Method and system for in-vehicle function control

Abstract

An in-vehicle controller recognizes that a predetermined driver is operating a vehicle, and, based upon the driver, denies access to an in-vehicle reward feature set. The in-vehicle controller receives data from at least one vehicle system, the data being indicative of driving behavior of the driver, and compares the data with i) positive metrics and ii) negative metrics to categorize the driving behavior. The in-vehicle controller recognizes, from the comparison, that the data matches a predetermined number of the positive metrics, and categorizes the driving behavior as positive driving behavior. In response to the positive driving behavior, a signal is provided; and responsive to the signal, the driver is rewarded by granting access to at least one member of the previously denied in-vehicle reward feature set.

1 . A method for in-vehicle function control in a vehicle, comprising:
 recognizing, by an in-vehicle controller, that a predetermined driver is operating the vehicle;   based upon the predetermined driver, denying access to an in-vehicle reward feature set;   receiving, in the in-vehicle controller, data from at least one vehicle system, the data being indicative of a driving behavior of the predetermined driver;   in the in-vehicle controller, comparing the data with i) positive metrics and ii) negative metrics to categorize the driving behavior;   recognizing, from the comparison, that the data matches a predetermined number of the positive metrics;   categorizing the driving behavior as positive driving behavior;   providing, in response to the positive driving behavior, a signal; and   responsive to the signal, rewarding the predetermined driver by granting access to at least one member of the previously denied in-vehicle reward feature set.   
     
     
         2 . The method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the at least one member of the previously denied in-vehicle reward feature set is selected from the group consisting of expansion of a preset geo-boundary to which the predetermined driver is restricted, increasing a number of passengers allowed in the vehicle with the predetermined driver, increasing a time allowed for the predetermined driver to drive the vehicle, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method as defined in  claim 1  wherein in conjunction with the comparing, the method further comprises analyzing a driving history of the predetermined driver to categorize the driving behavior. 
     
     
         4 . The method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the comparing of the data with the i) positive metrics and ii) negative metrics to categorize the driving behavior includes any of:
 comparing the data with a threshold value to determine if the data is associated with the positive metrics or the negative metrics; 
 comparing the data with a standard curve to determine if the data is associated with the positive metrics or the negative metrics; 
 comparing the data with a threshold value in conjunction with a time period to determine if the data is associated with the positive metrics or the negative metrics; or 
 comparing the data with a range to determine if the data is associated with the positive metrics or the negative metrics. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a report of the categorized driving behavior using email, a webpage, social media, or an SMS message. 
     
     
         6 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the data from the at least one vehicle system to the in-vehicle controller in the form of a real-time bus message, the real-time bus message being: related to the preset geo-boundary; related to a following distance of the vehicle; related to vehicle speed; related to vehicle braking; related to any of vehicle acceleration and deceleration; related to lane drift; or related to combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, at a webpage, a user-selected positive metric and a user-selected negative metric for the predetermined driver;   transmitting the user-selected positive metric and the user-selected negative metric to the in-vehicle controller; and   storing the user-selected positive metric and the user-selected negative metric in a memory associated with the in-vehicle controller.   
     
     
         8 . The method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the data includes speed data, following distance data, lane drift data, acceleration/deceleration data, braking data, and vehicle geographic data, and wherein the comparing of the data with the i) positive metrics and ii) negative metrics to categorize the driving behavior includes:
 comparing the speed data with a threshold speed value or an acceptable speed range to determine if the speed data matches the positive metrics or the negative metrics; 
 comparing the following distance data with a minimum following distance value to determine if the following distance data matches the positive metrics or the negative metrics; 
 comparing the lane drift data with a threshold lane drift value to determine if the lane drift data matches the positive metrics or the negative metrics; 
 comparing an acceleration/deceleration curve created for the predetermined driver based upon the acceleration/deceleration data with a standard curve for acceleration/deceleration at a speed to determine if the acceleration/deceleration curve matches the positive metrics or the negative metrics; 
 comparing the braking data with an acceptable number of braking events in a set time period to determine if the braking data matches the positive metrics or the negative metrics; and 
 comparing the vehicle geographic data with a geo-boundary range to determine if the vehicle geographic data matches the positive metrics or the negative metrics. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the comparing of the data occurs at predetermined time periods during a driving event, and wherein the recognizing that the data matches the predetermined number of the positive metrics includes:
 from all of the comparing steps performed at a respective one of the predetermined time periods, determining a total number of matched positive metrics;   determining a rolling average of the matched positive metrics for all of the predetermined time periods; and   determining that the rolling average of the matched positive metrics meets or exceeds the predetermined number of the positive metrics.   
     
