Method for logging and reporting driver activity and operation of a vehicle
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for logging and reporting driver activity and operation data of a vehicle, said method comprising:
- operatively connecting an onboard recorder to a data bus of the vehicle;
using the onboard recorder, continuously monitoring, obtaining and calculating vehicle operation data comprising mileage data, engine use data, time the engine is turned off, speed of the vehicle, and time the engine remains on while the vehicle is not moving;
recording and storing the vehicle operation data in a memory device of the onboard recorder;
transmitting the vehicle operation data from the onboard recorder to a portable handheld communications device;
using data processing software operable on the handheld communications device, generating a hours of service log using the vehicle operation data continuously monitored, obtained and calculated from the data bus of the vehicle, the hours of service log comprising a driver'"'"'s total hours driven today, total hours on duty today, total miles driven today, total hours on duty for seven days, total hours on duty for eight days, and the driver'"'"'s changes in duty status and the times the duty status changes occurred; and
presenting the hours of service log to the vehicle driver in a grid form, whereby the driver'"'"'s hours of service log is applicable for comparison to a hours of service regulation to determine a compliance status of the driver; and
transmitting a compliance signal indicating whether the onboard recorder is functioning to record vehicle operation data needed to generate the driver'"'"'s hours of service log, such that the compliance status of the driver can be accurately determined, and in the event of a malfunction of the onboard recorder, the compliance signal is adapted for activating a visual indicator to the driver signifying an out-of-compliance condition of the onboard recorder.
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Abstract
An automated at-the-pump method manages vehicle fuel purchases at a fuel station. The method includes transmitting driver identification data to a mobile device assigned to a vehicle driver. The driver identification data is electronically verified to confirm that the driver identification data received by the mobile device matches the assigned vehicle driver. Vehicle data is transmitted from a data bus of the vehicle to the mobile device for storage in the memory. The vehicle data and driver identification data are transmitted to a remote terminal. Using the remote terminal, the vehicle data and driver identification data are electronically authenticated. An authorization signal is then transmitted from the remote terminal to an at-the-pump fuel control terminal.
332 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for logging and reporting driver activity and operation data of a vehicle, said method comprising:
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operatively connecting an onboard recorder to a data bus of the vehicle; using the onboard recorder, continuously monitoring, obtaining and calculating vehicle operation data comprising mileage data, engine use data, time the engine is turned off, speed of the vehicle, and time the engine remains on while the vehicle is not moving; recording and storing the vehicle operation data in a memory device of the onboard recorder; transmitting the vehicle operation data from the onboard recorder to a portable handheld communications device; using data processing software operable on the handheld communications device, generating a hours of service log using the vehicle operation data continuously monitored, obtained and calculated from the data bus of the vehicle, the hours of service log comprising a driver'"'"'s total hours driven today, total hours on duty today, total miles driven today, total hours on duty for seven days, total hours on duty for eight days, and the driver'"'"'s changes in duty status and the times the duty status changes occurred; and presenting the hours of service log to the vehicle driver in a grid form, whereby the driver'"'"'s hours of service log is applicable for comparison to a hours of service regulation to determine a compliance status of the driver; and transmitting a compliance signal indicating whether the onboard recorder is functioning to record vehicle operation data needed to generate the driver'"'"'s hours of service log, such that the compliance status of the driver can be accurately determined, and in the event of a malfunction of the onboard recorder, the compliance signal is adapted for activating a visual indicator to the driver signifying an out-of-compliance condition of the onboard recorder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification