Abstract:
The present invention provides a system for recording and processing driving data for a driver of a motor carrier, comprising: (a) a portable computing device associated with the driver, the portable computing device being adapted to record driving data for the driver; (b) a wireless communications system coupled to the portable computing device for wirelessly connecting the device to a wide-area communications network; and (c) a software program accessible on the wide-area communications network for processing driving data received from the portable computing device through the wireless communications system. Preferably, the driving data includes hours of service data for the driver. The portable computing device includes a memory for storing rules for hours of service in a given time period and the device further includes a warning system responsive to the hours of service data for the driver for warning the driver when a rest period is required.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/1232,605, filed Sept. 14, 2000. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to the field of recording and processing driving data, including hours of service data, for drivers in the transportation industry.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The transportation industry, and in particular the motor carrier segment, is inundated with paperwork including driver time sheets, bills of lading, and invoices. As well, there are regulatory requirements such as hours of service compliance, and fuel &amp; miles tax reporting with associated paperwork. A majority of the paperwork is generated by the driver. Existing solutions developed to cope with the paper load typically consist of entering data into an office computer system once the paperwork has been collected and submitted by the driver.  
           [0004]    Currently, drivers of motor carriers are required to complete a paper log book that logs the hours and locations of time spend working, driving, off duty, and in a sleeper berth. Hours of service regulations strictly regulate the number of hours a driver may drive within a given time period to ensure that he/she has had sufficient rest periods between driving engagements. One objective of these mandatory rest periods is to reduce the number of traffic accidents and fatalities related to tired drivers failing asleep at the wheel.  
           [0005]    There are numerous drawbacks in the paper-based systems currently in use for recording hours of service data. These include, for example, the difficulty in calculating available hours left to drive in a given time period. Simple errors in completing the log book can lead to severe fines and penalties. In addition, with paper-based systems, there may be problems associated with falsification of log books by drivers and the associated difficulty in auditing the log books to ensure compliance with regulations. Often, the problems associated with paper-based systems are exacerbated by the inability to transfer the logs from the driver to the main office in a timely and efficient manner. Given the schedules that manly truck drivers keep, it is not uncommon for the drivers to submit their paperwork only once a month. These cyclical waves of paperwork cause a ripple effect and result in delays associated with processing.  
           [0006]    As an alternative to the existing paper-based systems, some truck operators are presently using electronic recording devices installed on-board trucks. These on-board systems, while technically sophisticated, can be prohibitively expensive and difficult to use. Typically, these on-board systems are linked by satellite and the equipment necessary to establish a satellite link may be expensive. The main difficulty associated with these on-board devices, however, is that they are associated with the truck and not the driver. As it is not uncommon for drivers to change vehicles during the day, or overnight, such on-board devices may be of limited value in tracking hours of service data for an individual driver over any length of time.  
           [0007]    Due to a number of factors, such as the proliferation of logistic providers squeezing freight rates, rising fuel costs, and ongoing legislative and regulatory issues, the profit margins enjoyed by many carriers tire relatively small. Sophisticated and costly on-board systems may not be a feasible option for many of these carriers. What is needed is a system for recording and processing hours of service data and other driving data in an efficient and cost effective manner and which provides useful feedback information available to the driver.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    In an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for tracking driving data for a driver of a motor carrier, comprising: (a) a portable computing device associated with said driver, said portable computing device being adapted to record driving data for said driver; (b) a wireless communications system coupled to said portable computing device for wirelessly connecting said device to a wide-area communications network; and (c) a software program accessible on said wide-area communications network for processing driving data received from said portable computing device through said wireless communications system.  
           [0009]    Preferably, the driving data includes hours of service data for said driver.  
           [0010]    Preferably, the driving data includes fuel &amp; miles tax data for said driver.  
           [0011]    More preferably, the portable computing device includes a memory for storing rules for hours of service in a given time period, and said device further includes a warning system responsive to the hours of service data for said driver for warning said driver when a rest period is required.  
           [0012]    In one embodiment, the wireless communications system is adapted to communicate with a cellular telecommunications network.  
           [0013]    In another embodiment, the wide-area communications network comprises the internet.  