     
         10 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising notifying the predetermined driver that he/she is being rewarded by playing a message within the vehicle or by displaying a message on an in-vehicle display. 
     
     
         11 . A system for in-vehicle function control in a vehicle, comprising:
 computer-readable instructions, embodied on a non-transitory, tangible computer readable medium, for recognizing that a predetermined driver is operating the vehicle;   at least one vehicle system to transmit data indicative of a driving behavior of the predetermined driver;   an in-vehicle controller to:
 compare the data i) positive metrics and ii) negative metrics to categorize the driving behavior; 
 recognize, from the comparison, that the data matches a predetermined number of the positive metrics; and 
 categorize the driving behavior as positive driving behavior; and the in-vehicle controller to: 
 initially denying access to an in-vehicle reward feature set; 
 receive a signal from the in-vehicle controller in response to the driving behavior being categorized as the positive driving behavior; and 
 in response to the signal, reward the predetermined driver by granting access to at least one member of the previously denied in-vehicle reward feature set. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system as defined in  claim 11  wherein the at least one member of the previously denied in-vehicle reward feature set is selected from the group consisting of expansion of a preset geo-boundary to which the predetermined driver is restricted, increasing a number of passengers allowed in the vehicle with the predetermined driver, increasing a time allowed for the predetermined driver to drive the vehicle, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The system as defined in  claim 11  wherein the in-vehicle controller is further to analyze, in conjunction with the comparison, a driving history of the predetermined driver to categorize the driving behavior. 
     
     
         14 . The system as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising computer-readable instructions, operable by the in-vehicle controller, to compare the data with a threshold value to determine if the data is associated with the positive metrics or the negative metrics. 
     
     
         15 . The system as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a vehicle bus operatively connected to the in-vehicle controller and the at least one vehicle system; and   a real-time bus message including the data and transmitted by the vehicle bus, the real-time bus message being: related to the preset geo-boundary; related to a following distance of the vehicle; related to vehicle speed; related to vehicle braking; related to any of vehicle acceleration and deceleration; related to lane drift; or related to combinations thereof.   
     
     
         16 . The system as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a webpage in selective communication with the in-vehicle controller, the webpage to receive a user-selected positive metric and a user-selected negative metric for the predetermined driver; and   a memory associated with the in-vehicle controller, the memory to receive and store the user-selected positive metric and the user-selected negative metric.   
     
     
         17 . A method for in-vehicle function control, comprising:
 recognizing, by an in-vehicle controller, that a predetermined driver is operating a vehicle;   based upon the predetermined driver, denying access to an in-vehicle reward selected from the group consisting of expansion of a preset geo-boundary to which the predetermined driver is restricted, increasing a number of passengers allowed in the vehicle with the predetermined driver, increasing a time allowed for the predetermined driver to drive the vehicle, and combinations thereof;   receiving, in the in-vehicle controller, data from at least one vehicle system, the data being indicative of a driving behavior of the predetermined driver;   in the in-vehicle controller, comparing the data with i) positive metrics and ii) negative metrics to categorize the driving behavior;   recognizing, from the comparison, that the data matches a predetermined number of the positive metrics;   categorizing the driving behavior as positive driving behavior;   providing, in response to the positive driving behavior, a signal; and   responsive to the signal, rewarding the predetermined driver by granting access to the previously denied in-vehicle reward.