Patents by Inventor Brian Mark Fields

Brian Mark Fields has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9870649
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for monitoring the use of a vehicle by multiple users. In various aspects, telematics data regarding operation of the vehicle may be collected by one or more sensors associated with a vehicle. The telematics data may be associated with a vehicle operator and also used to determine that a driving event has occurred. The driving event may indicate improper usage of the vehicle by the vehicle operator. A notification of the driving event may be generated and transmitted, via a network, to an interested party associated with the vehicle for presentation to the interested party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Mark Fields, Steven C. Cielocha, Jacob J. Alt, Laura A. Uphoff, Leo Nelson Chan, Mohamed A. Wazeer, Kristopher Keith Gaudin, Justin Davis, Nathan W. Baumann, Giles Roll
  • Patent number: 9865018
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a vehicle insurance premium for a period of time based at least in part on collected vehicle operation data, the system comprising: a mobile device, comprising: one or more sensors associated with the mobile device and configured to automatically collect vehicle operation data during a data collection session; a processor; a non-transitory storage medium; a display; a transmitter; and a set of computer readable instructions stored in the non-transitory storage medium and when executed by the processor configured to allow the mobile device to collect vehicle operation data and transmit the collected vehicle operation data; and a remote processing computer, comprising: a server that receives collected vehicle operation data; a database that stores collected vehicle operation data; and a rating engine that determines a vehicle insurance premium based at least in part on collected vehicle operation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Benjamin F. Bowne, Jufeng “James” Peng, Nicholas R. Baker, Duane Lee Marzinzik, Matthew Eric Riley, Sr., Nick U. Christopulos, Brian Mark Fields, J Lynn Wilson, Bryan T. Wilkerson, David W. Thurber
  • Patent number: 9847043
    Abstract: Tagged driving events may be generated during a driving session from sensor data collected via one or more sensors and/or entered by an instructor. The tagged driving events may include a description of each driving event and its associated severity or weight as it relates to a scoring process as well as a time and/or a location of the driving event. A driving session report may be generated using the tagged driving events and may include a driver feedback score that is weighted based on the severity associated with each of the tagged driving events and/or the collected data, a map of the driving session route that indicates a map location of each tagged driving event, and/or a listing of each tagged driving event. The driving session report may be displayed such that a user may select a tagged driving event to view information associated with the tagged driving event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Mark Fields, Steve Roberson, Abhishek Harish, Hyunji Lim, Matthew James Waughtel
  • Patent number: 9805601
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for generating a vehicle-to-vehicle traffic alert. Various aspects may include detecting that an abnormal traffic condition exists in an operating environment of a vehicle and generating a related electronic message. The electronic message may be transmitted via the vehicle's transceiver using a wireless communication to a nearby vehicle to alert the nearby vehicle of the abnormal traffic condition and to allow the nearby vehicle to avoid the abnormal traffic condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Mark Fields, Steven C. Cielocha, Jacob J. Alt, Laura A. Uphoff, Leo Nelson Chan, Mohamed A. Wazeer, Kristopher Keith Gaudin, Justin Davis, Nathan W. Baumann, Giles Roll
  • Publication number: 20170287076
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a vehicle insurance premium for a period of time based at least in part on collected vehicle operation data, the system comprising: a mobile device, comprising: one or more sensors associated with the mobile device and configured to automatically collect vehicle operation data during a data collection session; a processor; a non-transitory storage medium; a display; a transmitter; and a set of computer readable instructions stored in the non-transitory storage medium and when executed by the processor configured to allow the mobile device to collect vehicle operation data and transmit the collected vehicle operation data; and a remote processing computer, comprising: a server that receives collected vehicle operation data; a database that stores collected vehicle operation data; and a rating engine that determines a vehicle insurance premium based at least in part on collected vehicle operation data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Benjamin F. Bowne, Jufeng "James" Peng, Nicholas R. Baker, Duane Lee Marzinik, Matthew Eric Riley, Nick U. Christopulos, Brian Mark Fields, J Lynn Wilson, Bryan T. Wilkerson, David W. Thurber
  • Patent number: 9758173
    Abstract: In a computer-implemented method, data about potential vehicle operator impairment is retrieved. The data is generated by monitoring a vehicle operator with a first sensor, monitoring the environment ahead of the vehicle with a second sensor, and monitoring force in one or more directions with a third sensor. A plurality of scores is assigned. Each of the plurality of scores corresponds to a respective impairment indicator, and wherein each of the plurality of scores is based on the data about potential operator impairment. An impairment score is generated by performing a mathematical operation on the plurality of scores. It is determined whether the vehicle operator is impaired by comparing the impairment score to a threshold value. Recommendations to reduce operator impairment of the vehicle operator are identified by analyzing the data about potential vehicle operator impairment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Bryan Allen Plummer, Parker Andrew Brown, Jibo He, Brian Mark Fields, Steve Roberson, Steve C. Cielocha, Jufeng Peng
  • Patent number: 9751535
