Using social networking to improve driver performance based on industry sharing of driver performance data

• US 9,412,282 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zonar Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Zonar Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Hunt, Bryan, McQuade, Charles Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Yao, Sam
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fletcher, Jerry-Daryl
• Application Number:
  US13/725,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20130164714A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 434/29, 434/62, 434/64, 434/65
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• 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: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/14 Traffic procedures, e.g. traffic regulations
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/167 Control of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/052 characterised by provision for recording or measuring trainee's performance devices for psychotechnics, e.g. for vehicle drivers A61B5/16, A61B5/18

Abstract

Data is collected during the operation of a vehicle and used to produce a ranking of a driver'"'"'s efficiency performance, and that ranking is shared on a hosted website, such that the drivers can compare their performance metrics to their peers. Fleet operators can use these performance metrics as incentives, by linking driver pay with efficiency performance. Individual fleet operators can host their own website, where driver rankings in that fleet can be compared, or the website can be hosted by a third party, and multiple fleet operators participate. The third party can offset their costs for operating the website by charging participating fleet operators a fee, and/or by advertising revenue. In some embodiments, all driver efficiency performance data is displayed in an anonymous format, so that individual drivers cannot be identified unless the driver shares their user ID.

Claims

1. A method of encouraging a driver of a fleet vehicle, who is one of a plurality of drivers operating similar fleet vehicles, to improve efficiency performance in operating the fleet vehicle, comprising the steps of:

(a) determining the driver is operating the fleet vehicle and while the driver is operating the fleet vehicle, automatically collecting vehicle data that can be used to evaluate the driver'"'"'s efficiency performance and to determine the slope the fleet vehicle is travelling, and to determine the mass of the vehicle from the slope that has been determined and other collected vehicle data;

(b) using a computing device to analyze the fleet vehicle data and to determine the slope the fleet vehicle is travelling, and to determine the mass of the vehicle from the slope that has been determined and other collected vehicle data and to analyze the vehicle data, together with the mass of the vehicle that has been determined to generate a driver efficiency performance ranking corrected for vehicle mass, relative to the other drivers operating similar fleet vehicles; and

(c) displaying the driver efficiency performance ranking, corrected for vehicle mass, on a driver efficiency performance ranking website.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of automatically collecting vehicle data that can be used to evaluate the driver'"'"'s performance comprises the step of collecting time indexed vehicle data, the vehicle data comprising:

(a) position data;

(b) speed data;

(c) torque data; and

(d) engine speed data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of using a computing device to analyze the vehicle data and determine the mass of the fleet vehicle comprises the step of referencing the slope the fleet vehicle is traveling over at that point in time and the force required to push the vehicle up the slope at the vehicle speed, and referencing the speed data at that point in time, the torque data at that point in time, and the engine speed data at that point in time.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of using a computing device to analyze the vehicle data and determine the mass of the fleet vehicle comprises the step of using a computing device that is remote from the fleet vehicle, and further comprising the step of conveying the vehicle data to the remote computing device using a cellular based data link during the operation of the fleet vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of producing the performance ranking of the driver'"'"'s operation of the fleet vehicle comprises the step of producing a cost per loaded mile performance metric.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of using a computing device to analyze the vehicle data and generate a driver efficiency performance ranking comprises the step of using a computing device that is part of the fleet vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the website is operated by a 3^rd party, and performance rankings for drivers from a plurality of different fleets can be reviewed on the website.

8. A system for encouraging a driver to improve efficiency performance while operating a fleet vehicle, the system comprising:

(a) means for generating vehicle data; and

(b) data processing means being configured to implement the functions of

(i) analyzing the vehicle data and to determine the slope the fleet vehicle is travelling, and to determine the mass of the vehicle from the slope that has been determined and other collected vehicle data and to analyze the vehicle data, together with the mass of the vehicle that has been determined to generate a driver efficiency performance ranking corrected for vehicle mass relative to the other drivers operating similar fleet vehicles; and

(ii) displaying the driver efficiency performance ranking, corrected for vehicle mass, on a driver efficiency performance ranking website.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for generating vehicle data is configured to generate time indexed vehicle data, the time indexed vehicle data comprising:

(a) position data;

(b) speed data;

(c) torque data; and

(d) engine speed data.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the data processing means implements the functions of:

(a) determining a mass of the fleet vehicle at a specific point in time, based on referencing the slope the fleet vehicle is traveling over at that point in time and the force required to push the vehicle up the slope at the vehicle speed, by reference to the speed data at that point in time, the torque data at that point in time, and the engine speed data at that point in time; and

(b) producing the driver efficiency performance ranking based at least in part on the mass of the fleet vehicle.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the data processing means used to determine slope and fleet vehicle mass is part of the fleet vehicle.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the data processing means is configured to produce a cost per loaded mile performance metric.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the data processing means is disposed remote from the vehicle, and further comprising a cellular data link in the vehicle to convey the vehicle data to the data processing means remote from the fleet vehicle.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the website displays driver efficiency performance ranking for a plurality of campaigns.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the website displays tips for improving the driver'"'"'s performance ranking.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein the website displays information about a performance bonus for a particular campaign.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein the website displays advertising from a 3^rd party paying for a performance bonus for a particular campaign.

18. The system of claim 8, wherein the website displays a graphical icon indicating the performance ranking of the driver, where a relatively greater number of graphical icons indicates a relatively better rating, wherein at least one such graphic icon comprises a fuel pump.