Systems and methods to quantify and differentiate individual insurance risk based on actual driving behavior and driving environment

• US 10,115,164 B1
• Filed: 10/06/2014
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Original Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Inventors: Binion, Todd, Rhoades, Andrea Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Maguire, Lindsay M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Warden, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US14/507,092
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/06 responsive to incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0818 Inactivity or incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0872 Driver physiology
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/22 Psychological state; Stress level or workload
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/221 Physiology, e.g. weight, heartbeat, health or special needs
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/30 Driving style
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/00 Input parameters relating to infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/65 Data transmitted between vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 related to drivers or passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/02 Steering position indicators ; Steering position determination; Steering aids
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/00 Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for generating data representative of an individual'"'"'s insurance risk based on actual driving behaviors and driving environment. The systems and methods may include collecting data from personal electronic device sensors, vehicle sensors, driver inputs, environment sensors and interactions of the vehicle, the driver and the environment. The systems and methods may further include analyzing the data to generate data representative of an individual insurance risk. The systems and methods may further include presenting the data representative of the individual insurance risk to an individual.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for determining a real-time operating environment of a vehicle driver, the method comprising:

receiving, at a processor of a computing device from a client device wirelessly connected to the computing device, a selection of what vehicle sensor data to collect;

receiving, at the processor of the computing device, in response to the processor executing a vehicle sensor module, vehicle sensor data from at least one vehicle sensor based on the selection of what vehicle sensor data to collect, wherein the vehicle sensor data is representative of actual operation of a vehicle;

receiving, at the processor of the computing device, in response to the processor executing a vehicle operator environment data acquisition module, from a plurality of position sensors, wherein a first sensor of the plurality of position sensors is mounted at a driver-side A-pillar, wherein a second sensor, a third sensor, a fourth sensor, and a fifth sensor of the plurality of position sensors are mounted at a bottom side of a rearview mirror opposite a rearview mirror mount, wherein vehicle operator environment data acquired from the first sensor, the second sensor, the third sensor, the fourth sensor, and the fifth sensor is used to determine a position and orientation of a head of the vehicle driver, a left hand of the vehicle driver, and a right hand of the vehicle driver, wherein vehicle operator environment data received from the first sensor is used to determine a gesture that is performed by the left hand of the driver, wherein the second sensor is an image sensor, the third sensor is an infrared sensor, the fourth sensor is an ultrasonic sensor, and the fifth sensor is a microphone, and wherein vehicle operator environment data received from the second sensor, the third sensor, the fourth sensor, and the fifth sensor is used to determine if the head of the vehicle driver is oriented towards a cellular telephone within the right hand of the vehicle driver;

determining, using the processor of the computing device, in response to the processor executing a vehicle operator environment monitoring module, a real-time operating environment of the driver based on the received driver environment data and the received vehicle sensor data, wherein the real-time operating environment of the driver is indicative that the vehicle driver is inattentive to the road if the head of the vehicle driver is oriented towards the cellular telephone within the right hand of the vehicle driver, wherein the real-time operating environment is indicative that the vehicle driver is attentive to the road if the head of the vehicle driver is not oriented towards the cellular telephone within the right hand of the vehicle driver, and wherein the real-time operating environment data is indicative of a position of the left hand of the vehicle driver relative to a steering wheel; and

generating, using the processor of the computing device, at least one of;

a driver warning or a driver advisory based on the determined real-time operating environment, to improve a driving behavior of the driver, wherein the driver warning or the driver advisory is displayed to the driver via the client device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle sensor data is received from at least one sensor including:

an internal accelerometer sensor, a global positioning system sensor, a gyroscope sensor, a compass sensor, or a navigation system sensor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle sensor data is received from at least one of:

an on-board diagnostics two port, an internal vehicle computer, an external vehicle computer, a vehicle accelerometer, a radar sensor, a camera, a video device, a collision avoidance system, an active vehicle safety system, or a passive vehicle safety system.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the processor of the computing device, in response to the processor executing a personal electronic device module, sensor data from at least one of;

an image sensor, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or a microphone, wherein the sensor data is representative of a position of at least a portion of the driver within the vehicle, and wherein the sensor data is representative of use of a personal electronic device, by the driver, while the driver is driving;

generating, using the processor of the computing device, in response to the processor executing an individual insurance risk module, driver insurance risk data based on the sensor data, the vehicle operator environment data, and the vehicle sensor data; and

presenting, on a display of a computing device, in response to the processor of the computing device executing an insurance risk display module, an insurance risk display based on the driver insurance risk data, wherein the insurance risk display is representative of an insurance risk associated with the driver.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving, at the processor of the computing device, in response to the processor executing a driver input module, driver input data, wherein the driving input data is representative of interaction of the individual with at least one of;

