WO 97/27561
`
`PCT/US97/01495
`
`_ 21 -
`
`Having thus described our invention, we claim:
`
`1.
`
`A method of determining a cost of automobile insurance based
`
`upon monitoring, recording and communicating data representative of operator
`
`and vehicle driving characteristics, whereby the cost is adjustable by relating the
`
`driving characteristics to predetermined safety standards, the method comprising:
`
`monitoring a plurality of raw data elements representative of an
`
`operating state of a vehicle or an action of the operator;
`
`recording selected ones of the plurality of raw data elements when
`
`said ones are determined to have a preselected relationship to the safety
`standards;
`
`10
`
`consolidating said selected ones for processing against an insured
`
`profile and for identifying a surcharge or discount to be applied to a base cost of
`
`automobile insurance; and,
`
`producing a final cost from the base cost and the surcharge or
`
`discount.
`
`The method as described in claim I wherein said recording
`2.
`comprises identifying a trigger event associated with a one of the raw data
`
`elements having the preselected relationship and recording both the one raw data
`
`element and trigger information representative of the trigger event.
`
`The method as described in claim 1 further including immediately
`3.
`communicating to a central control station via an uplink information
`
`representative of a trigger event associated with a one of the raw data elements.
`
`The method as described in claim 3 further including recording
`4.
`trigger event response information generated by said control station.
`
`Page 001808
`
`

`
`W0 97/27561
`
`PCT/US97/01495
`
`_
`
`_
`
`The method as described in claim 1 further including generating
`5.
`calculated data elements from said raw data elements.
`
`The method as described in claim 5 further including generating
`6.
`derived data elements from said raw data elements.
`
`7.
`
`The method as described in claim 6 wherein said consolidating
`
`comprises accumulating said calculated and derived data elements.
`
`8.
`
`The method as described in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of
`
`the plurality of raw data elements are within an awareness and selected control
`
`of the operator and wherein the method further comprises adjusting by the
`
`operator of operator driving behavior thereby causing a change in the portion of
`
`raw data elements to obtain the surcharge or discount in the final cost.
`
`9.
`
`The method as described in claim 8 wherein the base cost is for a
`
`predetermined period of time and wherein the adjusting by the operator is set to
`
`occur at predetermined intervals within the predetermined period.
`
`10.
`
`The method as described in claim 9 wherein the predetermined
`
`period of time comprises two years and the predetermined intervals comprise
`
`monthly intervals.
`
`11.
`
`A process for acquiring and recording vehicle insurance related
`
`data via an on—board computer and recording system comprising steps of:
`
`monitoring a plurality of raw data elements representative of
`
`vehicle operating states and driver actions;
`
`Page 001809
`
`

`
`W0 97/27561
`
`PCT/US97/01495
`
`- 23 -
`
`recording selected ones of the raw data elements in a vehicle
`
`record file of an on—board data storage device when said ones are identified as
`
`having a relationship material to determination of a cost of insurance;
`
`identifying whether said selected ones comprise a trigger event,
`
`and if so identified, communicating information representative of the trigger
`
`10
`
`event to a central control station for storage in a trigger event file; and,
`
`consolidating said vehicle record file and said trigger event file in
`
`a form for determining a vehicle cost of insurance.
`
`12.
`
`The process as defined in claim 11 further including
`
`communicating from the central control station an order for dispatch of an
`
`emergency or assist vehicle in response to the identifying of a special trigger
`
`event determined to require driver assistance.
`
`13.
`
`A system of determining a cost of automobile insurance based
`
`upon monitoring, recording and communicating data representative of operator
`
`and vehicle driving characteristics, whereby the cost is adjustable by relating the
`
`driving characteristics to predetermined safety standards, the system comprising:
`
`means for monitoring a plurality of raw data elements
`
`representative of an operating state of a vehicle or an action of the operator;
`
`means for recording selected ones of the plurality of raw data
`
`elements when said ones are determined to have a preselected relationship to the
`
`safety standards;
`
`10
`
`means for consolidating said selected ones for processing against
`
`an insured profile and for identifying a surcharge or discount to be applied to a
`
`base cost of automobile insurance; and,
`
`means for producing a final cost from the base cost and the
`
`surcharge or discount.
`
`Page 001810
`
`

