System for ensuring driver competency

• US 7,119,696 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2002
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Volvo Trucks North America Incorporated (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Trucks North America Incorporated (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Borugian, Dennis A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US10/092,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20030095046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• Field of Search: 340/439, 340/575, 340/576, 340/425.5, 340/426.1, 340/825.69, 340/904, 340/905, 340/901, 340/902, 340/988, 340/991, 340/438, 307/10.1, 307/10.2, 307/10.5, 180/168, 180/173, 180/287, 701/213, 701/207, 701/209, 701/33, 701/35, 701/300
• US Class Current: 340/576
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/043 Identity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/10 with means for preventing accidental uncoupling
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/12 engaging automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00293 anti-theft
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00698 actuated in function of displayed informations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/207 with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries

Abstract

A method and apparatus for detecting conditions that indicate unauthorized usage of a vehicle and for responding to the conditions that indicate the vehicle is being used in an unauthorized or unintended way. A vehicle computer is used to monitor conditions of a driver and unintended usage. The computer is also used to respond to conditions that indicate an unauthorized or unintended vehicle usage has occurred.

Claims

1. A method of disabling a vehicle, comprising:

a) determining whether an allowable number of service hours has been exceeded by a driver;

b) notifying a central control when said allowable number of vehicle service hours has been exceeded;

c) determining whether said central control provided authorization to exceed said allowable number of vehicle service hours;

d) notifying said driver that the vehicle will be disabled in a given period of time when authorization to exceed said allowable number of vehicle service hours is not granted; and

e) disabling said vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising activating the vehicle by entering a valid driver code.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising activating the vehicle by entering a valid driver code and a valid route code.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein a driver code of said driver is validated after a defined rest period has elapsed.

5. A method of disabling a vehicle, comprising:

a) determining whether an allowable number of service hours has been exceeded by a driver;

b) instructing the driver to stop the vehicle for a rest period when said allowable number of service hours has been exceeded by said driver;

c) determining whether said driver stopped the vehicle for a rest period;

d) determining whether a second driver began operating the vehicle;

e) notifying a central control that said allowable number of vehicle service hours has been exceeded when the driver did not stop the vehicle for said rest period and said second driver did not begin operating said vehicle;

f) determining whether said central control provided authorization to exceed said allowable number of vehicle service hours;

g) notifying said driver that the vehicle will be disabled in a given period of time when authorization to exceed said allowable number of vehicle service hours is not granted; and

h) disabling said vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising revalidating a driver code after a prescribed time frame for rest has been achieved.

7. An apparatus for disabling a vehicle, comprising:

a) a vehicle computer programmed to determining whether an allowable number of service hours has been exceeded by a driver; and

b) a communications system coupled to said computer for notifying a central control when said allowable number of vehicle service hours has been exceeded, receiving authorization from said central control to exceed said allowable number of vehicle service hours, and notifying said driver that the vehicle will be disabled in a given period of time when authorization to exceed said allowable number of vehicle service hours is not granted, said computer being programmed to disable said vehicle when said authorization to exceed said allowable number of vehicle service hours is not granted.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said computer is programmed to activate the vehicle by entering a valid driver code.