Portable data storage module

• US 7,401,741 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2006
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: XRS Corporation (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: XRS Corporation (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Thayer, Peter A.
• Primary Examiner(s): St. Cyr; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/436,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20070267473A1
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/385, 235/384, 235/451, 340/10.1, 340/10.3, 340/5.6, 340 561- 562, 701/202, 701/213
• US Class Current: 235/492
• 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 portable data storage module comprises a control module, a wireless communication module, a rewriteable memory and a data transfer button. When the data transfer button is actuated, the portable data storage module wakes from a sleep mode and the control module initiates a data transfer via the wireless communication module with a device. After the data transfer, the portable data storage module reenters the sleep mode. The portable data storage module may be configured to transfer data, such as a trip plan, between a network host and an in-cab driver communication module. The portable data storage module may also store and maintain additional data, such as a driver log.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a computer including a first wireless communication module;

a portable data storage device including;

a second wireless communication module,

a rewriteable memory, and

a data transfer button,

wherein, when the data transfer button is actuated when the portable data storage is in proximity to the computer, the portable data storage device downloads uplink data from the computer via a first wireless communication and stores the uplink data in the rewriteable memory, wherein the uplink data includes a trip plan; and

a driver communication module including a third wireless communication module, wherein, when the data transfer button is actuated when the portable data storage is in proximity to the driver communication module, the portable data storage device uploads the uplink data from the rewriteable memory to the driver communication module via a second wireless communication.

2. The system of claim 1,

wherein the portable data storage device downloads downlink data from the driver communication module as part of the second wireless communication,

wherein the portable data storage device uploads the downlink data to the computer via a third wireless communication.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable data storage device downloads downlink data from the driver communication module via a third wireless communication and uploads the downlink data to the computer via a fourth wireless communication.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the portable data storage device also downloads a driving history as part of the third wireless communication.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication module is not in close enough proximity to the third wireless communication module to allow a direct connection between the computer and the driver communication module.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a driver, wherein the driver is associated to the portable data storage device in a database, wherein the database is accessible to the computer.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the computer selects the uplink data according to an identification of the driver.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the portable data storage device also maintains a driver log in a memory of the portable data storage device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer, the portable data storage module and the driver communication module communicate using a ZigBee wireless standard.

10. A portable data storage module comprising:

a control module;

a wireless communication module;

a rewriteable memory for storing uplink data and downhink data; and

a data transfer button, wherein, when the data transfer button is actuated, the portable data storage module wakes from a sleep mode and sends a communication request via the wireless communication module, wherein the portable data storage module waits for a response to the communication request, wherein upon receiving a response to the communication request from a device, the control module identifies the device as one of a group consisting of;

a driver communication module, and

a computer with access to uplink data,

wherein after identifying the device, the control module initiates a data transfer via the wireless communication module with the device,

wherein if the device is the computer with access to uplink data, the data transfer includes downloading uplink data from the computer and storing the downloaded uplink data in the rewriteable memory,

wherein if the device is the driver communication module, the data transfer includes uploading uplink data, if available, from the rcwriteable memory to the driver communication module,

wherein after the data transfer, the portable data storage module reenters the sleep mode.