    Abstract: Real-time feedback may be generated during a driving session from status data collected via one or more sensors. This feedback data may include various metrics related to a student's driving skills, which may be utilized to generate tagged driving events. A user may also manually enter tagged driving events. The tagged driving events may include real-time information based on the collected status data, such as acceleration, braking, cornering data, descriptions entered by the user. The location of these tagged driving events may be mapped in real time. Sensors used to collect this data may be integrated within the device displaying the feedback or located on another device, in which case the status data may be communicated to the device displaying the feedback. The displayed real-time feedback may be viewed by an instructor to assess a student's driving skills in real time and to calculate a driver feedback score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Mark Fields, Steve Roberson, Abhishek Harish, Hyunji Lim, Matthew James Waughtel
  • Publication number: 20170132713
    Abstract: A method for providing vehicle operation data to a remote computer or server for calculation of a vehicle insurance premium for a period of time based at least in part on collected vehicle operation data, wherein the method includes steps of: collecting vehicle operation data via a mobile device while the mobile device is associated with an operating vehicle, wherein the vehicle operation data has insurance risk predictive power; and transmitting the collected vehicle operation data from the mobile device to a remote computer. The remote computer or server receives collected vehicle operation data, stores the collected vehicle operation data in a database, a determines a vehicle insurance premium via a rating engine based at least in part on collected vehicle operation data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
    Inventors: Benjamin F. Bowne, Jufeng "James" Peng, Nicholas R. Baker, Duane Lee Marzinzik, Matthew Eric Riley, Nick U. Christopulos, Brian Mark Fields, J Lynn Wilson, Brian T. Wilkerson, David W. Thurber
  • Publication number: 20170132712
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a vehicle insurance premium for a period of time based at least in part on collected vehicle operation data, the system comprising: a mobile device, comprising: one or more sensors associated with the mobile device and configured to automatically collect vehicle operation data during a data collection session; a processor; a non-transitory storage medium; a display; a transmitter; and a set of computer readable instructions stored in the non-transitory storage medium and when executed by the processor configured to allow the mobile device to collect vehicle operation data and transmit the collected vehicle operation data; and a remote processing computer, comprising: a server that receives collected vehicle operation data; a database that stores collected vehicle operation data; and a rating engine that determines a vehicle insurance premium based at least in part on collected vehicle operation data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
    Inventors: Benjamin F. Bowne, Jufeng "James" Peng, Nicholas R. Baker, Duane Lee Marzinik, Matthew Eric Riley, Nick U. Christopulos, Brian Mark Fields, J Lynn Wilson, Bryan T. Wilkerson, David W. Thurber
  • Publication number: 20170132951
    Abstract: In an embodiment, movement-data is gathered with one or more sensors (e.g., accelerometers, GPS receivers, etc.) during a driver's driving session. A score may be calculated for the driving session, and the driver's progress is evaluated by a driver-evaluation system. A driving session report or graphical user-interface (GUI) is generated with a computer processor and displayed at a display device. The displayed report or GUI includes a graphic representing the driver's progress relative to historical data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Mark Fields, Steve Roberson, Abhishek Harish, Hyunji Lim, Matthew James Waughtel, Bryan Allen Plummer, Parker Andrew Brown
  • Publication number: 20170083087
    Abstract: A gaze tracking system captures images of a vehicle operator. The gaze tracking system may detect facial features in the images and track the position of the facial features over time. The gaze tracking system may detect a triangle in an image, wherein the vertices of the triangle correspond to the facial features. The gaze tracking system may analyze the detected triangle to identify a surface normal for the triangle, and may track the surface normal (e.g., across multiple images) to track the eye gaze direction of the driver over time. The images may be captured and analyzed in near-real time. By tracking movement of the driver's head and eyes over time, the gaze analysis system may predict or estimate head position and/or gaze direction when one or more facial features are not detectable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Bryan Allen Plummer, Parker Andrew Brown, Brian Mark Fields, Steve Roberson
  • Patent number: 9586591
    Abstract: In an embodiment, movement-data is gathered with one or more sensors (e.g., accelerometers, GPS receivers, etc.) during a driver's driving session. A score may be calculated for the driving session, and the driver's progress is evaluated by a driver-evaluation system. A driving session report or graphical user-interface (GUI) is generated with a computer processor and displayed at a display device. The displayed report or GUI includes a graphic representing the driver's progress relative to historical data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Mark Fields, Steve Roberson, Abhishek Harish, Hyunji Lim, Matthew James Waughtel, Bryan Allen Plummer, Parker Andrew Brown
  • Patent number: 9547798
    Abstract: A gaze tracking system captures images of a vehicle operator's face using an image sensor device positioned within a vehicle. The gaze tracking system may be detect facial features from each image and track the position of facial features over time. The gaze tracking system may use the detected facial features to track the vehicle operator's head pose and gaze direction. The images may be captured and analyzed in near-real time. By tracking movement of the driver's head and eyes over time, the gaze analysis system may predict or estimate head position and/or gaze direction when one or more facial features are not detectable. The gaze tracking system may generate a report regarding the vehicle operator's gaze distribution. The report may be saved to memory and may be graphically displayed at a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Bryan Allen Plummer, Parker Andrew Brown, Brian Mark Fields, Steve Roberson
