Patents by Inventor Mark Fields
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).
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Patent number: 10163163Abstract: A method includes receiving data about potential impairment of a vehicle operator, wherein the data about potential impairment is generated by: (i) monitoring the vehicle operator with a first optical sensor, and (ii) monitoring an environment ahead of a vehicle operated by the vehicle operator with a second optical sensor. The computer-implemented method further includes assigning a plurality of scores based on the data about potential impairment, wherein each of the plurality of scores corresponds to a respective impairment indicator, and determining an impairment score for the vehicle operator by performing a mathematical operation on the plurality of scores, the impairment score summarizing a level of impairment of the vehicle operator.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2014Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Jibo He, Brian Mark Fields, Steve Roberson, Steve C. Cielocha, Jufeng Peng, Julian Coltea
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Patent number: 10163350Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for providing vehicular driver alerts. In various aspects a vehicle operating environment may be monitored by one or more sensors associated with a first vehicle operating within the vehicle operating environment. The first vehicle may be determined to be in proximity to a second vehicle based upon sensor data obtained from the one or more sensors. An identifier associated with the second vehicle may be determined based upon the sensor data and the identifier may be used to receive evaluation data associated with the second vehicle. The evaluation data may indicate a quality level associated with operation of the second vehicle. Based upon the evaluation data, it may be determined that the second vehicle is associated with a heightened risk of a vehicle accident. A warning regarding the heightened risk may be generated and presented, by an output device, to a vehicle operator of the first vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2016Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: 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
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Patent number: 10157423Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring use, determining risk, and pricing insurance policies for a vehicle having autonomous or semi-autonomous operation features are provided. According to certain aspects, with the insurance customer's permission, operation of an autonomous (or semi-autonomous vehicle) by a vehicle operator may be monitored. Based upon vehicle and/or other data analysis, an identity of the operator may be determined, and operating data regarding the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle while the operator at least partially controls the autonomous vehicle may be monitored. A vehicle operator profile that includes information regarding an operating style of the vehicle operator based upon the operating data may be determined. Risk levels associated with operation of the autonomous vehicle based upon the information regarding the vehicle operator's operating style may be determined.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2015Date of Patent: December 18, 2018Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Brian Mark Fields, Chien Che Huang, Mohamed A. Wazeer, Shawn C. Bennett, Steven C. Cielocha, Ronny S. Bryant, Stephen Kohaus, Terry Quakenbush, Richard A. Novak, Aaron Scott Chan, Craig M. Main, Weixin Wu, Torri Wollenschlager, Carol Marie Csanda, Stacey Gorsuch, Todd Binion
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Beacon based system to automatically activate a remote camera based on the proximity of a smartphone
Publication number: 20180352135Abstract: Beacon based systems to automatically activate a remote camera based on the proximity of a smartphone. Elements include a smartphone specialized software, a beacon and specialized software on a microcomputer which can seamlessly provide location based activation of a camera and transmission of the resultant photo back to the smartphone. One aspect includes a system of using a beacon with a beacon, a sensor, a computer enabled device for communicating with the beacon over a wireless network, and a remote storage device. The computer enabled device can communicate with the beacon over a wireless network and the computer enabled device detects the beacon when the beacon is within a predetermined range of the computer enabled device. Once the beacon is detected, the computer enabled device triggers the sensor and the sensor actuates, outputs a digital file, and transmits the file to a remote storage device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2017Publication date: December 6, 2018Inventor: Jacob Mark Fields -
Patent number: 10140533Abstract: Apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for generating data representative of a vehicle operation mode. More particularly, apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for generating data representative of a vehicle operation mode based on vehicle interior image data. The vehicle interior data may be representative of a three-dimensional coordinate spatial location of at least one joint of a vehicle occupant. The three-dimensional coordinate spatial location of the at least one joint of the vehicle occupant may be tracked over time.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2016Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Aaron Scott Chan, Christina P. Mullen, Brian Mark Fields, Kenneth Jason Sanchez
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Patent number: 10127570Abstract: Methods and systems for analyzing vehicle operation data associated with a temporary or periodic usage of a vehicle by a driver. In aspects, the driver may associate with an electronic device within the vehicle that may record or collect the vehicle operation data. After the vehicle operation has concluded, the vehicle operation data may be analyzed to assess a performance of the driver during operation of the vehicle, whereby the performance may be influenced by positive or negative driving events. Based on the performance of the driver, a profile or account of the user may be processed accordingly such that the user may be incentivized to modify certain driving behaviors.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2015Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Kerry Cote, Nicholas R. Baker, Mark E. Clauss, Todd Binion, Andrea Lee Rhoades, Steven J. Balbach, Brian Mark Fields, Kyle Pott
