Patent Issued for Systems and methods for selecting locations to validate automated vehicle data transmission (USPTO 11587366): State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company

2023 MAR 10 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- According to news reporting originating from Alexandria, Virginia, by NewsRx journalists, a patent by the inventors Chan, Aaron Scott (San Jose, CA, US), Sanchez, Kenneth Jason (San Francisco, CA, US), filed on November 19, 2019, was published online on February 21, 2023.

The assignee for this patent, patent number 11587366, is State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (Bloomington, Illinois, United States).

Reporters obtained the following quote from the background information supplied by the inventors: “Autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles may require significant sensor telemetry to quantify environmental/surrounding features for optimally efficient and safe vehicle navigation and operation. Vehicles equipped with onboard sensors, such as LIDAR and RADAR, may be able to detect obstacles and other features of the landscape. In addition, autonomous vehicles receive sensor data from external sources, such as satellite GPS data, which may be used to provide additional information, such as positional data. Data from these sources may be combined with previously stored data and analyzed for autonomous vehicle operation. For example, in the case of GPS data, location data may be overlaid on previously stored mapping data to determine routing plans. In other cases, real-time traffic information may be combined with previously designated route plans to determine alternate travel paths.

“Autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles, unlike wholly manually-operated vehicles, may become “data hubs” that collect data from multiple sources and transmit data to nearby vehicles or other remote computing devices. The ability of these automated vehicles to pilot safely depends on each vehicle’s capability to transmit, receive, and process significant volumes of data. In addition, the processing power needed to analyze the data for navigation and vehicle control is substantial. For optimal performance, significant bandwidth and low latency is required.

“In some autonomous vehicle systems, communication with a centralized server may also be required. For example, in some known systems, individual vehicles acting as part of a highly automated vehicle network may receive instructions and control commands from a central server. In these known systems, autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles that suffer from network connectivity interruptions and/or are unable to efficiently and accurately process all of the data necessary for optimal vehicle operation may present a risk to drivers and passengers within these vehicles and to those of surrounding vehicles. Accordingly, there exists a need to evaluate data transmission and reception capabilities of highly automated vehicles while these vehicles are on the road.”

In addition to obtaining background information on this patent, NewsRx editors also obtained the inventors’ summary information for this patent: “The present embodiments may relate to systems and methods for validating automated vehicle data transmission capabilities of a vehicle. The system may include a vehicle data transmission diagnostics (VDTD) server, a vehicle (e.g., a vehicle control system), one or more roadside evaluation units (REUs), one or more insurance network computer devices, one or more traffic lights (e.g., traffic light sensors), and/or one or more reference databases. The system may be configured to: (i) determine that a data latency risk evaluation (DLRE) should be performed on the vehicle; (ii) transmit, to the vehicle, a data latency risk evaluation (DLRE) request; (iii) receive, from the vehicle, a response to the transmitted DLRE request including trip data, the trip data including a selected route to be taken by the vehicle for an upcoming trip; (iv) interrogate the plurality of roadside evaluation units based upon the received trip data, the plurality of roadside evaluation units being located along the selected route; and/or (v) select, based upon the interrogation, one of the plurality of roadside evaluation units to be a data latency evaluation checkpoint for the vehicle during the upcoming trip.

“In one aspect, a computer system for validating automated or autonomous vehicle data transmission capabilities of a vehicle may be provided. The computer system may include a vehicle data transmission diagnostics (VDTD) server in communication with the vehicle and a plurality of roadside evaluation units. The VDTD server may comprise at least one processor and at least one memory device. The at least one processor may be programmed to: (i) determine that a data latency risk evaluation (DLRE) should be performed for the vehicle; (ii) transmit, to the vehicle, a data latency risk evaluation (DLRE) request to determine a time period and a geographical region for performing the DLRE; (iii) receive, from the vehicle, a response to the transmitted DLRE request including trip data, wherein the trip data includes a selected route to be taken by the vehicle for an upcoming trip; (iv) interrogate the plurality of roadside evaluation units based upon the received trip data, the plurality of roadside evaluation units being located along the selected route; and/or (v) select, based upon the interrogation, one of the plurality of roadside evaluation units to be a data latency evaluation checkpoint for the vehicle during the upcoming trip. The computer system may include additional, less, or alternate functionality, including that discussed elsewhere herein.

