Portable data storage module

• US 7,802,729 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2008
• Issued: 09/28/2010
• 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:
  US12/145,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20080251588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/385, 235/384, 235/451, 340/10.1, 340/10.3, 340 56- 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 portable data storage module comprising:

a control module;

a wireless communication module;

a rewriteable memory; and

a data transfer button, wherein, 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,

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

wherein when the portable data storage module is in the sleep mode, the portable data storage module can not send or receive communications.

2. The portable data storage module of claim 1, wherein the data transfer comprises uploading data from the device and storing the data in the rewriteable memory.

3. The portable data storage module of claim 2, wherein the device is a computer, wherein the data includes a trip plan.

4. The portable data storage module of claim 1, wherein the data transfer comprises downloading data from the rewriteable memory to the device.

5. The portable data storage module of claim 4, wherein the device is a driver information module, wherein the data includes a trip plan.

6. The portable data storage module of claim 4, wherein the portable data storage module receives an acknowledgement for the data from the device and then the control module deletes the data from the rewriteable memory in response to the acknowledgement.

7. The portable data storage module of claim 1, further comprising an alert button, wherein when the alert button is pressed the portable data storage module transmits an alert message via the wireless communication module.

8. The portable data storage module of claim 1, further comprising a loop that allows the portable data storage module to be connected to a key chain.

9. The portable data storage module of claim 1, wherein the portable data storage module communicates using a ZigBee wireless standard.

10. A method comprising:

sending an initiate communication request from a portable data storage module as a first wireless transmission;

receiving a response to the initiate communication request from a device as a second wireless transmission at the portable data storage module;

identifying the device that sent the second wireless transmission at the portable data storage module; and

transferring data between the portable data storage module and the device based on the identification of the device via a third wireless transmission.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein transferring data comprises uploading data from the device and storing the data in a rewriteable memory of the portable data storage module.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the device is a computer, wherein the data includes a trip plan loaded on the portable data storage module.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the data transfer comprises downloading data from the rewriteable memory of the portable data storage module to the device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the device is a driver information module, wherein the data includes a trip plan loaded on the portable data storage module.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the portable data storage module receives an acknowledgement for the data from the device and deletes the data from a rewriteable memory in response to the acknowledgement.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the initiate communication request includes a device identifier that identifies the device to the portable data storage module.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising entering a sleep mode in the portable data storage module after transferring the data between the portable data storage module and the device.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the first, the second and the third wireless transmissions each conform to a ZigBee wireless standard.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein, prior to the sending the initiate communication request, the portable data storage module is in a sleep mode, wherein when the portable data storage module is in the sleep mode, the portable data storage module can not send or receive communications.

20. The method of claim 19,

wherein the data storage module includes a data transfer button,

the method further comprising receiving an input from the data transfer button with the portable data storage module,

wherein receiving the input from the data transfer button wakes the portable data storage module from the sleep mode and causes the portable data storage module to send the initiate communication request from the portable data storage module as the first wireless transmission.