           [0014]    In another aspect, there is provided a method for recording and processing driving data for a driver of a motor carrier, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a portable computing device associated with said driver: (b) recording driving data for said driver on said portable computing device; (c) communicating the driving data to a wide-area communications network using a wireless communications system coupled to said portable computing device; and (d) operating a software program accessible on said wide area communications network for processing driving data received from said portable computing device through said wireless communications system.  
           [0015]    Preferably, the method includes recording hours of service data for said driver.  
           [0016]    More preferably, the method includes storing rules for hours of service in a given time period and warning said driver when a rest period is required based on the hours of service recorded for said driver.  
           [0017]    In one embodiment the wireless communications system communicates with a cellular telecommunications network.  
           [0018]    In another embodiment, the wide-area communications network comprises the internet.  
           [0019]    In yet another aspect, there is provided a portable device for tracking driver data for a driver of a motor carrier, comprising: (a) a memory for storing rules for hours of service and recording hours of service data for said driver; (b) a software program operating on said portable device for processing said hours of service data for said driver and comparing said hours of service data to said rules for hours of service to determine compliance with said rules, and (c) warning system responsive to said hours of service data for warning said driver when compliance with said rules is about to be broached. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]    For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings which show a preferred embodiment of the present invention and in which:  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 shows a data collection device on accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 shows a sample of a display in the data collection device of FIG. 2; and  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 shows a flow-chart illustrating use of the data collection device of FIG. 2 by a driver for recording and processing hours of service information.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]    Referring to FIG. 1, a model of the system according to the present invention is shown. To reduce the many inefficiencies of existing paper-based system as described earlier, recognizing that a majority of the paperwork is generated by the driver, the present inventor has realized that a data collection device  10  must reside with the driver and not in the main office or installed on-board a truck. Also, to remove the obstacle of geography, the inventor has realized that the internet  30  can be used as a readily accessible communications infrastructure through which data from a vast geographic area can be collected to a central location at relatively low cost.  
         [0026]    The model shown in FIG. 1 consists of the integration of a number of components, First, a portable data collection device  10  is issued to each driver in the field. The data collection devices  10  are preferably equipped with a wireless communications system such as a wireless modem (not shown) which allows each of the devices  10  to be connected to any one of a plurality or private or common carrier telecommunications networks  20 ,  21 . While connection by wireless means is preferred, connection may also be by wireline, satellite, etc. It will be appreciated that if connection is by wireline, data collection will be intermittent and dictated by the availability of a wireline connection.  
         [0027]    Still referring to FIG. 1, an Internet service provider (ISP) provides access to the internet  30  through the telecommunications networks  20 ,  21 . As shown, the telecommunications networks  20 ,  21  may be geographically separated such that the devices  10  may be distributed over a wide geographical area. The telecommunications networks  20 ,  21  in turn allow access, by dial-in or by dedicated connection, to the internet  30 .  
         [0028]    Still referring to FIG. 1, appropriate data processing web-applications (including hours of service, fuel &amp; miles tax, time-sheets, and driver e-mail) are hosted on a server operated by an application service provider (ASP)  40 . The ASP  40  is likewise connected to the internet  30  and web-applications hosted by the ASP  40  may receive driving data from the devices  10  in the field through the telecommunications networks  20 ,  21  and the internet  30 . A web-application hosted by the ASP  40  may store, process, and generate reports based on the driving data received from the devices  10 .  
         [0029]    Still referring to FIG. 1, a client  60  is also connected to the internet either directly or through an ISP (not shown) and has access to the web-applications hosted by the ASP  40 . When clients  50  such as carriers and owner-operators log onto the web-applications, they can be taken to a data-secure site that allows them access to the applications they are registered to use. The web-applications may generate any necessary reports, which can be viewed on-line, taxed or e-mailed to the client  50 . The web-applications may also store the log information for any stipulated period, typically 6 months. The date may also be duplicated on a redundant server to endure security and high-availability.  
         [0030]    It is also possible that the client  50  may have direct access to the devices  10  In the field. However, in the preferred system shown in FIG. 1, the client has access to the devices  10  (e.g. driver e-mail) through the web-applications hosted by the ASP  40 . In this manner, the client  50  does not need to be concerned about managing the communications with the devices  10  and need only be familiar with accessing one or more web-applications hosted by the ASP  40  through the internet  30 .  
