USING SOCIAL NETWORKING TO IMPROVE DRIVER PERFORMANCE BASED ON INDUSTRY SHARING OF DRIVER PERFORMANCE DATA

• US 20130164714A1
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zonar Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Zonar Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: HUNT, BRYAN, MCQUADE, CHARLES MICHAEL
• Granted Patent: US 9,412,282 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/65
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• 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: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/14 Traffic procedures, e.g. traffic regulations
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/167 Control of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/052 characterised by provision for recording or measuring trainee's performance devices for psychotechnics, e.g. for vehicle drivers A61B5/16, A61B5/18

Abstract

Data is collected during the operation of a vehicle and used to produce a ranking of a driver'"'"'s performance, and that ranking is shared on a hosted website, such that the drivers can compare their performance metrics to their peers. Fleet operators can use these performance metrics as incentives, by linking driver pay with performance. Individual fleet operators can host their own website, where driver rankings in that fleet can be compared, or the website can be hosted by a third party, and multiple fleet operators participate. The third party can offset their costs for operating the website by charging participating fleet operators a fee, and/or by advertising revenue. In some embodiments, all driver performance data is displayed in an anonymous format, so that individual drivers cannot be identified unless the driver shares their user ID.

Claims

9. A system for producing a performance metric indicative of a performance of a driver based on at least one metric corresponding to the driver'"'"'s operation of the vehicle, and displaying that performance metric on a driver performance ranking website, the system comprising:

(a) at least one vehicle data generating component; and

(b) at least one processor, the at least one processor being configured to implement the functions of

(i) analyzing the vehicle data and generate a driver performance ranking; and

(ii) displaying the driver performance ranking on a driver performance ranking website.

1. A method of producing a performance metric indicative of a performance of a driver based on at least one metric corresponding to the driver'"'"'s operation of the vehicle, and sharing that metric on a driver performance ranking website, comprising the steps of:

(a) while the driver is operating the vehicle, automatically collecting vehicle data that can be used to evaluate the driver'"'"'s performance;

(b) using a computing device to analyze the vehicle data and generate a driver performance ranking; and

(c) displaying the driver performance ranking on a driver performance ranking website.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of automatically collecting vehicle data that can be used to evaluate the driver'"'"'s performance comprises the step of collecting time indexed vehicle data, the vehicle data comprising:

(a) position data;

(b) speed data;

(c) torque data; and

(d) engine speed data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of using a computing device to analyze the vehicle data and generate a driver performance ranking comprises the steps of:

(a) determining a slope the vehicle is traveling over at a specific point in time based on the vehicle position data at that point in time;

(b) determining a mass of the vehicle at a specific point in time, based on the slope the vehicle is traveling over at that point in time, the speed data at that point in time, the torque data at that point in time, and the engine speed data at that point in time; and

(c) producing the performance ranking of the driver'"'"'s operation of the vehicle based at least in part on the mass of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of producing the performance ranking of the driver'"'"'s operation of the vehicle based at least in part on the mass of the vehicle comprises the step of producing a cost per loaded mile performance metric.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of using a computing device to analyze the vehicle data and generate a driver performance ranking comprises the step of using a computing device that is part of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of using a computing device to analyze the vehicle data and generate a driver performance ranking comprises the step of using a computing device that is remote from the vehicle, and further comprising the step of conveying the vehicle data to the remote computing device using a cellular based data link during the operation of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the website is operated by a 3^rd party, and performance rankings for drivers from a plurality of different fleets can be reviewed on the website.

8. A non-transitory memory medium having machine instructions stored thereon for carrying out steps (b) and (c) of claim 1.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one vehicle data generating component is configured to generate time indexed vehicle data, the time indexed vehicle data comprising:

(a) position data;

(b) speed data;

(c) torque data; and

(d) engine speed data.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is configured to produce a cost per loaded mile performance metric.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor used to determine slope and vehicle mass is part of the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is disposed remote from the vehicle, and further comprising a cellular data link in the vehicle to convey the vehicle data to the at least one processor remote from the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the website displays driver performance ranking for a plurality of campaigns.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the website displays tips for improving the driver'"'"'s performance ranking.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the website displays information about a performance bonus for a particular campaign.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the website displays advertising from a 3^rd party paying for a performance bonus for a particular campaign.

18. The system of claim 9, wherein the website displays a graphical icon indicating the performance ranking of the driver, where a relatively greater number of graphical icons indicates a relatively better rating, wherein at least one such graphic icon comprises a fuel pump.

10-1. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor analyzing the vehicle data and generate a driver performance ranking implements the functions of:

(a) determining a slope the vehicle is traveling over at a specific point in time based on the vehicle position data;

(b) determining a mass of the vehicle at a specific point in time, based on the slope the vehicle is traveling over at that point in time, the speed data at that point in time, the torque data at that point in time, and the engine speed data at that point in time; and

(c) producing the driver performance ranking based at least in part on the mass of the vehicle.

19. A non-transitory memory medium having machine instructions stored thereon for remotely monitoring vehicle performance data, generating a driver performance ranking based on the vehicle performance data, and generating a webpage for displaying the driver performance ranking, the machine instructions, when implemented by a processor, carrying out the functions of:

(a) analyzing the vehicle performance data to generate a driver performance ranking; and

(b) automatically generating a webpage for displaying the driver performance ranking on a driver performance ranking website.

20. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 19, wherein the machine instructions, when implemented by the processor, implement the function of:

(a) determining a slope the vehicle is traveling over at a specific point in time based on the vehicle position data;

(b) determining a mass of the vehicle at a specific point in time, based on the slope the vehicle is traveling over at that point in time, speed data at that point in time, torque data at that point in time, and engine speed data at that point in time; and

(c) producing the driver performance ranking based at least in part on the mass of the vehicle.

21. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 20, wherein the machine instructions, when implemented by the processor, implement the function of producing a cost per loaded mile performance metric.

22. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 19, wherein the machine instructions, when implemented by the processor, implement the function of generating a webpage that displays driver performance ranking for a plurality of campaigns.

23. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 19, wherein the machine instructions, when implemented by the processor, implement the function of generating a webpage that tips for improving the driver'"'"'s performance ranking.

24. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 19, wherein the machine instructions, when implemented by the processor, implement the function of generating a webpage that displays information about a performance bonus for a particular campaign.

25. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 19, wherein the machine instructions, when implemented by the processor, implement the function of generating a webpage that displays advertising from a 3^rd party paying for a performance bonus for a particular campaign.

26. The non-transitory memory medium of claim 19, wherein the machine instructions, when implemented by the processor, implement the function of generating a webpage that displays a graphical icon indicating the performance ranking of the driver, where a relatively greater number of graphical icons indicates a relatively better rating, wherein at least one such graphic icon comprises a fuel pump.