Method and system for controlling and modifying driving behaviors

• US 9,615,213 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2013
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Katasi LLC
• Original Assignee: Katasi LLC
• Inventors: Tibbitts, Scott Ferrill, Tai, Franklin, Tibbitts, Ryan, Stevenson, Adam, Young, Malcolm Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Tan H
• Application Number:
  US14/139,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20140113619A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 455517, 4555692, 455410, 455411, 4554564, 4554563, 4555561, 4554561, 455418, 455404, 705 1458, 705 4, 705 10, 705 1, 340439, 340936, 340 724, 340903, 34235707, 3423571, 7071041, 701 296, 701 1, 701 36, 701117, 701 51, 701 99
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2220/02 Driver type; Driving style; Driver adaptive features
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/172 Determining control parameters used in the regulation, e.g. by calculations involving measured or detected parameters B60T8/17551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/087 where the control system corrects or modifies a request from the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 6/007 adjustable by the driver, e.g. sport mode
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• 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: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/22 for communication related to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/415 based on motion status or velocity, e.g. for disabling use of mobile phones in a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/45 characterized by including monitoring of the target or target signal, e.g. in reactive jammers or follower jammers for example by means of an alternation of jamming phases and monitoring phases, called "look-through mode"
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method and system for detecting, monitoring and/or controlling one or more of mobile services for a mobile communication device (also referred to herein as a Controllable Mobile Device or CMD), and in particular, when the device is being used and the vehicle, operated by the user of the device, is moving. In addition, one aspect of the invention generally relates to a method and system for modifying a user'"'"'s driving behaviors, in particular to a system and method for modifying a user'"'"'s unsafe driving behaviors, e.g., using one or more services of a controllable mobile device while driving, by providing a score to the user rating indicating that they are using a mobile device in a distracting way, or driving in a manner that indicates that they are distracted.

Claims

1. A mobile services control system for generating a score based on driving events and use of a controllable mobile device, comprising:

an in-vehicle detection system configured to determine one or more characteristics of a vehicle indicative of the vehicle being operated by a user; and

a computational equipment that is configured to generate the score based on a first input indicative of whether a controllable mobile device is within the vehicle when the vehicle is in operation, a second input comprising the one or more characteristics of a vehicle indicative of the vehicle being operated by a user, and a third input indicative of one or more of a use of the controllable mobile device by the user, a use of the system that controls distracting use of the controllable mobile device, overriding the system and one or more events indicative of driving behaviors, wherein the system is configured to communicate one or more rewards to a user based on the score and wherein the computational equipment is configured to communicate, during or after the end of a trip, one or more of an audible, vibrational or visible alert to the user to indicate that the score has been achieved.

2. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the use of the controllable mobile device comprises one or more of reviewing text message, typing a text message, voice call, sending a text message, reviewing an email message, typing a text message, sending an email, playing a game, viewing a video, information provided via the Internet and interaction with an interface of the controllable mobile device.

3. The mobile services control system of claim 1, further comprising a memory.

4. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the score is indicative of a driving behavior of the user.

5. The mobile services control system of claim 4, wherein the score comprises one or more of a number of excessive cornering events, a number of excessive braking events, a number of excessive acceleration events, use of the system to control distracting features of a mobile device while driving, a number of overrides of the system to control distracting features of a mobile device while driving, a number of segments, of a specified distance, driven without an event indicative of unsafe driving, a number of segments, of a specified time, driven without an event indicative of unsafe driving, a number of incidences of exceeding a predetermined maximum velocity, a number of incidences of exceeding a speed limit, a number of miles driven, an indication that a user identified themselves as a driver, and vehicle speed variation over distance and time.

6. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the score is indicative of distracted driving behaviors.

7. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the score is configured to encourage a desired driving behaviors by optimizing scores or rewards.

8. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the score is calculated using scoring techniques based on score multipliers for desirable behaviors and score multipliers for sequential periods of driving with the desired behavior, and wherein the score includes one or more of badges and awards and is configured to encourage competition between users.

9. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the score comprises one or more of a trip score, a cumulative score for a period, game information, and a reward.

10. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the computation equipment is configured to generate a reward based on the first input, the second input and the third input, wherein the reward includes one or more of discounted merchandise, free merchandise, services, and a donation that can be given to third party specified by the user.

11. The mobile services control system of claim 10, wherein the score further comprises one or more of a reward or a discount based on data including one or more characteristics indicative of the one or more services being used, a location of the vehicle and driving behavior of the user.

12. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the computation equipment is configured to generate a reward based on the first input, the second input and the third input, wherein the reward includes one or more of a reward based on a location of the vehicle, a location of redemption based on the location of the vehicle, a redemption location provided to the user concurrently with the reward, and an expiration time for the reward.

13. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the score is calculated using scoring techniques based on one or more score multipliers for desirable behavior and score multipliers for sequential periods of driving with the desired behavior.

14. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to allow the user to preselect awards that will be particularly motivating in changing the behavior of the user.

15. The mobile services control system of claim 1, further comprising a communication unit configured to communicate the score to one or more of a subscriber, a social media, the controllable mobile device, and a third-party.

16. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the computation equipment resides at least in part on one or more of the controllable mobile device, a wireless a vehicle vibration indicative of vehicle movement.

17. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the computation equipment is configured to communicate with the controllable mobile device.

18. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the computation equipment is configured to compare scores among one or more users of the system so as to create competition among the users.

19. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the computation equipment is configured to programically deduce whether the user has overridden a disabled feature or a disabled service of the controllable mobile device.

20. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the score comprises a number of segments driven by the user.

21. The mobile services control system of claim 20, wherein at least one of the segments is selected from a group consisting of a length of time, a distance, and combinations thereof.

22. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the score comprises a discount including a financial vehicle insurance discount.

23. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the score comprises a reward including an e-commerce discount based on a location of the vehicle.

24. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the in-vehicle detection system receives vehicle movement data from one or more vehicle movement detectors, the movement detectors detecting one or more of a vehicle acceleration, velocity, and the vehicle, services are restricted to the controllable movable device by one or more of notifying the provider to restrict services or transmitting a signal to the controllable movable device to restrict services.

25. The mobile services control system of claim 1, further comprising a communication interface configured to intermittently transmit additional data external to the vehicle.

26. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the use of the controllable mobile device comprises texting.

27. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the in-vehicle detection subsystem comprises a wireless Bluetooth interface.

28. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the computational equipment comprises a data management system for storing identifications of:

(i) a subscriber for subscribing to the mobile services control system, (ii) the controllable mobile device wherein the controllable mobile device is identified with the subscriber, and (iii) the vehicle or the in-vehicle detection subsystem.

29. The mobile services control system of claim 28, wherein the data management system provides the first and second input to at least one component of the computational equipment for determining one of:

when the controllable mobile device is within a predetermined geospatial envelope, and when a predetermined vehicle movement is detected.

30. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the computational equipment uses a communication between the controllable mobile device and one or more base stations for a wireless service provider to determine a particular location of the controllable mobile device, and a communication between an interface and a wireless network for determining a particular location of the vehicle when the location of the controllable mobile device and vehicle are determined to be such that the controllable mobile device is within network, and a wireless service provider.

31. The mobile services control system of claim 30, wherein one of a signal strength, a signal time delay, an identification of one of the base stations and gps location is used in determining the particular location of one or more of the controllable mobile device and the vehicle.

32. The mobile services control system of claim 30, wherein a signal strength, a signal time delay, an identification of one of the base stations of a wireless network and gps is used in determining the particular location of the vehicle or the in-vehicle detection subsystem.

33. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the one or more characteristics of a vehicle indicative of the vehicle being operated by a user comprises one or more of information indicative of unsafe driving behaviors and information indicative of distracted driving behaviors.

34. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the one or more characteristics of a vehicle indicative of the vehicle being operated by a user comprises one or more of information indicative excessive cornering, information indicative of excessive braking, information indicative of swerving, information indicative of acceleration, information indicative of uneven speed maintenance, and information indicative of speeding.

35. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the controllable mobile device moves independently from the in-vehicle detection subsystem.

36. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the computation equipment at least partially resides in a cloud.

37. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the first input comprises data including one or more of data indicative of the controllable mobile device being associated with the vehicle, data indicative of the controllable mobile device being scheduled to be in the vehicle, and data indicative of the controllable mobile device being associated with the user who is associated with the vehicle.

38. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the use of the system that controls distracting use of the controllable mobile device comprises one or more of monitoring the controllable mobile device, disabling the controllable mobile device, disabling one or more service of the controllable mobile device and reporting on usage of the controllable mobile device.

39. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the reward is an intangible reward.

40. The mobile services control system of claim 39, wherein the intangible award is selected from a group consisting of badges, personal scores, team scores, competitors scores, recognition on social media, public acknowledgement, networked communication and combinations.

41. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the reward is a tangible award.

42. The mobile services control system of claim 41, wherein the tangible award comprises one or more of an economic incentive and a product of value.

43. The mobile services control system of claim 41, wherein the product of value comprises a discount on automobile insurance.

44. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the reward comprises a tangible award and an intangible award.

45. A mobile services control system for generating a score based on driving events, comprising:

computational equipment that is configured to generate the score based on a first input indicative of whether a mobile communication device is within the vehicle when the vehicle is in operation, a second input comprising the one or more characteristics indicative of the vehicle being operated by a user, and a third input indicative of one or more of a use of the controllable mobile device, a use of the system that prevents unsafe use of the controllable mobile device, overriding the system that prevents unsafe use of the controllable mobile device, and unsafe driving events, and wherein the computational equipment is configured to communicate, during or after the end of a trip, one or more of an audible, vibrational or visible alert to the user to indicate that a particular award or score has been achieved.

46. The mobile services control system of claim 45, wherein the system is configured to communicate one or more rewards to a user based on the score.

47. The mobile services control system of claim 45, wherein the score is indicative of a driving behavior of the user.

48. The mobile services control system of claim 45, rein the score comprises one or more of a number of excessive cornering events, a number of excessive braking events, a number of excessive acceleration events, use of the system to control distracting features of a mobile device while driving, a number of overrides of the system to control distracting features of a mobile device while driving, a number of segments, of a specified distance, driven without an event indicative of unsafe driving, a number of segments, of a specified time, driven without an event indicative of unsafe driving, a number of incidences of exceeding a predetermined maximum velocity, a number of incidences of exceeding a speed limit, a number of miles driven, an indication that a user identified themselves as a driver, and vehicle speed variation over distance and time.

49. The mobile services control system of claim 45, wherein the score is configured to encourage a desired driving behaviors by optimizing scores or rewards.

50. The mobile services control system of claim 45, wherein the score is calculated using scoring techniques based on score multipliers.

51. The mobile services control system of claim 45, wherein the system is configured to communicate one or more rewards to a user based on the score.

52. The mobile services control system of claim 45, wherein the score comprises one or more of a trip score, cumulative score for a period, game information, and rewards for desired behavior are made available to the user at the end of each driving event.

53. The mobile services control system of claim 45, wherein the computation equipment is configured to generate a reward based on the first input, the second input and the third input, wherein the reward includes one or more of discounted merchandise, free merchandise, services, and a donation that can be given to third party specified by the user.

54. The mobile services control system of claim 45, wherein the computation equipment is configured to generate a reward based on the first input, the second input and the third input, wherein the reward includes one or more of a reward based on a location of the vehicle, a location of redemption based on the location of the vehicle, a redemption location provided to the user concurrently with the reward, and an expiration time for the reward.

