Patent Application Titled “Vehicle Driver Monitoring System And Method For Capturing Driver Performance Parameters” Published Online (USPTO 20190367039)

2019 DEC 19 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- According to news reporting originating from Washington, D.C., by NewsRx journalists, a patent application by the inventors Persia, Giovanni (Rome, IT); Mungo, Fabio (Rome, IT); Paterlini, Emilio (Cisterna di Latina, IN), filed on May 30, 2019, was made available online on December 5, 2019.

The assignee for this patent application is Accenture Global Solutions Limited (Dublin, Ireland).

Reporters obtained the following quote from the background information supplied by the inventors: “Driver monitoring is a way of tracking driver performance to determine a risk level for a driver. Driver monitoring is often used by insurance companies to categorize a driver with a risk level, which is used to determine the driver’s insurance rate. For example, drivers categorized as preferred risk drivers may be offered lower rates than drivers categorized as standard or high risk drivers. Insurance companies use a driver’s personal information, such as age and history of accidents and traffic tickets as indicators to help categorize a driver with a risk level. To gather even more data about the behavior of drivers, insurance companies often mount telematics boxes in drivers’ vehicles. The telematics boxes include sensors that track the speed, acceleration, and braking of the vehicle. The insurance company can access the information recorded by the telematics box. However, the driver does not have access to the same information. Also, this information recorded by the telematics box is only made available after the fact and is not provided in real time.

“Insurance programs using telematics boxes to track driver behavior typically only use the information provided by the telematics box. If the telematics box has any sort of failure or error in monitoring or recording data, the single source of data makes it impossible to verify that a failure or error has occurred because no other data is available for comparison. This means that the information provided by a single source of data is unreliable. Additionally, only one data source means that no other data source is available to compensate for the data source that has had a failure or error. When there is a failure or error with a single source of data, the entire system loses an opportunity to gather accurate data.

“Telematics boxes usually do not identify who is driving the vehicle outfitted with the telematics box. This means that the telematics box will monitor and record data related to the vehicle without respect to a particular driver.

“Third party companies typically provide telematics boxes. As a result, the insurance company and/or the driver must sign an agreement with the third party to obtain the telematics box. This additional relationship with the third party increases cost in providing insurance by the insurance company and obtaining insurance by the driver. Also, coordinating with a third party to install a telematics box in a vehicle is inconvenient.

“Other insurance programs may use a software application on a mobile device to track driver behavior. Similar to the telematics box, the software application on the mobile device is a single source of data and thus suffers from similar shortcomings as the telematics box. Additionally, the software application on the mobile device cannot verify that the data being obtained corresponds to a particular driver’s operation of an insured vehicle. This means that the software application on the mobile device will monitor and record data related without respect to a particular driver or a particular vehicle.

“There is a need in the art for a system and method that addresses the shortcomings discussed above.”

In addition to obtaining background information on this patent application, NewsRx editors also obtained the inventors’ summary information for this patent application: “A vehicle driver monitoring system and method for capturing driver performance parameters is disclosed. The vehicle driver monitoring system and method solves the problems discussed above by using multiple data sources. Data from one source can be used to validate data from another data source. Additionally, the data from one data source can be used to compensate for missing or corrupt data from the other data source. As a result, the opportunity to gather data will be salvaged by one data source if another data source is malfunctioning.

“The vehicle driver monitoring system and method further solves the problems discussed above by using a mobile app on a mobile device. The mobile app may be capable of verifying correct positioning of the mobile device in the particular insured vehicle and/or verifying the driver is the insured driver. For example, the mobile app can be used to register a driver. After registering once, the mobile app can automatically sense when the registered driver is in the vehicle with the mobile device. By sensing when the registered driver is driving the vehicle, the vehicle driver monitoring system can verify that captured performance parameters are related to the registered driver driving the vehicle. In another example, the mobile device may connect to a Bluetooth system in the vehicle to verify that the mobile device is positioned in the insured driver’s vehicle.

“In yet another example, the vehicle driver monitoring system may further include Near-Field Communication (NFC). For example, an NFC tag may be provided in the vehicle in a position where the mobile device may be set down. For example, an NFC tag may be placed on a mobile device holder. In this example, the NFC tag can identify when a registered driver’s mobile device is cradled by the mobile device holder. This identification can verify that the registered driver is the person driving the vehicle while the multiple data sources are capturing driver performance parameters.

“The mobile app can also communicate with the driver in real time. The mobile app can show the driver which performance parameters have been captured by data sources of the vehicle driver monitoring system. The mobile app can also issue warnings to the driver when predetermined driving conditions (e.g., speeding, oncoming vehicles, red lights, etc.) are sensed in real time. The mobile app can further communicate to the driver when a desired destination (e.g., gas station, restaurant, restroom, etc.) is approaching.

“In some embodiments, no telematics box is included in the vehicle driver monitoring system. By eliminating the use of a telematics box, no third party contract adds expense or inconvenience to setting up the vehicle driver monitoring system. Providing data sources readily available without a third party contract reduces costs associated with monitoring driver performance and/or assessing the risk level of a driver.