the personal electronic device or the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the driver insurance risk data is further based on the driver input data.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the driver input data is representative of at least one of:

driver physiology indicators and sensors, driver control, driver behavior, driver distraction or attention, driver cognitive load, driver eye movement/condition, mental state of a driver, driver reaction time, driver vision across multiple environments, driver medications, or driver sensory limitations and expertise.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the driver input data is representative of at least one of:

driver and driving environment, following and closing distance, driver control, driver response to safety warning systems, driver overriding of safety systems, crash and emergency notification systems, or injury estimation systems.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving, at the processor of the computing device, in response to the processor executing an environmental data receiving module, environment sensor data, wherein the environment sensor data is representative of a left hand of the driver is grasping a steering wheel near a minus forty-five degree angle relative to a top of the steering wheel and a right hand of the driver is grasping the steering wheel near a positive forty-five degree angle relative to the top of the steering wheel.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the individual insurance risk data is further based on the environment sensor data.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the environment sensor data is representative of at least one of:

vehicle location, time of day, temperature, road surface conditions, noise levels inside a vehicle cabin, traffic density, traffic density, dangerous intersections, curves and roads, Vehicle-to-Vehicle and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure information, or electronic toll booths.

12. A computer system for determining a real-time operating environment of a vehicle driver, the system comprising:

at least one computing device having a processor and a memory;

a client device application, stored on the memory of the computing device, that, when executed by the processor of the computing device, causes the processor to receive, from a client device wirelessly connected to the computing device, a selection of what vehicle sensor data to collect;

a vehicle sensor module, stored on the memory of the computing device, that, when executed by the processor of the computing device, causes the processor to receive vehicle sensor data from at least one vehicle sensor based on the selection of what vehicle sensor data to collect, wherein the vehicle sensor data is representative of actual operation of a vehicle;

a vehicle operator environment data acquisition module, stored on the memory of the computing device, that when executed by the processor of the computing device, causes the processor to receive driver environment data from a plurality of position sensors, wherein a first sensor of the plurality of position sensors is mounted at a driver-side A-pillar, wherein a second sensor, a third sensor, a fourth sensor, and a fifth sensor of the plurality of position sensors are mounted at a bottom side of a rearview mirror opposite a rearview mirror mount, wherein vehicle operator environment data acquired from the first sensor, the second sensor, the third sensor, the fourth sensor, and the fifth sensor is used to determine a position and orientation of a head of the vehicle driver, a left hand of the vehicle driver, and a right hand of the vehicle driver, wherein vehicle operator environment data received from the first sensor is used to determine a gesture that is performed by the left hand of the driver, wherein the second sensor is an image sensor, the third sensor is an infrared sensor, the fourth sensor is an ultrasonic sensor, and the fifth sensor is a microphone, and wherein vehicle operator environment data received from the second sensor, the third sensor, the fourth sensor, and the fifth sensor is used to determine if the head of the vehicle driver is oriented towards a cellular telephone within the right hand of the vehicle driver; and

a vehicle operator environment monitoring module, stored on the memory of the computing device, that, when executed by the processor of the computing device, causes the processor to determine a real-time operating environment of the driver based on the received driver environment data and the received vehicle sensor data, wherein the real-time operating environment of the driver is indicative that the vehicle driver is inattentive to the road if the head of the vehicle driver is oriented towards the cellular telephone within the right hand of the vehicle driver, wherein the real-time operating environment is indicative that the vehicle driver is attentive to the road if the head of the vehicle driver is not oriented towards the cellular telephone within the right hand of the vehicle driver, and wherein the real-time operating environment data is indicative of a position of the left hand of the vehicle driver relative to a steering wheel, and to generate at least one of;

a driver warning or a driver advisory based on the determined real-time operating environment, to improve a driving behavior of the driver, wherein the driver warning or the driver advisory is displayed to the driver via the client device.

13. The computer system of claim 12, further comprising:

a personal electronic device module, stored on the memory of the computing device, that, when executed by the processor of the computing device, causes the processor to receive sensor data from at least one of;

an image sensor, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or a microphone, wherein the sensor data is representative of a position of at least a portion of the individual within the vehicle, and wherein the sensor data is representative of use of a personal electronic device, by the driver, while the driver is driving;

an individual insurance risk module, stored on the memory of the computing device, that, when executed by the processor of the computing device, causes the processor to generate driver insurance risk data based on the sensor data and the vehicle sensor data; and

an insurance risk display module, stored on the memory of the computing device, that, when executed by the processor of the computing device, causes the processor to generate an insurance risk display based on the driver insurance risk data, wherein the insurance risk display is representative of an insurance risk associated with the driver.

