SYSTEM FOR MONITORING VEHICLE AND OPERATOR BEHAVIOR

• US 20120303392A1
• Filed: 05/22/2012
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depura Partners LLC, Koljaka, LLC, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
• Original Assignee: Koljaka, LLC
• Inventors: DEPURA, Shailendra, DEPURA, Bhavna Shailendra, DEPURA, Jamna Lal, DEPURA, Kanta, MEMANI, Shalini
• Granted Patent: US 8,924,240 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system for monitoring operator and motor vehicle behavior, including at least one mobile device; application software resident on the mobile device, wherein the application software is operative to gather and record information relevant to both the behavior of a motor vehicle and the behavior of an operator of the motor vehicle, and wherein the application software is activated or deactivated based on certain predetermined trigger events; and at least one information processor in communication with and/or resident on the mobile device, wherein the information processor is operative to process and characterize the information gathered by the application software and communicate the processed and characterized information to a user of the system.

Claims

1. ) A system for monitoring operator and motor vehicle behavior, comprising:

(a) at least one mobile device;

(b) application software resident on the mobile device, wherein the application software is operative to gather and record information relevant to both the behavior of a motor vehicle and the behavior of an operator of the motor vehicle, and wherein the application software is activated or deactivated based on certain predetermined trigger events; and

(c) at least one information processor in communication with the mobile device or resident on the mobile device, wherein the information processor is operative to process and characterize the information gathered by the application software and communicate the processed and characterized information to a user of the system.

2. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one mobile device is a smartphone.

3. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the information relevant to both the behavior of a motor vehicle and the behavior of an operator of the motor vehicle further includes vehicle location, vehicle speed, vehicle direction, external environmental conditions including weather, traffic conditions, time, mobile device usage as a telephone, mobile device usage for internet access, operator driving history, previous operator violations, combinations thereof, and other information derived from these variables.

4. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the application software further includes a set-up subsystem;

an administrative subsystem;

a data collection subsystem;

a data transmission subsystem;

a local database;

at least one data transmission file;

a reporting and feedback subsystem; and

combinations thereof.

5. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one information processor is a computer.

6. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one information processor is further operative to classify or provide ratings with regard to both vehicle and operator behavior.

7. ) A system for monitoring operator and motor vehicle behavior, comprising:

(a) at least one mobile device, wherein the mobile device is located within a motor vehicle being operated by an operator of the vehicle;

(b) first application software resident on the mobile device, wherein the first application software is operative to measure or determine information relevant to both the behavior of the motor vehicle and the behavior of the operator of the motor vehicle;

(c) second application software resident on the mobile device, wherein the second application software is operative to gather and record information generated by the first application software, and wherein the second application software is activated or deactivated based on certain predetermined trigger events; and

(d) at least one information processor in communication with the mobile device or resident on the mobile device, wherein the information processor is operative to process and characterize the information gathered by the second application software and communicate the processed and characterized information to a user of the system.

8. ) The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one mobile device is a smartphone.

9. ) The system of claim 7, wherein the information relevant to both the behavior of a motor vehicle and the behavior of an operator of the motor vehicle further includes vehicle location, vehicle speed, vehicle direction, external environmental conditions including weather, traffic conditions, time, mobile device usage as a telephone, mobile device usage for internet access, operator driving history, previous operator violations, combinations thereof, and other information derived from these variables.

10. ) The system of claim 7, wherein the first application software further includes a set-up subsystem;

an administrative subsystem;

a data collection subsystem;

a data transmission subsystem;

a local database;

at least one data transmission file;

a reporting and feedback subsystem; and

combinations thereof.

11. ) The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one information processor is a computer.

12. ) The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one information processor is further operative to classify or provide ratings with regard to both vehicle and operator behavior.

13. ) The system of claim 7, wherein the user of the system is the operator of the vehicle, insurance companies, commercial and fleet managers, law enforcement, departments of motor vehicles, emergency response providers, educators, and combinations thereof.

14. ) A system for monitoring operator and motor vehicle behavior, comprising:

(a) a motor vehicle;

(b) an operator, wherein the operator is operating the motor vehicle;

(c) at least one mobile device, wherein the mobile device is located within the motor vehicle being operated;

(d) first application software resident on the mobile device, wherein the first application software is operative to measure or determine information relevant to both the behavior of the motor vehicle and the behavior of the operator of the motor vehicle;

(e) second application software resident on the mobile device, wherein the second application software is operative to gather and record information generated by the first application software, and wherein the second application software is activated or deactivated based on certain predetermined trigger events; and

(f) at least one information processor in communication with the mobile device or resident on the mobile device, wherein the information processor is operative to process and characterize the information gathered by the second application software and communicate the processed and characterized information to a user of the system.

15. ) The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one mobile device is a smartphone.

16. ) The system of claim 14, wherein the information relevant to both the behavior of a motor vehicle and the behavior of an operator of the motor vehicle further includes vehicle location, vehicle speed, vehicle direction, external environmental conditions including weather, traffic conditions, time, mobile device usage as a telephone, mobile device usage for internet access, operator driving history, previous operator violations, combinations thereof, and other information derived from these variables.

17. ) The system of claim 14, wherein the first application software further includes a set-up subsystem;

an administrative subsystem;

a data collection subsystem;

a data transmission subsystem;

a local database;

at least one data transmission file;

a reporting and feedback subsystem; and

combinations thereof.

18. ) The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one information processor is a computer.

19. ) The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one information processor is further operative to classify or provide ratings with regard to both vehicle and operator behavior.

20. ) The system of claim 14, wherein the system may be used for determining insurance premiums, managing fleets of vehicles, educating drivers, law enforcement, and combinations thereof.