Vehicle operator emotion management system and method

US9734685B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company · US

Inventors

• Brian Mark Fields · Phoenix, US
• Samuel C. Weeks · Mundelein, US
• Thasphon Chuenchujit · Urbana, US
• Kelsey Catherine Yoshie Stiles · Bloomington, US
• Allison Lynne Diaz · Bloomington, US
• Alisha Deshmukh · Champaign, US
• Mihir D. Angal · San Jose, US
• Akash Duseja · New Delhi, IN
• Aaron Scott Chan · San Jose, US
• Matthew Christopher Jon Donovan · Bloomington, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 7, 2014
• Grant date: Aug 15, 2017
• Expiry date: May 19, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q40/08
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

The method, system, and computer-readable medium facilitates monitoring a vehicle operator during the course of vehicle operation to determine whether the vehicle operator is in an emotionally impaired state (e.g., aggressive or agitated) and presenting appropriate stimuli (e.g., music or sound recordings) to the vehicle operator when impairment is detected. The vehicle operator, the environment surrounding the vehicle, or forces acting on the vehicle may be monitored using a variety of sensors, including optical sensors, accelerometers, or biometric sensors (e.g., skin conductivity, heart rate, or voice modulation). When the vehicle operator is determined to be in an emotionally impaired state, stimuli are selected to improve the emotional state of the vehicle operator. The selection is based on sensor data and data regarding prior responses of the vehicle operator to various stimuli. After selection, the stimuli are presented to the vehicle operator while monitoring continues.