`
`WO 97127561
`
`PCT/US97/01495
`
`-24-
`
`14.
`
`The system as described in claim 13 further including means for
`
`immediately communicating to the central control station via an uplink
`
`information representative of a trigger event associated with the run of the raw
`
`data elements.
`
`15.
`
`The system as described in claim 13 further including means for
`
`generating calculated data elements from said raw data elements.
`
`16.
`
`The system as described in claim 15 further including generating
`
`derived data elements from said raw data elements.
`
`17,
`
`A method of generating an actuarial class system for determining
`
`vehicle insurance costs for retrospectively adjusting and prospectively setting
`
`premiums based on data derived from motor vehicle operational characteristics
`
`and driver behavior, comprising:
`
`monitoring a plurality of raw data elements representing vehicle
`
`operating states and driver actions;
`
`recording selected ones of the raw data elements in a vehicle
`
`record files when said ones are identified as having a relationship material to
`
`determination of a cost of insurance;
`
`setting a plurality of actuarial classes associated with
`
`corresponding degrees of safety of operation of the vehicle wherein said
`
`actuarial classes are derived from aggregating selected ones of the raw data
`
`elements; and,
`
`consolidating said vehicle record files with selected actuarial
`
`classes for determining a corresponding cost of insurance for the vehicle in
`
`correspondence with a one of the actuarial classes.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`Page 001811
`
`

`
`W0 97l27561
`
`PCT/US97/01495
`
`_
`
`_
`
`18.
`
`The process for determining a cost of insurance as defined in
`
`claim 17 wherein said monitoring and recording steps occur concurrently with
`
`actual vehicle operation for acquiring the raw data elements during actual
`
`vehicle use.
`
`19.
`
`The process for determining a cost of insurance as defined in
`
`claim 18 wherein at least a portion of the plurality of raw data elements are
`
`within an awareness and selective control of a driver, the process further
`
`comprising adjusting by the driver of driving behavior to changesaid portion of
`
`5
`
`raw data elements for consolidating said vehicle record with an other one of the
`actuarial classes.
`
`20.
`
`An integrated system for extracting from multiple sensors,
`
`screening, aggregating and applying for insurance rating purposes, data
`
`generated by an actual operation of a specific motor vehicle comprising:
`
`5
`
`multiple sensors wherein the elements are representative of vehicle operating
`
`means for extracting a plurality of raw data elements from the
`
`states and driver actions;
`
`means for screening the raw data elements and aggregating
`
`selected ones of the raw data elements in a vehicle record file of an on-board
`
`storage device when said selected ones are identified as having a relationship
`
`10
`
`material to determination of a cost of insurance for the vehicle;
`
`means for associating the aggregated selected raw data elements
`
`with predetermined actuarial classes indicative of a degree of safety of operation
`
`of the vehicle; and
`
`means producing a cost of insurance for the vehicle associated
`
`15
`
`with selected ones of the actuarial classes.
`
`Page 001812
`
`

`
`W0 97/27561
`
`PCT/US97/01495
`
`-
`
`-
`
`data elements, said calculated and derived data elements being further
`
`aggregated for association with the selected one of the actuarial classes.
`
`Page 001813
`
`

`
`W0 97/2756]
`
`I/5
`
`I00
`
`PCT/US97/01495
`
`I04
`
`
` REVERIFY
`VEHICLE
`OPERATING
`IN TWO
`'.9
`
`MINUTES
`
`
`
`YES
`
`I06
`
`
` RECORD SENSOR
`IN FORMATION
`
`
`
`
`
`IMMEDIATE
`RECORD TRIGGER
`UPLOAD
`
`INFORMATION
`7
`
`
`
`
`
`NOTIFY
`CENTRAL CONTROL
`
`
`
`
`
`CENTRA L CO NTROL
`
`TAKE APPROPRIATE
`ACTION
`
`
`
`RECORD TRIGGER
`EVENT RESPONSE
`INFORMATION
`
`
`
`
`FIG.|
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Page 001814
`
`

