Apparatuses, systems and methods for electronic data logging

• US 10,127,743 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2016
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RM Acquisition LLC (Rand McNally & Company)
• Original Assignee: RM Acquisition LLC (Rand McNally & Company)
• Inventors: Ozturk, Yusuf, Kodavarti, Ravi, Riad, Maged
• Primary Examiner(s): Hilgendorf, Dale W
• Application Number:
  US15/083,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20170287235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided for electronic data logging. More particularly, apparatuses, systems, and methods are provide for electronic data logging which may incorporate a vehicle electronic device that may store data when the vehicle electronic device is not in communication with an external device and that may transmit data when the vehicle electronic device is in communication with an external device.

Claims

1. A vehicle electronic device, comprising:

a processor and a memory within the vehicle electronic device;

a vehicle data acquisition module, stored on the memory within the vehicle electronic device, that, when executed by the processor within the vehicle electronic device, causes the processor to receive vehicle data from a vehicle via a data bus of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle data includes vehicle odometer information;

a time data acquisition module, stored on the memory within the vehicle electronic device, that, when executed by the processor within the vehicle electronic device, causes the processor to receive time data, wherein the time data includes information related to a time of day;

a time-stamped vehicle data generation module, stored on the memory within the vehicle electronic device, that, when executed by the processor within the vehicle electronic device, causes the processor to generate time-stamped vehicle data based on the vehicle data and the time data, wherein the time-stamped vehicle data includes the vehicle data correlated with the time data;

a personal data acquisition module, stored on the memory within the vehicle electronic device, that, when executed by the processor within the vehicle electronic device, causes the processor to receive personal data, wherein the personal data includes information associated with at least one vehicle operator;

a correlated vehicle data generation module, stored on the memory within the vehicle electronic device, that, when executed by the processor within the vehicle electronic device, causes the processor within the vehicle electronic device to generate correlated vehicle data based on the time-stamped vehicle data and the personal data, wherein the correlated vehicle data is representative of an association between the time-stamped vehicle data and the personal data; and

a personal electronic device availability determination module, stored on the memory within the vehicle electronic device, that, when executed by the processor within the vehicle electronic device, causes the processor to determine whether the vehicle electronic device is communicatively coupled with a personal electronic device, wherein when the processor determines that the vehicle electronic device is communicatively coupled with the personal electronic device, the processor transmits the correlated vehicle data to the personal electronic device, and wherein when the processor determines that the vehicle electronic device is not communicatively coupled with the personal electronic device, the processor stores the correlated vehicle data on the memory of the vehicle electronic device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the vehicle data is received from a vehicle electronic control module via at least one of:

a J1939 protocol vehicle data bus, a J1708 protocol vehicle data bus, or an OBDII protocol vehicle data bus.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a data transmission module, stored on the memory, that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to transmit the correlated vehicle data to a remote electronic device.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the vehicle data is filtered into a set of parameters for generating hours of service data, wherein the filtered parameters include at least one of:

vehicle position data, vehicle engine revolution per minute data, vehicle speed data, vehicle odometer data, or vehicle engine operating hour data.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a vehicle electronic device registration module, stored on the memory, that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to register the vehicle electronic device with a particular vehicle operator based on the personal data and the vehicle data, wherein the vehicle data includes vehicle identification number data, and wherein the personal data includes particular vehicle operator data.

6. A non-transitory, computer-readable, medium, comprising:

a personal data acquisition module that, when executed by a processor within a vehicle electronic device, causes the processor to receive personal data, wherein the personal data includes information associated with a particular vehicle operator;

a vehicle electronic device registration determination module that, when executed by the processor of the vehicle electronic device, causes the processor to register the vehicle electronic device with the particular user in response to receiving the personal data;

a vehicle data acquisition module that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to receive vehicle data, directly from a vehicle via a data bus of the vehicle, at the vehicle electronic device when the processor determines that the vehicle electronic device is registered with the particular vehicle operator, wherein the vehicle data includes vehicle odometer information;

a time data acquisition module that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to receive time data at the processor of the vehicle electronic device, wherein the time data includes information related to a time of day;

a time-stamped vehicle data generation module that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to generate time-stamped vehicle data, wherein the time-stamped vehicle data includes the vehicle data correlated with the time data; and

a personal electronic device availability determination module that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to determine whether the vehicle electronic device is communicatively coupled with a personal electronic device, wherein when the processor determines that the vehicle electronic device is communicatively coupled with the personal electronic device, the processor transmits the correlated vehicle data to the personal electronic device, and wherein when the processor determines that the vehicle electronic device is not communicatively coupled with the personal electronic device, the processor stores the correlated vehicle data on a memory of the vehicle electronic device.

7. The non-transitory, computer-readable, medium of claim 6, further comprising:

a data transmission module that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to transmit the correlated vehicle data to a remote electronic device.

8. The non-transitory, computer-readable, medium of claim 7, wherein the memory is either a flash memory or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory.

9. The non-transitory, computer-readable, medium of claim 6, wherein the vehicle data is received from a vehicle via at least one of:

a J1939 protocol vehicle data bus, a J1708 protocol vehicle data bus, or an OBDII protocol vehicle data bus.