“In some embodiments, the vehicle driver monitoring system may include a digital platform to process (e.g., validate, normalize, analyze, organize, display, etc.) data. The digital platform may include a computer capable of connecting to the data sources (e.g., mobile device, dongle, etc.) to obtain driver behavior data. The digital platform may also be capable of connecting to a mobile app to display information to the driver and/or communicate with the driver, as mentioned above. Furthermore, the digital platform can be accessible by an insurer.

“In one aspect, the disclosure provides a method of using a vehicle driver monitoring system for capturing driver performance parameters. The method may include receiving a first set of data indicative of driver performance associated with a driver driving a vehicle. The first set of data may be collected by a first data source while the first data source is within the vehicle and the driver is driving the vehicle. The method may include receiving a second set of data indicative of the driver performance. The second set of data may be collected by a second data source while the second data source is within the vehicle and the driver is driving the vehicle. The method may include using one or both of the first set of data and the second set of data to determine a risk level of a driver.

“In yet another aspect, the disclosure provides a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing software that may comprise instructions executable by one or more computers which, upon such execution, cause the one or more computers to: (1) receive a first set of data indicative of driver performance associated with a driver driving a vehicle, wherein the first set of data is collected by a first data source while the first data source is within the vehicle and the driver is driving the vehicle; (2) receive a second set of data indicative of the driver performance, wherein the second set of data is collected by a second data source while the second data source is within the vehicle and the driver is driving the vehicle; and (3) use one or both of the first set of data and the second set of data to determine a risk level of a driver.

“In yet another aspect, the disclosure provides a vehicle driver monitoring system for capturing driver performance parameters, which comprises one or more computers and one or more storage devices storing instructions that may be operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to: (1) receive a first set of data indicative of driver performance associated with a driver driving a vehicle, wherein the first set of data is collected by a first data source while the first data source is within the vehicle and the driver is driving the vehicle; (2) receive a second set of data indicative of the driver performance, wherein the second set of data is collected by a second data source while the second data source is within the vehicle and the driver is driving the vehicle; and (3) use one or both of the first set of data and the second set of data to determine a risk level of a driver.

“In one aspect, the disclosure provides a method of using a vehicle driver monitoring system for capturing driver performance parameters. The method may include receiving a first set of data indicative of driver performance associated with a driver driving a vehicle. The first set of data may be collected by a first data source while the first data source is within the vehicle and the driver is driving the vehicle. The method may include receiving a second set of data indicative of the driver performance. The second set of data may be collected by a second data source while the second data source is within the vehicle and the driver is driving the vehicle. The method may include using the first data source to determine an identity of the driver.

“In yet another aspect, the disclosure provides a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing software that may comprise instructions executable by one or more computers which, upon such execution, cause the one or more computers to: (1) receive a first set of data indicative of driver performance associated with a driver driving a vehicle, wherein the first set of data is collected by a first data source while the first data source is within the vehicle and the driver is driving the vehicle; (2) receive a second set of data indicative of the driver performance, wherein the second set of data is collected by a second data source while the second data source is within the vehicle and the driver is driving the vehicle; and (3) use the first data source to determine an identity of the driver.

“In yet another aspect, the disclosure provides a vehicle driver monitoring system for capturing driver performance parameters, which comprises one or more computers and one or more storage devices storing instructions that may be operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to: (1) receive a first set of data indicative of driver performance associated with a driver driving a vehicle, wherein the first set of data is collected by a first data source while the first data source is within the vehicle and the driver is driving the vehicle; (2) receive a second set of data indicative of the driver performance, wherein the second set of data is collected by a second data source while the second data source is within the vehicle and the driver is driving the vehicle; and (3) use the first data source to determine an identity of the driver.

“Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the disclosure will be, or will become, apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description and this summary, be within the scope of the disclosure, and be protected by the following claims.

“While various embodiments are described, the description is intended to be exemplary, rather than limiting and it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of the embodiments. Although many possible combinations of features are shown in the accompanying figures and discussed in this detailed description, many other combinations of the disclosed features are possible. Any feature or element of any embodiment may be used in combination with or substituted for any other feature or element in any other embodiment unless specifically restricted.

“This disclosure includes and contemplates combinations with features and elements known to the average artisan in the art. The embodiments, features and elements that have been disclosed may also be combined with any conventional features or elements to form a distinct invention as defined by the claims. Any feature or element of any embodiment may also be combined with features or elements from other inventions to form another distinct invention as defined by the claims. Therefore, it will be understood that any of the features or aspects shown and/or discussed in the present disclosure may be implemented singularly or in any suitable combination. Accordingly, the embodiments are not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents. Also, various modifications and changes may be made within the scope of the attached claims.”

