Identification and Computer Login of an Operator of a Vehicle

• US 20080244735A1
• Filed: 09/12/2006
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scania CV AB (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Scania CV AB (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Palmqvist, Fredrik, Callenryd, Fredrik, Bjorkman, Mathias
• Granted Patent: US 8,255,990 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/002 Analysing tachograph charts arrangements for graph-reading in general G06K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable

Abstract

A method for identifying and performing a vehicle operator computer login to a vehicle computer provided in a vehicle. A device is arranged to request and receive vehicle operator data stored on a data carrier provided for a tachograph comprising a reader for reading the data carrier. The device controls communication of vehicle operator related data to the vehicle computer, wherein the device is arranged to initiate a vehicle operator login procedure of the vehicle computer, in dependence on the data carrier inserted in the tachograph. The invention is also related to a vehicle arrangement, a computer program and a computer program product. The invention solves the problem of providing identification and login of an operator of a vehicle to the vehicle computer in a simplified and secure way. The invention also enables shortened start up/stop times of a vehicle by reducing systems login/logoff time for an operator.

Claims

1. A method for identification and login of a vehicle operator to a computer system provided in a vehicle comprising the steps of:

inserting a tachograph data carrier having vehicle operator data stored thereon into a tachograph of said vehicle, said tachograph comprising a reader provided for receiving and reading tachograph data carriers having vehicle operator data stored thereon for identifying an operator of the vehicle computer system,

reading said data carrier,

receiving vehicle operator data in said tachograph, and

transmitting vehicle operator data to a device for performing a vehicle operator login to said vehicle computer in dependence on said data carrier being inserted into said tachograph.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising said device requesting said vehicle operator data.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising requesting said vehicle operator data via said vehicle computer system.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting an indication from said tachograph to said device when a data carrier is inserted.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising transmitting said vehicle operator data when said indication has been transmitted and received by said device.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising requesting said vehicle operator data periodically or continuously.

7. The method according to claim 4, further comprising removing said data carrier from said tachograph for performing a vehicle operator logoff from the vehicle computer.

8. A vehicle arrangement for identifying and performing a vehicle operator computer login, comprising

a vehicle computer (30),

a tachograph connected to said computer and comprising a reader for reading tachograph data carriers,

a device operable to receive vehicle operator data stored on a data carrier provided for said tachograph, said device being operable to control communication of said vehicle operator related data to said vehicle computer, wherein said device is operable to perform a vehicle operator login to the vehicle computer in dependence of said data carrier being inserted in said tachograph.

9. The vehicle arrangement according to claim 8, wherein said device is operable to perform a vehicle operator logoff from the vehicle computer in dependence on said data carrier being removed from said tachograph.

10. The vehicle arrangement according to claim 8, wherein said device is connected to at least one of said tachograph and said vehicle computer.

11. The vehicle arrangement according to claim 8, wherein said device is part of said vehicle computer, and is implemented by software.

12. The vehicle arrangement according to claim 8, wherein said device is connected to said tachograph by a communication link including a bus.

13. The vehicle arrangement according to claim 8, wherein said device is connected to said tachograph by a communication link including a cable connection.

14. The vehicle arrangement according to claim 8, wherein said device is operable to receive and evaluate an indication that a data carrier has been inserted into said tachograph.

15. The vehicle arrangement according to claim 14, wherein said device is operable to receive and evaluate a signal (S) from said tachograph indicating that a data carrier has been inserted.

16. The vehicle arrangement according to claim 15, wherein said signal (S) comprises a bit having a particular value, indicating that a data carrier has been inserted.

17. The vehicle arrangement according claim 8, wherein said device is to operable to request said tachograph periodically.

18. The vehicle arrangement according to claim 8, wherein said device is operable to request said tachograph continuously.

19. A computer program for identifying and executing a vehicle operator computer login to a vehicle computer provided in a vehicle, said program comprising

computer program code to make a computer perform, when said computer program is loaded and run therein:

at least receiving vehicle operator data from a tachograph comprising a reader operable for reading a therein inserted data carrier comprising vehicle operator data,

transmitting at least part of said vehicle operator data to the vehicle computer for identifying the vehicle operator, and executing a vehicle operator login to said vehicle computer in dependence on said data.

20. The computer program according to claim 19, further comprising computer program code for executing a vehicle operator logoff from said vehicle computer in dependence on data indicating that said data carrier is removed from said tachograph.

21. The computer program according to claim 19, further comprising computer program code for requesting said vehicle operator data from said tachograph.

22. A computer readable medium, having a computer program according to claim 19 recorded thereon.