Vehicle and equipment monitoring apparatus

• US 20060229779A1
• Filed: 04/07/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David I. Sorenson
• Original Assignee: David I. Sorenson
• Inventors: Sorenson, David I.
• Granted Patent: US 7,386,377 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates

Abstract

A vehicle has a safe and a utility device operable for performing a task having a result capable of being measured. A local processor is associated with local storage, each of which is housed in a safe preventing access thereto. An operator input console associated with the local storage is carried by the vehicle and is disposed outside the safe. A positioning system associated with the local processor generates position information of the vehicle during operation of the utility device. A sensor associated with the utility device and the local processor generates result information of the result of the operation of the utility device. The local processor stores in the local storage the position information, the result information, and the operator input information. The operator input console and the local processor are adapted and arranged preventing access to the local storage in response to operation of the operator input console.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a vehicle having a safe and a utility device operable for performing a task having a result capable of being measured;

a local processor associated with local storage each housed in the safe, the safe preventing access to the local processor and the local storage housed therein;

an operator input console carried by the vehicle for accepting operator input information about the operation of the utility device, the operator input console associated with the local processor and disposed outside of the safe so as to be accessible by an operator of the vehicle;

a positioning system, associated with the local processor, for generating position information of the vehicle during operation of the utility device;

a sensor, associated with the utility device and the local processor, for generating result information of the result of the operation of the utility device;

the local processor for storing in the local storage the position information, the result information, and the operator input information; and

the operator input console and the local processor adapted and arranged preventing access to the local storage in response to operation of the operator input console.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

the vehicle supporting a cab;

a smoke detector, associated with the local processor, for generating smoke detection information from within the cab of the vehicle; and

the local processor for storing in the local storage the smoke detection information.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a breath detector, associated with the local processor, for generating breath detection information from within the cab of the vehicle; and

the local processor for storing in the local storage the breath detection information.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the breath detector is associated with an in-cab hand-held transmitter of a communications radio onboard the vehicle.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

the cab furnished with a passenger seat;

a seat occupancy sensor, associated with the passenger seat, for generating passenger seat occupancy information of the passenger seat; and

the local processor for storing in the local storage the passenger seat occupancy information.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

a central processor associated with central storage each housed at a central location remote from the vehicle;

a wireless data transfer link between the local processor and the central processor;

the local processor for accessing the storage and transmitting the position information, the result information, the operator input information, the smoke detection information, the breath detection information, and the passenger seat occupancy information to the central processor via the wireless data transfer link; and

the central processor for receiving and storing into the central storage the position information, the result information, the operator input information, the smoke detection information, the breath detection information, and the passenger seat occupancy information.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the positioning system is a global positioning system.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one engine carried by the vehicle for providing the vehicle with mobility, wherein the utility device is neither at least one of the engine, and at least one part of the engine.

9. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the wireless data transfer link is provided by a local data transfer radio associated with a local data transfer antenna each carried by the vehicle, and a corresponding central data transfer radio associated with a central data transfer antenna each housed at the central location.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the local data transfer radio is housed in the safe.

11. Apparatus comprising:

a vehicle having a safe and a utility device operable for performing a task having a result capable of being measured;

a local processor associated with local storage each housed in the safe, the safe preventing access to the local processor and the local storage housed therein;

an operator input console carried by the vehicle for accepting operator input information about the operation of the utility device, the operator input console associated with the local processor and disposed outside of the safe so as to be accessible by an operator of the vehicle;

a positioning system, associated with the local processor, for generating position information of the vehicle during operation of the utility device;

a sensor, associated with the utility device and the local processor, for generating result information of the result of the operation of the utility device;

the local processor for storing in the local storage the position information, the result information, and the operator input information;

the operator input console and the local processor adapted and arranged preventing access to the local storage in response to operation of the operator input console;

a central processor associated with central storage each housed at a central location remote from the vehicle;

a wireless data transfer link between the local processor and the central processor;

the local processor for accessing the storage and transmitting the position information, the result information, and the operator input information to the central processor via the wireless data transfer link; and

the central processor for receiving and storing into the central storage the position information, the result information, and the operator input information.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

the vehicle supporting a cab;

a smoke detector, associated with the local processor, for generating smoke detection information from within the cab of the vehicle;

the local processor for storing in the local storage the smoke detection information;

the local processor for accessing the storage and transmitting the smoke detection information to the central processor via the wireless data transfer link; and

the central processor for receiving and storing into the central storage the smoke detection information.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

a breath detector, associated with the local processor, for generating breath detection information from within the cab of the vehicle;

the local processor for storing in the local storage the breath detection information;

the local processor for accessing the storage and transmitting the breath detection information to the central processor via the wireless data transfer link; and

the central processor for receiving and storing into the central storage the breath detection information.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the breath detector is associated with an in-cab hand-held transmitter of a communications radio onboard the vehicle.

15. Apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

the cab furnished with a passenger seat;

a seat occupancy sensor, associated with the passenger seat, for generating passenger seat occupancy information of the passenger seat;

the local processor for storing in the local storage the passenger seat occupancy information;

the local processor for storing in the local storage the passenger seat occupancy information;

the local processor for accessing the storage and transmitting the passenger seat occupancy information to the central processor via the wireless data transfer link; and

the central processor for receiving and storing into the central storage the passenger seat occupancy information.

16. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the positioning system is a global positioning system.

17. Apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising at least one engine carried by the vehicle for providing the vehicle with mobility, wherein the utility device is neither at least one of the engine, and at least one part of the engine.

18. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the wireless data transfer link is provided by a local data transfer radio associated with a local data transfer antenna each carried by the vehicle, and a corresponding central data transfer radio associated with a central data transfer antenna each housed at the central location.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the local data transfer radio is housed in the safe.

20. In a vehicle including a cab, an engine for providing the vehicle with mobility, a utility device apart from the engine operable for performing a task having a result capable of being measured, a local processor associated with local storage each carried by the vehicle, an operator input console carried by the vehicle for accepting operator input information about the operation of the utility device and associated with the local processor, a positioning system associated with the local processor for generating position information of the vehicle during operation of the utility device, a sensor associated with the utility device and the local processor for generating result information of the result of the operation of the utility device, the local processor for storing in the local storage the position information and the result information and the operator input information, a central processor associated with central storage each housed at a central location remote from the vehicle, a wireless data transfer link between the local processor and the central processor, the local processor for accessing the storage and transmitting the position information and the result information and the operator input information to the central processor via the wireless data transfer link, and the central processor for receiving and storing into the central storage the position information and the result information and the operator input information, improvements therein comprising:

the operator input console and the local processor adapted and arranged preventing access to the local storage in response to operation of the operator input console;

the local processor and the local storage each housed in a safe mounted to the vehicle, the safe preventing access to the local processor and the local storage housed therein; and

the operator input console disposed outside of the safe so as to be accessible by an operator of the vehicle.