Method and device for identifying behaviour of a vehicle driver

• US 9,620,029 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2013
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Lawrenson, Matthew John, Nolan, Julian Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Utama, Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fletcher, Jerry-Daryl
• Application Number:
  US14/066,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20150118652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,260 Days
• Field of Search: 434 62
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/20 Education
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/265 Personal security, identity or safety
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/04 for teaching control of land vehicles

Abstract

The disclosure provides a method, performed in a first communication unit (2). The method comprises the steps of identifying a rewardable behavior of a driver (10) of a vehicle (9), checking first storing means (6) for a reward that corresponds to the rewardable behavior, collecting the reward from the first storing means (6), and transmitting the reward to a second communication unit (3) connected to the vehicle (9). The disclosure also provides corresponding devices for performing the method.

Claims

1. A method, performed in a first communication unit connected to a first vehicle, the method comprising:

the first communication unit using a first sensor system in the first vehicle to obtain data on a set of parameters related to driving behaviour of a second vehicle;

the first communication unit connected to the first vehicle identifying a rewardable behaviour for the second vehicle based on the data obtained with the first sensor system in the first vehicle;

the first communication unit checking a first storage device to determine whether there is a reward that corresponds to the rewardable behaviour;

in response to determining that there is a reward corresponding to the rewardable behaviour;

the first communication unit requesting establishment of a communication link between the first communication unit connected to the first vehicle and a second communication unit connected to the second vehicle, and

the first communication unit connected to the first vehicle transmitting, over the communication link and via a transceiver of the first communication unit, the reward to the second communication unit connected to the second vehicle.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor system comprises at least one of:

a radar, a camera, and a laser,

wherein using the first sensor system to obtain the data is part of monitoring predetermined parameters related to the driving behaviour of a driver of the second vehicle, and

wherein identifying the rewardable behaviour comprises comparing the monitored pre-determined parameters with a predetermined set of rewardable behaviour scenarios stored in the first storage device for finding a reward matching the behaviour, and

the method further comprising transmitting a matching reward to the second communication unit when the predetermined parameters match a rewardable behaviour scenario, and wherein the transmitted reward comprises at least one of a voucher, a token, and a credit.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a pre-determined vehicle parameter or set of vehicle parameters from a second sensor system in the second vehicle, the received pre-determined vehicle parameter or set of vehicle parameters being connected to the driving behavior of a driver of the second vehicle,

wherein identifying the rewardable behaviour comprises comparing the received pre-determined vehicle parameter or set of parameters from the second sensor system in the second vehicle with a predetermined set of rewardable behaviour scenarios stored in the first storage device for finding a reward matching the behavior, and

the method further comprising transmitting a matching rewards to the communication unit when the predetermined parameters match a rewardable behaviour scenario.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

the first communication unit detecting at least one of;

i) the second communication unit being within a predetermined range of the transceiver of the first communication unit, and ii) that the second communication unit has logged in on a network on which the first communication unit is also logged in;

in response to the detection, the first communication unit requesting setup of a communication link with the second communication unit.

5. The method according to claim 1

wherein identifying the rewardable behaviour is based on input from a user of the first communication unit.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising

receiving a reward from the second communication unit;

and

storing the reward in the first storage device and displaying the reward in the first communication unit.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a pre-determined parameter or set of vehicle parameters connected to driving behaviour of the first vehicle; and

transmitting the monitored pre-determined parameter or set of vehicle parameters to the second communication unit connected to the second vehicle.

8. A method, performed in a second communication unit connected to a second vehicle, the method comprising:

the second communication unit connected to the second vehicle receiving a request to establish a communication link with a first communication unit connected to a first vehicle;

the second communication unit that is connected to the second vehicle receiving, over the communication link and via a transceiver of the second communication unit, a reward from the first communication unit connected to the first vehicle;

the second communication unit storing the reward in a second storage device;

wherein the received reward comprises at least one of a voucher, a token, and a credit, the method further comprising;

the second communication unit identifying a rewardable behaviour of a driver of the first vehicle connected to the first communication unit or a third communication unit;

the second communication unit checking the second storage device for a reward that corresponds to the rewardable behaviour; and

the second communication unit transmitting the reward to the first communication unit or the third communication unit.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

monitoring predetermined parameters related to the driving behaviour of the driver of the first vehicle;

wherein identifying the rewardable behaviour comprises comparing the monitored pre-determined parameters with a predetermined set of rewardable behaviour scenarios stored in the second storage device for finding a reward matching the behaviour, and

