# US 10,246,097 B1 · Autonomous vehicle operator identification

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- Number: US 10,246,097 B1
- Document ID: US10246097B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 14/934,339
- Filed: 2015-11-06
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2014-11-13
- Assignees: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
- Applicants: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
- Inventors: 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
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246097B1

## CPC

- G06F 8/65: Updates (security arrangements therefor G06F21/57)
- A61B 5/02028: {Determining haemodynamic parameters not otherwise provided for, e.g. cardiac contractility or left ventricular ejection fraction}
- A61B 5/4064: {Evaluating the brain (for intracranial pressure A61B5/031; for cerebral blood gases A61B5/14553; using EEG A61B5/369)}
- A61B 5/4094: {Diagnosing or monitoring seizure diseases, e.g. epilepsy}
- A61B 5/6893: {Cars}
- A61B 5/7282: {Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition (cough events A61B5/0823; seizures A61B5/4094; sleep apnoea A61B5/4818)}
- B60K 35/00: Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
- B60K 35/80: Arrangements for controlling instruments
- B60K 35/85: Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data
- B60W 10/04: including control of propulsion units
- B60W 30/06: Automatic manoeuvring for parking
- B60W 30/09: Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
- B60W 30/0956: {the prediction being responsive to traffic or environmental parameters}
- B60W 40/02: related to ambient conditions
- B60W 40/08: related to drivers or passengers
- B60W 40/09: Driving style or behaviour
- B60W 50/02: Ensuring safety in case of control system failures, e.g. by diagnosing, circumventing or fixing failures
- B60W 50/0205: {Diagnosing or detecting failures; Failure detection models}
- B60W 50/045: {Monitoring control system parameters}
- B60W 50/082: {Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling}
- B60W 50/12: Limiting control by the driver depending on vehicle state, e.g. interlocking means for the control input for preventing unsafe operation
- B60W 50/14: Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
- B60W 60/0053: {from vehicle to occupant}
- B60W 60/0059: {Estimation of the risk associated with autonomous or manual driving, e.g. situation too complex, sensor failure or driver incapacity}
- B60W 60/007: {Emergency override (Handing over between remote control and on-board control or handing over between remote control arrangements G05D1/227)}
- B62D 15/0285: {Parking performed automatically}
- G01C 21/3407: {specially adapted for specific applications}
- G05D 1/00: Control of position, course, altitude or attitude of land, water, air or space vehicles, e.g. using automatic pilots (drive control systems specially adapted for autonomous road vehicles B60W60/00)
- G05D 1/0055: {with safety arrangements}
- G05D 1/0214: {in accordance with safety or protection criteria, e.g. avoiding hazardous areas (monitoring the location of vehicles within a certain area, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas, in traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/13)}
- G05D 1/0278: {using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS}
- G05D 1/248: generated by satellites, e.g. GPS
- G05D 1/617: Safety or protection, e.g. defining protection zones around obstacles or avoiding hazards (arrangements for controlling the position or course of two or more vehicles for avoiding collisions therebetween G05D1/693; arrangements for reacting to or preventing system or operator failure G05D1/80)
- G06Q 30/0206: {Price or cost determination based on market factors}
- G06Q 30/0207: Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
- G06Q 30/0217: involving input on products or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
- G06Q 40/08: Insurance
- G07C 5/02: Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only (apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00)
- G07C 5/0808: {Diagnosing performance data (testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005)}
- G08B 25/10: using wireless transmission systems {(G08B25/009 takes precedence)}
- G08G 1/091: {Traffic information broadcasting (broadcasting communication H04H)}
- G08G 1/0962: having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
- G08G 1/14: indicating individual free spaces in parking areas
- B60W 2040/0809: {Driver authorisation; Driver identity check}
- B60W 2040/0818: {Inactivity or incapacity of driver}
- B60W 2050/0071: {Controller overrides driver automatically}
- B60W 2050/0073: {Driver overrides controller}
- B60W 2050/0075: {Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means}
- B60W 2050/0215: {Sensor drifts or sensor failures}
- B60W 2050/046: {involving external transmission of data to or from the vehicle, e.g. via telemetry, satellite, Global Positioning System [GPS]}
- B60W 2050/143: {Alarm means}
- B60W 2420/403: Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
- B60W 2540/043: Identity of occupants
- B60W 2540/22: Psychological state; Stress level or workload
- B60W 2540/221: Physiology, e.g. weight, heartbeat, health or special needs
- B60W 2540/26: Incapacity
- B60W 2556/45: External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
- B60W 2756/10: Involving external transmission of data to or from the vehicle
- B60W 2900/00: Indexing codes relating to the purpose of, or problem solved of road vehicle drive control systems not otherwise provided for in groups B60W30/00
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S)
- G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93})

