Traffic based driving analysis

• US 9,081,650 B1
• Filed: 02/19/2013
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Inventors: Brinkmann, Margaret A., Huls, Eric, Kraft, Daniel, Bryer, Nathan M., Warden, Thomas Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Khatib, Rami
• Application Number:
  US13/770,622
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/36, 701/400, 701/408, 701/468, 701/482, 701/483, 701/484, 701/487
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/18 Braking system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/20 Steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/105 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/20 Direction indicator values
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/30 Driving style
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/801 Lateral distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0125 Traffic data processing

Abstract

A driving analysis server may be configured to receive vehicle operation data from vehicle sensors and telematics devices of a first vehicle, and may use the data to identify a potentially high-risk or unsafe driving behavior by the first vehicle. The driving analysis server also may retrieve corresponding vehicle operation data from one or more other vehicles, and may compare the potentially high-risk or unsafe driving behavior of the first vehicle to corresponding driving behaviors in the other vehicles. A driver score for the first vehicle may be calculated or adjusted based on the comparison of the driving behavior in the first vehicle to the corresponding driving behaviors in the other vehicles.

Claims

1. A driving analysis system comprising a first vehicle on-board data recording system and a driving analysis server:

wherein the first vehicle on-board data recording system comprises;

one or more vehicle operation sensors or cameras configured to record vehicle operation data at the first vehicle; and

one or more telematics devices configured to transmit the vehicle operation data from the first vehicle to the driving analysis server,

wherein the driving analysis server comprises a processor and a memory unit storing computer-executable instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the driving analysis server to;

receive first vehicle driving data from the first vehicle on-board data recording system, the first vehicle driving data associated with a first vehicle location and a first vehicle time;

analyze the received first vehicle driving data to determine a first driving behavior of a first driver of the first vehicle;

receive other vehicle driving data from one or more driving data sources, the other vehicle driving data corresponding to one or more other vehicles driven at or near the first vehicle location at or near the first vehicle time;

compare the first vehicle driving data to the other vehicle driving data corresponding to the one or more other vehicles driven at or near the first vehicle location at or near the first vehicle time to determine whether the first driving behavior is present in the other vehicle driving data;

responsive to determining that the first driving behavior is not present in the other vehicle driving data, adjusting a driver score of the first driver of the first vehicle; and

responsive to determining that the first driving behavior is present in the other vehicle driving data, maintaining the driver score of the first driver of the first vehicle.

2. The driving analysis system of claim 1, the driving analysis server storing additional computer-executable instructions, which when executed by the processing unit, cause the driving analysis server to:

calculate the driver score for the first driver of the first vehicle, based on data received from the vehicle operation sensors of the first vehicle.

3. The driving analysis system of claim 2, wherein comparing the first vehicle driving data to the other vehicle driving data corresponding to the one or more other vehicles driven at or near the first vehicle location at or near the first vehicle time to determine whether the first driving behavior is present in the other vehicle driving data further includes:

identifying one or more occurrences of the first driving behavior within the other vehicle driving data;

comparing a measurement of the occurrences of the first driving behavior within the other vehicle driving data to a threshold value;

responsive to determining that the measurement of the occurrences of the first driving behavior within the other vehicle driving data is greater than the threshold value, maintaining the driver score of the first driver of the first vehicle; and

responsive to determining that the measurement of the occurrences of the first driving behavior within the other vehicle driving data is below the threshold value, adjusting the driver score of the first driver of the first vehicle.

4. The driving analysis system of claim 1, wherein the first vehicle on-board data recording system comprises sensors or cameras configured to record at least one of:

vehicle acceleration rates, vehicle braking rates, vehicle speed, vehicle steering, an impact to the vehicle, vehicle following distance, or vehicle lane position; and

wherein the first driving behavior detected by the driving analysis server comprises at least one of;

an occurrence of sudden acceleration, an occurrence of sudden braking, an occurrence of speeding, an occurrence of swerving, an occurrence of an impact to the vehicle, an occurrence of tailgating, an occurrence of a lane departure, or an occurrence of a moving violation.

5. The driving analysis system of claim 1, wherein the first vehicle on-board data recording system is configured to record and transmit at least one of:

vehicle speed data, vehicle acceleration data, vehicle braking data, vehicle steering data, use of vehicle turn signals, use of vehicle seat belts, use of a radio in the vehicle, or use of a phone in the vehicle.

