IP Library Granted Patent US 12,077,165
Granted Patent B2
US 12,077,165 · App. 17/878,513 · Granted Sep 3, 2024

Real-time driver analysis and notification system

Inventors: Joseph Mussa (Northbrook, IL); Kelsy Ecclesiastre (Northbrook, IL); Judah Tucker (Northbrook, IL); Madison Kuhler (Northbrook, IL); Raymone Byrd (Northbrook, IL); Mallika Patil (Northbrook, IL)
Assignee: ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY
B60W40/08B60W50/14B60W60/0051G06V20/597B60W2050/146B60W2540/225B60W2540/227B60W2540/229B60W2540/26
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,077,165
App. No.
17/878,513
Granted
Sep 3, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for determining a distraction level of a driver. A real-time driver analysis computer may receive sensor data from one or more driver analysis sensors. The real-time driver analysis computer may analyze the sensor data to determine a distraction level of a driver. Based on the distraction level, the real-time driver analysis computer may send one or more control signal to the vehicle and output one or more alerts to a mobile device associated with the driver.

Claims (62)

1. A driver analysis computing device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory unit communicatively coupled to the processor and storing machine-readable instructions,

wherein, when executed by the processor, the machine-readable instructions stored in the memory unit, cause the processor to:

receive user preferences;

activate a first sensor of one or more driver sensors based on the user preferences, the first sensor configured to monitor movement of one of a body or eyes of a driver of a vehicle;

de-activate a second sensor of the one or more driver sensors based on the user preferences, the second sensor configured to monitor movement of the other of the body or the eyes of the driver;

receive driver sensor data from the one or more driver sensors, wherein the driver sensor data is captured by the one or more driver sensors while the driver is driving the vehicle, the one or more driver sensors configured to monitor and record a plurality of conditions of the driver, the plurality of conditions comprising at least movement of the body of the driver, movement of the eyes of the driver, or combinations thereof;

analyze the driver sensor data to determine a distraction level of the driver;

compare the distraction level to a threshold;

determine, when the distraction level is above the threshold, that the driver is distracted;

responsive to a determination that the driver is distracted, output, to a graphical user interface of a mobile computing device of the driver, one or more graphical warnings; and

responsive to the determination that the driver is distracted, output, to a vehicle control computer of the vehicle, one or more control signals to the vehicle.

2. The driver analysis computing device of claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable instructions further cause the processor to analyze the driver sensor data in real-time.

3. The driver analysis computing device of claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable instructions further cause the processor to configure the one or more driver sensors to send the driver sensor data to the driver analysis computing device in real-time.

4. The driver analysis computing device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more control signals comprise instructions to activate brakes of the vehicle, control the vehicle autonomously, switch control of the vehicle from autonomous driving to manual driving, or combinations thereof.

5. The driver analysis computing device of claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable instructions further cause the processor receive vehicle sensor data from one or more vehicle sensors indicative of operation of the vehicle, and analyze the vehicle sensor data and the driver sensor data to determine the distraction level of the driver.

6. The driver analysis computing device of claim 1 , wherein the driver sensor data comprises video data.

7. The driver analysis computing device of claim 1 , wherein the distraction level of the driver comprises a type of distraction.

8. The driver analysis computing device of claim 7 , wherein the type of distraction comprises an indication of the driver falling asleep, the driving losing consciousness, or the driver having a seizure.

9. The driver analysis computing device of claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable instructions further cause the processor to:

receive the user preferences comprising one or more time period preferences for monitoring the driver; and

cause the one or more driver sensors to monitor the driver during the one or more time period preferences.

10. The driver analysis computing device of claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable instructions further cause the processor to:

receive a baseline image of the driver;

perform a comparison of an image of the driver received from the one or more driver sensors to the baseline image;

identify the driver based on the comparison; and determine the distraction level of the driver based on the comparison.

11. The driver analysis computing device of claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable instructions further cause the processor to:

receive the user preferences associating a plurality of alert configurations with a plurality of driver distraction levels;

determine an alert configuration from among the plurality of alert configurations associated with the determined distraction level based on the user preferences; and

output the determined alert configuration, wherein the determined alert configuration comprises an output to the graphical user interface of the mobile computing device of the driver, an output of the one or more control signals to the vehicle, or combinations thereof.

12. The driver analysis computing device of claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable instructions further cause the processor to:

determine trip data comprising the distraction level of the driver at a plurality of time steps during a driving trip; and

update an insurance premium of the driver based on the trip data.

13. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving user preferences;

activating a first sensor of one or more driver sensors based on the user preferences, the first sensor configured to monitor movement of one of a body or eyes of a driver of a vehicle;

de-activating a second sensor of the one or more driver sensors based on the user preferences, the second sensor configured to monitor movement of the other of the body or the eyes of the driver;

receiving driver sensor data from the one or more driver sensors, wherein the driver sensor data is captured by the one or more driver sensors while the driver is driving the vehicle, the one or more driver sensors configured to monitor and record a plurality of the body of the driver, movement of the eyes of the driver, or combinations thereof;

analyzing the driver sensor data to determine a distraction level of the driver;

comparing the distraction level to a threshold;

determining, when the distraction level is above the threshold, that the driver is distracted;

responsive to a determination that the driver is distracted, outputting, to a graphical user interface of a mobile computing device of the driver, one or more graphical warnings; and

responsive to the determination that the driver is distracted, outputting, to a vehicle control computer of the vehicle, one or more control signals to the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more control signals comprise instructions to activate brakes of the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more control signals comprise instructions to control the vehicle autonomously in response to the determination that the driver is distracted and a determination that an autonomous driving mode is active.

16. The method of claim 13 , the distraction level of the driver comprises a type of distraction, and the type of distraction comprises an indication of the driver falling asleep or the driver having a seizure.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

receiving a baseline image of the driver;

performing a comparison of an image of the driver received from the one or more driver sensors to the baseline image; and

determining the distraction level of the driver based on the comparison.

18. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving user references;

activating a first sensor of one or more driver sensors based on the user preferences, the first sensor configured to monitor movement of one of a body or eyes of a driver of a vehicle;

de-activating a second sensor of the one or more driver sensors based on the user preferences the second sensor configured to monitor movement of the other of the body or the eyes of the driver;

receiving vehicle sensor data from one or more vehicle sensors indicative of operation of the vehicle;

receiving driver sensor data from one or more driver sensors, wherein the driver sensor data is captured by the one or more driver sensors while the driver is driving the vehicle, the one or more driver sensors configured to monitor and record a plurality of conditions of the driver, the plurality of conditions comprising at least movement of the body of the driver, movement of the eyes of the driver, or combinations thereof;

analyzing the driver sensor data and the vehicle sensor data to determine a distraction level of the driver in real-time;

comparing the distraction level to a threshold;

determining, when the distraction level is above the threshold, that the driver is distracted;

responsive to a determination that the driver is distracted, outputting, to a graphical user interface of a mobile computing device of the driver, one or more graphical warnings; and

responsive to the determination that the driver is distracted, outputting, to a vehicle control computer of the vehicle, one or more control signals to the vehicle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 21, 2024
From: MUSSA, JOSEPH; ECCLESIASTRE, KELSY; TUCKER, JUDAH; KUHLER, MADISON; BYRD, RAYMONE; PATIL, MALLIKA
To: ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY
Reel/Frame 067478/0216 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63228290 · Aug 2, 2021
Related Publication 20230036776A1 · Feb 2, 2023