55. The mobile services control system of claim 45, wherein the score is calculated using scoring techniques including one or more of calculating score based on score multipliers for desirable behavior, score multipliers for sequential periods of driving with the desired behavior, badges or awards, competitions between teams, leader boards, random rewards for a given behavior, and publication on social media.

56. The mobile services control system of claim 45, wherein the system is configured to allow a user to preselect awards that will be motivating in changing the users behavior.

57. The mobile services control system of claim 45, further comprising a communication unit configured to communicate the score to one or more of a subscriber, a social media, the controllable mobile device, and a third-party.

58. The mobile services control system of claim 45, further comprising an in-vehicle detection system comprising a wireless Bluetooth interface.

59. The mobile services control system of claim 58, wherein the in-vehicle detection system and the controllable mobile device communicate with the Bluetooth interface on an over-the-air connection.

60. The mobile service control system of claim 59, wherein the communication on the over-the-air connection comprises the one or more characteristics indicative of the vehicle being operated by a user.

61. The mobile services control system of claim 45, further comprising a wireless Bluetooth interface.

62. The mobile services control system of claim 45, wherein the computation equipment is configured to programically deduce whether the user has overridden a disabled feature or a disabled service of the controllable mobile device.

63. The mobile services control system of claim 45, wherein the first input comprises data including one or more of data indicative of the controllable mobile device being associated with the vehicle, data indicative of the controllable mobile device being scheduled to be in the vehicle, and data indicative of the controllable mobile device being associated with the user who is associated with the vehicle.

64. The mobile services control system of claim 45, further comprising a communication interface configured to intermittently transmit additional data external to the vehicle.

65. The mobile services control system of claim 45, wherein the computation equipment at least partially resides in a cloud.

66. A mobile services control system comprising:

an in-vehicle detection system configured to determine one or more characteristics of a vehicle indicative of the vehicle being operated by a user; and

a computational equipment configured to identify a user of the vehicle, restrict one or more services of the controllable mobile device, and generate the score, wherein the score is based on a first input indicative of whether a controllable mobile device is within the vehicle when the vehicle is in operation, a second input comprising the one or more characteristics of a vehicle indicative of the vehicle being operated by a user, and a third input indicative of one or more of a use of the controllable mobile device, a use of the system that prevents unsafe use of the controllable mobile device, overriding the system that prevents unsafe use of the controllable mobile device, and unsafe driving events, wherein the computation equipment is configured to generate a reward based on the first input, the second input and the third input, wherein the reward includes one or more rewards based on one or more of a location of the vehicle, a location of redemption based on the location of the vehicle, a redemption location provided to the user concurrently with the reward, and an expiration time for the reward.

67. The mobile services control system of claim 66, wherein the system is configured to allow the user to preselect awards.

68. The mobile services control system of claim 66, wherein the computation equipment is configured to programically deduce whether the user has overridden a disabled feature of the controllable mobile device or a disabled service of the controllable mobile device.

69. The mobile services control system of claim 66, further comprising a communication interface configured to intermittently transmit additional data external to the vehicle.

70. The mobile services control system of claim 66, wherein the computation equipment at least partially resides in a cloud.

71. The mobile services control system of claim 66, wherein the first input comprises data including one or more of data indicative of the controllable mobile device being associated with the vehicle, data indicative of the controllable mobile device being scheduled to be in the vehicle, and data indicative of the controllable mobile device being associated with the user who is associated with the vehicle.

72. The mobile services control system of claim 66, wherein the system is configured to communicate one or more rewards to a user based on the score.

73. The mobile services control system of claim 66, further comprising an in-vehicle detection system comprising a wireless Bluetooth interface.

74. The mobile services control system of claim 66, wherein the in-vehicle detection system and the controllable mobile device communicate with the Bluetooth interface on an over-the-air connection.

75. The mobile services control system of claim 66, wherein the communication on the over-the-air connection comprises the one or more characteristics indicative of the vehicle being operated by a user.

76. The mobile services control system of claim 66, further comprising a wireless Bluetooth interface.