6. The driving analysis system of claim 1, wherein the first vehicle on-board data recording system is configured to record and transmit at least one of:

image data, video data, or object proximity data collected by at least one camera or proximity sensor in the first vehicle on-board data recording system.

7. The driving analysis system of claim 1, wherein receiving the other vehicle driving data comprises:

determining the first vehicle location of the first vehicle;

identifying the one or more other vehicles based on a determination that each of the one or more other vehicles are at or near the first vehicle location at or near the first time; and

retrieving vehicle driving data collected by vehicle on-board data recording systems within the one or more other vehicles.

8. The driving analysis system of claim 1, wherein receiving the other vehicle driving data comprises:

determining the first vehicle location of the first vehicle;

retrieving vehicle driving data from a traffic database for vehicles that were driven at or near the first vehicle location at or near the first vehicle time.

9. A driving analysis system comprising a first vehicle on-board data recording system, a second vehicle on-board data recording system, and a driving analysis server:

wherein the first vehicle on-board data recording system comprises;

one or more vehicle operation sensors or cameras configured to record vehicle operation data at the first vehicle; and

one or more telematics devices configured to transmit the vehicle operation data from the first vehicle to the driving analysis server;

wherein the second vehicle on-board data recording system comprises;

one or more vehicle operation sensors or cameras configured to record vehicle operation data at the second vehicle; and

one or more telematics devices configured to transmit the vehicle operation data from the second vehicle to the driving analysis server;

wherein the driving analysis server comprises a processor and a memory unit storing computer-executable instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the driving analysis server to;

receive first vehicle driving data from the first vehicle on-board data recording system, the first vehicle driving data associated with a first vehicle location and a first vehicle time;

analyze the received first vehicle driving data to determine a first driving behavior of a first driver of the first vehicle;

receive second vehicle driving data from the second vehicle on-board data recording system, the second vehicle driving data associated with a second vehicle location at or near the first vehicle location at or near the first vehicle time;

compare the first vehicle driving data to the second vehicle driving data to determine whether the first driving behavior is present in the second vehicle driving data;

responsive to determining that the first driving behavior is not present in the second vehicle driving data, adjusting a driver score of the first driver of the first vehicle; and

responsive to determining that the first driving behavior is present in the second vehicle driving data, maintaining the driver score of the first driver of the first vehicle.

10. The driving analysis system of claim 9, the driving analysis server storing additional computer-executable instructions, which when executed by the processing unit, cause the driving analysis server to:

calculate the driver score for the first driver of the first vehicle, based on the data received from the one or more vehicle operation sensors of the first vehicle.

11. The driving analysis system of claim 10, wherein comparing the first vehicle driving data to the second vehicle driving data to determine whether the first driving behavior is present in the second vehicle driving data includes:

receiving other vehicle driving data from one or more driving data sources, the other vehicle driving data corresponding to one or more other vehicles driven at or near the first vehicle location at or near the first vehicle time;

identifying one or more occurrences of the first driving behavior within the second vehicle driving data and the other vehicle driving data;

comparing a measurement of the occurrences of the first driving behavior within the second vehicle driving data and the other vehicle driving data to a threshold value;

responsive to determining that the measurement of the occurrences of the first driving behavior within the second vehicle driving data and the other vehicle driving data is greater than the threshold value, maintaining the driver score of the first driver of the first vehicle; and

responsive to determining that the measurement of the occurrences of the first driving behavior within the second vehicle driving data and the other vehicle driving data is below the threshold value, adjusting the driver score of the first driver of the first vehicle.

12. The driving analysis system of claim 9, wherein the first vehicle on-board data recording system and the second vehicle on-board data recording system each comprise sensors or cameras configured to record at least one of:

vehicle acceleration rates, vehicle braking rates, vehicle speed, vehicle steering, an impact to the vehicle, vehicle following distance, or vehicle lane position; and

wherein the first driving behavior detected by the driving analysis server comprises at least one of;

an occurrence of sudden acceleration, an occurrence of sudden braking, an occurrence of speeding, an occurrence of swerving, an occurrence of an impact to the vehicle, an occurrence of tailgating, an occurrence of a lane departure, or an occurrence of a moving violation.

13. The driving analysis system of claim 9, wherein the first vehicle on-board data recording system and the second vehicle on-board data recording system are each configured to record and transmit at least one of:

vehicle speed data, vehicle acceleration data, vehicle braking data, vehicle steering data, use of vehicle turn signals, use of vehicle seat belts, use of a radio in the vehicle, or use of a phone in the vehicle.

