초록 ▼

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 sys

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.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method for logging and reporting driver activity and vehicle operation, comprising: identifying a driver of a vehicle; recording operating data with an on-board recorder hard-wired to a data bus of the vehicle, coupled to a vehicle mileage sensing system, and linked to a gl

What is claimed is: 1. A method for logging and reporting driver activity and vehicle operation, comprising: identifying a driver of a vehicle; recording operating data with an on-board recorder hard-wired 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 including: 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, the duty status including (a) off duty status, (b) sleeper berth status, (c) driving-on duty status, and (d) not driving-on duty status; creating an hours of service log from time, date, and duty status, the hours of service log including 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; creating a fuel tax log from mileage obtained from the vehicle mileage sensing system, location obtained from the global navigation satellite system, time obtained from at least one of the vehicle data bus and the global navigation satellite system, and date obtained from at least one of the vehicle data bus and the global navigation satellite system, the fuel tax log including miles traveled between periodic recording intervals, and location, time, and date recorded at each periodic recording interval; comparing the driver's hours of service log to an applicable requirement; indicating to the driver with the on-board recorder whether the driver is in-compliance or out-of-compliance with the applicable requirement; automatically uploading the hours of service log and the fuel tax log to a receiver external to the vehicle using a wireless telecommunications network; 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; notifying the driver to log into the recorder if the vehicle moves and the driver has not logged in; and emitting an out-of-compliance signal if the driver is not logged in within a predetermined period. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the driver of the vehicle comprises interfacing with a portable memory device. 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising importing a driver's hours of service log through the portable memory device or the wireless network. 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the portable memory device comprises a smart card. 5. The method of claim 2, wherein the portable memory device comprises a contact memory button. 6. The method of claim 1 further comprising verifying the identity of the driver of the vehicle. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein verifying the identity of the driver of the vehicle comprises biometric verification. 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling the vehicle to be started in response to identifying the driver of the vehicle. 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling the vehicle to be moved in response to identifying the driver of the vehicle. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein recording operating data includes automatically recording the mileage from the vehicle mileage sensing system; the mileage, engine use, time, and date obtained from the vehicle data bus; and the location, time, and date obtained from the global navigation satellite system. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein recording the duty status includes automatically determining a change in the duty status and at least one of the time, date and location of the change in the duty status from the operating data. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein recording the duty status includes logging a change in the duty status from a manual input by the driver. 13. The method of claim 1, further comprising manually inputting an indication of a border crossing. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the fuel tax log is used to create an IFTA (International Fuel Tax Agreement) compliant fuel tax report. 15. The method of claim 1 wherein the periodic recording interval comprises at least every fifteen minutes. 16. The method of claim 1, further comprising: logging the duty status of a first driver of the vehicle with the on-board recorder; identifying a next driver of the vehicle with the on-board recorder; logging the duty status of the first driver and the next driver of the vehicle with the on-board recorder; and importing data for an hours of service log for the next driver into the on-board recorder from at least one of a portable memory device and a wireless telecommunications network. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising creating a fuel tax log for a single vehicle having the first driver and the second driver. 18. The method of claim 1, further comprising calibrating mileage received from the vehicle mileage sensing system using data received from the global navigation satellite system. 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing mileage from the recorder to an odometer display and to the vehicle data bus. 20. The method of claim 1, further comprising calibrating mileage received from the vehicle mileage sensing system using vehicle tire size. 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing mileage from the recorder to an odometer display and to the vehicle data bus. 22. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating an exceptions report from the comparison of the driver's hours of service log to the applicable requirement. 23. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying to the driver a cause of being out-of-compliance. 24. The method of claim 1, further comprising encrypting the operating data, the hours of service log and the fuel tax log to ensure data integrity. 25. The method of claim 1, further comprising encrypting the compliance signal emitted from the recorder to ensure data integrity. 26. The method of claim 1, further comprising: modifying operating data by a driver input; and recording any alterations of operating data with a track changes function of the on-board recorder. 27. The method of claim 1, further comprising: modifying operating data by a fleet carrier input; and recording any alterations of operating data with a track changes function of the on-board recorder. 28. The method of claim 1, further comprising: modifying operating data by a driver input; and recording any alterations of operating data with a track changes function on the host server. 