IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,512,000
Granted Patent B2
US 12,512,000 · App. 18/763,726 · Granted Dec 30, 2025

Vehicle collision alert system and method for detecting driving hazards

Inventors: Douglas L. Dewey (Bloomington, IL); Jon Hodel (Heyworth, IL); Steve F. Roberson (Normal, IL)
Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
G08G1/166B60Q9/008B60W10/18B60W10/20B60W30/08B60W30/09B60W30/0956B60W40/08B60W40/09B60W50/16B62D15/0265G05D1/0055G05D1/617G06Q40/08G06V20/597G08G1/0112G08G1/012G08G1/04G08G1/162B60W2040/0818B60W50/14B60W2554/40B60W2554/404B60W2554/4046B60W2554/4047B60W2554/80B60W2710/18B60W2710/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,512,000
App. No.
18/763,726
Filed
Jul 3, 2024
Granted
Dec 30, 2025
Kind
B2
Examiner
SOOD, ANSHUL
Art Unit
3667
USPC
701/117
Abstract

An impairment analysis (“IA”) computer system for alerting a first driver of a first vehicle to a driving hazard posed by a second vehicle operated by a second driver is provided. The IA computer system is associated with the first vehicle, and includes at least one processor in communication with at least one memory device. The at least one processor is programmed to: (i) receive second vehicle data including second driver data and second vehicle condition data, where the second vehicle data is collected by a plurality of sensors included on the first vehicle; (ii) analyze the second vehicle data by applying a baseline model to the second vehicle data; (iii) determine that the second vehicle poses a driving hazard to the first vehicle based upon the analysis; and/or (iv) generate an alert signal based upon the determination that the second vehicle poses a driving hazard to the first vehicle.

Claims (32)

1 . An impairment analysis (IA) computer system for alerting a first vehicle of a driving hazard posed by a second vehicle, the IA computer system comprising at least one processor in communication with at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

receive second vehicle data associated with the second vehicle, the second vehicle data comprising second vehicle condition data;

apply a baseline model retrieved from the at least one memory to the second vehicle data, wherein the baseline model includes baseline conditions for at least one of lane position or speed;

determine that the second vehicle is a potential driving hazard to the first vehicle based upon the application of the baseline model to the second vehicle data; and

cause an alert to be provided to a driver of the first vehicle in response to determining that the second vehicle is a potential driving hazard to the first vehicle.

2 . The IA computer system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive the second vehicle data from a plurality of sensors associated with the first vehicle.

3 . The IA computer system of claim 1 , wherein the second vehicle data further comprises driver data associated with a driver of the second vehicle, and wherein the driver data comprises at least one of head orientation, body posture, eye movement, or driver behavior information associated with the driver of the second vehicle.

4 . The IA computer system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the alert to be provided as at least one of an auditory signal, a visual signal, or a haptic signal.

5 . The IA computer system of claim 1 , wherein the second vehicle data further comprises second vehicle engine data.

6 . The IA computer system of claim 5 , wherein the baseline model further includes standard engine operation conditions data associated with the second vehicle.

7 . The IA computer system of claim 6 , wherein the standard engine operation conditions data comprises parameters associated with normal operation of an engine of the second vehicle, and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine that the second vehicle engine data exceeds a threshold included in the parameters based upon the application of the baseline model to the second vehicle data.

8 . The IA computer system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause a second alert to be presented to at least one driver of at least one vehicle nearby the first vehicle.

9 . The IA computer system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause a collision avoidance action to be performed, wherein the collision avoidance action is performed by at least one of an automated braking system or an automated steering system.

10 . At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with instructions stored thereon for alerting a first vehicle of a driving hazard posed by a second vehicle, wherein the instructions, in response to execution by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

receive second vehicle data associated with the second vehicle, the second vehicle data comprising second vehicle condition data;

apply a baseline model retrieved from the at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium to the second vehicle data, wherein the baseline model includes baseline conditions for at least one of lane position or speed;

determine that the second vehicle is a potential driving hazard to the first vehicle based upon the application of the baseline model to the second vehicle data; and

cause an alert to be provided to a driver of the first vehicle in response to determining that the second vehicle is a potential driving hazard to the first vehicle.

11 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to receive the second vehicle data from a plurality of sensors associated with the first vehicle.

12 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the second vehicle data further comprises driver data associated with a driver of the second vehicle, and wherein the driver data comprises at least one of head orientation, body posture, eye movement, or driver behavior information associated with the driver of the second vehicle.

13 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to cause the alert to be provided as at least one of an auditory signal, a visual signal, or a haptic signal.

14 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the second vehicle data further comprises second vehicle engine data.

15 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the baseline model further includes standard engine operation conditions data associated with the second vehicle.

16 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the standard engine operation conditions data comprises parameters associated with normal operation of an engine of the second vehicle, and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine that the second vehicle engine data exceeds a threshold included in the parameters based upon the application of the baseline model to the second vehicle data.

17 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to cause a second alert to be presented to at least one driver of at least one vehicle nearby the first vehicle.

18 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to cause a collision avoidance action to be performed, wherein the collision avoidance action is performed by at least one of an automated braking system or an automated steering system.

19 . A computer-implemented method for alerting a first vehicle of a driving hazard posed by a second vehicle, the computer-implemented method implemented by at least one processor in communication with at least one memory, the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving second vehicle data associated with the second vehicle, the second vehicle data comprising second vehicle condition data;

applying a baseline model retrieved from the at least one memory to the second vehicle data, wherein the baseline model includes baseline conditions for at least one of lane position or speed;

determining that the second vehicle is a potential driving hazard to the first vehicle based upon the application of the baseline model to the second vehicle data; and

causing an alert to be provided to a driver of the first vehicle in response to determining that the second vehicle is a potential driving hazard to the first vehicle.

20 . The computer-implemented method of claim 19 , further comprising causing the alert to be provided as at least one of an auditory signal, a visual signal, or a haptic signal.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 9, 2024
From: ROBERSON, STEVE F.; DEWEY, DOUGLAS L.; HODEL, JON
To: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
Reel/Frame 067940/0109 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 18154400 · Jan 13, 2023
Continuation 16986852 · Aug 6, 2020
Continuation 15982803 · May 17, 2018
Provisional Application 62631191 · Feb 15, 2018
Provisional Application 62615191 · Jan 9, 2018
Related Publication 20240355208A1 · Oct 24, 2024
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