Determining abnormal traffic conditions from a broadcast of telematics data originating from another vehicle

• US 10,453,338 B1
• Filed: 04/09/2019
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Original Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Inventors: Hayward, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Yuen
• Application Number:
  US16/379,177
• Time in Patent Office: 196 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/006 indicating risk of collision between vehicles or with pedestrians
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/10 related to vehicle motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/005 with correlation of navigation data from several sources, e.g. map or contour matching G01C21/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3655 Timing of guidance instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/367 Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3691 Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/47 the supplementary measurement being an inertial measurement, e.g. tightly coupled inertial
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/50 whereby the position solution is constrained to lie upon a particular curve or surface, e.g. for locomotives on railway tracks
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/51 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0285 using signals transmitted via a public communication network, e.g. GSM network
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/225 : operated by off-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/229 : Command input data, e.g. waypoints
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/24 : Arrangements for determining position or orientation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 : Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 : Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 : from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/012 : from other sources than vehicle or roadside beacons, e.g. mobile networks
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0125 : Traffic data processing
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0133 : for classifying traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 : for traffic information dissemination
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 : with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/091 : Traffic information broadcasting broadcasting communication H04H
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/093 : Data selection, e.g. prioritizing information, managing message queues, selecting the information to be output
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 : responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 : where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 : where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 : where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 : where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096855 : where the output is provided in a suitable form to the driver details on I/O arrangements for onboard navigation computers G01C21/36
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 : where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 : to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 : Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 : event-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 : for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 7/02 : Anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 : for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 : specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 : using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 : Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 : using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 : Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 : for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of using telematics data at a destination device is provided. The destination device may be a mobile device associated with a driver, or a smart vehicle controller of a destination vehicle. The telematics data is generated by an originating mobile device (i) having a Telematics Application (or “App”), and (ii) associated with a second driver/vehicle, the telematics data including acceleration, braking, speed, heading, and location data associated with an originating vehicle. The telematics data may be broadcast from the originating mobile device to the destination device that (a) analyzes the telematics data received, (b) determines that an abnormal travel condition exists, and (c) automatically take corrective action that alleviates a negative impact of the abnormal travel condition on the destination vehicle to facilitate safer travel. A usage-based or other insurance discount may be provided based upon insured usage of the telematics data-based risk mitigation or prevention functionality.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of using telematics data at a destination computing device that is associated with a destination driver, comprising:

receiving, via the destination computing device, telematics data associated with operation of an originating vehicle;

identifying, via the destination computing device, an abnormal travel condition or traffic event based upon an analysis of the received telematics data;

determining, via the destination computing device, that the abnormal travel condition or traffic event is relevant to the destination vehicle when (i) a location of the originating computing device, based upon the telematics data, is within a threshold distance of a current location of the destination computing device, or (ii) the abnormal travel condition or traffic event is located along a route upon which the destination vehicle is presently traveling; and

when the abnormal travel condition or traffic event is found to be relevant to the destination vehicle or the destination driver,

(1) at least one of;

(i) providing, via the destination computing device, a graphical user interface (GUI) including a display of;

(a) an indication of a description of the abnormal travel condition or traffic event, the indication of the description of the abnormal travel condition or traffic event including at least one of a text indication of the description or a graphical indication of the description, and

(b) an indication of a location of the abnormal travel condition or traffic event, the indication of the location of the abnormal travel condition or traffic event including at least one of a text indication of the location, a graphical indication of the location, or a map indicating the location, or

(ii) automatically taking at least one other preventive or corrective action, via the destination computing device, to affect driving of the destination vehicle so as to alleviate a negative impact of the abnormal travel condition or traffic event, and

(2) displaying, via the destination computing device, insurance policy pricing adjustment information associated with the destination driver that is based upon a driver risk due to the determined abnormal travel condition or traffic event so as to promote or reward risk averse behavior and safer driving via the displayed insurance policy pricing adjustment information.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the telematics data indicates that an originating computing device is experiencing one or more of high traffic conditions, congestion, road construction, and extreme weather conditions.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the telematics data is indicative of one or more of Global Positioning System (GPS) speed, GPS location, lane information associated with the originating vehicle, time, turning associated with the originating vehicle, GPS latitude and longitude, battery level associated with the originating vehicle, and telephone usage information associated the originating vehicle.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, comprising generating an alternate travel route that avoids the location of the abnormal travel condition or traffic event, and presenting the alternate travel route via the GUI.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the telematics data is received from an originating computing device via peer-to-peer (P2P) wireless communications.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the telematics data is received from an originating computing device via a remote server.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the insurance policy pricing adjustment information associated with the destination driver includes an insurance policy, premium, or discount based upon the at least one of (i) providing, via the destination computing device, the GUI or (ii) automatically taking, via the destination computing device, the at least one other preventive or corrective action to alleviate the negative impact of the abnormal travel condition or traffic event.