  • Patent number: 9530333
    Abstract: A method includes, during a driving session in which a student driver operates a vehicle, gathering driving skill data indicative of at least one of behavior of the student driver, acceleration of the vehicle, braking of the vehicle, or steering of the vehicle, and gathering comments from a driving instructor about the driving session. The method also includes generating a driving session report corresponding to the driving session. The driving session report includes at least one score based on the driving skill data, and the comments from the driving instructor about the driving session. Still further, the method includes causing the driving session report to be displayed on a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Mark Fields, Jibo He, John A. Nepomuceno, Steve Roberson, Bryan Allen Plummer, Kurtis C. Houdek, Neeraj Jain
  • Patent number: 9477990
    Abstract: A method includes receiving external data including a plurality of data points indicative of a plurality of respective states of an environment external to a vehicle. The external data is data that was received by the vehicle from a handheld mobile communication device of a pedestrian external to the vehicle via a wireless link, and is indicative of objects sensed by the handheld mobile communication device. The method also includes storing the external data in a memory, generating an animated re-creation of an event (e.g., accident) involving at least one vehicle using the stored plurality of data points, and causing the animated re-creation of the event to be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Todd Binion, Joe Harr, Brian Mark Fields, Steven Cielocha, Steve J. Balbach
  • Patent number: 9478150
    Abstract: A method includes, for each of two or more driving sessions in which a student driver operates a vehicle, gathering driving skill data indicative of at least one of behavior of the student driver, acceleration of the vehicle, braking of the vehicle, or steering of the vehicle, and generating a driving session report. The method further includes causing the driving session reports corresponding to the two or more driving sessions to be displayed to a driving instructor, and receiving comments from the driving instructor about the two or more driving sessions of the student driver. Still further, the method includes storing the driving session reports corresponding to the two or more driving sessions along with the received comments from the driving instructor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Mark Fields, Jibo He, John Adrian Nepomuceno, Steve Roberson, Bryan Allen Plummer, Kurtis C. Houdek, Neeraj Jain
  • Patent number: 9440657
    Abstract: The method, system, and computer-readable medium cause the monitoring of a vehicle operator during the course of vehicle operation to determine whether the vehicle operator is impaired and causes a mitigating response when an impairment is determined to exist. 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 impaired, an alert or other mitigating response is implemented, based on the sensor data. In some embodiments, mitigating actions may be taken to avoid vehicle operator impairment. In further embodiments, a training period may be used to generate a profile for the vehicle operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Mark Fields, Steve Roberson, Aaron Scott Chan, Kenneth Jason Sanchez, Matthew Christopher Jon Donovan
  • Patent number: 9373203
    Abstract: Real-time feedback may be generated during a driving session from status data collected via one or more sensors. This feedback data may include various metrics related to a student's driving skills, which may be utilized to generate tagged driving events. A user may also manually enter tagged driving events. The tagged driving events may include real-time information based on the collected status data, such as acceleration, braking, cornering data, descriptions entered by the user. The location of these tagged driving events may be mapped in real time. Sensors used to collect this data may be integrated within the device displaying the feedback or located on another device, in which case the status data may be communicated to the device displaying the feedback. The displayed real-time feedback may be viewed by an instructor to assess a student's driving skills in real time and to calculate a driver feedback score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Mark Fields, Steve Roberson, Abhishek Harish, Hyunji Lim, Matthew James Waughtel
  • Patent number: 9342993
    Abstract: A method includes, during a driving session in which a student driver operates a vehicle, gathering driving skill data indicative of at least one of behavior of the student driver, acceleration of the vehicle, braking of the vehicle, or steering of the vehicle, and gathering comments from a driving instructor about the driving session. The method also includes generating a driving session report corresponding to the driving session. The driving session report includes at least one score based on the driving skill data, and the comments from the driving instructor about the driving session. Still further, the method includes causing the driving session report to be displayed on a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Mark Fields, Jibo He, John A. Nepomuceno, Steve Roberson, Bryan Allen Plummer, Kurtis C. Houdek, Neeraj Jain
  • Patent number: 9279697
    Abstract: Tagged driving events may be generated during a driving session from sensor data collected via one or more sensors and/or entered by an instructor. The tagged driving events may include a description of each driving event and its associated severity or weight as it relates to a scoring process as well as a time and/or a location of the driving event. A driving session report may be generated using the tagged driving events and may include a driver feedback score that is weighted based on the severity associated with each of the tagged driving events and/or the collected data, a map of the driving session route that indicates a map location of each tagged driving event, and/or a listing of each tagged driving event. The driving session report may be displayed such that a user may select a tagged driving event to view information associated with the tagged driving event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Mark Fields, Steve Roberson, Abhishek Harish, Hyunji Lim, Matthew James Waughtel