System and method to adjust insurance rate based on real-time data about potential vehicle operator impairment

• US 9,165,326 B1
• Filed: 09/12/2014
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Original Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Inventors: He, Jibo, Fields, Brian Mark, Roberson, Steve, Cielocha, Steve C., Peng, Jufeng, Coltea, Julian
• Primary Examiner(s): Lemieux, Jessica
• Application Number:
  US14/484,922
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 705/4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/066 actuating a signalling device B60K28/063 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0818 Inactivity or incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0827 due to sleepiness
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0836 due to alcohol
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0845 due to drugs
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/221 Physiology, e.g. weight, heartbeat, health or special needs
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 Machine learning
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A method includes receiving data about potential impairment of a vehicle operator, wherein the data about potential impairment is generated by: (i) a first optical sensor monitoring a vehicle operator, and (ii) a second optical sensor monitoring an environment ahead of a vehicle operated by the vehicle operator. The computer-implemented method further includes assigning a plurality of scores based on the data about potential vehicle operator impairment, wherein each of the plurality of scores corresponds to a respective impairment indicator, determining an impairment score by performing a mathematical operation on the plurality of scores, and providing the impairment score to a remote device configured to alert the vehicle operator based on the impairment score.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, from a remote device, a first indication that a vehicle operator has selected a first option to begin to collect data about potential impairment of the vehicle operator;

after receiving the first indication, collecting, via a computer network, data about potential impairment of the vehicle operator, wherein the data about potential impairment is generated by;

a first optical sensor monitoring the vehicle operator, and

a second optical sensor monitoring an environment ahead of a vehicle operated by the vehicle operator;

assigning a plurality of scores based on the data about potential vehicle operator impairment by an application specifically configuring one or more processors to assign the plurality of scores, wherein each of the plurality of scores corresponds to a respective impairment indicator;

determining an impairment score by the application which further configures the one or more processors to determine the impairment score, wherein the application specifically configures the one or more processors to determine the impairment score by performing a mathematical operation on the plurality of scores;

providing, by the one or more processors, the impairment score to the remote device, wherein the remote device is configured to alert the vehicle operator based on the impairment score;

receiving, from the remote device, a second indication that the vehicle operator has selected a second option to end the collecting of the data about potential impairment of the vehicle operator; and

based on the received second indication, terminating the collecting of the data about potential impairment of the vehicle operator.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the remote device is configured to alert the vehicle operator using an audible alert.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the remote device is configured to alert the vehicle operator using a visual alert.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the remote device is configured to alert the vehicle operator using a tactile alert.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the remote device is configured to alert the vehicle operator using at least two of an audible alert, a visual alert, or a tactile alert.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the remote device is further configured to alert passengers in the vehicle operated by the vehicle operator based on the impairment score.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein assigning the plurality of scores includes:

assessing impairment indicators including two or more of vehicle operator head nods, vehicle operator scanning frequency, vehicle operator gaze fixation, vehicle operator mirror checking, vehicle operator head rotations, lane deviation, lane centering, or time to collision; and

assigning an impairment indicator score to each assessed impairment indicator.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the data about potential impairment is generated by the first optical sensor monitoring the vehicle operator, the second optical sensor monitoring the environment ahead of the vehicle operated by the vehicle operator, and an accelerometer monitoring force in one or more directions, wherein the accelerometer is disposed inside of the vehicle operated by the vehicle operator.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein assigning the plurality of scores includes:

assessing impairment indicators corresponding to two or more of fore-aft force corresponding to hard breaking, fore-aft force corresponding to changes in speed, or lateral force;

And

assigning an impairment indicator score to each assessed impairment indicator.

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

after terminating the collecting of the data about potential impairment of the vehicle operator, receiving additional information from the vehicle operator, wherein the vehicle operator enters the additional information via a user interface of the remote device;

receiving, from the remote device, a third indication that the vehicle operator has selected a third option to save the additional information along with the impairment score; and

based on the received third indication, storing, on a non-transitory computer readable medium, the additional information along with the impairment score.

10. A computer device comprising:

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory program memory storing computer-executable instructions that specifically configure the one or more processors such that, when executed by the one or more processors, the computer-executable instructions cause the computer device to;

receive, from a remote device, a first indication that a vehicle operator has selected a first option to begin to collect data about potential impairment of the vehicle operator,

after receiving the first indication, collect, via a computer network, data about potential impairment of the vehicle operator, wherein the data about potential impairment is generated by;

a first optical sensor monitoring the vehicle operator, and

a second optical sensor monitoring an environment ahead of a vehicle operated by the vehicle operator,

assign a plurality of scores based on the data about potential vehicle operator impairment, wherein each of the plurality of scores corresponds to a respective impairment indicator,

determine an impairment score by performing a mathematical operation on the plurality of scores, and

provide the impairment score to the remote device, wherein the remote device is configured to alert the vehicle operator based on the impairment score,

receive, from the remote device, a second indication that the vehicle operator has selected a second option to end the collecting of the data about potential impairment of the vehicle operator, and

based on the received second indication, terminate the collecting of the data about potential impairment of the vehicle operator.

11. The computer device of claim 10, wherein determining the impairment score includes determining a first score indicating drowsiness of the vehicle operator and a second score indicating distractedness of the vehicle operator.

12. The computer device of claim 10, wherein the mathematical operation is a weighted average.

13. The computer device of claim 12, wherein weights of the weighted average are adjusted by a specialized learning routine configured to adjust the weights for the vehicle operator.

14. The computer device of claim 13, wherein the specialized learning routine is a support vector machine.

15. The computer device of claim 13, wherein the specialized learning routine includes a neural network algorithm.

16. The computer device of claim 12, wherein weights of the weighted average are adjusted by the vehicle operator.

17. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions that specifically configure one or more processors of a computer system such that, when executed by one or more processors, the instructions cause the computer system to:

receive, from a remote device, a first indication that a vehicle operator has selected a first option to begin to collect data about potential impairment of the vehicle operator,

after receiving the first indication, collect, via a computer network, data about potential impairment of the vehicle operator, wherein the data about potential impairment is generated by;

a first optical sensor monitoring the vehicle operator, and

a second optical sensor monitoring an environment ahead of a vehicle operated by the vehicle operator,

assign a plurality of scores based on the data about potential vehicle operator impairment, wherein each of the plurality of scores corresponds to a respective impairment indicator,

determine an impairment score by performing a mathematical operation on the plurality of scores, and

provide the impairment score to the remote device, wherein the remote device is configured to alert the vehicle operator based on the impairment score,

receive, from the remote device, a second indication that the vehicle operator has selected a second option to end the collecting of the data about potential impairment of the vehicle operator, and

based on the received second indication, terminate the collecting of the data about potential impairment of the vehicle operator.

18. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the remote device is configured to alert the vehicle operator using an audible alert, a visual alert, and a tactile alert.

19. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the remote device is further configured to alert passengers in the vehicle operated by the vehicle operator based on the impairment score.