Patents by Inventor Steve Roberson
Steve Roberson 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: 9440657Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 17, 2015Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Brian Mark Fields, Steve Roberson, Aaron Scott Chan, Kenneth Jason Sanchez, Matthew Christopher Jon Donovan
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Patent number: 9373203Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 23, 2014Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Brian Mark Fields, Steve Roberson, Abhishek Harish, Hyunji Lim, Matthew James Waughtel
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Patent number: 9342993Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 10, 2014Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Brian Mark Fields, Jibo He, John A. Nepomuceno, Steve Roberson, Bryan Allen Plummer, Kurtis C. Houdek, Neeraj Jain
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Patent number: 9279697Abstract: 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: October 6, 2015Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Brian Mark Fields, Steve Roberson, Abhishek Harish, Hyunji Lim, Matthew James Waughtel
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Patent number: 9275532Abstract: The method, system, and computer-readable medium facilitates monitoring one or more eyes of a vehicle operator during a driving session to generate a plurality of gaze location logs with gaze location values and timestamps. The gaze location value may be generated by determining a focal point of the vehicle operator's gaze, determining which of a plurality of areas of the vehicle is associated with the focal point, and assigning the gaze location value based on the area of the vehicle associated with the focal point. The gaze location logs may be analyzed to determine the duration of the vehicle operator's gaze at each area of the vehicle. Based on the duration of the vehicle operators gaze, recommendations to improve vehicle operator performance may be determined and communicated to the vehicle operator.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2013Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Bryan Allen Plummer, Parker Andrew Brown, Jibo He, Brian M. Fields, Steve Roberson, Steve Cielocha, Jufeng Peng
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Patent number: 9275552Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 10, 2014Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Brian Mark Fields, Jibo He, John A. Nepomuceno, Steve Roberson, Bryan Allen Plummer, Kurtis C. Houdek, Neeraj Jain
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Patent number: 9205842Abstract: The method, system, and computer-readable medium causes 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.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2015Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Brian Mark Fields, Steve Roberson, Aaron Scott Chan, Kenneth Jason Sanchez, Matthew Christopher Jon Donovan
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Publication number: 20150339527Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2014Publication date: November 26, 2015Applicant: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Bryan Allen Plummer, Parker Andrew Brown, Brian Mark Fields, Steve Roberson
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Patent number: 9180888Abstract: 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: May 1, 2015Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Brian Mark Fields, Steve Roberson, Abhishek Harish, Hyunji Lim, Matthew James Waughtel
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Patent number: 9165326Abstract: A method includes receiving data about potential impairment of a vehicle operator, wherein the data about potential impairment is generated by: (i) a first optical sensor monitoring a vehicle operator, and (ii) a second optical sensor monitoring an environment ahead of a vehicle operated by the vehicle operator. The computer-implemented method further includes assigning a plurality of scores based on the data about potential vehicle operator impairment, wherein each of the plurality of scores corresponds to a respective impairment indicator, determining an impairment score by performing a mathematical operation on the plurality of scores, and providing the impairment score to a remote device configured to alert the vehicle operator based on the impairment score.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2014Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: 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: 9135803Abstract: The method, system, and computer-readable medium causes 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.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2014Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Brian Mark Fields, Steve Roberson, Aaron Scott Chan, Kenneth Jason Sanchez, Matthew Christopher Jon Donovan
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Patent number: 9056616Abstract: 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: September 23, 2014Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCEInventors: Brian Mark Fields, Steve Roberson, Abhishek Harish, Hyunji Lim, Matthew James Waughtel
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Patent number: 8981942Abstract: 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, intoxicated), alerting the vehicle operator when impairment is detected, and log data relating to vehicle operator impairment for further 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.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2012Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance CompanyInventors: Jibo He, Brian M. Fields, Steve Roberson, Steve Cielocha, Jufeng Peng, Julian Coltea
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Patent number: 8930269Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2012Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance CompanyInventors: Jibo He, Brian M. Fields, Steve Roberson, Steve Cielocha, Jufeng Peng, Julian Coltea