29. The method of claim 1, further comprising: modifying operating data by a fleet carrier input; and recording any alterations of operating data with a track changes function on the host server. 30. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the hours of service log as a graphical grid. 31. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically uploading comprises uploading over a pager connection. 32. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically uploading comprises uploading over a cellular telephone connection. 33. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically uploading comprises uploading over a wide area network connection. 34. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically uploading comprises uploading over an infrared connection. 35. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically uploading comprises uploading over a radio connection. 36. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically uploading comprises uploading over a satellite connection. 37. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically uploading comprises uploading during an off-peak operating period for a wireless telecommunications network. 38. The method of claim 37, wherein the off-peak operating period is between 1:00 am and 5:00 am. 39. The method of claim 37, wherein the off-peak operating period is on a weekend. 40. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically uploading comprises attempting to upload at least daily first over a least expensive connection and, if unsuccessful, then over at least one next least expensive connection. 41. The method of claim 40, further comprising uploading over a satellite connection when successive daily uploads are unsuccessful. 42. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically uploading comprises attempting to upload at least daily first over a predetermined wireless telecommunications network connection and, if unsuccessful, then over another predetermined wireless telecommunications network. 43. The method of claim 1, further comprising uploading to the second receiver external to the vehicle when a compliance status check is requested by law enforcement. 44. The method of claim 1, further comprising uploading to the second receiver external to the vehicle when the vehicle is within a predetermined range of the second receiver. 45. The method of claim 1, wherein the second receiver is located on a handheld device. 46. The method of claim 1, wherein the second receiver is located along a highway. 47. The method of claim 1, wherein the second receiver is located at a weigh station. 48. The method of claim 1, wherein the second receiver is located within a law enforcement vehicle. 49. The method of claim 1, further comprising uploading the compliance signal through a wired connection connected to a data port inside or outside of the vehicle. 50. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting the hours of service log to at least one of the group consisting of a display on the on-board recorder, a display on an external display device, the second receiver, and a wired connection connected to a data port inside or outside of the vehicle. 51. The method of claim 50, wherein outputting the hours of service log occurs responsive to a request from at least one of the group consisting of the driver, a fleet carrier, and the authorities. 52. The method of claim 1, further comprising: communicating a data transfer and storage device with the on-board recorder; and uploading the hours of service log, fuel tax log, and the compliance signal to the data transfer and storage device. 53. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically uploading the hours of service log and the fuel tax log to a receiver comprises uploading to a host server. 54. The method of claim 53, further comprising uploading fuel tax logs from the host server to an external server, the external server creating and filing fuel tax reports. 55. The method of claim 1, further comprising emitting a signal representative of IFTA compliance. 56. The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying the driver to log operating data on a paper log if the recorder is malfunctioning. 57. The method of claim 56, wherein notifying the driver to log operating data on the paper log includes at least one of the group consisting of a text message, a visual indicator and an audible signal. 58. The method of claim 1, wherein indicating compliance state includes notifying the driver of compliance state with an audible or visual indicator on the recorder. 59. The method of claim 58, wherein notifying the driver of compliance state includes at least one of the group consisting of a yellow light, a red light and a green light on the recorder. 60. The method of claim 1, further comprising the driver certifying the driver's hours of service log prior to the automatic upload. 61. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically uploading comprises uploading a previous day's log. 62. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating a self-diagnostic function on the recorder upon a predetermined event. 63. The method of claim 62, wherein the predetermined event is at least one of a vehicle start, once in a 24-hour cycle, upon demand by law enforcement, and upon demand by the driver. 64. The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying a carrier when the driver is nearing an end of an hours of service parameter. 65. The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying the driver when the driver is nearing an end of an hours of service parameter. 66. The method of claim 65, further comprising flashing a light on the recorder when the driver is within a first predetermined time period of an end of an hours of service parameter. 67. The method of claim 66, further comprising flashing another light on the recorder when the driver is within another predetermined time period of an end of an hours of service parameter. 68. An on-board recorder 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, recording operating data, and creating an hours of service log, a fuel tax log, and determining whether the driver is in compliance with an applicable requirement according to the method of claim 1; and a display. 