SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPUTING AND SCORING THE COMPLEXITY OF A VEHICLE TRIP USING GEO-SPATIAL INFORMATION

• US 20130046559A1
• Filed: 08/19/2011
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hartford Fire Insurance Company (The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hartford Fire Insurance Company (The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Coleman, Mark S., Barbato, Darrel S., Huang, Lihu
• Granted Patent: US 8,538,785 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for pricing an insurance premium based on route complexity. The system includes a computer memory and a processor in communication with the computer memory. The computer memory stores telematics data received from a sensor within a vehicle. The telematics data includes at least one of geo-position information of the vehicle and vehicle kinematics data. The processor is configured to compute a complexity score of the trip based on the telematics data. The processor is also configured to determine a price for automobile insurance for the driver based on the complexity score of the at least one trip.

Claims

1. A system for pricing an insurance premium based on route complexity, the system comprising:

a computer memory for storing telematics data received from a sensor within a vehicle during at least one trip, the telematics data comprising at least one of geo-position information of the vehicle and vehicle kinematics data; and

a processor in communication with the memory, wherein the processor is configured for;

retrieving information related to an automobile insurance policy;

retrieving at least a portion of the stored telematics data from the computer memory;

computing a complexity score of the at least one trip based on at least a two dimensional representation of the route traversed by the vehicle during the trip derived from the retrieved telematics data;

storing the computed complexity score;

calculating a price adjustment for a premium for the automobile insurance policy based on the retrieved information related to the policy and the complexity score of the at least one trip;

applying the price adjustment to the insurance premium; and

outputting the adjusted price for the premium for the automobile insurance policy.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured for calculating the complexity score of the trip based on a fractal dimension of the two dimensional representation of the route traversed by the vehicle during the trip.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured for calculating complexity score of the trip based on at least one of orientation, speed, acceleration, and jerk of the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured for determining an overall complexity rating for a driver based on complexity scores calculated for a plurality of trips taken by the driver.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured for identifying safety events which occurred during the trip and determining, by the processor, a severity estimation of the safety events.

6. A system for pricing an insurance premium based on route complexity, the system comprising:

a computer memory for storing telematics data received from a sensor within a vehicle during at least one trip taken by the vehicle while driven by a driver, the telematics data comprising at least one of geo-position information of the vehicle and vehicle kinematics data; and

a processor in communication with the memory, wherein the processor is configured for;

computing a complexity score of the trip based on at least a two dimensional representation of the route traversed by the vehicle during the trip derived from the telematics data received from the computer memory; and

determining a price for automobile insurance for the driver based on the complexity score of the at least one trip.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured for calculating the complexity score of the trip based on a fractal dimension of the two dimensional representation of the route traversed by the vehicle during the trip.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured for calculating complexity score of the trip based on changes in orientation of the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured for calculating the complexity score of the trip based on at least one of speed, acceleration, and jerk of the vehicle.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured for determining an overall complexity rating for a driver based on complexity scores calculated for a plurality of trips taken by the driver.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured for determining the number of trips to be included in the overall complexity rating by analyzing a variation in the complexity scores over time.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured for determining a trip safety score based on a complexity score and a maximum speed for the trip.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured for identifying safety events which occurred during the trip and determining, by the processor, a severity estimation of the safety events.

14. The system of claim 6, wherein determining the price for automobile insurance comprises determining a retroactive adjustment to be applied to a price of an automobile insurance premium for the period during which the telematics data was collected.

15. The system of claim 6, wherein determining the price for automobile insurance comprises determining an adjustment to be prospectively applied to a price of an automobile insurance premium for a future period.

16. The system of claim 6, wherein determining a price for automobile insurance comprises setting a price for a new automobile insurance plan.

