METHOD AND DEVICE FOR IDENTIFYING BEHAVIOUR OF A VEHICLE DRIVER

• US 20150118652A1
• Filed: 10/29/2013
• Published: 04/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: LAWRENSON, Matthew John, NOLAN, Julian Charles
• Granted Patent: US 9,620,029 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/62
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/20 Education
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/265 Personal security, identity or safety
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/04 for teaching control of land vehicles

Abstract

The disclosure provides a method, performed in a first communication unit (2). The method comprises the steps of identifying a rewardable behaviour of a driver (10) of a vehicle (9), checking first storing means (6) for a reward that corresponds to the rewardable behaviour, collecting the reward from the first storing means (6), and transmitting the reward to a second communication unit (3) connected to the vehicle (9). The disclosure also provides corresponding devices for performing the method.

Claims

1. A method, performed in a first communication unit, the method comprising:

identifying a rewardable behaviour of a driver of a vehicle;

checking a first storage for a reward that corresponds to the rewardable behaviour;

collecting the reward from the first storage; and

transmitting the reward to a second communication unit connected to the vehicle.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring predetermined parameters related to the driving behaviour of the driver;

comparing the monitored pre-determined parameters with a predetermined set of rewardable behaviour scenarios stored in the first storage for finding a reward matching the behaviour; and

transmitting a matching reward to the second communication unit when the predetermined parameters match a rewardable behaviour scenario.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a pre-determined vehicle parameter or set of vehicle parameters from a sensor in the vehicle, the received pre-determined vehicle parameters being connected to the driving behaviour of the driver;

comparing the received pre-determined vehicle parameters with a predetermined set of rewardable behaviour scenarios stored in the first storage for finding a reward matching the behaviour, and

transmitting a matching reward to the communication unit when the predetermined parameters match a rewardable behaviour scenario.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

requesting setup of a communication link with the second communication unit,

the request being triggered by a user of the first communication unit;

by a second transceiver of the second communication unit being in range of a first transceiver of the first communication unit;

or

by a second communication unit logging in on a network on which the first communication unit is also logged in.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a rewardable behaviour of the driver of the vehicle by input from a user of the first communication unit.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising

receiving a reward from the second communication unit;

and

storing the reward in the first storage for one or more of further use by the first communication unit and display of the reward in the first communication unit.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a pre-determined parameter or set of vehicle parameters connected to the driving behaviour of the driver of the vehicle connected to the first communication unit; and

transmitting the monitored pre-determined parameter or set of vehicle parameters to the second communication unit.

29. An integrated circuit card configured to perform the method of claim 1.

32. A non-transitory computer program, comprising computer readable code which, when run on a first communication unit, causes the first communication unit to perform the method as claimed in claim 1.

8. A method, performed in a second communication unit in a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a reward from a first communication unit; and

storing the reward in a second storage for one or more of further use by the second communication unit and display of the reward in the second communication unit.

9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising:

identifying a rewardable behaviour of a driver of a vehicle connected to the first communication unit or a third communication unit;

checking the second storage for a reward that corresponds to the rewardable behaviour;

collecting the reward from the second storage; and

transmitting the reward to the first communication unit or the third communication unit.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

monitoring predetermined parameters related to the driving behaviour of the driver;

comparing the monitored pre-determined parameters with a predetermined set of rewardable behaviour scenarios stored in the second storage for finding a reward matching the behaviour; and

transmitting a matching reward to the first communication unit when the predetermined parameters match a rewardable behaviour scenario.

11. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a pre-determined vehicle parameter or set of vehicle parameters from a sensor in the vehicle, the parameters being connected to the driving behaviour of the driver;

comparing the received pre-determined vehicle parameter or set of vehicle parameters with a predetermined set of rewardable behaviour scenarios stored in the second storage for finding a reward matching the behavior; and

transmitting a matching reward to the communication unit when the predetermined parameters match a rewardable behaviour scenario.