69. A system for logging and reporting driver activity and vehicle operation, comprising: the on-board recorder of claim 68; wired connection between the on-board recorder and the vehicle data bus; a first server connected with the vehicle through the wireless telecommunications network, the on-board recorder being configured to automatically download the hours of service log, the fuel tax log, and the compliance signal; and a second server connected with the first server and configured to receive the fuel tax log, the second server including a computer readable media encoded with one or more computer programs for filing fuel tax reports based on the fuel tax log. 70. A method for logging and reporting driver activity and vehicle operation, comprising: identifying a driver of a vehicle; recording operating data with an on-board recorder hard-wired 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 including: 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, the duty status including (a) off duty status, (b) sleeper berth status, (c) driving-on duty status, and (d) not driving-on duty status; creating an hours of service log from time, date, and duty status, the hours of service log including 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; creating a fuel tax log from mileage obtained from the vehicle mileage sensing system, location obtained from the global navigation satellite system, time obtained from at least one of the vehicle data bus and the global navigation satellite system, and date obtained from at least one of the vehicle data bus and the global navigation satellite system, the fuel tax log including miles traveled between periodic recording intervals, and location, time, and date recorded at each periodic recording interval; comparing the driver's hours of service log to an applicable requirement; indicating to the driver with the on-board recorder whether the driver is in-compliance or out-of-compliance with the applicable requirement; automatically uploading the hours of service log and the fuel tax log to a receiver external to the vehicle using a wireless telecommunications network; 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; and notifying the driver if the engine is on and the vehicle is not moving, to prompt the driver to enter a change in duty status. 71. The method of claim 70, wherein identifying the driver of the vehicle comprises interfacing with a portable memory device. 72. The method of claim 71, further comprising importing a driver's hours of service log through the portable memory device or the wireless network. 73. The method of claim 71, wherein the portable memory device comprises a smart card. 74. The method of claim 71, wherein the portable memory device comprises a contact memory button. 75. The method of claim 70, further comprising verifying the identity of the driver of the vehicle. 76. The method of claim 75, wherein verifying the identity of the driver of the vehicle comprises biometric verification. 77. The method of claim 70, further comprising enabling the vehicle to be started in response to identifying the driver of the vehicle. 78. The method of claim 70, further comprising enabling the vehicle to be moved in response to identifying the driver of the vehicle. 79. The method of claim 70, wherein recording operating data includes automatically recording the mileage from the vehicle mileage sensing system; the mileage, engine use, time, and date obtained from the vehicle data bus; and the location, time, and date obtained from the global navigation satellite system. 80. The method of claim 70, wherein recording the duty status includes automatically determining a change in the duty status and at least one of the time, date and location of the change in the duty status from the operating data. 81. The method of claim 70, wherein recording the duty status includes logging a change in the duty status from a manual input by the driver. 82. The method of claim 70, further comprising manually inputting an indication of a border crossing. 83. The method of claim 70, wherein the fuel tax log is used to create an IFTA (International Fuel Tax Agreement) compliant fuel tax report. 84. The method of claim 70, wherein the periodic recording interval comprises at least every fifteen minutes. 85. The method of claim 70, further comprising: logging the duty status of a first driver of the vehicle with the on-board recorder; identifying a next driver of the vehicle with the on-board recorder; logging the duty status of the first driver and the next driver of the vehicle with the on-board recorder; and importing data for an hours of service log for the next driver into the on-board recorder from at least one of a portable memory device and a wireless telecommunications network. 86. The method of claim 85, further comprising creating a fuel tax log for a single vehicle having the first driver and the second driver. 87. The method of claim 70, further comprising calibrating mileage received from the vehicle mileage sensing system using data received from the global navigation satellite system. 88. The method of claim 87, further comprising providing mileage from the recorder to an odometer display and to the vehicle data bus. 89. The method of claim 70, further comprising calibrating mileage received from the vehicle mileage sensing system using vehicle tire size. 90. The method of claim 89, further comprising providing mileage from the recorder to an odometer display and to the vehicle data bus. 91. The method of claim 70, further comprising creating an exceptions report from the comparison of the driver's hours of service log to the applicable requirement. 92. The method of claim 70, further comprising displaying to the driver a cause of being out-of-compliance. 93. The method of claim 70, further comprising encrypting the operating data, the hours of service log and the fuel tax log to ensure data integrity. 94. The method of claim 70, further comprising encrypting the compliance signal emitted from the recorder to ensure data integrity. 95. The method of claim 70, further comprising: modifying operating data by a driver input; and recording any alterations of operating data with a track changes function of the on-board recorder. 96. The method of claim 70, further comprising: modifying operating data by a fleet carrier input; and recording any alterations of operating data with a track changes function of the on-board recorder. 97. The method of claim 70, further comprising: modifying operating data by a driver input; and recording any alterations of operating data with a track changes function on the host server. 98. The method of claim 70, further comprising: modifying operating data by a fleet carrier input; and recording any alterations of operating data with a track changes function on the host server. 