System and method to adjust insurance rate based on real-time data about potential vehicle operator impairment
US8930269B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 17, 2012 |
| Grant date | Jan 6, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 17, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07C5/008
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The method, system, and computer-readable medium facilitates monitoring a vehicle operator, the environment ahead of the vehicle, and/or forces acting on the vehicle during the course of vehicle operation to determine whether the vehicle operator is impaired (e.g., distracted, drowsy), log data relating to vehicle operator impairment for further analysis, and send the data to a server for analysis. The method, system, and computer-readable medium may monitor the vehicle operator, the environment ahead of the vehicle, and/or forces acting on the vehicle using either or both of optical sensors or accelerometers. In particular, one optical sensor may monitor the vehicle operator to detect eye blinks, head nods, head rotations, and/or gaze fixation. Another optical sensor may monitor the road ahead of the vehicle to detect lane deviation, lane centering, and time to collision. The accelerometers may detect acceleration in the direction of vehicle travel and/or lateral acceleration. The data gathered by the various sensors may be scored to determine whether to change a property and casualty insurance rate charged to vehicle operator and/or vehicle owner and/or vehicle policy.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.