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Patent number: 10121345Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2018Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Brian Mark Fields, Samuel C. Weeks, Thasphon Chuenchujit, Kelsey Catherine Yoshie Stiles, Allison Lynne Diaz, Alisha Deshmukh, Mihir D. Angal, Akash Duseja, Aaron Scott Chan, Matthew Christopher Jon Donovan
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Patent number: 10121205Abstract: A method includes retrieving data about vehicle operator behavior via a computer network, wherein the data about vehicle operator behavior is generated by a motion sensing device adapted to monitor movements of a vehicle operator, and clustering the data about vehicle operator behavior into a plurality of groups of data. The method further includes determining a numerical level of risk corresponding to each of the plurality of groups of data and generating an insurance rate for an insurance product, wherein the insurance rate is consistent with the numerical levels of risk corresponding to each of the plurality of groups of data.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2015Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Kenneth J. Sanchez, Aaron Scott Chan, Matthew R. Baker, Matthew Zettinger, John A. Nepomuceno, Brian Mark Fields
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Patent number: 10118548Abstract: Techniques for a fully- or semi-autonomously operated vehicle (AV) to signal to or notify a third-party located within the vehicle's environment that the vehicle has detected the third-party's presence are provided. The third-party may be a pedestrian or a passenger in another proximate vehicle. Sensors associated with the AV may provide data via which the third-party's presence (and optionally, movement and behavior) is detected, and signaling device(s) on-board the vehicle may transmit audio, visual, and/or electromagnetic signals into the environment to indicate that the vehicle is aware of the third-party's presence. In some situations, a two-way dialog between the signaling device(s) and the third-party may be established to confirm intended behaviors or actions of the vehicle and/or of the third-party. Increased safety and decreased risk of accident or injury may be provided with AVs in a manner that is familiar to third-parties' defensive signaling with drivers of non-autonomous vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2017Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Brian Mark Fields, Duane Christiansen
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Patent number: 10106083Abstract: Systems and methods are described for providing alerts. In various aspects, sensor data is received at one or more sensors associated with a vehicle, where the sensor data defines an electronic vehicle environment that indicates an electronic location of the vehicle. An electronic pedestrian or cyclist location is identified within the electronic vehicle environment, which is determined by a mobile device associated with a pedestrian or cyclist. Where a determination is made that the pedestrian or cyclist meets predetermined alert criteria based upon the electronic vehicle location and the electronic pedestrian or cyclist location, an alert is generated that indicates the presence of the pedestrian or cyclist within the vicinity of the vehicle. The alert is presented on a display screen.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2017Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Brian Mark Fields, Steven C. Cielocha, Jacob J. Alt, Laura Anne Uphoff, Leo Nelson Chan, Mohamed A. Wazeer, Kristopher Keith Gaudin, Justin Davis, Nathan W. Baumann, Giles Roll
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Patent number: 10088899Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 30, 2016Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Bryan Allen Plummer, Parker Andrew Brown, Brian Mark Fields, Steve Roberson
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Patent number: 10089692Abstract: A method comprises retrieving data about vehicle operator behavior via a computer network and clustering the data about vehicle operator behavior into a plurality of groups of data, each of the plurality of groups of data representing a type of movement of the vehicle operator. The method further includes determining a numerical level of risk corresponding to each of the plurality of groups of data by executing a learning routine and generating a communication to be transmitted to user of a remote computing device. The communication is based on the one or more of the numerical levels of risk or the types of movements corresponding to the plurality of groups of data.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2015Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUTAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Kenneth J. Sanchez, Aaron Scott Chan, Matthew R. Baker, Matthew Zettinger, John A. Nepomuceno, Brian Mark Fields
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Patent number: 10083626Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 14, 2017Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Brian Mark Fields, Steve Roberson, Abhishek Harish, Hyunji Lim, Matthew James Waughtel
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Patent number: 10078871Abstract: A method for assessing risk associated with a driver of a vehicle includes receiving a plurality of risk variables associated with a driver, the plurality of risk variables being gathered when the driver operates the vehicle. A driver is then identified based on the plurality of risk variables, and a risk profile is developed for the driver. The development of the risk profile involves determining the risk associated with at least some of the risk variables and generating a risk index, the risk index being a collective measure of risk associated with the driver.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2014Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Kenneth J. Sanchez, Aaron Scott Chan, Matthew R. Baker, Matthew Zettinger, Brian Mark Fields, John A. Nepomuceno
