Vehicle monitoring system

• US 8,140,358 B1
• Filed: 06/03/2008
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Progressive Casualty Insurance Company (Progressive Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Progressive Casualty Insurance Company (Progressive Corporation)
• Inventors: Ling, Raymond Scott, Hutchinson, Richard Ashton, Steigerwald, Wilbert John III, Say, William Andrew, O'Malley, Patrick Lawrence, Shrallow, Dane Allen, Everett, William Curtis, McMillan, Robert John
• Primary Examiner(s): Kyle, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Niquette, Robert
• Application Number:
  US12/132,487
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• 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

Abstract

A data logging device tracks the operation of a vehicle or driver actions. The device includes a storage device, which may be removable or portable, having a first memory portion that may be read from and may be written to in a vehicle and a second memory portion that may be read from and may be written to in the vehicle. The second memory portion may retain data attributes associated with the data stored in the first removable storage device. A processor reads data from an automotive bus that transfers data from vehicle sensors to other automotive components. The processor writes data to the first memory portion and the second memory portion that reflect a level of risk or safety. A communication device links the storage device to a network of computers. The communication device may be accessible through software that allows a user to access files related to a level of risk or safety and other software that may be related to those files.

Claims

1. A system that monitors and facilitates a review of data collected from a vehicle that is used to determine a level of safety or cost of insurance comprising:

a processor that collects vehicle data from a vehicle bus that represents aspects of operating the vehicle;

a memory that stores selected vehicle data related to a level of safety or an insurable risk in operating a vehicle;

a wireless transmitter configured to transfer the selected vehicle data retained within the memory to a distributed network and a server;

a database operatively linked to the server to store the selected vehicle data transmitted by the wireless transmitter, the database comprising a storage system remote from the wireless transmitter and the memory comprising records with operations for searching the records and other functions;

where the server is configured to process selected vehicle data that represents one or more aspects of operating the vehicle with data that reflects how the selected vehicle data affects a premium of an insurance policy, safety or level of risk; and

where the server is further configured to generate a rating factor based on the selected vehicle data stored in the database.

2. The system that monitors and facilitates a review of data collected from a vehicle of claim 1 where the wireless transmitter is configured to transfer the selected vehicle data retained within the memory through a pulse position protocol without varying the power level or phase of a transmitting signal.

3. The system that monitors and facilitates a review of data collected from a vehicle of claim 1 where the wireless transmitter is compliant with a wireless transaction facilitator that throttles the transmission rates across the wireless network based on an available bandwidth of the wireless network.

4. The system that monitors and facilitates a review of data collected from a vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a dynamic memory allocation processor that allocates a portion of the memory to retain a copy of a legacy version of firmware that comprises input/output instructions when an updated firmware is transferred to the memory through the wireless network, the dynamic memory allocation processor de-allocates the portion of the memory when an error-free version of the updated firmware is stored or installed in the system or when a copy of the legacy version of the software is restored to control the processor of the system.

5. The system that monitors and facilitates a review of data collected from a vehicle of claim 1 where the wireless network comprises a mobile broadband communication network that provides full data exchange mobility up to vehicle speeds of about 100 miles per hour.

6. The system that monitors and facilitates a review of data collected from a vehicle of claim 1 where the wireless transmitter is compliant with two or more multiple packet architectures that are automatically detected and one or more multiple packet architectures that are automatically selected when a series of signals acknowledge that a communication or transfer of information or data may occur.

7. The system that monitors and facilitates a review of data collected from a vehicle of claim 1 where the wireless transmitter is responsive to an in-vehicle event-driven request to transfer the selected vehicle data retained in the memory to a remote server when the wireless network indicates an available channel capacity to transfer the selected vehicle data across the wireless network.

8. The system that monitors and facilitates a review of data collected from a vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a receiver tuned to receive continuously transmitted trilateral encoded signals through a bandwidth that is separate from the wireless network.

9. The risk management system of claim 1 where the processor, the memory, and the wireless transmitter are in communication within a portable device.

10. The risk management system of claim 1 where the wireless transmitter comprises a single-chip cellular baseband processor.

11. The risk management system of claim 10 where the single-chip cellular baseband processor is Global System for Mobile Communication compliant, Code Division Multiple Access compliant, or General Packet Radio Service compliant.

12. The risk management system of claim 10 where the single-chip cellular baseband processor is Global System for Mobile Communication compliant and General Packet Radio Service compliant.

13. The risk management system of claim 10 where the single-chip cellular baseband processor comprises integrated interface drivers that enable auxiliary components comprising loudspeakers, display, and memory modules to connect directly to the single-chip.

14. The risk management system of claim 1 where the wireless transmitter comprises an embedded antenna element adjacent to the processor and the memory.

15. The risk management system of claim 14 where the embedded antenna element comprises a circuit board element.

16. The risk management system of claim 1 where the wireless transmitter is further configured to respond to a trigger event by transmitting an alert to a third party when a driving incident occurs.

17. The risk management system of claim 16 where the driving incident comprises exceeding a speed threshold, traveling outside of a designation, or a lock out condition.

18. The risk management system of claim 17 where the wireless transmitter comprises a transceiver configured to receive a communication from a third party and the alert comprises a text or an aural message.

19. The system that monitors and facilitates a review of data collected from a vehicle of claim 1 where the server is further configured to calculate an insured'"'"'s premium under the insured'"'"'s insurance policy based on the rating factor, or a surcharge or a discount to the insured'"'"'s premium, based on the rating factor.

20. The system that monitors and facilitates a review of data collected from a vehicle of claim 1 where the server is further configured to process selected vehicle data that represents one or more aspects of operating the vehicle with data that reflects how the selected vehicle data affects an insured'"'"'s premium under an insured'"'"'s insurance policy.