Using train telematics data to reduce accident risk

• US 9,841,286 B1
• Filed: 01/07/2016
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Original Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Inventors: Hayward, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Yuen
• Application Number:
  US14/990,139
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/006 indicating risk of collision between vehicles or with pedestrians
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/10 related to vehicle motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/005 with correlation of navigation data from several sources, e.g. map or contour matching G01C21/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3655 Timing of guidance instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/367 Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3691 Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/47 the supplementary measurement being an inertial measurement, e.g. tightly coupled inertial
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/50 whereby the position solution is constrained to lie upon a particular curve or surface, e.g. for locomotives on railway tracks
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/51 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0285 using signals transmitted via a public communication network, e.g. GSM network
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/225 : operated by off-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/229 : Command input data, e.g. waypoints
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/24 : Arrangements for determining position or orientation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 : Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 : Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 : from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/012 : from other sources than vehicle or roadside beacons, e.g. mobile networks
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0125 : Traffic data processing
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0133 : for classifying traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 : for traffic information dissemination
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 : with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/091 : Traffic information broadcasting broadcasting communication H04H
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/093 : Data selection, e.g. prioritizing information, managing message queues, selecting the information to be output
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 : responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 : where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 : where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 : where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 : where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096855 : where the output is provided in a suitable form to the driver details on I/O arrangements for onboard navigation computers G01C21/36
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 : where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 : to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 : Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 : event-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 : for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 7/02 : Anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 : for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 : specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 : using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 : Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 : using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 : Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 : for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]

Abstract

A computer system configured to use train telematics data may be mounted on or within an autonomous vehicle, and which may be configured to (1) receive train telematics data associated with a train that includes GPS location, speed, route, heading, acceleration, and/or track data; (2) determine, based upon the train telematics data, when, or a time period of when, the train will pass through, be passing through, and/or be within a predetermined distance of a railroad crossing; (3) determine an alternate route for the autonomous vehicle to take to avoid waiting at the railroad crossing; and (4) direct the autonomous vehicle to automatically travel along the alternate route or automatically stop at the railroad crossing to allow the train to pass unimpeded and to facilitate avoidance of train-vehicle collisions. Insurance discounts may be generated based upon the risk mitigation or prevention functionality.

Claims

1. A computer system configured to use train telematics data to reduce risk of accidents, the computer system comprising:

at least one of one or more processors or one or more associated transceivers, the at least one of the one or more processors or the one or more associated transceivers located on or within an autonomous vehicle, the at least one of the one or more processors or the one or more associated transceivers configured to;

receive, at the autonomous vehicle via wireless communication or data transmission, train telematics data associated with a train directly from a train transceiver or indirectly from a railroad crossing, the train telematics data including Global Positioning System (GPS) location data, speed data, at least one of direction data or heading data, and at least one of acceleration data or deceleration data;

determine, at the autonomous vehicle based upon the train telematics data, (1) when, or a time period of when, the train will pass through or be passing through the railroad crossing or another railroad crossing, or (2) when the train is within a predetermined distance of the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing;

determine, at the autonomous vehicle, an alternate route for the autonomous vehicle to take to avoid waiting at the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing to allow for the train to pass;

direct the autonomous vehicle to one of (1) automatically travel along the alternate route, or (2) automatically stop at the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing to allow the train to pass unimpeded; and

send an indication to an insurance provider remote server that the autonomous vehicle includes risk mitigation or prevention functionality associated with (i) receiving a wireless communication broadcast including the train telematics data, (ii) analyzing the train telematics data, and (iii) directing corrective actions based upon a relevance of an identified anomaly, the relevance of the identified anomaly being determined based upon whether a location of the train as determined based upon the train telematics data is within a threshold distance of a current location of the autonomous vehicle, so as to cause generation of an insurance discount that is displayed to an insured customer associated with the autonomous vehicle so as to incentivize the insured customer to facilitate avoidance of train-vehicle collisions and safer train and vehicle travel.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the one or more processors or the one or more associated transceivers are configured to determine when, or the time period of when, the train will pass through or be passing through the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing based upon at least one of (1) at least one of the GPS location data, the speed data, the at least one of the direction data or the heading data, or the at least one of the acceleration data or the deceleration data, or (2) comparison via the one or more processors of the at least one of the GPS location data, the speed data, the at least one of the direction data or the heading data, or the at least one of the acceleration data or the deceleration data with GPS location data of the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing and a current time.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the train telematics data includes data selected from one or more of:

a timestamp;

one or more sensor metrics indicative of braking motion of the train;

one or more sensor metrics indicative of acceleration motion of the train;

one or more sensor metrics indicative of cornering motion of the train; and

one or more sensor metrics indicative of a direction of the train.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the train telematics data further includes track data associated with the train.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the train telematics data includes one or more of:

time, braking, the acceleration, left turn, right turn, the heading, GPS (Global Positioning System) speed, GPS latitude and longitude, gyroscope, battery level, and telephone usage data associated with the train.

6. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising the insurance provider remote server, wherein the insurance provider remote server is configured to at least one of adjust or generate the insurance discount for the autonomous vehicle.

7. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising the insurance provider remote server, wherein the insurance provider remote server is configured to at least one of adjust or generate the insurance discount as a time or mileage usage-based insurance discount for the autonomous vehicle based upon an amount of usage of the risk mitigation or prevention functionality.

