Paperless log system and method

• US 20010010028A1
• Filed: 03/20/2001
• Published: 07/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnitracs LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Thibault, Thomas M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,421,590 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/04 using counting means or digital clocks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

A system and method for automatically calculating safety-related compliance data for vehicle operators. Vehicle operators enter an identification code and status information into a mobile communication terminal located on a vehicle. The identification code and status information is generally stored in a memory located within the mobile communication device. The identification code and status information can be transmitted to a central station where it can be processed to determine compliance with safety regulations. The resulting data may be transmitted back to the vehicle upon request. In another embodiment, a processor located within the mobile communication terminal processes the identification code and status information. The resultant data may then be transmitted to the central station or presented to the vehicle operator upon request.

Claims

1. A system for recording and calculating safety-related compliance data for a vehicle operator assigned to a vehicle, comprising:

a mobile communication terminal comprising;

an input device for entering an identification code and a vehicle operator status;

a time indicator for providing a time stamp corresponding to said vehicle operator status entry;

a transmitter connected to said time indicator and said input device for transmitting said identification code, said vehicle operator status, and said time stamp to a central station;

a transceiver located at said central station for receiving said identification code, said vehicle operator status, and said time stamp and for transmitting said safety-related compliance data to said vehicle;

a storage device for storing said identification code, said vehicle operator status, and said time stamp; and

a processor connected to said storage device for processing said identification code, said status information, and said time stamp to determine said safety-related compliance data.

2. The system of

claim 1

further comprising a second storage device, connected to said input device, for storing said identification code, said status information, and said corresponding time stamp.

3. The system of

claim 1

further comprising a display device, for displaying said safety-related compliance data at said vehicle.

4. The system of

claim 1

wherein said safety-related compliance data comprises information relating to the number of hours that a vehicle operator has been operating said vehicle.

5. The system of

claim 1

wherein said vehicle operator status is selected from the group consisting of driving, on-duty not driving, resting, or off-duty.

6. The system of

claim 1

wherein said processor is further for comparing said safety-related compliance data to a predetermined set of safety criteria and generating an alert if said safety-related compliance data is out of compliance with said predetermined set of safety criteria.

12. The apparatus of

claim 1

wherein said vehicle operator status is selected from the group consisting of driving, on-duty not driving, resting, or off-duty.

7. Apparatus for calculating safety-related compliance data for a vehicle operator assigned to a vehicle, comprising:

a mobile communication terminal comprising;

an input device for entering an identification code and a vehicle operator status;

a time indicator for providing a time stamp corresponding to said vehicle operator status entry;

a storage device connected to said input device and said time indicator for storing said identification code, said vehicle operator status, and said corresponding time stamp;

a processor connected to said storage device for processing said identification code, said status information, and said time stamp to determine said safety-related compliance data.

8. The apparatus of

claim 7

further comprising a transmitter for transmitting said safety-related compliance data to a central station upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

9. The apparatus of

claim 8

wherein said predetermined event is a request from said central station to transmit said safety-related compliance data.

10. The apparatus of

claim 7

further comprising a display device for displaying said safety-related compliance data at said vehicle.

11. The apparatus of

claim 7

wherein said safety-related compliance data comprises information relating to the number of hours that a vehicle operator has been operating said vehicle.

13. The system of

claim 7

wherein said processor is further for comparing said safety-related compliance data to a predetermined set of safety criteria and generating an alert if said safety-related compliance data is out of compliance with said predetermined set of safety criteria.

14. A system for calculating safety-related compliance data for a vehicle operator assigned to a vehicle, comprising:

a mobile communication terminal comprising;

an input device for entering an identification code and a vehicle operator status;

a time indicator for providing a time stamp corresponding to said vehicle operator status entry;

a storage device connected to said input device and to said time indicator for storing said identification code, said vehicle operator status, and said corresponding time stamp;

a first transceiver connected to said storage device for transmitting said identification code, said vehicle operator status, and said corresponding time stamp to a central station upon the occurrence of a predetermined event, and for receiving said safety-related compliance data;

a second transceiver located at said central station for receiving said identification code, said vehicle operator status, and said time stamp and for transmitting said safety-related compliance data to said vehicle; and

a processor connected to said storage device and to said second transceiver for processing said identification code, said status information, and said time stamp to determine said safety-related compliance data.

15. The system of

claim 14

further comprising a display device connected to said first transceiver for displaying said safety-related compliance data at said vehicle.

16. The system of

claim 14

wherein said predetermined event is a request from said central station to transmit said safety-related compliance data.

17. The system of

claim 14

wherein said safety-related compliance data comprises information relating to the number of hours that a vehicle operator has been operating said vehicle.

18. The system of

claim 14

wherein said vehicle operator status is selected from the group consisting of driving, on-duty not driving, resting, or off-duty.

19. The system of

claim 14

wherein said processor is further for comparing said safety-related compliance data to a predetermined set of safety criteria and generating an alert if said safety-related compliance data is out of compliance with said predetermined set of safety criteria.

20. A method for recording and calculating safety-related compliance data for a vehicle operator assigned to a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

entering an identification code and a vehicle operator status into an input device located on said vehicle;

transmitting said identification code, said vehicle operator status, and a time stamp corresponding to the time at which said vehicle operator status was entered;

receiving said identification code, said vehicle operator status, and said time stamp at a central station;

storing said identification code, said vehicle operator status, and said time stamp in a storage device located at said central station; and

calculating said safety-related compliance data using said identification code, said vehicle operator status, and said time stamp.

21. The method of

claim 20

further comprising the steps of:

transmitting said safety-related compliance data to said vehicle; and

displaying said safety-related compliance data at said vehicle.

22. The method of

claim 20

further comprising the step of storing said identification code, said vehicle operator status, and said time stamp in a second storage device connected to said input device.

23. The method of

claim 22

wherein the step of transmitting said identification code, said vehicle operator status, and said time stamp comprise the steps of:

storing multiple ones of said identification code, said vehicle operator status, and said time stamp; and

transmitting said multiple ones of said identification code, said vehicle operator status, and said time stamp at a predetermined time.

24. The method of

claim 20

wherein said safety-related compliance data comprises information relating to the number of hours that a vehicle operator has been operating said vehicle.

25. The method of

claim 20

wherein said vehicle operator status is selected from the group consisting of driving, on-duty not driving, resting, or off-duty.

26. The method of

claim 20

further comprising the step of comparing said safety-related compliance data to a predetermined set of safety criteria and generating an alert if said safety-related compliance data is out of compliance with said predetermined set of safety criteria.

27. A method for recording and calculating safety-related compliance data for a vehicle operator assigned to a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

entering an identification code and a vehicle operator status into an input device located on said vehicle;

storing said identification code, said vehicle operator status, and said time stamp in a storage device located at said vehicle; and

calculating said safety-related compliance data using said identification code, said vehicle operator status, and said time stamp; and

displaying said safety-related compliance data at said vehicle.

29. The method of

claim 27

wherein said safety-related compliance data comprises information relating to the number of hours that a vehicle operator has been operating said vehicle.

30. The method of

claim 27

wherein said vehicle operator status is selected from the group consisting of driving, on-duty not driving, resting, or off-duty.

31. The method of

claim 27

further comprising the step of comparing said safety-related compliance data to a predetermined set of safety criteria and generating an alert if said safety-related compliance data is out of compliance with said predetermined set of safety criteria.

28. The method of step 27 further comprising the step of transmitting said safety-related compliance data to a central station upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.