Systems and methods for notification of exceeding speed limits

• US 10,112,535 B1
• Filed: 07/14/2017
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• 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:
  US15/650,493
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 3404071, 340441, 340466, 340467, 340905, 382104, 382172, 701 8, 701 38, 701408, 701428
• 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 server computing device may receive current speed data associated with a current speed of a wearable notification device from a first device, retrieve speed limit data indicative of a speed limit corresponding to a path upon which the wearable notification device is travelling, compare the current speed data to the speed limit data, and/or transmit a notification signal to the wearable notification device when the current speed exceeds the speed limit. The wearable notification device may translate the notification signal into a physical action having an intensity that varies as a function of a difference between the current speed and the speed limit. 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 server computing device comprising at least one processor and a memory in communication with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is programmed to:

receive current speed data associated with a current speed of a wearable notification device from a movable device;

retrieve speed limit data indicative of a speed limit corresponding to a path upon which the wearable notification device is travelling;

compare the current speed data to the speed limit data; and

transmit a notification signal to the wearable notification device when the current speed exceeds the speed limit, wherein the wearable notification device translates the notification signal into a physical action having an intensity that varies as a function of a difference between the current speed and the speed limit.

2. The server computing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the movable device is at least one of a vehicle associated with the wearable notification device, a mobile device associated with the wearable notification device, and the wearable notification device.

3. The server computing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to determine the speed limit data by collecting speed data associated with a plurality of vehicles travelling along the path over a period of time, wherein the speed limit data is a function of the collected speed data.

4. The server computing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the physical action is a haptic notification including at least one of a vibration and an applied pressure delivered to a user wearing the wearable notification device.

5. The server computing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to:

detect that the path is located within a designated area; and

transmit a modified notification signal including the notification signal and an additional indicator for indicating that the wearable notification device is within the designated area to the wearable notification device when the current speed exceeds the speed limit, wherein the intensity of the physical action is modified based at least partially upon the received modified notification signal.

6. The server computing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to cause at least one insurance-related action to be performed regarding an insurance policy associated with a user of the wearable notification device based at least partially upon determining the current speed is below the speed limit, wherein the at least one insurance-related action includes at least one of (i) applying a discount to a premium associated with the insurance policy, and (ii) transmitting an insurance offer for the insurance policy to the user.

7. The server computing device in accordance with claim 6, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to:

monitor usage data associated with the wearable notification device including at least one of a frequency of capturing speed data associated with the wearable notification device and a frequency of transmitting the notification signal; and

cause the at least one insurance-related action to be performed based at least partially upon the monitored usage data.

8. The server computing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to transmit the notification signal to the wearable notification device when the current speed exceeds the speed limit by a predetermined threshold.

9. A method for notifying a user of exceeding a speed limit corresponding to a path upon which a wearable notification device worn by the user is traveling, the method comprising:

receiving, by a server computing device, current speed data associated with a current speed of a wearable notification device from a movable device;

retrieving speed limit data indicative of a speed limit corresponding to a path upon which the wearable notification device is travelling;

comparing the current speed data to the speed limit data; and

transmitting, by the server computing device, a notification signal to the wearable notification device when the current speed exceeds the speed limit, wherein the wearable notification device translates the notification signal into a physical action having an intensity that varies as a function of a difference between the current speed and the speed limit.

10. The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the movable device is at least one of a vehicle associated with the wearable notification device, a mobile device associated with the wearable notification device, and the wearable notification device.

11. The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein retrieving the speed limit data further comprises determining, by the server computing device, the speed limit data by collecting speed data associated with a plurality of vehicles travelling along the path over a period of time, wherein the speed limit data is a function of the collected speed data.

12. The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the physical action is a haptic notification including at least one of a vibration and an applied pressure delivered to a user wearing the wearable notification device.

13. The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein transmitting the notification signal to the wearable notification device further comprises:

detecting that the path is located within a designated area; and

transmitting, by the server computing device, a modified notification signal including the notification signal and an additional indicator for indicating that the wearable notification device is within the designated area to the wearable notification device when the current speed exceeds the speed limit, wherein the intensity of the physical action is modified based at least partially upon the received modified notification signal.

14. The method in accordance with claim 9 further comprising causing, by the server computing device, at least one insurance-related action to be performed regarding an insurance policy associated with a user of the wearable notification device based at least partially upon determining the current speed is below the speed limit, wherein the at least one insurance-related action includes at least one of (i) applying a discount to a premium associated with the insurance policy, and (ii) transmitting an insurance offer for the insurance policy to the user.

15. The method in accordance with claim 9 further comprising:

monitoring, by the server computing device, usage data associated with the wearable notification device including at least one of a frequency of capturing speed data associated with the wearable notification device and a frequency of transmitting the notification signal; and

causing the at least one insurance-related action to be performed based at least partially upon the monitored usage data.

16. The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein transmitting the notification signal further comprises transmitting the notification signal to the wearable notification device when the current speed exceeds the speed limit by a predetermined threshold.

17. At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to:

receive current speed data associated with a current speed of a wearable notification device from a movable device;

retrieve speed limit data indicative of a speed limit corresponding to a path upon which the wearable notification device is travelling;

compare the current speed data to the speed limit data; and

transmit a notification signal to the wearable notification device when the current speed exceeds the speed limit, wherein the wearable notification device translates the notification signal into a physical action having an intensity that varies as a function of a difference between the current speed and the speed limit.

18. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage media in accordance with claim 17, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the at least one processor to determine the speed limit data by collecting speed data associated with a plurality of vehicles travelling along the path over a period of time, wherein the speed limit data is a function of the collected speed data.

19. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage media in accordance with claim 17, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the at least one processor to cause at least one insurance-related action to be performed regarding an insurance policy associated with a user of the wearable notification device based at least partially upon determining the current speed is below the speed limit, wherein the at least one insurance-related action includes at least one of (i) applying a discount to a premium associated with the insurance policy, and (ii) transmitting an insurance offer for the insurance policy to the user.

20. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage media in accordance with claim 19, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the at least one processor to:

monitor usage data associated with the wearable notification device including at least one of a frequency of capturing speed data associated with the wearable notification device and a frequency of transmitting the notification signal; and

cause the at least one insurance-related action to be performed based at least partially upon the monitored usage data.