99. The method of claim 70, further comprising displaying the hours of service log as a graphical grid. 100. The method of claim 70, wherein automatically uploading comprises uploading over a pager connection. 101. The method of claim 70, wherein automatically uploading comprises uploading over a cellular telephone connection. 102. The method of claim 70, wherein automatically uploading comprises uploading over a wide area network connection. 103. The method of claim 70, wherein automatically uploading comprises uploading over an infrared connection. 104. The method of claim 70, wherein automatically uploading comprises uploading over a radio connection. 105. The method of claim 70, wherein automatically uploading comprises uploading over a satellite connection. 106. The method of claim 70, wherein automatically uploading comprises uploading during an off-peak operating period for a wireless telecommunications network. 107. The method of claim 106, wherein the off-peak operating period is between 1:00 am and 5:00 am. 108. The method of claim 106, wherein the off-peak operating period is on a weekend. 109. The method of claim 70, wherein automatically uploading comprises attempting to upload at least daily first over a least expensive connection and, if unsuccessful, then over at least one next least expensive connection. 110. The method of claim 109, further comprising uploading over a satellite connection when successive daily uploads are unsuccessful. 111. The method of claim 70, wherein automatically uploading comprises attempting to upload at least daily first over a predetermined wireless telecommunications network connection and, if unsuccessful, then over another predetermined wireless telecommunications network. 112. The method of claim 70, further comprising uploading to the second receiver external to the vehicle when a compliance status check is requested by law enforcement. 113. The method of claim 70, further comprising uploading to the second receiver external to the vehicle when the vehicle is within a predetermined range of the second receiver. 114. The method of claim 70, wherein the second receiver is located on a handheld device. 115. The method of claim 70, wherein the second receiver is located along a highway. 116. The method of claim 70, wherein the second receiver is located at a weigh station. 117. The method of claim 70, wherein the second receiver is located within a law enforcement vehicle. 118. The method of claim 70, further comprising uploading the compliance signal through a wired connection connected to a data port inside or outside of the vehicle. 119. The method of claim 70, further comprising outputting the hours of service log to at least one of the group consisting of a display on the on-board recorder, a display on an external display device, the second receiver, and a wired connection connected to a data port inside or outside of the vehicle. 120. The method of claim 119, wherein outputting the hours of service log occurs responsive to a request from at least one of the group consisting of the driver, a fleet carrier, and the authorities. 121. The method of claim 70, further comprising: communicating a data transfer and storage device with the on-board recorder; and uploading the hours of service log, fuel tax log, and the compliance signal to the data transfer and storage device. 122. The method of claim 70, wherein automatically uploading the hours of service log and the fuel tax log to a receiver comprises uploading to a host server. 123. The method of claim 122, further comprising uploading fuel tax logs from the host server to an external server, the external server creating and filing fuel tax reports. 124. The method of claim 70, further comprising emitting a signal representative of IFTA compliance. 125. The method of claim 70, further comprising notifying the driver to log operating data on a paper log if the recorder is malfunctioning. 126. The method of claim 125, wherein notifying the driver to log operating data on the paper log includes at least one of the group consisting of a text message, a visual indicator and an audible signal. 127. The method of claim 70, wherein indicating compliance state includes notifying the driver of compliance state with an audible or visual indicator on the recorder. 128. The method of claim 127, wherein notifying the driver of compliance state includes at least one of the group consisting of a yellow light, a red light and a green light on the recorder. 129. The method of claim 70, further comprising the driver certifying the driver's hours of service log prior to the automatic upload. 130. The method of claim 70, wherein automatically uploading comprises uploading a previous day's log. 131. The method of claim 70, further comprising initiating a self-diagnostic function on the recorder upon a predetermined event. 132. The method of claim 131, wherein the predetermined event is at least one of a vehicle start, once in a 24-hour cycle, upon demand by law enforcement, and upon demand by the driver. 133. The method of claim 70, further comprising notifying a carrier when the driver is nearing an end of an hours of service parameter. 134. The method of claim 70, further comprising notifying the driver when the driver is nearing an end of an hours of service parameter. 135. The method of claim 134, further comprising flashing a light on the recorder when the driver is within a first predetermined time period of an end of an hours of service parameter. 136. The method of claim 134, further comprising flashing another light on the recorder when the driver is within another predetermined time period of an end of an hours of service parameter. 137. An on-board recorder 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, recording operating data, and creating an hours of service log, a fuel tax log, and determining whether the driver is in compliance with an applicable requirement according to the method of claim 70; and a display. 138. A system for logging and reporting driver activity and vehicle operation, comprising: the on-board recorder of claim 137; wired connection between the on-board recorder and the vehicle data bus; a first server connected with the vehicle through the wireless telecommunications network, the on-board recorder being configured to automatically download the hours of service log, the fuel tax log, and the compliance signal; and a second server connected with the first server and configured to receive the fuel tax log, the second server including a computer readable media encoded with one or more computer programs for filing fuel tax reports based on the fuel tax log.