17. A method for pricing an insurance premium based on route complexity, the method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, telematics data collected from a sensor coupled to a vehicle throughout a duration of at least one trip taken by the vehicle while driven by a driver, wherein the telematics data includes at least one of geo-position information of the vehicle and vehicle kinematics data;

computing, by the processor, a complexity score of the trip based on at least a two dimensional representation of the route traversed by the vehicle during the trip derived from the telematics data; and

determining, by the processor, a price for automobile insurance for the driver based on the complexity score of the at least one trip.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the complexity score of a trip is based on a fractal dimension of the two dimensional representation of the route traversed by the vehicle during the trip.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the complexity score of a trip is based on changes in orientation of the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the complexity score of a trip is based on at least one of speed, acceleration, and jerk of the vehicle.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising determining, by the processor, an overall complexity rating for a driver based on complexity scores calculated for a plurality of trips taken by the driver.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising determining, by the processor, the number of trips to be included in the overall complexity rating by analyzing a variation in the complexity scores over time.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising determining, by the processor, a trip safety score based on a complexity score and a maximum speed for the trip.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising identifying safety events which occurred during the trip and determining, by the processor, a severity estimation of the safety events.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein determining the price for automobile insurance comprises determining a retroactive adjustment to be applied to a price of an automobile insurance premium for the period during which the telematics data was collected.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein determining the price for automobile insurance comprises determining an adjustment to be prospectively applied to a price of an automobile insurance premium for a future period.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein determining a price for automobile insurance comprises setting a price for a new automobile insurance plan.

28. A method for selecting a trip based on the price of an insurance premium for the trip, the method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, data related to a start point of the trip and an end point of the trip;

determining, by the processor, data related to at least two different routes between the start point and the end point, the data comprising at least one of geo-position information corresponding to the route and expected vehicle kinematics data expected to occur along the route;

computing, by the processor, a complexity score for each of the at least two routes based on the data related to each of the routes; and

selecting, by the processor, one of the at least two routes which has a has a complexity score that is lower than the complexity score of at least one other route of the at the least two routes, and wherein the lower complexity score corresponds to an insurance premium that is lower than the insurance premium of the at least one other route.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising outputting, by the processor, the price for the insurance premiums of at least two routes.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising allowing a customer to purchase insurance coverage for travelling on one of the at least two routes.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising determining, by the processor, a route from the start point to the end point for the trip that has a lower total trip cost than at least one other route, wherein the total trip cost includes at least the price of the insurance premium, the cost of fuel, and tolls.

32. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein instructions for, upon execution, causing a computer to implement method for pricing an insurance premium based on route complexity, the method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, telematics data collected from a sensor coupled to a vehicle throughout a duration of at least one trip taken by the vehicle while driven by a driver, wherein the telematics data includes at least one of geo-position information of the vehicle and vehicle kinematics data;

computing, by the processor, a complexity score of the trip based on at least a two dimensional representation of the route traversed by the vehicle during the trip derived from the telematics data; and

determining, by the processor, a price for automobile insurance for the driver based on the complexity score of the at least one trip.

33. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 32, wherein the complexity score of a trip is based on a fractal dimension of the two dimensional representation of the route traversed by the vehicle during the trip.

34. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 32, wherein determining the price for automobile insurance comprises determining a retroactive adjustment to be applied to a price of an automobile insurance premium for the period during which the telematics data was collected.

35. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 32, wherein determining the price for automobile insurance comprises determining an adjustment to be prospectively applied to a price of an automobile insurance premium for a future period.

36. A system for pricing an insurance premium based on route complexity, the system comprising:

a computer memory for storing information related to an automobile insurance policy; and

a processor in communication with the memory, wherein the processor is configured for;

receiving a fractal complexity score of at least one trip taken by a vehicle while driven by a driver, wherein the fractal complexity score is based on at least a two dimensional representation of the route traversed by the vehicle during the trip derived from telematics data received from a sensor within the vehicle, the telematics data comprising at least one of geo-position information of the vehicle and vehicle kinematics data;

determining a price for automobile insurance for the driver based on the fractal complexity score of the at least one trip; and

storing the price for the automobile insurance in the computer memory.