Systems and methods for notification of exceeding speed limits

• US 9,744,905 B1
• Filed: 03/28/2016
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Original Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Inventors: Assam, Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung T
• Application Number:
  US15/082,529
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 340441, 340466, 340467, 340905, 701408, 701428, 701 8, 701 38, 382104, 382172
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/168 Target or limit values
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/18 including a device to audibly, visibly, or otherwise signal the existence of unusual or unintended speed to the driver of the vehicle devices primarily intended for indicating speed to other traffic B60Q1/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/25 using haptic output
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0133 for classifying traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 for traffic information dissemination
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09623 Systems involving the acquisition of information from passive traffic signs by means mounted on the vehicle G08G1/0967 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09626 where the origin of the information is within the own vehicle, e.g. a local storage device, digital map
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element

Abstract

A wearable device is provided that includes a receiver, a processor, and a transducer. The receiver is configured to receive speed limit data indicative of a posted speed limit corresponding to a route or road upon which the wearable device is traveling. The processor is configured to compare the speed limit to a current speed of the wearable device and/or a vehicle in which the user wearing the wearable device is driving. The transducer is configured to deliver a haptic or other notification to a user upon which the wearable device is worn when the current speed exceeds the speed limit or exceeds the speed limit by a predetermined amount. As a result, safer driving and vehicle collision avoidance may be facilitated. Safe driving auto insurance discounts may be provided to drivers that use the safe driving or speed limit warning functionality discussed herein.

Claims

1. A wearable device, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive speed limit data indicative of a speed limit corresponding to a path upon which the wearable device is traveling;

a processor configured to compare the speed limit to a current speed of the wearable device; and

a transducer configured to deliver a haptic notification to a user upon which the wearable device is worn when the current speed exceeds the speed limit, wherein an intensity of the haptic notification is a function of a difference between the speed limit and the current speed.

2. The wearable device of claim 1 further comprising a sensor configured to detect the current speed of the wearable device and provide a current speed signal indicative of the current speed to the processor.

3. The wearable device of claim 2, wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer configured to detect the current speed of the wearable device.

4. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive current speed data indicative of the current speed of the wearable device.

5. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the transducer is further configured to deliver the haptic notification when the current speed exceeds the speed limit by a predetermined threshold.

6. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the transducer is further configured to deliver a vibration notification to the user.

7. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the wearable device comprises a wristwatch.

8. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver configured to receive a GPS signal containing the speed limit data.

9. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises a radio frequency (RF) receiver configured to receive a cellular signal containing the speed limit data.

10. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the transducer is further configured to increase the intensity of the haptic notification as the current speed increasingly exceeds the speed limit.

11. The wearable device of claim 10, wherein the transducer is further configured to decrease the intensity of the haptic notification as the current speed decreasingly exceeds the speed limit.

12. A method of providing notification of exceeding a speed limit corresponding to a path upon which a notification device is traveling, the method comprising:

receiving speed limit data indicative of the speed limit at a receiver,

receiving, at a processor, a current speed at which the notification device is traveling upon the path for comparison to the speed limit;

transmitting a notification signal from the processor to a transducer when the current speed exceeds the speed limit; and

delivering, by the transducer according to the notification signal, a haptic notification to a user of the notification device, wherein an intensity of the haptic notification is a function of a difference between the seed limit and the current speed.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving the speed limit data comprises receiving a global positioning system (GPS) signal containing the speed limit data.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving the current speed comprises receiving a global positioning system (GPS) signal containing current speed data indicative of the current speed at the receiver.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

comparing, by the processor, the current speed to a predetermined threshold above the speed limit; and

generating the notification signal when the current speed exceeds the predetermined threshold.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein delivering the haptic notification comprises delivering a vibration notification to the user.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein delivering the haptic notification comprises deliver a pressure notification to the user.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein delivering the haptic notification comprises increasing the intensity of the haptic notification as the current speed increasingly exceeds the speed limit.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein delivering the haptic notification comprises decreasing the intensity of the haptic notification as the current speed decreasingly exceeds the speed limit.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving the speed limit data comprises receiving a cellular signal containing the speed limit data.