IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,515,679
Granted Patent B2
US 12,515,679 · App. 18/405,015 · Granted Jan 6, 2026

Apparatuses, systems and methods for determining distracted drivers associated with vehicle driving routes

Inventors: Aaron Scott Chan (San Jose, CA); Kenneth J. Sanchez (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
B60W40/09B60W50/14G06V10/34G06V20/597B60R2300/302B60W2040/0872B60W2540/30
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,515,679
App. No.
18/405,015
Granted
Jan 6, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for determining vehicle driver distractions. More particularly, apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for receiving vehicle interior data from at least one vehicle interior sensor, wherein the vehicle interior data is representative of at least one distraction of at least one vehicle occupant that is associated with a position of a body of the at least one vehicle occupant; generating vehicle driving route distraction data based on the vehicle interior data; and providing instructions to the at least one vehicle occupant to return to a normal driving position.

Claims (38)

1 . A computing device for determining distracted drivers associated with vehicle driving routes, the computing device comprising:

a vehicle interior data receiving module stored on a memory that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to receive vehicle interior data from at least one vehicle interior sensor, wherein the vehicle interior data is representative of at least one distraction of at least one vehicle occupant that is associated with a position of a body of the at least one vehicle occupant;

a vehicle driving route distraction data generation module stored on the memory that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to generate vehicle driving route distraction data based on the vehicle interior data; and

a driver instruction module stored on the memory that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to provide instructions to the at least one vehicle occupant to return to a normal driving position.

2 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the position of the body of the at least one vehicle occupant includes at least one of: (i) a body posture of at least one vehicle occupant, (ii) a facial expression of at least one vehicle occupant, or (iii) a position of a body part of at least one vehicle occupant.

3 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein at least one vehicle interior sensor is selected from: at least one digital image sensor, at least one ultra-sonic sensor, at least one radar-sensor, at least one infrared light sensor, or at least one laser light sensor.

4 . The computing device of claim 1 , further comprising a position logging module stored on the memory that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to log one or more rotated and scaled postures that are normalized for a range of different drivers.

5 . The computing device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a previously classified vehicle interior data receiving module stored on the memory that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to receive previously classified vehicle interior data, wherein the previously classified vehicle interior data is representative of circumstances associated with vehicle occupant distractions; and

a vehicle occupant distraction data generation module stored on the memory that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to generate vehicle occupant distraction data based on a comparison of the vehicle interior data with the previously classified vehicle interior data, and wherein the vehicle driving route distraction data is further based on the vehicle occupant distraction data.

6 . The computing device of claim 1 , further comprising a current image data receiving module stored on the memory that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to receive current image data, wherein the current image data includes images and/or extracted image features that are representative of a vehicle occupant using a cellular telephone, a vehicle occupant looking out a vehicle side window, a vehicle occupant adjusting a vehicle radio, a vehicle occupant adjusting a vehicle heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, two vehicle occupants talking with one- another, a vehicle occupant reading a book or magazine, a vehicle occupant putting on makeup, or a vehicle occupant looking at themselves in a mirror.

7 . The computing device of claim 1 , further comprising a previously classified image data receiving module stored on the memory that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to receive previously classified image data, wherein the previously classified image data includes images and/or extracted image features that have previously been classified as being representative of a vehicle occupant using a cellular telephone, a vehicle occupant looking out a vehicle side window, a vehicle occupant adjusting a vehicle radio, a vehicle occupant adjusting a vehicle heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, two vehicle occupants talking with one-another, a vehicle occupant reading a book or magazine, a vehicle occupant putting on makeup, or a vehicle occupant looking at themselves in a mirror.

8 . A computer-implemented method for determining distracted drivers associated with vehicle driving routes, the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, at one or more processors of a computing device, vehicle interior data from at least one vehicle interior sensor, wherein the vehicle interior data is representative of at least one distraction of at least one vehicle occupant that is associated with a position of a body of the at least one vehicle occupant;

generating, using the one or more processors of the computing device, vehicle driving route distraction data based on the vehicle interior data; and

providing, using the one or more processors of the computing device, instructions to the at least one vehicle occupant to return to a normal driving position.

9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the position of the body of the at least one vehicle occupant includes at least one of: (i) a body posture of at least one vehicle occupant, (ii) a facial expression of at least one vehicle occupant, or (iii) a position of a body part of at least one vehicle occupant.

10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , further comprising logging one or more rotated and scaled postures that are normalized for a range of different drivers.

11 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the vehicle interior data is representative of a three-dimensional representation of at least one vehicle occupant.

12 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving, at the one or more processors of the computing device, previously classified vehicle interior data, wherein the previously classified vehicle interior data is representative of circumstances associated with vehicle occupant distractions; and

generating, using the one or more processors of the computing device, vehicle occupant distraction data based on a comparison of the vehicle interior data with the previously classified vehicle interior data, and wherein the vehicle driving route distraction data is further based on the vehicle occupant distraction data.

