Patents by Inventor David W. Thurber

David W. Thurber 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).

  • Publication number: 20230334581
    Abstract: Methods and systems for communicating data with an electric vehicle are disclosed. According to some aspects, insurance risk related data associated with use of the electric vehicle may be collected and stored in one or more memories included in the electric vehicle. When the electric vehicle is connected to an electrical grid for charging a battery included in the electric vehicle, in some implementations, a power-line communication unit may transmit the insurance risk related data over the electrical grid to one or more remote computer systems. The insurance risk related data may be used by an insurer to calculate insurance rating data so that an insurance premium (or rate, discount, usage-based insurance, etc.) associated with the electric vehicle and/or its driver can be adjusted to more accurately reflect a risk of recognizable loss. The insurance risk data may be related to driving or driving behavior, and/or vehicle operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventor: David W. Thurber
  • Patent number: 11748816
    Abstract: Methods and systems for communicating data with an electric vehicle are disclosed. According to some aspects, insurance risk related data associated with use of the electric vehicle may be collected and stored in one or more memories included in the electric vehicle. When the electric vehicle is connected to an electrical grid for charging a battery included in the electric vehicle, in some implementations, a power-line communication unit may transmit the insurance risk related data over the electrical grid to one or more remote computer systems. The insurance risk related data may be used by an insurer to calculate insurance rating data so that an insurance premium (or rate, discount, usage-based insurance, etc.) associated with the electric vehicle and/or its driver can be adjusted to more accurately reflect a risk of recognizable loss. The insurance risk data may be related to driving or driving behavior, and/or vehicle operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventor: David W. Thurber
  • Patent number: 11250283
    Abstract: An odometer verification method includes capturing an odometer image at a threshold date, calculating a first and a second mileage using OCR, determining whether the first and the second mileage match, and updating a user profile associated with the insurance policy. A non-transitory, tangible computer-readable medium stores machine readable instructions in a mobile computing device, that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to capture an odometer image at a threshold date, calculate a first and a second mileage using OCR, determine whether the first and the second mileage match, and update a user profile. A mobile computing device includes an image capture unit configured to capture an odometer image at a threshold date, perform a first and a second OCR, determine whether the first and the second mileage match, and update the insurance policy user profile of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark E. Clauss, David W. Thurber, Matthew Eric Riley, Sr., Richard J. Lovings, Steven Joseph Balbach, Nicholas R. Baker, J. Lynn Wilson
  • Patent number: 11170446
    Abstract: Methods and systems for communicating data with an electric vehicle are disclosed. According to some aspects, insurance risk related data associated with use of the electric vehicle may be collected and stored in one or more memories included in the electric vehicle. When the electric vehicle is connected to an electrical grid for charging a battery included in the electric vehicle, in some implementations, a power-line communication unit may transmit the insurance risk related data over the electrical grid to one or more remote computer systems. The insurance risk related data may be used by an insurer to calculate insurance rating data so that an insurance premium (or rate, discount, usage-based insurance, etc.) associated with the electric vehicle and/or its driver can be adjusted to more accurately reflect a risk of recognizable loss. The insurance risk data may be related to driving or driving behavior, and/or vehicle operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventor: David W. Thurber
  • Patent number: 11049183
    Abstract: The devices, methods, systems and computer-readable mediums of the present disclosure provide automatic data collection for insurance rating purposes. In particular, a wireless transceiver device may be attached to a personal item of an insured individual. The wireless transceiver device may automatically trigger a mobile computing device to begin storing data related to use of the personal item when the mobile telephone is proximate the wireless transceiver device. The mobile telephone may periodically transmit the stored data to a remote server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark E. Clauss, Richard J. Lovings, David W. Thurber
  • Patent number: 10949925
    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: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: 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: 10600126
    Abstract: Client side and server side methods for combining data originating from an On Board Diagnostics (OBD) cap with data originating from a client computing device are presented. The method includes receiving, from a client computing device via a computer network, a plurality of OBD cap data originating from an OBD cap and receiving, from the client computing device via the computer network, a plurality of client computing device data originating from the client computing device. The method also includes selecting, at a processor, a first data parameter from the plurality of OBD cap data and selecting, at the processor, a second data parameter from the plurality of client computing device data. The method further includes analyzing, at the processor, the first data parameter and the second data parameter and flagging, at the processor, an insurance account associated with the OBD device as a result of the analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Baker, David W. Thurber, Paul Christopher Rutkowski, Benjamin F. Bowne
  • Patent number: 10569650
    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 impaired (e.g., distracted, drowsy, intoxicated) and alerting the vehicle operator using a haptic alert delivered by a wearable computing device worn by the vehicle operator when impairment is detected. The method, system, and computer-readable medium may monitor the vehicle operator, the environment surrounding the vehicle, and/or forces acting on the vehicle using a variety of sensors, including optical sensors or accelerometers. In particular, optical sensors may monitor the vehicle operator to detect eye blinks, head nods, head rotations, and/or gaze fixation. Optical sensors may also monitor the road ahead of the vehicle to detect lane deviation, lane centering, and time to collision. Accelerometers may detect acceleration in the direction of vehicle travel and/or lateral acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew Eric Riley, Sr., Gregory Dwayne Carter, James M. Freeman, Vaidya Balasubramanian Pillai, Jason Chang, David W. Thurber
  • Patent number: 10564824