“In another aspect, a computer-implemented method for validating automated or autonomous vehicle data transmission capabilities of a vehicle may be provided. The method may be implemented using a vehicle data transmission diagnostics (VDTD) server. The VDTD server may be in communication with the vehicle and a plurality of roadside evaluation units. The VDTD server may comprise at least one processor and at least one memory device. The method may include: (i) determining, by the at least one processor, that a data latency risk evaluation (DLRE) should be performed for the vehicle; (ii) transmitting, by the at least one processor to the vehicle, a data latency risk evaluation (DLRE) request to determine a time period and a geographical region for performing the DLRE; (iii) receiving, from the vehicle at the at least one processor, a response to the transmitted DLRE request including trip data, wherein the trip data includes a selected route to be taken by the vehicle for an upcoming trip; (iv) interrogating, by the at least one processor, the plurality of roadside evaluation units based upon the received trip data, the plurality of roadside evaluation units being located along the selected route; and/or (v) selecting, based upon the interrogation by the at least one processor, one of the plurality of roadside evaluation units to be a data latency evaluation checkpoint for the vehicle during the upcoming trip. The method may include additional, less, or alternate functionality, including those discussed elsewhere herein.

“In a further aspect, at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon may be provided. When executed by a vehicle data transmission diagnostics (VDTD) server that is in communication with a vehicle and a plurality of roadside evaluation units, the VDTD server comprising at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions may cause the at least one processor to: (i) determine that a data latency risk evaluation (DLRE) should be performed for the vehicle; (ii) transmit, to the vehicle, a data latency risk evaluation (DLRE) request to determine a time period and a geographical region for performing the DLRE; (iii) receive, from the vehicle, a response to the transmitted DLRE request including trip data, wherein the trip data includes a selected route to be taken by the vehicle for an upcoming trip; (iv) interrogate the plurality of roadside evaluation units based upon the received trip data, the plurality of roadside evaluation units being located along the selected route; and/or (v) select, based upon the interrogation, one of the plurality of roadside evaluation units to be a data latency evaluation checkpoint for the vehicle during the upcoming trip. The storage media may include additional, less, or alternate actions, including those discussed elsewhere herein.

“Advantages will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiments which have been shown and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, the present embodiments may be capable of other and different embodiments, and their details are capable of modification in various respects. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.”

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“1. A system for validating automated vehicle data transmission capabilities of a vehicle, the system including a vehicle data transmission diagnostics (VDTD) server in communication with a vehicle control system of the vehicle and a plurality of roadside evaluation units, the VDTD server comprising at least one processor and at least one memory device, wherein the at least one processor is programmed to: determine that a data latency risk evaluation (DLRE) should be performed on the vehicle based upon one or more data factors associated with operation of the vehicle; transmit, to the vehicle control system, a data latency risk evaluation (DLRE) request to determine a time period and a geographical region for performing the DLRE; receive, from the vehicle control system, a response to the transmitted DLRE request, including trip data, wherein the trip data includes a selected route to be taken by the vehicle for an upcoming trip; interrogate the plurality of roadside evaluation units based upon the received trip data, the plurality of roadside evaluation units being located along the selected route; select, based upon the interrogation, one of the plurality of roadside evaluation units to be a data latency evaluation checkpoint for the vehicle during the upcoming trip; and transmit instructions to the data latency evaluation checkpoint, wherein the instructions indicate an evaluation data packet to be transmitted by the data latency evaluation checkpoint to the vehicle control system, and wherein the evaluation data packet causes the vehicle control system to execute one or more tests associated with the DLRE.

“2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to identify, based upon the interrogation, a subset of roadside evaluation units from the plurality of roadside evaluation units, the subset including roadside evaluation units that are eligible to be the data latency evaluation checkpoint for the upcoming trip.

“3. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to randomly select one roadside evaluation unit from the subset to be the data latency evaluation checkpoint.

“4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to calculate, based upon the received trip data, an evaluation area, the evaluation area being a geographic area where the DLRE will occur.

“5. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to calculate an estimated time as to when the vehicle will be within the evaluation area.

“6. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to instruct the data latency evaluation checkpoint to transmit the evaluation data packet to the vehicle when the vehicle is within the evaluation area.

“7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to receive, from the interrogation, data as to each of the plurality of roadside evaluation units, the data including a signal reception range of each of the plurality of roadside evaluation units.

“8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to select the one of the plurality of roadside evaluation units based upon a distance between each roadside evaluation unit and the selected route.

“9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to select the one of the plurality of roadside evaluation units based upon the automated vehicle data transmission capabilities of the vehicle and of each of the plurality of roadside evaluation units.

“10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to receive, from the interrogation, real-time bandwidth and network performance data of each of the plurality of roadside evaluation units.

“11. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to: receive, from at least one traffic light, traffic data associated with the selected route; and select the one of the plurality of roadside evaluation units based at least upon the received traffic data.

“12. The system of claim 1, wherein the data factors include at least one of an available software update for the vehicle, a software update downloaded by the vehicle, or an upcoming policy renewal.

“13. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to: receive, from the data latency evaluation checkpoint, a response evaluation data packet associated with the vehicle, wherein the response evaluation data packet is generated by the vehicle control system by transforming the evaluation data packet; analyze data within the response evaluation data packet to assess the automated vehicle data transmission capabilities of the vehicle; and quantify a risk associated with the vehicle based upon the analysis, wherein the risk includes at least one of a risk to occupants of the vehicle or a risk to a vehicle network including the vehicle.

“14. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to generate a risk evaluation record for the response evaluation data packet.

“15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to: store the risk evaluation record in the at least one memory device; and transmit the risk evaluation record to a remote-computing device to update at least one of an underwriting model and an actuarial model, the risk evaluation record used to adjust an insurance policy of an insurance holder.

“16. A computer-implemented method for validating automated vehicle data transmission capabilities of a vehicle, the method implemented using a vehicle data transmission diagnostics (VDTD) server, the VDTD server in communication with a vehicle control system of the vehicle and a plurality of roadside evaluation units, the VDTD server comprising at least one processor and at least one memory device, the method including: determining, by the at least one processor, that a data latency risk evaluation (DLRE) should be performed for the vehicle based upon one or more data factors associated with operation of the vehicle; transmitting, by the at least one processor to the vehicle control system, a data latency risk evaluation (DLRE) request to determine a time period and a geographical region for performing the DLRE; receiving, from the vehicle control system at the at least one processor, a response to the transmitted DLRE request including trip data, wherein the trip data includes a selected route to be taken by the vehicle for an upcoming trip; interrogating, by the at least one processor, the plurality of roadside evaluation units based upon the received trip data, the plurality of roadside evaluation units being located along the selected route; selecting, based upon the interrogation by the at least one processor, one of the plurality of roadside evaluation units to be a data latency evaluation checkpoint for the vehicle during the upcoming trip; and transmitting, by the at least one processor, instructions to the data latency evaluation checkpoint, wherein the instructions indicate an evaluation data packet to be transmitted by the data latency evaluation checkpoint to the vehicle control system, and wherein the evaluation data packet causes the vehicle control system to execute one or more tests associated with the DLRE.

“17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16 further includes identifying, by the at least one processor, based upon the interrogation, a subset of roadside evaluation units from the plurality of roadside evaluation units, the subset including roadside evaluation units that are eligible to be the data latency evaluation checkpoint for the upcoming trip.

“18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 further includes randomly selecting, by the at least one processor, one roadside evaluation unit from the subset to be the data latency evaluation checkpoint.

“19. The computer-implemented method of claim 16 further includes calculating, by the at least one processor, based upon the received trip data, an evaluation area, the evaluation area being a geographic area where the DLRE will occur.

“20. At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, wherein when executed by a vehicle data transmission diagnostics (VDTD) server that is in communication with a vehicle control system of a vehicle and a plurality of roadside evaluation units, the VDTD server comprising at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to: determine that a data latency risk evaluation (DLRE) should be performed for the vehicle based upon one or more data factors associated with operation of the vehicle; transmit, to the vehicle control system, a data latency risk evaluation (DLRE) request to determine a time period and a geographical region for performing the DLRE; receive, from the vehicle control system, a response to the transmitted DLRE request including trip data, wherein the trip data includes a selected route to be taken by the vehicle for an upcoming trip; interrogate the plurality of roadside evaluation units based upon the received trip data, the plurality of roadside evaluation units being located along the selected route; select, based upon the interrogation, one of the plurality of roadside evaluation units to be a data latency evaluation checkpoint for the vehicle during the upcoming trip; and transmit instructions to the data latency evaluation checkpoint, wherein the instructions indicate an evaluation data packet to be transmitted by the data latency evaluation checkpoint to the vehicle control system, and wherein the evaluation data packet causes the vehicle control system to execute one or more tests associated with the DLRE.”

For more information, see this patent: Chan, Aaron Scott. Systems and methods for selecting locations to validate automated vehicle data transmission. U.S. Patent Number 11587366, filed November 19, 2019, and published online on February 21, 2023. Patent URL (for desktop use only): https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/external.html?q=(11587366)&db=USPAT&type=ids

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