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“1. A method of using a vehicle driver monitoring system for capturing driver performance parameters, comprising: receiving a first set of data indicative of driver performance associated with a driver driving a vehicle, wherein the first set of data is collected by a first data source while the first data source is within the vehicle and the driver is driving the vehicle; receiving a second set of data indicative of the driver performance, wherein the second set of data is collected by a second data source while the second data source is within the vehicle and the driver is driving the vehicle; and using one or both of the first set of data and the second set of data to determine a risk level of a driver.

“2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: monitoring a scene from the vehicle using a visual sensor associated with a mobile device; and evaluating driver behavior based on the monitored scene, wherein the evaluated driver behavior is used to provide at least one of a suggestion to the driver or a modification to the determined risk level of the driver.

“3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of data and the second set of data both indicate the same driver performance parameter.

“4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: using the first set of data to determine validity of the second set of data.

“5. The method of claim 4, further comprising: using the first set of data to compensate for the second set of data when the first set of data is determined to be invalid.

“6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of data is indicative of a first driver performance parameter and the second set of data is indicative of a second driver performance parameter that is different from the first driver performance parameter.

“7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: receiving a third set of data indicative of the driver performance, wherein the third set of data is collected by a third data source while the third data source is within the vehicle and the driver is driving the vehicle; and using two or more of the first set of data, the second set of data, and the third set of data to determine a risk level of a driver.

“8. The method of claim 7, wherein the third data source is a mobile device configured to implement an artificial intelligence algorithm for evaluating driver behavior.

“9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data source is a mobile device having a mobile app capable of verifying that the mobile device is in the vehicle and/or verifying that the driver is driving the vehicle; and the method further comprising: verifying that the mobile device is in the vehicle and/or verifying that the driver is driving the vehicle.

“10. The method of claim 9, wherein the mobile device is configured to be used by the driver in multiple vehicles.

“11. The method of claim 9, wherein verifying that the mobile device is in the vehicle and/or verifying that the driver is driving the vehicle includes using the mobile app to register the driver such that the mobile app automatically senses when the registered driver is in the vehicle with the mobile device.

“12. The method of claim 9, wherein verifying that the mobile device is in the vehicle and/or verifying that the driver is driving the vehicle includes connecting the mobile device to a short-range wireless communication system in the vehicle to verify that the mobile device is positioned in the vehicle.

“13. The method of claim 9, wherein verifying that the mobile device is in the vehicle and/or verifying that the driver is driving the vehicle includes using a near-field communication (NFC) tag to sense the presence of the mobile device in the vehicle.

“14. The method of claim 13, wherein the NFC tag is disposed on a mobile device holder capable of receiving the mobile device.

“15. The method of claim 9, wherein the second data source is at least one of: (1) a dongle configured to be in communication with an on-board diagnostics system of the vehicle, or (2) a 360-degree camera.

“16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by one or more computers which, upon such execution, cause the one or more computers to: receive a first set of data indicative of driver performance associated with a driver driving a vehicle, wherein the first set of data is collected by a first data source while the first data source is within the vehicle and the driver is driving the vehicle; receive a second set of data indicative of the driver performance, wherein the second set of data is collected by a second data source while the second data source is within the vehicle and the driver is driving the vehicle; and use one or both of the first set of data and the second set of data to determine a risk level of a driver.

“17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions of claim 16, further causing the one or more computers to: monitor a scene from the vehicle using a visual sensor associated with a mobile device; and evaluate driver behavior based on the monitored scene, wherein the evaluated driver behavior is used to provide at least one of a suggestion to the driver or a modification to the determined risk level of the driver.

“18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions of claim 16, further causing the one or more computers to: receive a third set of data indicative of the driver performance, wherein the third set of data is collected by a mobile device configured to implement an artificial intelligence algorithm while the mobile device is within the vehicle and the driver is driving the vehicle; and use two or more of the first set of data, the second set of data, and the third set of data to determine the risk level of a driver.

“19. A vehicle driver monitoring system for capturing driver performance parameters, comprising: one or more computers and one or more storage devices storing instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to: receive a first set of data indicative of driver performance associated with a driver driving a vehicle, wherein the first set of data is collected by a first data source while the first data source is within the vehicle and the driver is driving the vehicle; receive a second set of data indicative of the driver performance, wherein the second set of data is collected by a second data source while the second data source is within the vehicle and the driver is driving the vehicle; and use one or both of the first set of data and the second set of data to determine a risk level of a driver.

“20. The vehicle driver monitoring system of claim 19, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more computers to: monitor a scene from the vehicle using a visual sensor associated with a mobile device; and evaluate driver behavior based on the monitored scene, wherein the evaluated driver behavior is used to provide at least one of a suggestion to the driver or a modification to the determined risk level of the driver.”

For more information, see this patent application: Persia, Giovanni; Mungo, Fabio; Paterlini, Emilio. Vehicle Driver Monitoring System And Method For Capturing Driver Performance Parameters. Filed May 30, 2019 and posted December 5, 2019. Patent URL: http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220190367039%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20190367039&RS=DN/20190367039

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