the method further comprising transmitting a matching reward to the first communication unit when the predetermined parameters match a rewardable behaviour scenario.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein identifying the rewardable behaviour of the driver of the first vehicle comprises:

receiving a pre-determined vehicle parameter or set of vehicle parameters from a sensor in the second vehicle, the parameters being connected to the driving behaviour of the driver in the first vehicle;

comparing the received pre-determined vehicle parameter or set of vehicle parameters with a predetermined set of rewardable behaviour scenarios stored in the second storage device for finding a reward matching the behavior, and the method further comprising transmitting a matching reward to the communication unit when the predetermined parameters match a rewardable behaviour scenario.

11. The method according to claim 8,

wherein identifying a rewardable behaviour of the driver of the first vehicle is based on input from a user of the second communication unit.

12. The method according to claim 8, further comprising

monitoring a pre-determined parameter or set of vehicle parameters connected to the driving behaviour of the driver of the second vehicle connected to the second communication unit;

and

transmitting the monitored pre-determined parameters or set of vehicle parameters of the second vehicle to the first communication unit connected to the first vehicle.

13. A method, performed in a communication system comprising a first communication unit connected to a first vehicle and a second communication unit connected to a second vehicle, the method comprising:

the first communication unit using a first sensor system in the first vehicle to obtain data on a set of parameters related to driving behaviour of the second vehicle;

the first communication unit identifying a rewardable behaviour for the second vehicle based on the data obtained with the first sensor system in the first vehicle;

the first communication unit checking a first storage device to determine whether there is a reward that corresponds to the rewardable behaviour;

in response to determining that there is a reward corresponding to the rewardable behaviour;

the first communication unit requesting establishment of a communication link between the first communication unit connected to the first vehicle and the second communication unit connected to the second vehicle, and

the first communication unit that is connected to the first vehicle transmitting, over the communication link and via a transceiver of the first communication unit, the reward to the second communication unit connected to the second vehicle, wherein the reward comprises at least one of a voucher, a token, or credit; and

the second communication unit receiving, over the communication link, the reward from the first communication unit; and

the second communication unit storing the reward in a second storage device.

14. A first communication unit comprising:

a first transceiver connected to a first vehicle;

a first identification device configured to;

use a first sensor system in the first vehicle to obtain data on a set of parameters related to driving behaviour of a second vehicle;

identify, based on the data obtained with the first sensor system, a rewardable behaviour of a driver of the second vehicle;

check a first storage device for a reward that corresponds to the rewardable behaviour;

collect the reward from the first storage device;

request establishment of a communication link between the first communication unit and a second communication unit connected to the second vehicle; and

communicate, using the first transceiver connected to the first vehicle and over the communication link, the reward to the second communication unit connected to the second vehicle.

15. The first communication unit according to claim 14, wherein the first communication unit is configured to monitor predetermined parameters related to the behaviour of the second vehicle based on data from the first sensor system in the first vehicle, wherein the first identification device is configured to identify the rewardable behaviour by comparing the monitored predetermined parameters from the first sensor system in the first vehicle with a predetermined set of rewardable behaviour scenarios stored in the first storage device for finding a reward matching the behaviour, wherein the first transceiver is configured to transmit a matching reward to the second transceiver when the predetermined parameters match a rewardable behaviour scenario.

16. The first communication unit according to claim 14, wherein the first identification device, via the first transciever, is configured to receive a predetermined vehicle parameter or set of vehicle parameters from a second sensor system in the second vehicle, the received predetermined vehicle parameter or set of vehicle parameters being connected to the driving behaviour of the driver in the second vehicle, wherein the first identification device is configured to compare the received predetermined vehicle parameter or set of vehicle parameters from the second sensor system in the second vehicle with a predetermined set of rewardable behaviour scenarios stored in the first storage device for finding a reward matching the behaviour, wherein the first transceiver is configured to transmit a matching reward to a second transceiver when the predetermined parameters match a rewardable behaviour scenario.

17. The first communication unit according to claim 14, wherein the first communication unit is configured to detect at least one of:

i) the second communication unit being within a predetermined range of the transceiver of the first communication unit, and ii) that the second communication unit has logged in on a network on which the first communication unit is also logged in, and to, in response to the detection, request setup of a communication link with the second communication unit.

18. The first communication unit according to claim 14, wherein the first identification device is configured to identify a rewardable behaviour of a driver of the second vehicle based on input from a user of the first communication unit.