`
`wo 97/27561
`
`2/6
`
`PCTIUS97/01495
`
`No.2
`
`204
`
`202
`
`ACQUIRE
`
`RECORD FILE
`
`VE""°'—E
`
`
`
`
`VEHICLE SENSOR
`RECORD FILE
`
`206
`
`208
`
`
`
`
`TRIGGER EVENT
`
`RESPONSE FILE
`ACQUIRED
`
`ACQUIRE TRIGGER
`EVENT RESPONSE
`FILE
`
`CONSOLIDATE
`FILES
`
`2I2
`
`PROCESS FILE
`AGAINST INSURED
`PROFILE
`
`ALGORITHM FILE
`
`PROCESS FILE
`
`AGAINST SURCHARGE
`
`INSURED
`
`PRODUCE PERIODIC
`BILLS TO BE MAILED TO
`
`ACCOUNT
`STATEMENTS
`
`2I6
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Page 001815
`
`

`
`WO 97/27561
`
`PCT/US97/01495
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Page 001816
`
`

`
`W0 97/27561
`
`4/6
`
`PCT/US97/01495
`
`CENTER
`
`OPERATIONS
`CONTROL
`
`4I8
`
`COMMUNICATIONS LINK
`
`TELEPHONE)
`
`(eg CELLULAR
`
`300
`
`402
`
`404
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`REAL'TIME
`OPERATING
`KER NEL
`
`ADDITIONAL
`
`SENSORS
`
`406
`
`408
`
`VEHICLE
`DATABUS AND
`SENSORS
`
`SUBSYSTEM
`
`NAVIGATION
`
`4 I 2
`
`420
`
`FIG.4
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`422
`
`Page 001817
`
`ON‘ BOARD
`DATA
`
`STORAGE
`
`I/O
`
`SUBSYSTEM
`
` ON ' BOARD COMPUTER
`AND RECORDING SYSTEM
`
`4,4
`
`

`
`wo 97/27561
`
`5/6
`
`PCT/US97/01495
`
`FlG.5
`
`
`
`COLLECT
`RAW DATA
`E LEM E NTS
`
`
`502
`
`
`
`
`
`GENERATE
`CALCULATED
`DATA ELEMENTS
`
`
`
` COLLECT
`DATABASE
`
`INFORMATION
`ELEMENTS
`
`
`
`
`GE NERATE
`DERIVED DATA
`ELE MENTS
`
`STORE DATA
`SAMPLE
`
`
`
`
`INCIDENT
`5"'A’°5“°T
`CONDITION
`”“°'°ENT
`
`?
`comomow
`
`
`
`
`
`
`suasnrure SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Page 001818
`
`

`
`W0 97/27561
`
`6/6
`
`PCT/US97/01495
`
`
`
`mt».m._n__2<m
`
`mm_m<>-
`
`
`
`3.5.m._n_2<m
`
`ozszuo20-
`
`
`
`m3&o$mmtazoo-
`
`
`
`mzofiazou><;:u_z
`
`
`
`SE.#S:::-
`
`
`
`mzoao_“:<E
`
`
`
`m:z_._ommmm
`
`mn_<_2
`
`mu<..Em:z_
`
`
`
`mm<m<:azo:<sE9_z_
`
`
`
`Es.m._n.2<m
`
`muEE:,__
`
`
`
`mmumnowm._o_zm>
`
`N19.9..
`
`mohmzzooEm.3BB-
`
`53mzazm-
`
`<53Eom-
`
`
`
`
`
`<23._<oESmdu
`
`mo§mE.z_
`
`mmomzom5:5
`
`26.:mmmoommzoEm_:8<<55m:o:fi._>
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`mmmoomamoz<§mz_m._o_:m>552
`
`SE.-3~m~-mm.9:
`
`
`
`
`
`mEEo:m:o_m.<>-
`
`
`
`.m:.m5>m._<zo:._8<
`
`
`
`zmfieaC._m3mm
`
`<53m:>_
`
`«:5was
`
`m.u_“_
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Page 001819
`
`

