Driver activity and vehicle operation logging and reporting

• US 20110125365A1
• Filed: 02/01/2011
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovative Global Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Innovative Global Systems LLC
• Inventors: Bishop, J. Richard JR., Welch, James W., Larschan, Bradley R., Lesesky, Alan C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,032,277 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 13/00 Taximeters measuring distance travelled G01C; measuring time G04
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/04 using counting means or digital clocks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition

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 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. An electronic device for logging and reporting driver activity and vehicle operation, comprising:

a memory device configured to store operating data;

a power supply;

a first interface configured to connect to a vehicle mileage sensing system;

a second interface configured to connect to a data bus of the vehicle;

a receiver configured to link with a global navigation satellite system;

at least one data portal configured to upload data from the memory device to a receiver external to the vehicle using a wireless telecommunications network, and supporting a connection with a receiver external to the vehicle and under control of authorities;

a driver interface configured to record driver identification information input by a driver of the vehicle and duty status input by the driver;

a processor operatively connected to the memory device for processing encoded instructions and recording data selected from a group consisting of operating data, an hours of service log, and a fuel tax log; and

a display.

2. A method for logging and reporting driver activity and vehicle operation, comprising:

identifying a driver of a vehicle;

recording operating data with an electronic device operatively connected to a data bus of the vehicle, coupled to a vehicle mileage sensing system, and linked to a global navigation satellite system, the operating data being selected from a group consisting of mileage obtained from at least one of the vehicle mileage sensing system and the data bus;

engine use, time, and date obtained from the vehicle data bus; and

location, time, and date obtained from the global navigation satellite system;

recording a duty status of the driver;

creating an hours of service log comprising data selected from a group consisting of a change in duty status of the driver, time and date the change occurred, hours within each duty status, total hours driven today, total hours on duty for seven days, and total hours on duty for eight days; and

automatically uploading the hours of service log to a receiver external to the vehicle using a wireless telecommunications network.