Systems and methods for assessing risk based on driver gesture behaviors

Abstract

A system and method captures various gestures or movements made by a driver of a vehicle while driving. Based on the captured gestures or movements, the system and method determines driver gesture behaviors which relate to the driver's driving behaviors. The system and method then performs risk assessment by correlating the driver gesture behaviors with potential recognizable losses involving the driver and/or vehicle. Based on the risk assessment, the system and method assigns ratings for the driver which may be used for insurance rating purposes.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method of assessing risk based on driver behavior, the method comprising:
 activating an image sensor associated with a vehicle in response to detecting a mobile device at the vehicle via a short range wireless communication, the image sensor oriented to capture images of a driver of the vehicle;   receiving, from the image sensor and at the mobile device, a first image depicting the driver and a second image depicting the driver captured via the image sensor;   analyzing, by the mobile device, the first image and the second image to detect (i) from the first image, a first hand or head position of the driver, and (ii) from the second image, a second hand or head position of the driver;   determining (i) a first value representing a first risk of loss based on the first hand or head position and, (ii) a second value representing a second risk of loss based on the second hand or head position;   calculating, by the mobile device, a driving score based at least in part on first value and the second value; and   displaying, by the mobile device, the driving score.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating (i) a first timestamp associated with capture of the first image, and (ii) a second timestamp associated with capture of the second image.   
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein displaying the driving score comprises:
 displaying, by the mobile device, (i) the driving score, (ii) the first timestamp, and (iii) the second timestamp.   
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the image sensor is disposed within the vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying the driving score comprises:
 displaying, by the mobile device, (i) the driving score as a number, and (ii) a label grade.   
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting (i) from the first image, the first hand or head position of the driver, and (ii) from the second image, the second hand or head position of the driver comprises:
 detecting (i) from the first image, whether a first hand of the driver is positioned on a steering wheel of the vehicle, and (ii) from the second image, whether a second hand of the driver is positioned on the steering wheel of the vehicle.   
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting (i) from the first image, the first hand or head position of the driver, and (ii) from the second image, the second hand or head position of the driver comprises:
 detecting (i) from the first image, a first direction in which a head of the driver is looking, and (ii) from the second image, a second direction in which the head of the driver is looking.   
     
     
         8 . A system for assessing risk based on driver behavior, comprising:
 an image sensor oriented to capture images of a driver of a vehicle;   an on-board computer associated with the vehicle and configured to:
 activate the image sensor in response to detecting a mobile device at the vehicle via a short range wireless communication; and 
   a mobile device interfaced with the image sensor and configured to:
 receive, from the image sensor, a first image depicting the driver and a second image depicting the driver captured via the image sensor, 
 analyze the first image and the second image to detect (i) from the first image, a first hand or head position of the driver, and (ii) from the second image, a second hand or head position of the driver, 
 determine (i) a first value representing a first risk of loss based on the first hand or head position and, (ii) a second value representing a second risk of loss based on the second hand or head position, 
 calculate a driving score based at least in part on first value and the second value, and 
 display, in a user interface, the driving score. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the mobile device is further configured to:
 generate (i) a first timestamp associated with capture of the first image, and (ii) a second timestamp associated with capture of the second image.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the mobile device displays, in the user interface, (i) the driving score, (ii) the first timestamp, and (iii) the second timestamp. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the image sensor is disposed within the vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the mobile device displays, in the user interface, (i) the driving score as a number, and (ii) a label grade. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein to detect (i) from the first image, the first hand or head position of the driver, and (ii) from the second image, the second hand or head position of the driver, the mobile device is configured to:
 detect (i) from the first image, whether a first hand of the driver is positioned on a steering wheel of the vehicle, and (ii) from the second image, whether a second hand of the driver is positioned on the steering wheel of the vehicle.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein to detect (i) from the first image, the first hand or head position of the driver, and (ii) from the second image, the second hand or head position of the driver, the mobile device is configured to:
 detect (i) from the first image, a first direction in which a head of the driver is looking, and (ii) from the second image, a second direction in which the head of the driver is looking.   
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium configured to store instructions executable by one or more processors, the instructions comprising:
 instructions for activating an image sensor associated with a vehicle in response to detecting a mobile device at the vehicle via a short range wireless communication, the image sensor oriented to capture images of a driver of the vehicle;   instructions for receiving, from the image sensor and at the mobile device, a first image depicting the driver and a second image depicting the driver captured via the image sensor;   instructions for analyzing the first image and the second image to detect (i) from the first image, a first hand or head position of the driver, and (ii) from the second image, a second hand or head position of the driver;   instructions for determining (i) a first value representing a first risk of loss based on the first hand or head position and, (ii) a second value representing a second risk of loss based on the second hand or head position;   instructions for calculating a driving score based at least in part on first value and the second value; and   instructions for displaying the driving score.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions further comprise:
 instructions for generating (i) a first timestamp associated with capture of the first image, and (ii) a second timestamp associated with capture of the second image.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions for displaying the driving score comprise:
 instructions for displaying (i) the driving score, (ii) the first timestamp, and (iii) the second timestamp.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions for displaying the driving score comprise:
 instructions for displaying (i) the driving score as a number, and (ii) a label grade.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions for detecting (i) from the first image, the first hand or head position of the driver, and (ii) from the second image, the second hand or head position of the driver comprise:
 instructions for detecting (i) from the first image, whether a first hand of the driver is positioned on a steering wheel of the vehicle, and (ii) from the second image, whether a second hand of the driver is positioned on the steering wheel of the vehicle.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions for detecting (i) from the first image, the first hand or head position of the driver, and (ii) from the second image, the second hand or head position of the driver comprise:
 instructions for detecting (i) from the first image, a first direction in which a head of the driver is looking, and (ii) from the second image, a second direction in which the head of the driver is looking.