12. A method according to claim 9, further comprising

identifying a rewardable behaviour of the driver of the vehicle by input from a user of the second communication unit.

13. A method according to claim 9, further comprising

monitoring a pre-determined parameter or set of vehicle parameters connected to the driving behaviour of the driver of the vehicle connected to the second communication unit;

and

transmitting the monitored pre-determined parameters or set of vehicle parameters to the first communication unit.

30. An integrated circuit card configured to perform the method of claim 8.

33. A non-transitory computer program, comprising computer readable code which, when run on a second communication unit, causes the second communication unit to perform the method as claimed in claim 8.

14. A method, performed in a communication system comprising a first communication unit and a second communication unit,

the method performed in the first communication unit comprising:

identifying a rewardable behaviour of a driver of a vehicle;

checking a first storage for a reward that corresponds to the rewardable behaviour;

collecting the reward from the first storage; and

transmitting the reward to a second communication unit connected to the vehicle; and

the method performed in the second communication unit comprising;

receiving a reward from a first communication unit; and

storing the reward in a second storage for one or more of further use by the second communication unit and display of the reward in the second communication unit.

15. A first communication unit comprising a first transceiver, wherein the first communication unit comprising or being connected to first storage configured to store awards, the first communication unit comprising:

a first identification device configured to identify a rewardable behaviour of a driver of a vehicle connected to a second communication unit;

the first identification device configured to check the first storage for a reward that corresponds to the rewardable behaviour;

the first identification device configured to collect the reward from the first storage; and

the first identification device configured to communicate with the first transceiver, wherein the first transceiver is configured to transmit the reward to the second communication unit.

16. A first communication unit according to claim 15, wherein the first communication unit is configured to be connected to or comprising a first sensor system is configured to monitor predetermined parameters related to the behaviour of the vehicle, wherein the first identification device is configured to compare the monitored pre-determined parameters from the first sensor system with a predetermined set of rewardable behaviour scenarios stored in the first storage for finding a reward matching the behaviour, wherein the first transceiver is configured to transmit a matching reward to the second transceiver when the predetermined parameters match a rewardable behaviour scenario.

17. A first communication unit according to claim 15, wherein the first identification device, via the first transceiver, is configured to receive a pre-determined vehicle parameter or set of vehicle parameters from a second sensor system in the vehicle, the received pre-determined vehicle parameter or set of vehicle parameters being connected to the driving behaviour of the driver, wherein the first identification device is configured to compare the received pre-determined vehicle parameter or set of vehicle parameters from the second sensor system with a predetermined set of rewardable behaviour scenarios stored in the first storage for finding a reward matching the behaviour, wherein the first transceiver is configured to transmit a matching reward to the second transceiver when the predetermined parameters match a rewardable behaviour scenario.

18. A first communication unit according to claim 15, wherein the first communication unit is configured to request setup of a communication link with the second communication unit, wherein the request is triggered by a user of the first communication unit, by the second transceiver being in range of the first transceiver, or by the second communication unit logging in on a network on which the first communication unit is also logged in.

19. A first communication unit according to claim 15, wherein the first identification device is configured to identify a rewardable behaviour of the driver of the vehicle by input from a user of the first communication unit.

20. A first communication unit according to claim 15, wherein the first communication unit is configured to receive a reward from the second communication unit and store the reward in the first storage for one or more of further use by the first communication unit and display of the reward in the first communication unit.

21. A first communication unit according to claim 15, wherein the vehicle connected to the first communication unit comprises a third sensor system configured to monitor a pre-determined parameter or set of vehicle parameters connected to the driving behaviour of the driver connected to the first communication unit and wherein the first transceiver 4 is configured to send the monitored pre-determined parameter or set of vehicle parameters from the third sensor system to a second identification device via a second transceiver in the second communication unit.

22. A second communication unit comprising a second transceiver the second communication unit comprising or being connected to a second storage,

wherein the second transceiver is configured to receive a reward from a first communication unit;

and

wherein the second transceiver is configured to communicate with the second storage, wherein the second storage is configured to store the reward for one or more of further use by the second communication unit and display of the reward in the second communication unit.

