Driver activity and vehicle operation logging and reporting

• US 20090299567A1
• Filed: 06/29/2009
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovative Global Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Innovative Global Systems LLC
• Inventors: Welch, James W., Larschan, Bradley R., Lesesky, Alan C., Bishop, J. Richard JR.
• Granted Patent: US 7,881,838 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 13/00 Taximeters measuring distance travelled G01C; measuring time G04
• 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 5/04 using counting means or digital clocks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition

Abstract

A method for logging and reporting driver activity and vehicle operation includes identifying a driver of a vehicle, recording operating data with an on-board recorder that is hard-wired to an engine control module, coupled to a mileage sensing system, and linked to a global navigation satellite system, and recording duty status of the driver. An hours of service log and a fuel tax log are created from the operating data. The method includes comparing the driver'"'"'s hours of service log to an applicable requirement, indicating to the driver whether the driver is in-compliance or out-of-compliance with the applicable requirement, automatically uploading the logs to a receiver external to the vehicle using a wireless telecommunications network, and emitting a compliance signal representative of whether the driver is in-compliance or out-of-compliance with the applicable requirement to a second receiver external to the vehicle and under control of authorities.

Claims

1. A method for vehicle data communication, comprising:

obtaining operating data of a vehicle through a vehicle data bus;

transmitting the vehicle operating data on the data bus to an on-board recorder;

storing the vehicle operating data on the on-board recorder;

capturing on-board digital images; and

transmitting the on-board digital images and the vehicle operating data stored on the on-board recorder to a computing device external to the vehicle.

2. A method for vehicle data communication according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle data bus comprises at least one of a group consisting of SAE J1708, J1850, and J1939.

3. A method for vehicle data communication according to claim 1, wherein transmitting the on-board digital images and the vehicle operating data comprises transmitting through a wireless connection.

4. A method for vehicle data communication according to claim 3, wherein the wireless connection comprises a WIFI connection.

5. A method for vehicle data communication according to claim 3, wherein the wireless connection comprises a BLUETOOTH connection.

6. A method for vehicle data communication according to claim 3, wherein the wireless connection comprises an infrared connection.

7. A method for vehicle data communication according to claim 1, wherein the computing device external to the vehicle comprises a handheld device.

8. A method for vehicle data communication according to claim 1, wherein the computing device external to the vehicle comprises a host server.

9. A method for vehicle data communication according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a trailer.

10. A method for vehicle data communication according to claim 9, and comprising wirelessly transmitting information relating to the trailer to at least one of the on-board recorder and the computing device external to the vehicle.

11. A method for vehicle data communication according to claim 10, further comprising downloading to the vehicle on-board recorder driver related data from a wireless communication network.

12. A method for vehicle data communication according to claim 11, wherein the driver related data comprises biometric data selected from a group consisting of facial, retinal, and thumb print identifiers.

13. A method for vehicle data communication according to claim 12, and comprising reading biometric data of the driver and matching the data read to the biometric data stored in the vehicle on-board recorder to verify the identity of the driver, thereby logging the driver into the vehicle on-board recorder.

14. A method for vehicle data communication according to claim 13, further comprising disabling the vehicle if the driver is not logged into the vehicle on-board recorder.

15. A method for vehicle data communication according to claim 1, and comprising automatically electronically capturing fuel purchase price data, and electronically linking the fuel purchase price data to vehicle mileage data, and electronically linking the fuel purchase price data to location data of a fueling site.

16. A method for vehicle data communication according to claim 15, wherein electronically linking the fuel purchase price data to vehicle mileage data and location data comprises electronically processing the fuel purchase price data, the vehicle mileage data, and the location data at periodic intervals.

17. A method for vehicle data communication according to claim 15, and comprising electronically transferring the fuel purchase price data from a fuel pump to the vehicle over a wireless connection.

18. A method for vehicle data communication according to claim 15, and comprising acquiring the vehicle mileage data from at least one of a vehicle mileage sensing system and a vehicle engine control module.

19. A method for vehicle data communication according to claim 18, wherein the vehicle mileage sensing system includes a speed sensor and a vehicle odometer.

20. A method for vehicle data communication according to claim 15, wherein the location data is acquired from a Global Positioning System.