Systems and methods for managing and processing vehicle operator accounts based on vehicle operation data

• US 10,127,570 B1
• Filed: 11/30/2015
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Original Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Inventors: Cote, Kerry, Baker, Nicholas R., Clauss, Mark E., Binion, Todd, Rhoades, Andrea Lee, Balbach, Steven J., Fields, Brian Mark, Pott, Kyle
• Primary Examiner(s): Hamilton, Matthew L
• Application Number:
  US14/954,523
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 705 14
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/00 Input parameters relating to occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/043 Identity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/10 Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/55 using telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0208 Trade or exchange of goods or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

Methods and systems for analyzing vehicle operation data associated with a temporary or periodic usage of a vehicle by a driver. In aspects, the driver may associate with an electronic device within the vehicle that may record or collect the vehicle operation data. After the vehicle operation has concluded, the vehicle operation data may be analyzed to assess a performance of the driver during operation of the vehicle, whereby the performance may be influenced by positive or negative driving events. Based on the performance of the driver, a profile or account of the user may be processed accordingly such that the user may be incentivized to modify certain driving behaviors.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of managing a driver rating of a driver of a vehicle, the driver rating reflective of a set of prior performances by the driver during a set of prior associations between the driver and the vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting, by an electronic device located within the vehicle, the driver of the vehicle via a short-range communication;

detecting, within an application executing on the electronic device, a selection by the driver to initiate a trip facilitated by the driver, wherein the detecting the selection by the driver to initiate the trip results in a current association of the driver with the vehicle for the trip;

after the detecting the selection, tracking, by one or more processors, operation of the vehicle by the driver during the trip, the tracking facilitated by a set of sensors associated with at least one of the electronic device and the vehicle and resulting in a set of vehicle operation data, the set of sensors including at least an accelerometer;

detecting a conclusion of the current association of the driver with the vehicle for the trip; and

responsive to detecting the conclusion;

analyzing, by the one or more processors, at least a portion of the set of vehicle operation data,

based on the analyzing, adjusting the driver rating of the driver, and

determining, by the one or more processors, that the driver qualifies for a reward when the driver rating has maintained at least a threshold rating over a course of the current association and the set of prior associations.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling the driver to log into the application executing on the electronic device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the tracking the operation of the vehicle by the driver during the trip comprises:

retrieving, by the electronic device, the set of vehicle operation data from a telematics platform associated with the vehicle, the telematics platform connected to the set of sensors.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the tracking the operation of the vehicle by the driver during the trip comprises:

collecting, by the electronic device, a set of sensor data from the set of sensors associated with the electronic device.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the detecting the conclusion of the current association comprises:

receiving, from the driver via the electronic device, a selection indicative of the conclusion of the current association.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing at least the portion of the set of vehicle operation data comprises:

identifying a set of driving events from at least the portion of the set of vehicle operation data; and

calculating a quantitative driving score for the driver based on the set of driving events.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

reflecting the adjusted driver rating of the driver in a profile associated with the driver.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting the driver rating of the driver comprises:

calculating a quantitative driving score based on analyzing at least the portion of the set of vehicle operation data;

determining that the quantitative driving score exceeds a threshold value and

adjusting the driver rating of the driver to reflect the quantitative driving score exceeding the threshold value.

9. An electronic device associated with a vehicle for managing a driver rating of a driver of the vehicle, the driver rating reflective of a set of prior performances by the driver during a set of prior associations between the driver and the vehicle, the electronic device comprising:

a communication interface configured to collect data;

a memory storing non-transitory computer executable instructions included in an application; and

a particularly programmed processor interfacing with the communication interface, wherein the processor is configured to execute the application to cause the processor to;

detect the driver of the vehicle via a short-range communication;

detect, within the application, a selection by the driver to initiate a trip facilitated by the driver, wherein the detecting the selection by the driver to initiate the trip results in a current association of the driver with the vehicle for the trip;

after the detecting the selection, track operation of the vehicle by the driver during the trip, the tracking facilitated by a set of sensors associated with at least one of the electronic device and the vehicle and resulting in a set of vehicle operation data, the set of sensors including at least an accelerometer;

detect a conclusion of the current association of the driver with the vehicle for the trip; and

responsive to detecting the conclusion;

analyze at least a portion of the set of vehicle operation data,

based on the analyzing, adjust the driver rating of the driver, and

determine that the driver qualifies for a reward when the driver rating has maintained at least a threshold rating over a course of the current association and the set of prior associations.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

enable the driver to log into the application.

11. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein to track the operation of the vehicle by the driver during the trip, the processor is configured to:

retrieve, via the communication interface, the set of vehicle operation data from a telematics platform associated with the vehicle, the telematics platform connected to the set of sensors.

12. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein to track the operation of the vehicle by the driver during the trip, the processor is configured to:

collect a set of sensor data from the set of sensors associated with the electronic device.

13. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein to detect the conclusion of the current association, the processor is configured to:

receive, from the driver, a selection indicative of the conclusion of the current association.

14. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein to analyze at least the portion of the set of vehicle operation data, the processor is configured to:

identify a set of driving events from at least the portion of the set of vehicle operation data; and

calculate a quantitative driving score for the driver based on the set of driving events.

15. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

reflect the adjusted driver rating of the driver in a profile associated with the driver.

16. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein to adjust the driver rating of the driver, the processor is configured to:

calculate a quantitative driving score based on analyzing at least the portion of the set of vehicle operation data;

determine that the quantitative driving score exceeds a threshold value; and

adjust the driver rating of the driver to reflect the quantitative driving score exceeding the threshold value.