Recording and reporting of driving characteristics

• US 10,692,303 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2016
• Issued: 06/23/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Appy Risk Technologies Limited (Trak Global Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Appy Risk Technologies Limited (Trak Global Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Basir, Otman Adam, Bullock, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Puttaiah, Asha
• Application Number:
  US15/367,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20170084090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• Field of Search: 705 4
• 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 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0883 wherein the data carrier is removable

Abstract

A system for recording, transmitting and compiling information indicative of actual vehicle operation and usage includes a device installed within a vehicle. Sensors communicate with the device to provide information relating to operation of the vehicle. A location module utilizes satellite signals to determine the current location of a vehicle. A data extraction module sends data to a central process server. The central processor compiles and summarizes the information from the device for determination of vehicle usage for use in determining an insurance premium.

Claims

1. A method of recording vehicle usage comprising the steps of:

sensing data indicative of a vehicle operation characteristic with a sensor, including a duration of time that the vehicle operates within a local postal code;

formulating the data indicative of the vehicle operation and storing the data in a memory module disposed within a device including a controller, wherein the controller governs formulation and storing of data within the memory module;

extracting the data from the memory module with the controller responsive to a triggering event, wherein the data is extracted by the controller and sent to an externally located process server;

actuating a vibration sensor responsive to a loss of power, wherein the vibration sensor detects movement of the device to determine if the device is removed from a vehicle; and

reviewing a summary of data by a vehicle user prior to transmitting that data to a central processing device for determination of an insurance premium.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising removing a memory device from the vehicle and transmitting a summary of the data through a digital connection.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising automatically transmitting via a digital connection including at least one wireless portion.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said triggering event comprises exceeding an actual distance driven.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said triggering event comprises entering a selected postal code.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising sensing an acceleration of the vehicle to obtain information indicative of one of vehicle braking and vehicle cornering.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising utilizing a receiver for determining coordinates of a vehicle, said coordinates enabling acquisition of data indicative of a vehicle location, heading, and speed.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein said vehicle location comprises identification of a geographical region in which the vehicle operates.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said geographic region comprises divisions based on specific roadway classifications.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising the step of gathering a first level of data in response to a first triggering event and collecting a second level of data responsive to a second triggering event, wherein the second level of data includes less detail than the first level of data.

11. A device for gathering vehicle usage data for use in determining a vehicle insurance cost comprising:

a memory module for storing data indicative of vehicle operating characteristics;

a receiver for receiving satellite signals indicative of a vehicle position;

a power module including a connection to an external power source, and an internal power source for powering said device independent of the external power source wherein the power module senses data indicative of vehicle ignition status for determining if the vehicle is operating in the absence of receiving data;

a vibration sensor disposed within the device for detecting motion of said device;

an accelerometer disposed within the device for detecting vehicle acceleration;

a controller for governing the gathering of data stored within said memory module according to a desired detail level of vehicle operating characteristics, wherein the controller gathers data according to at least two selectable levels of detail including a first detail level that obtains data at a detail level less than a second detail level; and

a data extraction module for forwarding data for use in determining a vehicle insurance cost.

12. The device as recited in claim 11, wherein the vibration sensor, and said controller actuates said vibration sensor responsive to a loss of external power.

13. The device as recited in claim 11, wherein the first detail level comprises gathering data indicative only of vehicle operation outside desired vehicle operating parameters.

14. The device as recited in claim 11, wherein the first detail level comprises gathering data at desired time increments.

15. The device as recited in claim 11, wherein the second detail level comprises the gathering of data indicative of a percent of overall vehicle operating time within a defined geographic location.

16. The device as recited in claim 11, wherein the controller causes the recording of accelerations outside of a desired range in response to an absence of external power.

17. The device as recited in claim 11, wherein the controller causes the recording of data indicating operation of the vehicle responsive to data received from the first sensor in the absence of external power.