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Patent number: 8876535Abstract: Driving skill data is gathered with one or more accelerometers during a driving session of a first student driver, including one or more of acceleration data, braking data, or steering data and wherein the driving skill data includes one or more of a timestamp or location stamp. A driving session report is generated with a computer processor. The driving session report includes a calculation of one or more of a student driver acceleration skill score based on the acceleration data, a student driver braking skill score based on the braking data, or a student driver steering skill score based on the steering data and storing the one or more scores on a computer-readable medium. The driving session report is displayed. Driving skill data may be gathered and driving session reports may be generated for subsequent student drivers.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance CompanyInventors: Brian M. Fields, Jibo He, John Adrian Nepomuceno, Steve Roberson, Bryan Allen Plummer, Kurtis C. Houdek, Neeraj Jain
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Publication number: 20140272810Abstract: Driving skill data is gathered with one or more accelerometers during a driving session of a first student driver, including one or more of acceleration data, braking data, or steering data and wherein the driving skill data includes one or more of a timestamp or location stamp. A driving session report is generated with a computer processor. The driving session report includes a calculation of one or more of a student driver acceleration skill score based on the acceleration data, a student driver braking skill score based on the braking data, or a student driver steering skill score based on the steering data and storing the one or more scores on a computer-readable medium. The driving session report is displayed. Driving skill data may be gathered and driving session reports may be generated for subsequent student drivers.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Inventors: Brian M. Fields, Jibo He, John Adrian Nepomuceno, Steve Roberson, Bryan Allen Plummer, Kurtis C. Houdek, Neeraj Jain
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Publication number: 20140168399Abstract: The method, system, and computer-readable medium facilitates monitoring one or more eyes of a vehicle operator during a driving session to generate a plurality of gaze location logs with gaze location values and timestamps. The gaze location value may be generated by determining a focal point of the vehicle operator's gaze, determining which of a plurality of areas of the vehicle is associated with the focal point, and assigning the gaze location value based on the area of the vehicle associated with the focal point. The gaze location logs may be analyzed to determine the duration of the vehicle operator's gaze at each area of the vehicle. Based on the duration of the vehicle operators gaze, recommendations to improve vehicle operator performance may be determined and communicated to the vehicle operator.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2013Publication date: June 19, 2014Inventors: Bryan Allen Plummer, Parker Andrew Brown, Jibo He, Brian M. Fields, Steve Roberson, Steve Cielocha, Jufeng Peng
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Patent number: 7407171Abstract: A cart for transporting cargo is provided having a first extendable member having a roller coupled to the bottom end of the first extendable member and a connection point on the first extendable member proximate to the roller. The cart also has a second extendable member having a roller coupled to the bottom end of the second extendable member and a connection point on the second extendable member proximate to the roller. The cart has a handle having a linkage that is coupled to the top ends of each of the first and second extendable members. One or more bands may be coupled to the connecting point of the first or second member and to a securing point located at any point between the ends of a member so as to secure the cargo in a position against the first and second members.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2007Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Inventor: Steve Roberson
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Publication number: 20080023942Abstract: A cart for transporting cargo is provided having a first extendable member having a roller coupled to the bottom end of the first extendable member and a connection point on the first extendable member proximate to the roller. The cart also has a second extendable member having a roller coupled to the bottom end of the second extendable member and a connection point on the second extendable member proximate to the roller. The cart has a handle having a linkage that is coupled to the top ends of each of the first and second extendable members. One or more bands may be coupled to the connecting point of the first or second member and to a securing point located at any point between the ends of a member so as to secure the cargo in a position against the first and second members.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2007Publication date: January 31, 2008Inventor: Steve Roberson
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Patent number: 7278643Abstract: A cart for transporting cargo is provided having a first extendable member having a roller coupled to the bottom end of the first extendable member and a connection point on the first extendable member proximate to the roller. The cart also has a second extendable member having a roller coupled to the bottom end of the second extendable member and a connection point on the second extendable member proximate to the roller. The cart has a handle having a linkage that is coupled to the top ends of each of the first and second extendable members. One or more bands may be coupled to the connecting point of the first or second member and to a securing point located at any point between the ends of a member so as to secure the cargo in a position against the first and second members.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2004Date of Patent: October 9, 2007Inventor: Steve Roberson