8. A computer-implemented method of using train telematics data to reduce risk of accidents, the method comprising:

receiving, at an autonomous vehicle via at least one of one or more processors or one or more associated transceivers located on or within the autonomous vehicle, via wireless communication or data transmission, the train telematics data associated with a train directly from a train transceiver or indirectly from a railroad crossing, the train telematics data including Global Positioning System (GPS) location data, speed data, at least one of direction data or heading data, and at least one of acceleration data or deceleration data;

determining, at the autonomous vehicle via the one or more processors based upon the train telematics data, (1) when, or a time period of when, the train will pass through or be passing through the railroad crossing or another railroad crossing, or (2) when the train is within a predetermined distance of the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing;

determining, at the autonomous vehicle via the one or more processors, an alternate route for the autonomous vehicle to take to avoid waiting at the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing to allow for the train to pass;

directing, via the one or more processors, the autonomous vehicle to one of (1) automatically travel along the alternate route, or (2) automatically stop at the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing to allow the train to pass unimpeded; and

sending, via the at least one of the one or more processors or the one or more associated transceivers, an indication to an insurance provider remote server that the autonomous vehicle includes risk mitigation or prevention functionality associated with (i) receiving a wireless communication broadcast including the train telematics data, (ii) analyzing the train telematics data, and (iii) directing corrective actions based upon a relevance of an identified anomaly, the relevance of the identified anomaly being determined based upon whether a location of the train as determined based upon the train telematics data is within a threshold distance of a current location of the autonomous vehicle, so as to cause generation of an insurance discount that is displayed to an insured customer associated with the autonomous vehicle so as to incentivize the insured customer to facilitate avoidance of train-vehicle collisions and safer train and vehicle travel.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein determining, via the one or more processors, when, or the time period of when, the train will pass through or be passing through the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing based upon the train telematics data is based upon at least one of (1) at least one of the GPS location data, the speed data, the at least one of the direction data or the heading data, or the at least one of the acceleration data or the deceleration data, or (2) comparison via the one or more processors of the at least one of the GPS location data, the speed data, the at least one of the direction data or the heading data, or the at least one of the acceleration data or the deceleration data with GPS location data of the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing and a current time.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the train telematics data includes data selected from one or more of:

a timestamp;

one or more sensor metrics indicative of braking motion of the train;

one or more sensor metrics indicative of acceleration motion of the train;

one or more sensor metrics indicative of cornering motion of the train; and

one or more sensor metrics indicative of a direction of the train.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the train telematics data further includes track data associated with the train.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the train telematics data includes one or more of:

time, braking, the acceleration, left turn, right turn, the heading, GPS (Global Positioning System) speed, GPS latitude and longitude, gyroscope, battery level, and telephone usage data associated with the train.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, the method further comprising at least one of adjusting or generating, via the insurance provider remote server, the insurance discount for the autonomous vehicle.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, the method further comprising at least one of adjusting or generating, via the insurance provider remote server, the insurance discount as a time or mileage usage-based insurance discount for the autonomous vehicle based upon an amount of usage of the risk mitigation or prevention functionality.

15. A system of using train telematics data to reduce risk of accidents, the system comprising:

an autonomous vehicle; and

at least one of one or more processors or one or more transceivers located on or within the autonomous vehicle, the at least one of the one or more processors or the one or more transceivers configured to;

receive, at the autonomous vehicle, the train telematics data associated with a train directly from a train transceiver or indirectly from a railroad crossing, the train telematics data including Global Positioning System (GPS) location data, speed data, at least one of direction data or heading data, and at least one of acceleration data or deceleration data;

determine, at the autonomous vehicle, when the train will pass through the railroad crossing or another railroad crossing based upon the train telematics data;

determine, at the autonomous vehicle, an alternate route for the autonomous vehicle to take to avoid waiting at the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing while the train is passing through; and

send an indication to an insurance provider remote server that the autonomous vehicle includes risk mitigation or prevention functionality associated with (i) receiving a wireless communication broadcast including the train telematics data, (ii) analyzing the train telematics data, and (iii) directing corrective actions based upon a relevance of an identified anomaly, the relevance of the identified anomaly being determined based upon whether a location of the train as determined based upon the train telematics data is within a threshold distance of a current location of the autonomous vehicle, so as to cause generation of an insurance discount that is displayed to an insured customer associated with the autonomous vehicle so as to incentivize the insured customer to facilitate avoidance of train-vehicle collisions and safer train and vehicle travel.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein determining when the train will pass through the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing based upon the train telematics data is based upon comparison via the one or more processors of at least one of the GPS location data, the speed data, the at least one of the direction data or the heading data, or the at least one of the acceleration data or the deceleration data with GPS location data of the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing and a current time.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one of the one or more processors or the one or more transceivers are further configured to:

broadcast a message to other autonomous vehicles to one of (1) direct the other autonomous vehicles to travel along at least one alternate route that completely avoids the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing, or (2) direct the other autonomous vehicles to automatically stop at the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing during a predetermined time period to allow the train to pass unimpeded to facilitate avoidance of train-vehicle collisions.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the telematics data includes data selected from one or more of:

a timestamp;

one or more sensor metrics indicative of braking motion of the train;

one or more sensor metrics indicative of acceleration motion of the train;

one or more sensor metrics indicative of cornering motion of the train; and

one or more sensor metrics indicative of a direction of the train.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the telematics data includes one or more of:

time, braking, the acceleration, left turn, right turn, the heading, GPS (Global Positioning System) speed, GPS latitude and longitude, gyroscope, battery level, and telephone usage data associated with the train.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising the insurance provider remote server, wherein the insurance provider remote server is configured to at least one of adjust or generate the insurance discount for the autonomous vehicle.