Driver activity and vehicle operation logging and reporting

• US 20070038338A1
• Filed: 02/13/2006
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vehicle Enhancement Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vehicle Enhancement Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Welch, James, Lesesky, Alan, Larschan, Bradley, Bishop, J.
• Application Number:
  US11/352,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20070038338A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

A method for logging and reporting driver activity and vehicle operation includes identifying a driver of a vehicle, recording operating data with an on-board recorder that is hard-wired to an engine control module, coupled to a mileage sensing system, and linked to a global navigation satellite system, and recording duty status of the driver. An hours of service log and a fuel tax log are created from the operating data. The method includes comparing the driver'"'"'s hours of service log to an applicable requirement, indicating to the driver whether the driver is in-compliance or out-of-compliance with the applicable governmental reporting requirement, automatically uploading the logs to a receiver external to the vehicle using a wireless telecommunications network, and emitting a compliance signal representative of whether the driver is in-compliance or out-of-compliance with the applicable requirement to a second receiver external to the vehicle and under control of authorities.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, through at least one of a wired or wireless connection, information from a fuel pump at an on-board computer of a vehicle that is supplied fuel from the fuel pump, the information including at least one of a price per fuel unit purchased, an amount of fuel tax paid, a type of fuel purchased, and a purchase amount paid for the fuel supplied to the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises a price per fuel unit purchased.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises an amount of fuel tax paid.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises a type of fuel purchased.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises a purchase amount paid for the fuel supplied to the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information further comprises location information for a place in which the fuel was supplied.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information further comprises location information for a place in which a fuel tax was paid.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the information from the fuel pump at the on-board recorder comprises receiving the information from the fuel pump through a wireless connection.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the wireless connection comprises a WIFI connection.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the wireless connection comprises a BLUETOOTH connection.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the information from the fuel pump at the on-board recorder comprises receiving the information from the fuel pump through a wired connection.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the information from the fuel pump at the on-board recorder comprises receiving the information through use of a portable memory device to transfer the information from the fuel pump to the on-board recorder.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting from the on-board recorder to the fuel pump at least one of an identifier of the vehicle operator, a vehicle identifier, and an account identifier.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting information from the on-board recorder to the fuel pump, the information including at least one of a price per fuel unit purchased, an amount of fuel tax paid, a type of fuel purchased, and a purchase amount paid for the fuel supplied to the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein transmitting the information from the on-board recorder to the fuel pump comprises transmitting the information through use of a portable memory device to transfer the information from the on-board recorder to the fuel pump.