8. A destination computing device associated with a destination vehicle and a destination driver, comprising:

a communication unit configured to receive telematics data from an originating computing device that is associated with an originating vehicle, the telematics data associated with operation of the originating vehicle;

one or more processors configured to;

identify an abnormal travel condition or traffic event based upon an analysis of the received telematics data;

determine that the abnormal travel condition or traffic event is relevant to the destination vehicle when (i) a location of the originating computing device, based upon the telematics data, is within a threshold distance of a current location of the destination computing device, or (ii) the abnormal travel condition or traffic event is located along a route upon which the destination vehicle is presently traveling; and

when the abnormal travel condition or traffic event is found to be relevant to the destination vehicle or the destination driver, automatically take at least one preventive or corrective action to alleviate a negative impact of the abnormal travel condition or traffic event, the at least one preventive or corrective action including at least one of providing a graphical user interface (GUI) to alert the destination driver or at least one other preventive or corrective action that affects driving of the destination vehicle; and

a display configured to at least one of;

(i) provide the GUI, the GUI including a screen showing

(a) an indication of a description of the abnormal travel condition or traffic event, the indication of the description of the abnormal travel condition or traffic event including at least one of a text indication of the description or a graphical indication of the description, and

(b) an indication of a location of the abnormal travel condition or traffic event, the indication of the location of the abnormal travel condition or traffic event including at least one of a text indication of the location, a graphical indication of the location, or a map indicating the location, or

(ii) present insurance policy pricing adjustment information associated with the destination driver that is based upon a driver risk due to the determined abnormal travel condition or traffic event so as to promote or reward risk averse behavior and safer driving via the displayed insurance policy pricing adjustment information.

9. The destination computing device of claim 8, wherein the telematics data indicates that the originating computing device is experiencing one or more of high traffic conditions, congestion, road construction, and extreme weather conditions.

10. The destination computing device of claim 8, wherein the telematics data is indicative of one or more of speed associated with the originating vehicle, Global Positioning System (GPS) speed, GPS location, lane information associated with the originating vehicle, time, turning associated with the originating vehicle, heading associated with the originating vehicle, GPS latitude and longitude, battery level associated with the originating vehicle, and telephone usage information associated the originating vehicle.

11. The destination computing device of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are configured to take a preventive or corrective action that includes generating an alternate travel route that avoids the location of the abnormal travel condition or traffic event, and wherein the display is configured to present the alternate travel route.

12. The destination computing device of claim 8, wherein the communication unit is further configured to receive the telematics data from the originating computing device via peer-to-peer (P2P) wireless communications.

13. The destination computing device of claim 8, wherein the communication unit is further configured to receive the telematics data from the originating computing device via a remote server.

14. The destination computing device of claim 8, wherein the insurance policy pricing adjustment information associated with the destination driver includes an insurance policy, premium, or discount based upon the destination driver using the destination computing device to automatically take the at least one preventive or corrective action to alleviate the negative impact of the abnormal travel condition or traffic event.

15. A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium associated with a destination computing device that is associated with a destination vehicle and a destination driver, the computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of the destination computing device, cause the destination computing device to:

receive telematics data from an originating computing device that is associated with an originating vehicle, the telematics data associated with operation of the originating vehicle;

identify an abnormal travel condition or traffic event based upon an analysis of the received telematics data;

determine that the abnormal travel condition or traffic event is relevant to the destination vehicle when (i) a location of the originating computing device, based upon the telematics data, is within a threshold distance of a current location of the destination computing device, or (ii) the abnormal travel condition or traffic event is located along a route upon which the destination vehicle is presently traveling; and

when the abnormal travel condition or traffic event is found to be relevant to the destination vehicle or the destination driver,

(1) at least one of;

(i) provide a graphical user interface (GUI) including a display of

(a) an indication of a description of the abnormal travel condition or traffic event, the indication of the description of the abnormal travel condition or traffic event including at least one of a text indication of the description or a graphical indication of the description, and

(b) an indication of a location of the abnormal travel condition or traffic event, the indication of the location of the abnormal travel condition or traffic event including at least one of a text indication of the location, a graphical indication of the location, or a map indicating the location, or

(ii) automatically cause at least one other preventive or corrective action to affect driving of the destination vehicle so as to alleviate a negative impact of the abnormal travel condition or traffic event, and

(2) present insurance policy pricing adjustment information associated with the destination driver that is based upon a driver risk due to the determined abnormal travel condition or traffic event so as to promote or reward risk averse behavior and safer driving via the displayed insurance policy pricing adjustment information.

16. The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the telematics data indicates that the originating computing device is experiencing one or more of high traffic conditions, congestion, road construction, and extreme weather conditions.

17. The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the telematics data is indicative of one or more of speed associated with the originating vehicle, Global Positioning System (GPS) speed, GPS location, lane information associated with the originating vehicle, time, turning associated with the originating vehicle, heading associated with the originating vehicle, GPS latitude and longitude, battery level associated with the originating vehicle, and telephone usage information associated the originating vehicle.

18. The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the destination computing device to take a preventive or corrective action that includes generating an alternate travel route that avoids the location of the abnormal travel condition or traffic event, and presenting the alternate travel route.

19. The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the destination computing device to receive the telematics data from the originating computing device via one of (i) peer-to-peer (P2P) wireless communications, or (ii) via a remote server.

20. The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the destination computing device to display the insurance policy pricing adjustment information associated with the destination driver including an insurance policy, premium, or discount based upon the at least one of (i) providing the GUI or (ii) automatically causing the at least one other preventive or corrective action to alleviate the negative impact of the abnormal travel condition or traffic event.