## Abstract

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, a vehicle operator in an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle may be determined by a sensor disposed within the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle or a mobile computing device associated with the vehicle operator. A determination may be made as to whether the vehicle operator is authorized to operate the vehicle based upon the determined identity of the vehicle operator; and if the vehicle operator is not authorized, an alert may be generated and/or the vehicle may be caused to not operate. Alternatively, autonomous operation features may be automatically engaged to automatically drive the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle to a safe location when the operator is not authorized. Insurance discounts may be provided based upon the anti-theft functionality.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A computer-implemented method for identifying a vehicle operator in an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, comprising:
receiving, at one or more processors, a request to identify the vehicle operator;
receiving, at one or more processors, identifying information regarding the vehicle operator, wherein the identifying information is received from one or more of the following: a sensor disposed within the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle or a mobile computing device associated with the vehicle operator;
determining, by one or more processors, the identity of the vehicle operator, wherein the identity of the vehicle operator is determined either to be a known vehicle operator or an unknown vehicle operator;
determining, by one or more processors, the vehicle operator is not authorized to operate the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle based upon the determined identity of the vehicle operator;
limiting, by one or more processors, operation of the vehicle when the vehicle operator is determined not to be authorized to operate the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, wherein limiting operation of the vehicle includes a functionality of not operating the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle when the vehicle operator is determined not to be authorized;
generating, by one or more processors, an alert when the vehicle operator is determined not to be authorized to operate the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle;
transmitting, via a communication network, the alert to a computing device associated with an entity situated at a location remote from the vehicle, wherein the entity is at least one of the following: an owner of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, an authorized user of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, or another party having an interest associated with the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle;
determining, by one or more processors, an insurance policy associated with the vehicle; and
adjusting, by one or more processors, the insurance policy based upon the functionality of not operating when the vehicle operator is determined not to be authorized to operate the autonomous vehicle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein limiting operation of the vehicle includes causing, by one or more processors, the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle to engage one or more autonomous operation features to operate the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:
monitoring, by one or more processors, information regarding operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle based upon operating data, including data from one or more sensors disposed within the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle; and
recording, by one or more processors, the information regarding operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, including at least one of the following: manual operation commands by the vehicle operator, autonomous feature settings, autonomous feature configuration, or autonomous operation feature operating status.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:
adjusting, by one or more processors, the insurance policy based upon the recorded information regarding operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein adjusting the insurance policy further includes determining a cost associated with operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle based upon (i) operation by the vehicle operator and (ii) operation by one or more autonomous operation features disposed within the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, wherein the cost is based at least in part upon one or more of the following:
duration of vehicle operation or distance of vehicle operation.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising:
determining, by one or more processors, a vehicle operator profile based upon the determined identity of the vehicle operator, wherein the vehicle operator profile includes one or more risk levels associated with the vehicle operator; and
adjusting, by one or more processors, the vehicle operator profile based upon the recorded information regarding operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:
determining, by one or more processors, one or more risk levels associated with the vehicle operator based upon the recorded information regarding operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The computer-implemented method of claim 7, further comprising:
adjusting, by one or more processors, the insurance policy based upon the identity of the vehicle operator and the one or more risk levels associated with the vehicle operator, wherein the insurance policy covers a plurality of vehicle operators.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The computer-implemented method of claim 7, further comprising:
adjusting, by one or more processors, one or more of a plurality of insurance policies associated with the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle based upon the identity of the vehicle operator and the one or more risk levels associated with the vehicle operator, wherein the one or more of a plurality of insurance policies are further associated with the vehicle operator.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the identifying information regarding the vehicle operator includes characteristic data associated with following: height, weight, age, sex, eye color, hair color, voice, finger print, or physiological identifying information.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the request to identify the vehicle operator is generated automatically upon an attempt to start the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving, by one or more processors, an authorization signal indicating at least a limited authorization of the vehicle operator to operate the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle; and
enabling, by one or more processors, additional operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle by the vehicle operator in response to the authorization signal.