23. A second communication unit according to claim 22 comprising a second identification device, wherein:

the second identification device is configured to identify a rewardable behaviour of a driver of a vehicle connected to the first communication unit or a third communication unit;

the second identification device is configured to check the second storage for a reward that corresponds to the rewardable behaviour;

the second identification device is configured to collect the reward from the second storage; and

the second identification device is configured to communicate and transmit the reward to the first communication unit or the third communication unit.

24. A second communication unit according to claim 23, wherein the second communication unit is configured to be connected to or comprising a fourth sensor system configured to monitor predetermined parameters related to the behaviour of the vehicle, wherein the second identification device is configured to compare the monitored pre-determined parameters from a fourth sensor system with a predetermined set of rewardable behaviour scenarios stored in the second storage for finding a reward matching the behaviour, wherein the second transceiver is configured to transmit a matching reward to the first transceiver when the predetermined parameters match a rewardable behaviour scenario.

25. A second communication unit according to claim 23, wherein the second identification device, via the second transceiver, is configured to receive a pre-determined vehicle parameter or set of vehicle parameters from a third sensor system in the vehicle, the received pre-determined vehicle parameter or set of vehicle parameters being connected to the driving behaviour of the driver, wherein the second identification device being configured to compare the received pre-determined vehicle parameter or set of vehicle parameters from the third sensor system with a predetermined set of rewardable behaviour scenarios stored in the second storage for finding a reward matching the behaviour, wherein the second transceiver is configured to transmit a matching reward to the first transceiver when the predetermined parameters match a rewardable behaviour scenario.

26. A second communication unit according to claim 23, wherein the second identification device is configured to identify a rewardable behaviour of the driver of the vehicle by input from a user of the second communication unit.

27. A second communication unit according to claim 22, wherein the vehicle comprises a second sensor system configured to monitor a pre-determined parameter or set of vehicle parameters connected to the driving behaviour of the driver, wherein the second transceiver is configured to send the monitored pre-determined parameter or set of vehicle parameters from the second sensor system to the first identification device via the first transceiver.

28. A communication system comprising a first communication unit and a second communication unit, wherein the first communication unit comprises a first transceiver, wherein the first communication unit comprising or being connected to first storage configured to store awards, the first communication unit comprising:

a first identification device configured to identify a rewardable behaviour of a driver of a vehicle connected to a second communication unit;

the first identification device configured to check the first storage for a reward that corresponds to the rewardable behaviour;

the first identification device configured to collect the reward from the first storage; and

the first identification device configured to communicate with the first transceiver, wherein the first transceiver is configured to transmit the reward to the second communication unit; and

the second communication unit comprises;

a second transceiver, the second communication unit comprising or being connected to a second storage,

wherein the second transceiver is configured to receive a reward from a first communication unit; and

wherein the second transceiver is configured to communicate with the second storage, wherein the second storage is configured to store the reward for one or more of further use by the second communication unit and display of the reward in the second communication unit.

31. A vehicle comprising a first communication unit or a second communication unit, wherein the first communication unit comprises a first transceiver, wherein the first communication unit comprising or being connected to first storage configured to store awards, the first communication unit comprising:

a first identification device configured to identify a rewardable behaviour of a driver of a vehicle connected to a second communication unit;

the first identification device configured to check the first storage for a reward that corresponds to the rewardable behaviour;

the first identification device configured to collect the reward from the first storage; and

the first identification device configured to communicate with the first transceiver, wherein the first transceiver is configured to transmit the reward to the second communication unit; and

the second communication unit comprises;

a second transceiver, the second communication unit comprising or being connected to a second storage,

wherein the second transceiver is configured to receive a reward from a first communication unit; and

wherein the second transceiver is configured to communicate with the second storage, wherein the second storage is configured to store the reward for one or more of further use by the second communication unit and display of the reward in the second communication unit.