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Patent number: 10055967Abstract: An alert may be initiated for a pedestrian when the pedestrian approaches nearby crowd activity (e.g., parade, protest, concert, etc.). Crowd activity may be indicated by real time crowd data, and/or by accessing means such as popular social media posts, local news, and/or local event calendars. The alert may be generated when a pedestrian comes within a certain threshold distance of the crowd activity (e.g., as determined by a mobile device GPS). A pedestrian who may be inattentive in some way (e.g., looking down at a mobile device) may become attentive to the nearby crowd activity, and may choose to take an alternative route. In additional or alternative embodiments, the alert may be initiated when the pedestrian approaches a nearby safety concern (e.g., fire, crime, etc.). Safety concerns may be indicated by accessing local news, popular social media posts, and/or public safety communications.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2017Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Brian Mark Fields, Steve Roberson
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Patent number: 10026237Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring the use of a shared vehicle are described. In various aspects, telematics data regarding operation of a shared vehicle is collected from one or more sensors, where the shared vehicle is associated with a shared vehicle operator and a shared vehicle stakeholder. One or more processors determine whether a driving event has occurred based upon the telematics data, where the driving event is indicative of improper usage of the shared vehicle by the shared vehicle operator. The one or more processors generate a notification regarding the driving event. The notification includes a driver rating determined from the telematics data regarding operation of the shared vehicle by the shared vehicle operator. The notification is transmitted, via a network, to the shared vehicle stakeholder for presentation to the shared vehicle stakeholder.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2017Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Brian Mark Fields, Steven C. Cielocha, Jacob J. Alt, Laura Anne Uphoff, Leo Nelson Chan, Mohamed A. Wazeer, Kristopher Keith Gaudin, Justin Davis, Nathan W. Baumann, Giles Roll
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Patent number: 10019901Abstract: Methods and systems are described for generating a vehicle-to-vehicle traffic alert and updating a vehicle-usage profile. Various aspects include detecting, via one or more processors associated with a first vehicle, that an abnormal traffic condition exists in an operating environment of the first vehicle. An electronic message is generated and transmitted wirelessly, via a vehicle-mounted transceiver associated with the first vehicle, to alert a nearby vehicle of the abnormal traffic condition and to allow the nearby vehicle to avoid the abnormal traffic condition. The first vehicle receives telematics data regarding operation of the nearby vehicle after the nearby vehicle received the electronic message, and transmits the telematics data to a remote server for updating a vehicle-usage profile associated with the nearby vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2017Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: 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
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Patent number: 10013697Abstract: Methods and systems for analyzing vehicle operation data associated with a temporary or periodic usage of a vehicle by a driver. In aspects, the driver may associate with an electronic device within the vehicle that may record or collect the vehicle operation data. After the vehicle operation has concluded, the vehicle operation data may be analyzed to assess a performance of the driver during operation of the vehicle, whereby the performance may be influenced by positive or negative driving events. Based on the performance of the driver, a profile or account of the user may be processed accordingly such that the user may be incentivized to modify certain driving behaviors.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2015Date of Patent: July 3, 2018Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Kerry Cote, Nicholas R. Baker, Mark E. Clauss, Todd Binion, Andrea Lee Rhoades, Steven J. Balbach, Brian Mark Fields, Kyle Pott
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Patent number: 10007263Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring use, determining risk, and pricing insurance policies for a vehicle having one or more autonomous or semi-autonomous operation features are provided. According to certain aspects, with the customer's permission, it may be detected by sensors that an occupant of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle is experiencing a medical emergency. A nearby medical facility may be determined based upon the vehicle location and the detected medical emergency. A route from the current vehicle location to the medical facility may be determined, and the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle may be automatically directed or routed to the medical facility. A message may also be generated and transmitted to the medical facility to alert them that a person in need of timely medical assistance is on the way. Life and auto insurance discounts may be generated for risk averse customers based upon their vehicles having the emergency response functionality.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2015Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Brian Mark Fields, Chien Che Huang, Mohamed A. Wazeer, Shawn C. Bennett, Steven C. Cielocha, Ronny S. Bryant, Stephen Kohaus, Terry Quakenbush, Richard A. Novak, Aaron Scott Chan, Craig M. Main, Weixin Wu, Torri Wollenschlager, Carol Marie Csanda, Stacey Gorsuch, Todd Binion
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Patent number: 9959780Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 19, 2017Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Brian Mark Fields, Steve Roberson, Abhishek Harish, Hyunji Lim, Matthew James Waughtel, Bryan Allen Plummer, Parker Andrew Brown