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes detecting a plurality of faces within one or more images, and, for each of the plurality of faces, registering the face with a contact. The method further includes receiving a selection of one of the plurality of faces from a user, and, in response to the selection of the one of the plurality of faces, determining the contact associated with the selected one of the plurality of faces. Still further, the method includes retrieving information about the contact, and generating a list of selectable communication types to be displayed to the user on a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: James M. Freeman, Vaidya Balasubramanian Pillai, Matthew Eric Riley, Sr., David W. Thurber, Gregory Dwayne Carter, Jason Chang
  • Patent number: 10534968
    Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatus, and non-transitory media are described for verifying a vehicle's odometer mileage that is associated with an insurance policy. The described techniques include sending a notification to a mobile computing device requesting an update of the odometer mileage. The notification may be generated in response to the current date being within a threshold number of days prior to the insurance policy's expiration date. In response to the notification, a user may capture an image of the odometer with the mobile computing device, which may also include data indicative of the status of the mobile computing device. One or more optical character recognition (OCR) processes may be applied to the captured image to determine various odometer mileages. Aspects include verifying the odometer mileage when different OCR processes produce the same odometer mileage result and using the status of the mobile computing device to flag potentially fraudulent images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark E. Clauss, David W. Thurber, Matthew Eric Riley, Sr., Richard J. Lovings, Steven J. Balbach, Nicholas R. Baker, J. Lynn Wilson
  • Patent number: 10504188
    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 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
    Inventors: Benjamin F. Bowne, Jufeng “James” Peng, Nicholas R. Baker, Duane Lee Marzinzik, Matthew Eric Riley, Nicholas U. Christopulos, Brian Mark Fields, J. Lynn Wilson, Bryan T. Wilkerson, David W. Thurber
  • Patent number: 10424022
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Benjamin F. Bowne, James Peng, Nicholas R. Baker, Duane Lee Marzinzik, Matthew Eric Riley, Sr., Nicholas Christopulos, Brian Mark Fields, J. Lynn Wilson, Bryan T. Wilkerson, David W. Thurber
  • Patent number: 10410288
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    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: 10402907
    Abstract: A method for determining a vehicle insurance premium for a period of time based at least in part on collected vehicle operation data, wherein a remote computer receives the collected vehicle operation data from a mobile device and calculates an insurance premium based at least in part on the collected vehicle operation data. A method for determining a vehicle insurance premium for a period of time based at least in part on collected vehicle operation data, wherein a server receives collected vehicle operation data, a database stores the collected vehicle operation data, and a rating engine determines a vehicle insurance premium based at least in part on collected vehicle operation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    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: 10304139
    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: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: 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, Bryan T. Wilkerson, David W. Thurber
  • Patent number: 10118487
    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 impaired (e.g., distracted, drowsy, intoxicated) and alerting the vehicle operator using a haptic alert delivered by a wearable computing device worn by the vehicle operator when impairment is detected. The method, system, and computer-readable medium may monitor the vehicle operator, the environment surrounding the vehicle, and/or forces acting on the vehicle using a variety of sensors, including optical sensors or accelerometers. In particular, optical sensors may monitor the vehicle operator to detect eye blinks, head nods, head rotations, and/or gaze fixation. Optical sensors may also monitor the road ahead of the vehicle to detect lane deviation, lane centering, and time to collision. Accelerometers may detect acceleration in the direction of vehicle travel and/or lateral acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew Eric Riley, Sr., Gregory Dwayne Carter, James M. Freeman, Vaidya Balasubramanian Pillai, Jason Chang, David W. Thurber
  • Patent number: 10118488
    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 impaired (e.g., distracted, drowsy, intoxicated) and alerting the vehicle operator using a haptic alert delivered by a wearable computing device worn by the vehicle operator when impairment is detected. The method, system, and computer-readable medium may monitor the vehicle operator, the environment surrounding the vehicle, and/or forces acting on the vehicle using a variety of sensors, including optical sensors or accelerometers. In particular, optical sensors may monitor the vehicle operator to detect eye blinks, head nods, head rotations, and/or gaze fixation. Optical sensors may also monitor the road ahead of the vehicle to detect lane deviation, lane centering, and time to collision. Accelerometers may detect acceleration in the direction of vehicle travel and/or lateral acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew Eric Riley, Sr., Gregory Dwayne Carter, James M. Freeman, Vaidya Balasubramanian Pillai, Jason Chang, David W. Thurber
  • Patent number: 10013153
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes detecting a plurality of faces within one or more images, and, for each of the plurality of faces, registering the face with a contact. The method further includes receiving a selection of one of the plurality of faces from a user, and, in response to the selection of the one of the plurality of faces, determining the contact associated with the selected one of the plurality of faces. Still further, the method includes retrieving information about the contact, and generating a list of selectable communication types to be displayed to the user on a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: James M. Freeman, Vaidya Balasubramanian Pillai, Matthew Eric Riley, Sr., David W. Thurber, Gregory Dwayne Carter, Jason Chang
  • 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: 9830662
    Abstract: Client side and server side methods for combining data originating from an On Board Diagnostics (OBD) cap with data originating from a client computing device are presented. The method includes receiving, from a client computing device via a computer network, a plurality of OBD cap data originating from an OBD cap and receiving, from the client computing device via the computer network, a plurality of client computing device data originating from the client computing device. The method also includes selecting, at a processor, a first data parameter from the plurality of OBD cap data and selecting, at the processor, a second data parameter from the plurality of client computing device data. The method further includes analyzing, at the processor, the first data parameter and the second data parameter and flagging, at the processor, an insurance account associated with the OBD device as a result of the analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Baker, David W. Thurber, Paul Christopher Rutkowski, Benjamin F. Bowne