10. The non-transitory, computer-readable, medium of claim 6, wherein the vehicle data includes at least one of:

engine control unit history data, air supply pressure data, fuel consumption data, trip information data, vehicle speed data, vehicle cruise control status data, engine cooling fan drive status data, wheel speed data, vehicle service indication data, transmission control unit history data, body control unit history data, driver door status indicator data, passenger door indicator data, engine oil level data, engine oil pressure data, engine idle operation data, turbocharger status data, air start pressure data, steering wheel angle data, vehicle accelerometer data, vehicle pitch data, vehicle yaw data, vehicle distance data, idle shutdown data, engine hours data, engine revolutions data, time of day data, date of year data, vehicle hours data, vehicle direction data, fuel consumption data, vehicle weight data, cruise control speed set data, engine temperature data, power takeoff information data, fuel economy data, vehicle position (longitude/latitude/elevation) data, tire condition data, ambient conditions data, inlet air condition data, exhaust condition data, vehicle electrical power condition data, transmission fluid level data, transmission fluid pressure data, brake information data, engine coolant level data, engine coolant pressure data, vehicle odometer reading data, vehicle identification number data, crankcase pressure data, barometric pressure data, vehicle interior temperature data, air inlet temperature data, road surface temperature data, particulate trap inlet pressure data, boost pressure data, intake manifold temperature data, air inlet pressure data, air filter differential pressure data, exhaust gas temperature data, coolant filter differential pressure data, instantaneous fuel economy data, average fuel economy data, fuel temperature data, turbo oil temperature data, total fuel used data, trip fuel data, injector metering rail pressure data, injection control pressure data, percent fan speed data, engine-percent torque demand data, actual engine-percent torque data, accelerator pedal position data, percent load at current speed data, brake pedal position data, clutch pedal position data, or water in fuel sensor data.

11. An electronic data logging system, comprising:

a personal electronic device having a first processor and a first memory;

a personal data acquisition module, stored on the first memory, that, when executed by the first processor, causes the first processor to receive personal data, wherein the personal data includes information associated with at least one vehicle operator; and

a personal data transmission module, stored on the first memory, that, when executed by the first processor, causes the first processor to transmit the personal data to a vehicle electronic device that is registered with a particular vehicle operator; and

the vehicle electronic device having a second processor and a second memory;

a personal data receiving module, stored on the second memory, that, when executed by the second processor, causes the second processor to receive the personal data from the first processor;

a vehicle data acquisition module, stored on the second memory, that, when executed by the second processor, causes the second processor to receive vehicle data, directly from a vehicle via a data bus of the vehicle, in response to receiving the personal data, wherein the vehicle data includes at least one of;

vehicle position data, vehicle engine revolution per minute data, vehicle speed data, vehicle odometer data, or vehicle engine operating hour data;

a time data acquisition module, stored on the second memory, that, when executed by the second processor, causes the second processor to receive time data, wherein the time data includes information related to a time of day;

a time-stamped vehicle data generation module, stored on the second memory, that, when executed by the second processor, causes the second processor to generate time-stamped vehicle data, wherein the time-stamped vehicle data includes the vehicle data correlated with the time data; and

a personal electronic device availability determination module, stored on the second memory, that, when executed by the second processor, causes the second processor to determine whether the vehicle electronic device is communicatively coupled with the personal electronic device, wherein when the second processor determines that the vehicle electronic device is communicatively coupled with the personal electronic device, the second processor transmits the time-stamped vehicle data to the personal electronic device, and wherein when the second processor determines that the vehicle electronic device is not communicatively coupled with the personal electronic device, the second processor stores the time-stamped vehicle data on the second memory.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

an hours of service data generation module, stored on the first memory, that, when executed by the first processor, causes the first processor to generate hours of service data, wherein the hours of service data is representative of at least one of;

a number of hours the vehicle operator was off duty, a number of hours the vehicle operator was in a sleeper birth, a number of hours the vehicle operator was driving, or a number of hours the operator was on duty but not driving.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

an hours of service data storage module, stored on the first memory, that, when executed by the first processor, causes the first processor to store hours of service data on the first memory.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle data is received from a vehicle electronic control unit via at least one of:

a J1939 protocol vehicle data bus, a J1708 protocol vehicle data bus, or an OBDII protocol vehicle data bus.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle data is filtered into a desired set of parameters.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the first memory is either a flash memory or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the second memory is either a flash memory or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory.

18. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a data transmission module, stored on the first memory, that, when executed by the first processor, causes the first processor to transmit the time-stamped vehicle data to a remote electronic device.

19. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a data transmission module, stored on the second memory, that, when executed by the second processor, causes the second processor to transmit the time-stamped vehicle data to a remote electronic device.

20. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a correlated vehicle data generation module, stored on the second memory, that, when executed by the second processor, causes the second processor to generate correlated vehicle data, wherein the correlated vehicle data is representative of an association between the time-stamped vehicle data and the personal data.

21. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a remote electronic device, comprising;

a third processor and a third memory;

a correlated vehicle data receiving module, stored on the third memory, that, when executed by the third processor, causes the third processor to receive correlated vehicle data for the personal electronic device.

22. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a remote electronic device, comprising;

a third processor and a third memory;

a correlated vehicle data receiving module, stored on the third memory, that, when executed by the third processor, causes the third processor to receive correlated vehicle data for the vehicle electronic device.