14. The driving analysis system of claim 9, wherein the first vehicle on-board data recording system and the second vehicle on-board data recording system are each configured to record and transmit at least one of:

image data, video data, or object proximity data collected by at least one camera or proximity sensor in the first vehicle on-board data recording system.

15. The driving analysis system of claim 9, the driving analysis server storing additional computer-executable instructions, which when executed by the processing unit, cause the driving analysis server to:

determine the first vehicle location of the first vehicle; and

identify the second vehicle based on a determination that the second vehicle is at or near the first vehicle location at or near the first vehicle time.

16. The driving analysis system of claim 15, the driving analysis server storing additional computer-executable instructions, which when executed by the processing unit, cause the driving analysis server to:

request vehicle driving data from the second vehicle on-board data recording system based on the determination that the second vehicle is at or near the first vehicle location at or near the first vehicle time, wherein the vehicle driving data requested from the second vehicle on-board data recording system corresponds to the first vehicle driving data received from the first vehicle on-board data recording system.

17. A driving analysis system comprising:

a first vehicle on-board data recording system, one or more other vehicle on-board data recording systems, one or more vehicle operation computer systems, one or more traffic data storage systems, and a driving analysis server,

wherein the first vehicle on-board data recording system comprises;

one or more vehicle operation sensors or cameras configured to record vehicle operation data at the first vehicle; and

one or more telematics devices configured to transmit the vehicle operation data from the first vehicle to a vehicle operation computer system,

wherein each of the one or more other vehicle on-board data recording systems comprises;

one or more vehicle operation sensors or cameras configured to record vehicle operation data at the vehicle; and

one or more telematics devices configured to transmit the vehicle operation data from the vehicle to a vehicle operation computer system,

wherein each of the one or more vehicle operation computer systems comprises a processor and a memory unit storing computer-executable instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the vehicle operation computer system to;

receive and store vehicle operation data from the at least one telematics device of the first vehicle on-board data recording system or the other vehicle on-board data recording systems; and

transmit the vehicle operation data to the driving analysis server,

wherein each of the one or more traffic data storage systems comprises a processor and a memory unit storing computer-executable instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the traffic data storage system to;

receive and store traffic data regarding a plurality of driving behaviors, a plurality of geographic locations associated with said driving behaviors, and a plurality of time periods associated with said driving behaviors; and

transmit the traffic data regarding a plurality of driving behaviors to the driving analysis server,

wherein the driving analysis server comprises a processor and a memory unit storing computer-executable instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the driving analysis server to;

receive first vehicle driving data from one or more of the vehicle operation computer systems, the first vehicle driving data associated with a first vehicle location and a first vehicle time;

analyze the received first vehicle driving data to determine a first driving behavior of a first driver of the first vehicle;

receive other vehicle driving data from at least one of the vehicle operation computer systems or the traffic data storage systems, the other vehicle driving data associated with one or more other vehicle locations at or near the first vehicle location at or near the first vehicle time;

compare the first vehicle driving data to the other vehicle driving data to determine whether the first driving behavior is present in the second vehicle driving data;

responsive to determining that the first driving behavior is not present in the other vehicle driving data, adjusting a driver score of the first driver of the first vehicle; and

responsive to determining that the first driving behavior is present in the other vehicle driving data, maintaining the driver score of the first driver of the first vehicle.

18. The driving analysis system of claim 17, the driving analysis server storing additional computer-executable instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the driving analysis server to:

identify one or more occurrences of the first driving behavior within the other vehicle driving data;

compare a measurement of the occurrences of the first driving behavior within the other vehicle driving data to a threshold value;

responsive to determining that the measurement of the occurrences of the first driving behavior within the other vehicle driving data is greater than the threshold value, maintaining the driver score of the first driver of the first vehicle; and

responsive to determining that the measurement of the occurrences of the first driving behavior within the other vehicle driving data is below the threshold value, adjusting the driver score of the first driver of the first vehicle.

19. The driving analysis system of claim 18, wherein identifying one or more occurrences of the first driving behavior within the other vehicle driving data comprises:

accessing the one or more vehicle operation computer system to identify the other vehicles at the or near the first vehicle location at or near the first vehicle time; and

determining occurrences of the first driving behavior in the other vehicles at or near the first vehicle location at or near the first vehicle time.

20. The driving analysis system of claim 18, wherein identifying one or more occurrences of the first driving behavior within the other vehicle driving data comprises:

querying the one or more traffic data storage system to determine occurrences of the first driving behavior at or near the first vehicle location at or near the first vehicle time.