19. The first communication unit according to claim 14, wherein the first communication unit is configured to receive a reward from the second communication unit and store the reward in the first storage device and display the reward in the first communication unit.

20. The first communication unit according to claim 14, wherein the vehicle connected to the first communication unit comprises a third sensor system configured to monitor a pre-determined parameter or set of vehicle parameters connected to the driving behaviour of the first vehicle and wherein the first transceiver is configured to send the monitored pre-determined parameter or set of vehicle parameters from the third sensor system to a second identification device via a second transceiver in the second communication unit.

21. A second communication unit comprising:

a second transceiver connected to a second vehicle,

wherein the second transceiver that is connected to the second vehicle is configured to;

receive a request to establish a communication link with a first communication unit connected to a first vehicle;

receive, over the communication link, a reward from the first communication unit connected to the first vehicle; and

communicate with a second storage device, wherein the second storage device is configured to store a reward;

the second communication unit comprising a second identification device, wherein;

the second identification device is configured to;

identify a rewardable behaviour of a driver of the first vehicle or a third communication unit;

check the second storage device for a reward that corresponds to the rewardable behaviour;

collect the reward from the second storage device; and

the second identification device is configured to communicate and transmit the reward to the first communication unit or the third communication unit.

22. The second communication unit according to claim 21, wherein the second communication unit is configured to be connected to or comprising a fourth sensor system configured to monitor predetermined parameters related to the behaviour of the first vehicle, wherein the second identification device is configured to compare the monitored predetermined parameters from the fourth sensor system with a predetermined set of rewardable behaviour scenarios stored in the second storage device for finding a reward matching the behaviour, wherein the second transceiver is configured to transmit a matching reward to the first transceiver when the predetermined parameters match a rewardable behaviour scenario.

23. The second communication unit according to claim 21, wherein the second identification device, via the second transciever, is configured to receive a predetermined vehicle parameter or set of vehicle parameters from a third sensor system in the first vehicle, the received predetermined vehicle parameter or set of vehicle parameters being connected to the driving behaviour of the driver of the first vehicle, wherein the second identification device is configured to compare the received predetermined vehicle parameter or set of vehicle parameters from the third sensor system with a predetermined set of rewardable behaviour scenarios stored in the second storage device for finding a reward matching the behaviour, wherein the second transceiver is configured to transmit a matching reward to the first transceiver when the predetermined parameters match a rewardable behaviour scenario.

24. The second communication unit according to claim 21, wherein the second identification device is configured to identify a rewardable behaviour of the driver of the first vehicle based on input from a user of the second communication unit.

25. The second communication unit according to claim 21, wherein the second vehicle comprises a second sensor system configured to monitor a predetermined parameter or set of vehicle parameters connected to the driving behaviour of the second vehicle, wherein the second transceiver is configured to send the monitored predetermined parameter or set of vehicle parameters from the second sensor system to a first identification device in the first vehicle via the first transceiver.

26. A communication system comprising a first communication unit and a second communication unit, wherein the first communication unit comprises a first transceiver connected to a first vehicle and a first identification device configured to:

identify a rewardable behaviour of a driver of a second vehicle connected to the second communication unit;

check a first storage device for a reward that corresponds to the rewardable behaviour;

collect the reward from the first storage device; and

request establishment of a communication link between the first communication unit connected to the first vehicle and the second communication unit connected to the second vehicle;

communicate, using the first transceiver connected to the first vehicle and over the communication link, the reward to the second communication unit connected to the second vehicle; and

the second communication unit comprises;

a second transciever connected to the second vehicle, the second communication unit comprising or being connected to a second storage device;

wherein the second transceiver is configured to receive a request from the first communication unit to establish the communication link with the first communication unit and to receive a reward from a first communication unit via the communication link; and

wherein the second transciever is configured to store the reward in the second storage device.

27. A first vehicle comprising a first communication unit, wherein the first communication unit comprises a first transceiver and comprises or is connected to a first storage device configured to store rewards, the first communication unit further comprising a first identification device configured to:

identify a rewardable behaviour of a driver of a second vehicle connected to a second communication unit connected to a second vehicle;

check the first storage device for a reward that corresponds to the rewardable behaviour;

collect the reward from a first storage device; and

request establishment of a communication link between the first communication unit connected to the first vehicle and the second communication unit connected to the second vehicle;

communicate, using the first transceiver and over the communication link, the reward to the second communication unit connected to the second vehicle.