# US 10,308,256 B1 · Technology for notifying vehicle operators of incident-prone locations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,308,256 B1 - Document ID: US10308256B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/365,619 - Filed: 2016-11-30 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-01 - Assignees: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company - Applicants: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company - Inventors: Aaron Scott Chan; John A. Nepomuceno; Kenneth J. Sanchez; Jeremy Fogg; Mohamed A. Wazeer; Sanjay Jayaswal; Lynn Splittstoesser - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308256B1 ## CPC - B60W 40/08: related to drivers or passengers - B60W 30/08: {Active safety systems} predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision {or attempting to minimise its consequences} - B60W 50/14: Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention - G06V 20/597: {Recognising the driver's state or behaviour, e.g. attention or drowsiness} - B60W 2040/0818: {Inactivity or incapacity of driver} - B60W 2050/143: {Alarm means} - B60W 2520/10: Longitudinal speed - B60W 2520/105: Longitudinal acceleration - B60W 2540/22: Psychological state; Stress level or workload - B60W 2556/50: of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data - 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 - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING ## Abstract Systems and methods for improving vehicular safety are disclosed. According to embodiments, an electronic device may collect or accumulate various sensor data associated with operation of a vehicle by an individual, including image data, telematics data, and/or data indicative of a condition of the individual. The electronic device may analyze the sensor data to determine whether the individual is distracted and whether the vehicle is approaching a location that may be prone to incidents. The electronic device may accordingly generate and present a notification to the individual to mitigate any posed risks. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method in an electronic device, the method comprising: identifying a location that is deemed to be prone to distraction-related incidents; accumulating, from a set of sensors, a set of sensor data during operation of a vehicle; analyzing, by a computer processor, the set of sensor data, comprising: determining that the vehicle is located within a threshold distance of the location, determining that an operator of the vehicle is distracted, calculating a risk score based on the vehicle being located within the threshold distance of the location and the operator of the vehicle being distracted, and determining that the risk score exceeds a threshold value; generating a notification indicating a risk associated with the operation of the vehicle; and presenting the notification via a user interface of the electronic device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein accumulating the set of sensor data comprises: determining, from a location module, a current location of the electronic device, wherein the current location is within the threshold distance of the location; and wherein identifying the location that is deemed to be prone to distraction-related incidents includes: retrieving, from a server, information associated with the location; and determining, based on the information, that the location is prone to distraction-related incidents. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein accumulating the set of sensor data comprises: retrieving, from at least one image sensor, a set of image data depicting the operator of the vehicle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein determining that the operator of the vehicle is distracted comprises: analyzing the set of image data to identify a set of visual characteristics of the operator depicted in the set of image data; and determining, based on the set of visual characteristics, that the operator is distracted. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein accumulating the set of sensor data comprises: collecting, from the set of sensors, a set of telematics data associated with the operation of the vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein accumulating the set of sensor data comprises: collecting, from the set of sensors, a set of telematics data associated with the operation of the vehicle; and retrieving, from at least one image sensor, a set of image data depicting the operator of the vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to determining that the operator of the vehicle is distracted: automatically causing the vehicle to activate an autonomous mode. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein generating the notification comprises: determining an action for the vehicle to undergo to improve safety of the operation of the vehicle; and generating the notification indicating the action for the vehicle to undergo. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining that the vehicle is located within the threshold distance of the location comprises: determining, based on at least one of location data, velocity data, and heading data, that the vehicle is located within the threshold distance of the location. ### Claim 10 An electronic device, comprising: a user interface configured to present content; a memory storing non-transitory computer executable instructions; and a processor configured to interface with the user interface and the memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the processor to: identify a location that is deemed to be prone to distraction-related incidents, accumulate, from a set of sensors, a set of sensor data during operation of a vehicle, analyze the set of sensor data, comprising: determine that the vehicle is located within a threshold distance of the location, determine that an operator of the vehicle is distracted, calculate a risk score based on the vehicle being located within the threshold distance of the location and the operator of the vehicle being distracted, and determine that the risk score exceeds a threshold value, generate a notification indicating a risk associated with the operation of the vehicle, and present the notification via a user interface of the electronic device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further comprising: a location module configured to generate location data; and a transceiver configured to communicate via at least one network connection; wherein to accumulate the set of sensor data, the processor is configured to: determine, from the location data, a current location of the electronic device, wherein the current location is within the threshold distance of the location, and wherein to identify the location that is deemed to be prone to distraction-related incidents, the processor is configured to: retrieve, from a server via the transceiver, information associated with the location, and determine, based on the information, that the location is prone to distraction-related incidents. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein to accumulate the set of sensor data, the processor is configured to: retrieve, from at least one image sensor, a set of image data depicting the operator of the vehicle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein to determine that the operator of the vehicle is distracted, the processor is configured to: analyze the set of image data to identify a set of visual characteristics of the operator depicted in the set of image data, and determine, based on the set of visual characteristics, that the operator is distracted. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein to accumulate the set of sensor data, the processor is configured to: collect, from the set of sensors, a set of telematics data associated with the operation of the vehicle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein to accumulate the set of sensor data, the processor is configured to: collect, from the set of sensors, a set of telematics data associated with the operation of the vehicle, and retrieve, from at least one image sensor, a set of image data depicting the operator of the vehicle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to, in response to determining that the operator of the vehicle is distracted: automatically cause the vehicle to activate an autonomous mode. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein to generate the notification, the processor is configured to: determine an action for the vehicle to undergo to improve safety of the operation of the vehicle, and generate the notification indicating the action for the vehicle to undergo. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein to determine that the vehicle is located within the threshold distance of the location, the processor is configured to: determine, based on at least one of location data, velocity data, and heading data, that the vehicle is located within the threshold distance of the location.