SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING AND ASSESSING LOCATION-BASED RISKS FOR VEHICLES

• US 20150324923A1
• Filed: 05/08/2014
• Published: 11/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Original Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Inventors: Christensen, Scott Thomas, Hayward, Gregory, Cielocha, Steven, Binion, Todd
• Granted Patent: US 10,121,203 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0635 Risk analysis of enterprise or organisation activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0266 based on the position of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

Methods and systems for improving vehicular safety by notifying vehicle operators of location-based risks are provided. According to embodiments, a processing server may receive an initial location of a vehicle. Based on location data associated with the initial location, the processing server can determine the risk of an incident. The processing server can generate a notification to communicate to the vehicle operator, and the vehicle operator can assess the risk and take action to mitigate the risk, for example by relocating the vehicle. The processing server can receive updated location data for the vehicle and can determine, based on the updated location data, that the risk has been mitigated.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of notifying a vehicle operator associated with a vehicle of a location-based risk, the method comprising:

receiving an initial location of the vehicle, the initial location corresponding to where the vehicle is parked;

examining, by a processor, historical crime data associated with the initial location to identify the location-based risk, the historical crime data indicating a set of theft or burglary incidents that occurred at or near the initial location;

calculating, by the processor, a percentage chance of incident, to the vehicle at the initial location, based on examining the historical crime data;

when the percentage chance of incident exceeds a threshold amount, automatically notifying the vehicle operator of the location-based risk;

subsequent to notifying the vehicle operator, receiving an updated location of the vehicle;

calculating, by the processor, an updated percentage chance of incident, to the vehicle at the updated location, associated with the location-based risk; and

determining, by the processor, that the updated percentage chance of incident is less than the percentage chance of incident.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

notifying the vehicle operator that the location-based risk is mitigated.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein examining the historical crime data comprises:

retrieving the historical crime data from a third-party server; and

examining the historical crime data to identify the location-based risk.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein calculating the percentage chance of incident comprises:

calculating the percentage chance of incident from additional information associated with the initial location.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein calculating the updated percentage chance of incident comprises:

calculating the updated percentage chance of incident from information associated with the updated location.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 2, wherein notifying the vehicle operator comprises:

communicating an indication of the location-based risk to an electronic device associated with at least one of the vehicle operator and the vehicle.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

subsequent to determining that the updated percentage chance of incident is less than the percentage chance of incident, identifying a reward for the vehicle operator; and

applying the reward to an account of the vehicle operator.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 8, wherein identifying the reward for the vehicle operator comprises:

determining an elapsed time period between when the initial location is received and when the updated location is received; and

determining the reward based on the elapsed time period.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving the initial location of the vehicle comprises:

requesting an electronic device associated with at least one of the vehicle operator and the vehicle for the initial location; and

receiving the initial location from the electronic device.

4. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. A system for notifying a vehicle operator associated with a vehicle of a location-based risk, comprising:

a communication module adapted to communicate data;

a memory adapted to store non-transitory computer executable instructions; and

a processor adapted to interface with the communication module, wherein the processor is configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the processor to;

receive, via the communication module, an initial location of the vehicle, the initial location corresponding to where the vehicle is parked,

examine historical crime data associated with the initial location to identify the location-based risk, the historical crime data indicating a set of theft or burglary incidents that occurred at or near the initial location,

calculate a percentage chance of incident, to the vehicle at the initial location, based on examining the historical crime data,

when the percentage chance of incident exceeds a threshold amount, automatically notify the vehicle operator of the location-based risk,

subsequent to notifying the vehicle operator, receive, via the communication module, an updated location of the vehicle,

calculate an updated percentage chance of incident, to the vehicle at the updated location, associated with the location-based risk, and

determine that the updated percentage chance of incident is less than the percentage chance of incident.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to further cause the processor to:

notify the vehicle operator that the location-based risk is mitigated.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein to examine the historical crime data, the processor is configured to:

retrieve the historical crime data from a third-party server, and

examine the historical crime data to identify the location-based risk.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein to calculate the percentage chance of incident, the processor is configured to:

calculate the percentage chance of incident from additional information associated with the initial location.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein to calculate the updated percentage chance of incident, the processor is configured to:

calculate the updated percentage chance of incident from information associated with the updated location.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein to notify the vehicle operator, the processor is configured to:

transmit, via the communication module, an indication of the location-based risk to an electronic device associated with at least one of the vehicle operator and the vehicle.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to further cause the processor to:

subsequent to determining that the updated percentage chance of incident is less than the percentage chance of incident, identify a reward for the vehicle operator, and

apply the reward to an account of the vehicle operator.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein to identify the reward for the vehicle operator, the processor is configured to:

determine an elapsed time period between when the initial location is received and when the updated location is received, and

determine the reward based on the elapsed time period.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein to receive the initial location of the vehicle, the processor is configured to:

request an electronic device associated with at least one of the vehicle operator and the vehicle for the initial location, and

receive the initial location from the electronic device via the communication module.

15. (canceled)