14. The computer system of claim 12, further comprising:

a driver input module, stored on the memory of the computing device, that, when executed by the processor of the computing device, causes the processor to receive driver input data, wherein the driving input data is representative of interaction of the driver with at least one of;

the personal electronic device or the vehicle.

15. The computer system of claim 12, further comprising:

an environmental data receiving module, stored on the memory of the computing device, that, when executed by the processor of the computing device, causes the processor to receive environment sensor data, wherein the environment sensor data is representative of a left hand of the driver is grasping a steering wheel near a minus forty-five degree angle relative to a top of the steering wheel and a right hand of the driver is grasping the steering wheel near a positive forty-five degree angle relative to the top of the steering wheel.

16. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of a computer system, cause the processor to determine a real-time operating environment of a vehicle driver, the computer-readable medium comprising:

a client device application that, when executed by the processor of the computer system, causes the processor to receive, from a client device wirelessly connected to the computer system, a selection of what vehicle sensor data to collect;

a vehicle sensor module that, when executed by the processor of the computing device, causes the processor to receive vehicle sensor data from at least one vehicle sensor based on the selection of what vehicle sensor data to collect, wherein the vehicle sensor data is representative of actual operation of the vehicle;

a vehicle operator environment data acquisition module that, when executed by the processor of the computing device, causes the processor to receive driver environment data from a plurality of position sensors, wherein a first sensor of the plurality of position sensors is mounted at a driver-side A-pillar, wherein a second sensor, a third sensor, a fourth sensor, and a fifth sensor of the plurality of position sensors are mounted at a bottom side of a rearview mirror opposite a rearview mirror mount, wherein vehicle operator environment data acquired from the first sensor, the second sensor, the third sensor, the fourth sensor, and the fifth sensor is used to determine a position and orientation of a head of the vehicle driver, a left hand of the vehicle driver, and a right hand of the vehicle driver, wherein vehicle operator environment data received from the first sensor is used to determine a gesture that is performed by the left hand of the driver, wherein the second sensor is an image sensor, the third sensor is an infrared sensor, the fourth sensor is an ultrasonic sensor, and the fifth sensor is a microphone, and wherein vehicle operator environment data received from the second sensor, the third sensor, the fourth sensor, and the fifth sensor is used to determine if the head of the vehicle driver is oriented towards a cellular telephone within the right hand of the vehicle driver; and

a vehicle operator environment monitoring module that, when executed by the processor of the computing device, causes the processor to determine a real-time operating environment of the driver based on the received driver environment data and the received vehicle sensor data, wherein the real-time operating environment of the driver is indicative that the vehicle driver is inattentive to the road if the head of the vehicle driver is oriented towards the cellular telephone within the right hand of the vehicle driver, wherein the real-time operating environment is indicative that the vehicle driver is attentive to the road if the head of the vehicle driver is not oriented towards the cellular telephone within the right hand of the vehicle driver, and wherein the real-time operating environment data is indicative of a position of the left hand of the vehicle driver relative to a steering wheel, and to generate at least one of;

a driver warning or a driver advisory based on the determined real-time operating environment, to improve a driving behavior of the driver, wherein the driver warning or the driver advisory is displayed to the driver via the client device.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising:

a personal electronic device module that, when executed by the processor of the computing device, causes the processor to receive sensor data from at least one of;

an image sensor, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or a microphone, wherein the sensor data is representative of a position of at least a portion of the driver within the vehicle, and wherein the sensor data is representative of use of a personal electronic device, by the driver, while the driver is driving;

an individual insurance risk module that, when executed by the processor of the computing device, causes the processor to generate driver insurance risk data based on the sensor data and the vehicle sensor data; and

an insurance risk display module that, when executed by the processor of the computing device, causes the processor to generate an insurance risk display based on the driver insurance risk data, wherein the insurance risk display is representative of an insurance risk associated with the driver.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising:

an environmental data receiving module that, when executed by the processor of the computing device, causes the processor to receive environment sensor data, wherein the environment sensor data is representative of a left hand of the driver is grasping a steering wheel near a minus forty-five degree angle relative to a top of the steering wheel and a right hand of the driver is grasping the steering wheel near a positive forty-five degree angle relative to the top of the steering wheel.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising:

a driver input module that, when executed by the processor of the computing device, causes the processor to receive driver input data, wherein the driving input data is representative of interaction of the driver with at least one of;

the personal electronic device or the vehicle.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the driver input data is representative of at least one of:

driver physiology indicators and sensors, driver control, driver behavior, driver distraction or attention, driver cognitive load, driver eye movement/condition, mental state of a driver, driver reaction time, driver vision across multiple environments, driver medications, or driver sensory limitations and expertise.