Using train telematics data to reduce accident risk

• US 10,451,427 B1
• Filed: 12/06/2018
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• 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:
  US16/211,499
• Time in Patent Office: 320 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 accident risk, the computer system comprising:

at least one processor or associated transceiver, the at least one processor or associated transceiver located on or within an autonomous vehicle, the at least one processor or associated transceiver configured to;

receive, at the autonomous vehicle via wireless communication or data transmission, the train telematics data associated with a train;

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

determine, at the autonomous vehicle based upon a relevance of the train, 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 through the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing;

direct, based upon the relevance of the train, 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 through the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing; and

cause an insurance provider remote server to at least one of display, adjust, or generate an insurance discount associated with the autonomous vehicle based upon the autonomous vehicle including risk mitigation or prevention functionality associated with (1) receiving the train telematics data, and (2) directing corrective actions so as to incentivize an 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 processor or associated transceiver is configured to determine, based upon (1) the indication of when the train will pass through the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing, or (2) the indication of when the train will be within the predetermined distance of the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing, and further based upon telematics data associated with the autonomous vehicle, an indication of whether the autonomous vehicle will be able to drive through the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing without the train being within a threshold distance from the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing.

3. The computer system of claim 2, wherein the telematics data associated with the autonomous vehicle includes at least one of location, acceleration, deceleration, braking, cornering, direction, heading, left turn, right turn, speed, lane, or gyroscope data associated with the autonomous vehicle.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor or associated transceiver is configured to determine the indication of when the train will pass through the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing based upon at least one of (1) location data or acceleration data or deceleration data, or (2) comparison via the at least one processor of (i) the at least one of the location data or the acceleration data or the deceleration data with (ii) at least one of a current time or location data of one of the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the train telematics data includes one or more of time, braking, cornering, direction, heading, left turn, right turn, speed, track, GPS (Global Positioning System) latitude and longitude, gyroscope, battery level, or telephone usage data associated with the train.

6. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising the insurance provider remote server, wherein the at least one processor or associated transceiver is configured to send an indication to the insurance provider remote server that the autonomous vehicle includes the risk mitigation or prevention functionality associated with (1) receiving the train telematics data, and (2) directing the corrective actions so as to cause the insurance provider remote server to at least one of display, adjust, or generate the insurance discount associated with the autonomous vehicle.

7. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the at least one processor or associated transceiver is configured to send an indication of an amount of usage of the risk mitigation or prevention functionality to the insurance provider remote server so as to cause the insurance provider remote server to at least one of display, adjust, or generate the insurance discount as a time or mileage usage-based insurance discount.

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

receiving, at an autonomous vehicle at least one processor or associated transceiver, the at least one processor or associated transceiver located on or within an autonomous vehicle, via wireless communication or data transmission, train telematics data associated with a train;

determining, at the autonomous vehicle via the at least one processor based upon the train telematics data, (1) an indication of when the train will pass through the railroad crossing or another railroad crossing, or (2) an indication of when the train will be within a predetermined distance of the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing;

determining, at the autonomous vehicle via the at least one processor based upon a relevance of the train, 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 through the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing;

directing, via the at least one processor, based upon the relevance of the train, 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 through the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing; and

causing, via the at least one processor or associated processor, an insurance provider remote server to at least one of display, adjust, or generate an insurance discount associated with the autonomous vehicle based upon the autonomous vehicle including risk mitigation or prevention functionality associated with (1) receiving the train telematics data, and (2) directing corrective actions so as to incentivize an insured customer to facilitate avoidance of train-vehicle collisions and safer train and vehicle travel.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, the method comprising determining, via the at least one processor, based upon (1) the indication of when the train will pass through the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing, or (2) the indication of when the train will be within the predetermined distance of the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing, and further based upon telematics data associated with the autonomous vehicle, an indication of whether the autonomous vehicle will be able to drive through the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing without the train being within a threshold distance from the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the telematics data associated with the autonomous vehicle includes at least one of location, acceleration, deceleration, braking, cornering, direction, heading, left turn, right turn, speed, lane, or gyroscope data associated with the autonomous vehicle.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein determining, via the at least one processor, the indication of when the train will pass through the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing is based upon at least one of (1) location data or acceleration data or the deceleration data, or (2) comparison of (i) the at least one of the location data or the acceleration data or the deceleration data with (ii) at least one of a current time or location data of one of the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the train telematics data includes one or more of time, braking, cornering, direction, heading, left turn, right turn, speed, track, GPS (Global Positioning System) latitude and longitude, gyroscope, battery level, or telephone usage data associated with the train.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, the method comprising sending, via the at least one processor or associated transceiver, an indication to the insurance provider remote server that the autonomous vehicle includes the risk mitigation or prevention functionality associated with (1) receiving the train telematics data, and (2) directing the corrective actions so as to cause the insurance provider remote server to at least one of display, adjust, or generate the insurance discount associated with the autonomous vehicle.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, the method comprising sending, via the at least one processor or associated transceiver, an indication of an amount of usage of the risk mitigation or prevention functionality to the insurance provider remote server so as to cause the insurance provider remote server to at least one of display, adjust, or generate the insurance discount as a time or mileage usage-based insurance discount.

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

an autonomous vehicle; and

at least one processor or associated transceiver, the at least one processor or associated transceiver located on or within an autonomous vehicle, the at least one processor or associated transceiver configured to;

receive train telematics data associated with a train;

determine, based upon the train telematics data and a relevance of the train, an indication of when the train will pass through a railroad crossing or another railroad crossing;

determine, based upon the relevance of the train, 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 through the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing;

direct, based upon the relevance of the train, 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 through the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing; and

cause an insurance provider remote server to at least one of display, adjust, or generate an insurance discount associated with the autonomous vehicle based upon the autonomous vehicle having risk mitigation or prevention functionality associated with (1) receiving the train telematics data, and (2) directing corrective actions 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 the at least one processor or associated transceiver is configured to determine, based upon the indication of when the train will pass through the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing and further based upon telematics data associated with the autonomous vehicle, an indication of whether the autonomous vehicle will be able to drive through the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing without the train being within a threshold distance from the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing so as to determine the relevance of the train.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the telematics data associated with the autonomous vehicle includes at least one of location, acceleration, deceleration, braking, cornering, direction, heading, left turn, right turn, speed, lane, or gyroscope data associated with the autonomous vehicle.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the train telematics data includes one or more of time, braking, cornering, direction, heading, left turn, right turn, speed, track, GPS (Global Positioning System) latitude and longitude, gyroscope, battery level, or telephone usage data associated with the train.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor or associated transceiver is configured to broadcast an indication to one or more additional autonomous vehicles to one of (1) direct the one or more additional autonomous vehicles to travel along one or more alternate routes to avoid waiting at the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing, or (2) direct the one or more additional autonomous vehicles to automatically stop at the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing to allow the train to pass through the railroad crossing or the another railroad crossing.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising the insurance provider remote server, wherein the at least one processor or associated transceiver is configured to send an indication to the insurance provider remote server that the autonomous vehicle includes the risk mitigation or prevention functionality associated with (1) receiving the train telematics data, and (2) directing the corrective actions so as to cause the insurance provider remote server to at least one of display, adjust, or generate the insurance discount associated with the autonomous vehicle.