, heartbeat, health or special needs
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 Machine learning
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• 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 receiving data about potential impairment of a vehicle operator, wherein the data about potential impairment is generated by: (i) monitoring the vehicle operator with a first optical sensor, and (ii) monitoring an environment ahead of a vehicle operated by the vehicle operator with a second optical sensor. The computer-implemented method further includes assigning a plurality of scores based on the data about potential impairment, wherein each of the plurality of scores corresponds to a respective impairment indicator, and determining an impairment score for the vehicle operator by performing a mathematical operation on the plurality of scores, the impairment score summarizing a level of impairment of the vehicle operator.

Claims

1. A mobile device of a vehicle operator, the mobile device comprising:

a display;

one or more sensors, including a first camera and a second camera;

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the mobile device to

present to the vehicle operator, on the display, a user interface with at least one sensitivity adjustment control, the at least one sensitivity adjustment control being adjustable by the vehicle operator to control sensitivity of impairment monitoring,

detect a sensitivity setting of the at least one sensitivity adjustment control, the sensitivity setting resulting from an adjustment of the sensitivity adjustment control by the vehicle operator via the user interface,

generate first impairment log entries by (i) monitoring the vehicle operator with the first camera while the vehicle operator operates a vehicle, (ii) determining whether each of one or more characteristics of the vehicle operator exceed a respective threshold, and (iii) generating an impairment log entry for each instance in which one of the one or more characteristics exceeds its respective threshold,

generate second impairment log entries by monitoring an environment ahead of the vehicle with the second camera,

determine a total impairment score for the vehicle operator, at least by (i) assigning a plurality of scores based on the first impairment log entries and the second impairment log entries, and (ii) performing a mathematical operation on the plurality of scores,

determine whether the total impairment score exceeds a score threshold, wherein one or both of (i) determining the total impairment score, and (ii) determining whether the total impairment score exceeds the score threshold, is based on the sensitivity setting,

in response to determining that the total impairment score exceeds the score threshold, present an alert to the vehicle operator.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more sensors further include one or more accelerometers; and

the instructions cause the mobile device to

generate third impairment log entries by monitoring force in one or more directions with the one or more accelerometers, and

assign the plurality of scores based on the first impairment log entries, the second impairment log entries, and the third impairment log entries.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein:

the first impairment log entries are primary impairment log entries;

the instructions cause the mobile device to (i) generate secondary impairment log entries based on the primary impairment log entries, and (ii) assign the plurality of scores based in part on the secondary impairment log entries.

4. The mobile device of claim 3, wherein:

the primary impairment log entries include entries corresponding to instances of eye blinks by the vehicle operator; and

the secondary impairment log entries include at least one entry corresponding to a frequency of eye blinks by the vehicle operator.

5. The mobile device of claim 4, wherein the instructions cause the mobile device to generate the at least one entry corresponding to the frequency of eye blinks in response to determining that the frequency exceeds a threshold corresponding to the sensitivity setting.

6. The mobile device of claim 3, wherein:

the primary impairment log entries include entries corresponding to gaze locations of the vehicle operator; and

the secondary impairment log entries include at least one entry corresponding to gaze fixation by the vehicle operator.

7. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the instructions cause the mobile device to generate the at least one entry corresponding to gaze fixation in response to determining that a duration of the gaze fixation exceeds a threshold corresponding to the sensitivity setting.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein:

the second impairment log entries are primary impairment log entries; and

the instructions cause the mobile device to (i) generate secondary impairment log entries based on the primary impairment log entries, and (ii) assign the plurality of scores based in part on the secondary impairment log entries.

9. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the instructions cause the mobile device to present the alert to the vehicle operator by one or more of:

showing, on the display, an alert icon;

generating, via a speaker of the mobile device, an audible alert;

or

generating a tactile alert.

10. A mobile device of a vehicle operator, the mobile device comprising:

a display;

one or more sensors, including a first camera and a second camera;

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the mobile device to

present to the vehicle operator, on the display, a user interface with at least one sensitivity adjustment control, the at least one sensitivity adjustment control being adjustable by the vehicle operator to control sensitivity of impairment monitoring,

detect a sensitivity setting of the at least one sensitivity adjustment control, the sensitivity setting resulting from an adjustment of the sensitivity adjustment control by the vehicle operator via the user interface,

generate first impairment log entries by (i) monitoring the vehicle operator with the first camera while the vehicle operator operates a vehicle, (ii) determining whether each of one or more characteristics of the vehicle operator exceed a respective threshold, wherein the respective threshold corresponds to the sensitivity setting, and (iii) generating an impairment log entry for each instance in which one of the one or more characteristics exceeds its respective threshold,

generate second impairment log entries by monitoring an environment ahead of the vehicle with the second camera,

send the first impairment log entries and the second impairment log entries to a server for remote processing,

in response to sending the first impairment log entries and the second impairment log entries, receive, from the server, an alert indication, and

in response to receiving the alert indication, present an alert to the vehicle operator.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein:

the one or more sensors further include one or more accelerometers; and

the instructions cause the mobile device to

generate third impairment log entries by monitoring force in one or more directions with the one or more accelerometers,

send the third impairment log entries to the server for remote processing, and

receive the alert indication in response to sending the first impairment log entries, the second impairment log entries, and the third impairment log entries.

12. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein:

the first impairment log entries are primary impairment log entries;

the instructions cause the mobile device to (i) generate secondary impairment log entries based on the primary impairment log entries, and (ii) send the secondary impairment log entries to the server; and

the alert indication is received also in response to sending the secondary impairment log entries to the server.

13. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein:

the primary impairment log entries include entries corresponding to instances of eye blinks by the vehicle operator; and

the secondary impairment log entries include at least one entry corresponding to a frequency of eye blinks by the vehicle operator.

14. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the instructions cause the mobile device to generate the at least one entry corresponding to the frequency of eye blinks in response to determining that the frequency exceeds a threshold corresponding to the sensitivity setting.

15. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein:

the primary impairment log entries include entries corresponding to gaze locations of the vehicle operator; and

the secondary impairment log entries include at least one entry corresponding to gaze fixation by the vehicle operator.

16. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the instructions cause the mobile device to generate the at least one entry corresponding to gaze fixation in response to determining that a duration of the gaze fixation exceeds a threshold corresponding to the sensitivity setting.

17. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein:

the second impairment log entries are primary impairment log entries; and

the instructions cause the mobile device to (i) generate secondary impairment log entries based on the primary impairment log entries, and (ii) send the secondary impairment log entries to the server; and

the alert indication is received also in response to sending the secondary impairment log entries to the server.

18. The mobile device of claim 17, wherein:

the primary impairment log entries include entries corresponding to lane deviations by the vehicle; and

the secondary impairment log entries include at least one entry corresponding to a lane change by the vehicle.

19. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the instructions cause the mobile device to generate the at least one entry corresponding to a lane change in response to determining that a duration of the lane change exceeds a threshold corresponding to the sensitivity setting.

20. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the instructions cause the mobile device to present the alert to the vehicle operator by one or more of:

showing, on the display, an alert icon;

generating, via a speaker of the mobile device, an audible alert;

or

generating a tactile alert.