Geotribing

• US 9,112,937 B1
• Filed: 05/06/2014
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Inventors: Warden, Thomas, Huls, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Fan, Hua
• Application Number:
  US14/270,875
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06393 Score-carding, benchmarking or key performance indicator [KPI] analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks

Abstract

A system and method for evaluating, scoring, and encouraging group performance towards a common goal is disclosed. In an embodiment, individuals of a group have an incentive to encourage other group members to drive better and achieve an improved overall driving score for the group. A group driving score is determined based on the driving performances of members of the group. The group may establish a driving score goal and work toward achieving that goal using real-time group reinforcement communications.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of establishing a group sharing a common interest to improve performance towards a group score related to the common interest, the method comprising:

(a) querying, by a common interest server, application programs to determine at least one common interest among a population of users;

(b) determining, by a common interest server, the at least one common interest for a subset of the population of users;

(c) transmitting, by a common interest server, a message to the subset of users to determine interest in forming a group having the at least one common interest;

(d) receiving, by a common interest server, a response from at least two users from the subset of users indicating interest in group formation;

(e) establishing, by a common interest server, a group having the at least one common interest, the group including a first and a second user;

(f) receiving, by a common interest server, data regarding a performance for the first user;

(g) receiving, by a common interest server, data regarding a performance for the second user;

(h) based on the received data for the first user'"'"'s performance and the second user'"'"'s performance, determining, by a common interest server, a group score;

(i) transmitting, by a common interest server, the determined group score to the first user and the second user;

(j) comparing, by a common interest server, the determined group score to a first threshold;

(k) if the determined group score exceeds a first threshold, transmitting, by a common interest server, a first predetermined message; and

(l) if the determined group score does not exceed the first threshold, transmitting, by a common interest server, a second predetermined message;

wherein the data regarding the performance for the first user corresponds to a driving performance of the first user, wherein the data regarding the performance for the second user corresponds to a driving performance of the second user, and wherein the determined group score is a determined group driving score.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined message includes an indication that the determined group score exceeds a predetermined goal, wherein the second predetermined message includes an indication that the determined group driving score falls short of a predetermined goal.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first and second predetermined messages comprises a text message.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first and second predetermined messages comprises an e-mail message.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein first predetermined message further includes an indication that a reward has been achieved based on the determined group driving score exceeding a predetermined goal.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising:

transmitting, by the common interest server, the determined first user'"'"'s driving score, the determined second user'"'"'s driving score, and the determined group driving score to at least all members of the group.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving, by the common interest server, at least one communication from another group member regarding the determined group driving score.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, further comprising:

transmitting, by the common interest server, the received at least one communication to all members of the group.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a memory;

a display;

a processor coupled to the memory and programmed with computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising;

(a) querying, by a common interest server, application programs to determine at least one common interest among a population of users;

(b) determining, by a common interest server, the at least one common interest for a subset of the population of users;

(c) transmitting, by a common interest server, a message to the subset of users to determine interest in forming a group having the at least one common interest;

(d) receiving, by a common interest server, a response from at least two users from the subset of users indicating interest in group formation; and

(e) establishing, by a common interest server, a group having the at least one common interest, the group including a first and a second user;

(f) receiving, by a common interest server, data regarding a performance for the first user;

(g) receiving, by a common interest server, data regarding a performance for the second user;

(h) based on the received data for the first user'"'"'s performance and the second user'"'"'s performance, determining, by a common interest server, a group score;

(i) transmitting, by a common interest server, the determined group score to the first user and the second user;

(j) comparing, by a common interest server, the determined group score to a first threshold;

(k) if the determined group score exceeds a first threshold, transmitting, by a common interest server, a first predetermined message; and

(l) if the determined group score does not exceed the first threshold, transmitting, by a common interest server, a second predetermined message;

wherein the data regarding the performance for the first user corresponds to a driving performance of the first user, wherein the data regarding the performance for the second user corresponds to a driving performance of the second user, and wherein the determined group score is a determined group driving score.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first predetermined message includes an indication that the determined group score exceeds a predetermined goal, wherein the second predetermined message includes an indication that the determined group driving score falls short of a predetermined goal.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first and second predetermined messages comprises a text message.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first and second predetermined messages comprises an e-mail message.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein first predetermined message further includes an indication that a reward has been achieved based on the determined group driving score exceeding a predetermined goal.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor is further programmed with computer-executable instructions for performing the step of transmitting, by the common interest server, the determined first user'"'"'s driving score, the determined second user'"'"'s driving score, and the determined group driving score to at least all members of the group.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor is further programmed with computer-executable instructions for performing the step of receiving, by the common interest server, at least one communication from another group member regarding the determined group driving score.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processor is further programmed with computer-executable instructions for performing the step of transmitting, by the common interest server, the received at least one communication to all members of the group.