`
`INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT
`
` International application No.
`PCT/US97/01495
`
`
`A.
`CLASSIFICATION OF SUBJECT MATTER
`
`
`
`; coop isspo
`lPC(6)
`
`
`US CL :395/204; 364/ 424.01, 424.04, 565; 340/441; 346/18
`According to International Patent Classification (IPC) or to both national classification and IPC
`
`
`B.
`FIELDS SEARCHED
`
`
`
`
`Minimum documentation searched (classification system followed by clnssiflcation symbols)
`U.S.395l204; 364/424.01, 424.04, 565; 340/441; 346/18 :
`
`Documentation searched other than minimum documentation to the extent that such documents are included in the fields searched
`
`
`
`
`Electronic data base consulted during the international search (name of data base and, where practicable. search terms used)
`APS, DIALOG
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`C.
`
`DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT
`
`
`Citation of document, with indication. when: appropriate. of the relevant passages
`Relevant to claim No.
`
`
`US 4,843,578 A (WADE) 27 June 1989, figure 1-2 and col. 1,2,4-8,1 1, 13,
`1, line 54 to col. 4, line 11.
`15-20
`
`
`
`
`
`1, 8, 9-11,13,
`17,19-20
`
`
`
`BAIG, Edward. The safest cars of '91, U.S. News & World
`Report, V109, n22, p71
`
`
`
`
`
`US 5,550,551 A (ALESIO) 27 August 1996, figures 1-3 and
`col. 3, lines 4-41.
`
`3, 12,14
`
`
`
`US 5,055,851 A (SHEFFER) 08 October 1991, col. 2,
`
`line
`
`1-20
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`44 to col. 3, line 68.
` 1-20
`US 5,430,432 A (CAMHI et al.) 04 July 1995, col. 3, line 65
`to col. 10, line 39.
`
` 1-20
`US 5,499,182 A (OUSBORNE) 12 March 1996, col. 3, line
`46 to col. 6, line 65.
`
`Further documents are listed in the continuation of Box C.
`D See patent family annex.
`huxdocumatpubl‘-hednhertheiihevn-tiounlfilingdmeorpriovity
`Spec"-lwegorienofciteddocunenh:
`
`
`.
`‘
`hteuldnotilaoonflidwifltthelpplieltionhncitodlctnlderinndltn
`.
`doalnaaddhngthegasenlunleoflbenrtwhifinnolconeiesul
`p"'u#hm-¢,°,y...1¢,-gyi.'¢.inyg.§°n
`‘A’
`Inheofp-tianhrrelevuuze
`
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`document of puliashr relevnnoe; the chimed invanion e-nnot be
`
`euberdocunaupublnhdonornflertheulenldaonllflngdnte
`“ad
`I°_rFn“flb¢w_-dfldm»nv°~’_-_v_ni"I@
`aonnntwssgiamayuuawamibuon priorhy ehin(e)orIIhieh'n
`V|=I¢==**°°'-'-=1"-‘I-1°“
`
`he
`,
`in
`“bed.
`can:I|ocubl(-:tI:e.pubIuanondueo(nothacnnmuon-oiaer
`a
`0'
`I
`
`I
`oomidetadtoiuvolveuninvcastiventqvvhenthedaeuneutin
`domain: referring to on onl disclosure. use, exhibition or other
`eotnbitedwilhoneor moreoIberuchdocIunan.I.luch combination
`than
`beiuobviounlonpeaonnkitledinthenn
`
`
`
`
`‘X’
`
`,Y,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`dounnuupublibodptiorlolbeillenntioanlfilingdnlehmhnerien
`
`-5-
`
`¢¢¢..nQ;..g.5¢,°(¢,¢_m¢P.u,;f.mj3y
`
`Date of the actual completion of the intemationnl search
`
`
`24 MARCH 1997
`
`0 5 MAY 1997
`
` Name and mailing address of the ISA/US
`Commissioner of Patents and Tndenurh
`
`Box PC!‘
`
`Wnhington. D.C. 20231
`
`03 305-3250
`
`Form PCTIISA/210 (second lheet)(JuIy 1992)!
`
`
`
`Date of mailing of the international search report
`
`Page 001820
`
`E
`‘L’
`
`'0'
`
`‘P’