13 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , further comprising receiving, at the one or more processors of the computing device, current image data, wherein the current image data includes images and/or extracted image features that are representative of vehicle occupant locations/orientations, cellular telephone locations/orientations, vehicle occupant eye locations/orientations, vehicle occupant head location/orientation, vehicle occupant hand location/orientation, a vehicle occupant torso location/orientation, a seat belt location, or a vehicle seat location/orientation.

14 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , further comprising receiving, at the one or more processors of the computing device, previously classified image data, wherein the previously classified image data includes images and/or extracted image features that have previously been classified as being representative of known vehicle occupant locations/orientations, known cellular telephone locations/orientations, known vehicle occupant eye locations/orientations, known vehicle occupant head location/orientation, known vehicle occupant hand location/orientation, a known vehicle occupant torso location/orientation, a known seat belt location, or a known vehicle seat location/orientation.

15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for determining distracted drivers associated with vehicle driving routes that, when executed, cause one or more processors of a computing device to:

receive vehicle interior data from at least one vehicle interior sensor, wherein the vehicle interior data is representative of at least one distraction of at least one vehicle occupant that is associated with a position of a body of the at least one vehicle occupant;

generate vehicle driving route distraction data based on the vehicle interior data; and

provide instructions to the at least one vehicle occupant to return to a normal driving position.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the position of the body of the at least one vehicle occupant includes at least one of: (i) a body posture of at least one vehicle occupant, (ii) a facial expression of at least one vehicle occupant, or (iii) a position of a body part of at least one vehicle occupant.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , further storing instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:

log one or more rotated and scaled postures that are normalized for a range of different drivers.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , further storing instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:

receive previously classified vehicle interior data, wherein the previously classified vehicle interior data is representative of circumstances associated with vehicle occupant distractions; and

generate vehicle occupant distraction data based on a comparison of the vehicle interior data with the previously classified vehicle interior data, and wherein the vehicle driving route distraction data is further based on the vehicle occupant distraction data.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , further storing instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:

receive current image data, wherein the current image data includes images and/or extracted image features that are representative of vehicle occupant locations/orientations, cellular telephone locations/orientations, vehicle occupant eye locations/orientations, vehicle occupant head location/orientation, vehicle occupant hand location/orientation, a vehicle occupant torso location/orientation, a seat belt location, or a vehicle seat location/orientation.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , further storing instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:

receive previously classified image data, wherein the previously classified image data includes images and/or extracted image features that have previously been classified as being representative of known vehicle occupant locations/orientations, known cellular telephone locations/orientations, known vehicle occupant eye locations/orientations, known vehicle occupant head location/orientation, known vehicle occupant hand location/orientation, a known vehicle occupant torso location/orientation, a known seat belt location, or a known vehicle seat location/orientation.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2024
From: CHAN, AARON SCOTT; SANCHEZ, KENNETH J.
To: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
Reel/Frame 066178/0616 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 17502439 · Oct 15, 2021
Continuation 16529314 · Aug 1, 2019
Continuation 15822869 · Nov 27, 2017
Provisional Application 62448045 · Jan 19, 2017
Related Publication 20240199034A1 · Jun 20, 2024
References Cited (38)
US 5689241A · Clarke, Sr. · 1997 [cited by examiner]
US 8373763B2 · Zhang · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 9311271B2 · Wright · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9633487B2 · Wright · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9710717B1 · Sanchez et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9830748B2 · Rosenbaum · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9928433B1 · Chan · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 9928434B1 · Chan · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 9990553B1 · Chan · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 9990782B2 · Rosenbaum · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 9996757B1 · Chan · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 10192369B2 · Wright · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10198879B2 · Wright · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10269190B2 · Rosenbaum · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10467824B2 · Rosenbaum · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 11227452B2 · Rosenbaum · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11407410B2 · Rosenbaum · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11524707B2 · Rosenbaum · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11594083B1 · Rosenbaum · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20100131304A1 · Collopy et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100238009A1 · Cook et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20110202305A1 · Willis et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20130041521A1 · Basir et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130060583A1 · Collins et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20160117947A1 · Misu · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170329332A1 · Pilarski · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20180025240A1 · Klement · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20180082501A1 · Kochhar · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20180326818A1 · Hong · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20220092893A1 · Rosenbaum · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220340148A1 · Rosenbaum · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20230060300A1 · Rosenbaum · 2023 [cited by applicant]
EP 3239686A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
EP 3578433B1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
EP 3730375B1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
EP 3960576A1 · 2022 [cited by applicant]
EP 4190659A1 · 2023 [cited by applicant]
EP 4190660A1 · 2023 [cited by applicant]