### Claim 13

A computer system for identifying a vehicle operator in an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, comprising:
one or more processors;
one or more sensors disposed within the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle and communicatively connected to the one or more processors; and
a program memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing executable instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the computer system to:
receive a request to identify the vehicle operator;
receive identifying information regarding the vehicle operator, wherein the identifying information is received from one or more of the following: a sensor disposed within the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle or a mobile computing device associated with the vehicle operator;
determine the identity of the vehicle operator, wherein the identity of the vehicle operator is determined either to be a known vehicle operator or an unknown vehicle operator;
determine the vehicle operator is not authorized to operate the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle based upon the determined identity of the vehicle operator;
limit operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle when the vehicle operator is determined not to be authorized to operate the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, wherein limiting operation of the vehicle includes a functionality of not operating the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle when the vehicle operator is determined not to be authorized;
generate an alert when the vehicle operator is determined not to be authorized to operate the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle;
transmit the alert to a computing device associated with an entity situated at a location remote from the vehicle via a communication network, wherein the entity is at least one of the following: an owner of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, an authorized user of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, or another party having an interest associated with the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle;
determine an insurance policy associated with the vehicle; and
adjust the insurance policy based upon the functionality of not operating when the vehicle operator is determined not to be authorized to operate the autonomous vehicle.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The computer system of claim 13, wherein the executable instructions that cause the computer system to limit operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle cause the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle perform one of the following functions: (i) not to operate or (ii) engage one or more autonomous operation features to operate the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The computer system of claim 13, wherein the program memory further includes executable instructions that cause the computer system to:
monitor information regarding operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle based upon operating data, including data from one or more sensors disposed within the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle;
record the information regarding operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, including at least one of the following: manual operation commands by the vehicle operator, autonomous feature settings, autonomous feature configuration, or autonomous operation feature operating status; and
adjust the insurance policy based upon the recorded information regarding operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, wherein the insurance policy is adjusted based upon (i) operation by the vehicle operator and (ii) operation by one or more autonomous operation features disposed within the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle.

### Claim 16

A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing executable instructions for identifying a vehicle operator in an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle that, when executed by at least one processor of a computer system, cause the computer system to:
receive a request to identify the vehicle operator;
receive identifying information regarding the vehicle operator, wherein the identifying information is received from one or more of the following: a sensor disposed within the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle or a mobile computing device associated with the vehicle operator;
determine the identity of the vehicle operator, wherein the identity of the vehicle operator is determined either to be a known vehicle operator or an unknown vehicle operator;
determine the vehicle operator is not authorized to operate the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle based upon the determined identity of the vehicle operator;
limit operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle when the vehicle operator is determined not to be authorized to operate the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle wherein limiting operation of the vehicle includes a functionality of not operating the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle when the vehicle operator is determined not to be authorized;
generate an alert when the vehicle operator is determined not to be authorized to operate the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle;
transmit the alert to a computing device associated with an entity situated at a location remote from the vehicle via a communication network, wherein the entity is at least one of the following: an owner of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, an authorized user of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, or another party having an interest associated with the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle;
determine an insurance policy associated with the vehicle; and
adjust the insurance policy based upon the functionality of not operating when the vehicle operator is determined not to be authorized to operate the autonomous vehicle.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the executable instructions that cause the computer system to limit operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle cause the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle perform one of the following functions: (i) not to operate or (ii) engage one or more autonomous operation features to operate the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, further including executable instructions that cause the computer system to:
monitor information regarding operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle based upon operating data, including data from one or more sensors disposed within the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle;
record the information regarding operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, including at least one of the following: manual operation commands by the vehicle operator, autonomous feature settings, autonomous feature configuration, or autonomous operation feature operating status; and
adjust the insurance policy based upon the recorded information regarding operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, wherein the insurance policy is adjusted based upon (i) operation by the vehicle operator and (ii) operation by one or more autonomous operation features disposed within the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle.