MULTI-MODE VEHICLE COMPUTING DEVICE SUPPORTING IN-CAB AND STAND-ALONE OPERATION

• US 20120194679A1
• Filed: 01/30/2012
• Published: 08/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Nehowig, Kelly R., Konezny, Ronald Edward
• Granted Patent: US 9,704,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 7/00 Details or accessories common to the registering or indicating apparatus of groups G07C3/00 and G07C5/00

Abstract

Techniques involving connecting an in-cab computing device to an onboard computing device mounted in a vehicle. Vehicle-related information may be communicated between the in-cab computing device and onboard computing device while the in-cab computing device is connected to the onboard computing device. Techniques involve facilitating disconnection of the in-cab computing device from the onboard computing device and operating the in-cab computing device in a stand-alone mode, and facilitating reconnection of the in-cab computing device to the onboard computing device to resume operations between the in-cab computing device and onboard computing device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

connecting an in-cab computing device to an onboard computing device mounted in a vehicle;

communicating vehicle-related information between the in-cab computing device and onboard computing device while the in-cab computing device is connected to the onboard computing device;

facilitating disconnection of the in-cab computing device from the onboard computing device and operating the in-cab computing device in a stand-alone mode; and

facilitating reconnection of the in-cab computing device to the onboard computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

connecting the in-cab computing device to an onboard computing device mounted in a vehicle comprises connecting the onboard computing device to a docking station, and removably plugging the in-cab computing device into the docking station;

facilitating disconnection of the in-cab computing device from the onboard computing device comprises enabling removal of the in-cab computing device from the docking station; and

facilitating reconnection of the in-cab computing device to the onboard computing device comprises enabling insertion of the in-cab computing device into the docking station to reconnect the in-cab computing device and the onboard computing device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing trucking-related executable applications on the in-cab computing device that are operable on the in-cab computing device at least when disconnected from the onboard computing device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising queuing data obtained at the onboard computing device and targeted for the in-cab computing device, when the in-cab computing device has been disconnected from the onboard computing device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising detecting when the in-cab computing device has been disconnected from the onboard computing device, and initiating the queuing of the data in response thereto.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising transmitting the queued data to the in-cab computing device upon reconnection of the in-cab computing device to the onboard computing device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising detecting when the in-cab computing device has been reconnected to the onboard computing device, and initiating the transmission of the queued data in response thereto.

8. The method of claim 1, connecting an in-cab computing device to an onboard computing device mounted in a vehicle comprises connecting the in-cab computing device and onboard computing device via a wired connection.

9. The method of claim 1, connecting an in-cab computing device to an onboard computing device mounted in a vehicle comprises connecting the in-cab computing device and onboard computing device via a wireless connection.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the wireless connection comprises a wireless local area connection including at least the onboard computing device and the in-cab computing device.

11. A system comprising:

an onboard computing device having a first processor configured to collect vehicle-related data, and having a transceiver configured to communicate at least some of the vehicle-related data over one or more networks to one or more destination entities; and

an in-cab computing device comprising;

at least one disconnectable connection to the onboard computing device to communicate information between the in-cab computing device and the onboard computing device; and

a second processor configured to execute one or more applications independently of the onboard computing device when disconnected from the onboard computing device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the onboard computing device further comprises a transmitter to transmit at least some of the vehicle-related data to the in-cab computing device via the at least one disconnectable connection.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first processor is further configured to detect when the at least one disconnectable connection to the onboard computing device has been disconnected, and in response to direct the vehicle-related data targeted for the in-cab computing device to be queued.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first processor is further configured to detect when the at least one disconnectable connection to the onboard computing device has been reconnected, and in response to direct the queued information to be transmitted via the transmitter to the in-cab computing device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the in-cab computing device comprises an electronic log reporting module executable by the second processor, and wherein the queued information is provided to the electronic log reporting module in the order it was queued in response to the at least one disconnectable connection being reconnected.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle-related data comprises any one or more of geographic location data, odometer readings, RPM, speed, calculated miles per gallon of fuel consumed, engine idle time, engine hours door lock status, and windshield wiper status.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the in-cab computing device further comprises one or more connectors to enable connection of one or more peripheral devices to the in-cab computing device.

18. The system of claim 11, further comprising a docking station coupled to the onboard computing device, and configured to removably couple the in-cab computing device to the onboard computing device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the docking station further comprises one or more connectors to enable connection of one or more peripheral devices to the in-cab computing device.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the in-cab computing device further comprises a camera.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising embedding one or more digital photographs obtained via the camera into a report created by an application executed while the in-cab computing device is disconnected from the onboard computing device.