         [0031]    Now referring to FIG. 2, the portable data collection device  10  of FIG. 1 is shown In enlarged detail. As shown, the device  10  contains a large display area  12  to provide detailed driving status information. Preferably, the display area  12  will display an easy to use graphical user interface (an example is shown in FIG. 3). A keypad  14  is provided for driver input and for selecting various menu options displayed in the display area  12 . While a numeric keypad  16  is shown, it will be appreciated that the keypad  14  may also be alphanumeric. A writing pad  16  may also be provided to electronically capture a driver&#39;s location, remarks, and the driver&#39;s signature when necessary. Also preferably provided with the device  10  is a wireless modem (not shown) for connecting to a telecommunications network  20 ,  21  (FIG. 1) and to the Internet  30 . Optionally, a wireline modem (not shown) may be provided for intermittent connection to a telecommunications network  20 ,  21  by wireline. Furthermore, the device  10  can incorporate a global positioning system (GPS) module (not shown) and a connection interface to the truck (not shown) for determining operational status of tho vehicle, including speed and distance traveled. Other vehicle status information including diagnostics can also be recorded to facilitate servicing and for keeping maintenance records.  
         [0032]    Now referring to FIG. 3, a sample display in the display area  12  of device  10  is shown. The display may include a date field  62 , a current time field  64 , and a driver name field  66 . The display may further include a graphical time bar  68  with quarter-hour increments provided along a horizontal axis. The time bar  68  may define an axis for, say, four possible states including an off duty state  70 , a sleeper berth state  72 , a driving state  74 , and an on duty (but not driving) state  76 . These states may be selected by the driver using the keypad  14 . The off duty state  70  may be selected, for example, by simply turning off the device  10 . The total amount of time spent in each state in a given time period may be indicated in corresponding fields  71 ,  73 ,  75  and  77 . The changes in state may also be indicated graphically by a bar  79  which moves between the states  70 ,  72 ,  74 ,  78 . Furthermore, the present state may be indicated by highlighting one of the states  70 ,  72 ,  74 ,  76  (in FIG. 3, the driving state  74  is highlighted) Associated with the driving state time bar  68  is a remarks field  78  indicating times at which the driver has entered remarks using, say, the writing pad  16 .  
         [0033]    It will be understood that a connection interface to the truck itself may prevent drivers from fraudulently recording driving time as off duty state, etc. This, of the truck is in operation, the interface can ensure that the device  10  automatically is in the driving state  74 .  
         [0034]    Still referring to FIG. 3, additional display fields may provide useful hours of service information back to the driver including driver time left  80 , consecutive time off  82 , and any of a number of other hours of service rules including, for example, a 10 hour rule  84 , 15 hour rule  86 , and 7 day rule  88 . As the display  12  is a graphical user interface presented by a software program running on the data collection device  10 , various other menu features can be provided including, for example, vehicle inspection  90 , driving summary information  92 , view options  94 , and utility  96 . These menu options may be selected by the driver using the keypad  14 .  
         [0035]    Now referring to FIG. 4, an example of how a drive interacts with a device  10  is shown by way of a flow-chart generally referred to by reference numeral  100 . First, at block  102  a driver turns on the device  10 . At block  104 , the system updates the duty status line. At block  106 , the system determines if it is the same day as when the machine was last turned off if yes, the system proceeds to block  110 . If no, the system first proceeds to block  108  where yesterday&#39;s daily log information is completed and the driver is requested to sign at pad  16  (FIG. 2) for verification. The system then proceeds from block  108  to block  110 . At block  110 , the driver selects the driving duty status by means of keypad  14  (FIG. 2).  
         [0036]    Next, at block  112 , the system determines whether the truck has been inspected for the day. If yes, the system proceeds to block  120  and the driver is free to drive. If no, the system proceeds to block  118  where the driver is prompted to write a remark that the vehicle has been inspected. As the device  10  is portable, this allows the driver to use the device to make circle checks around the vehicle and can follow the driver when they are required to work in a different vehicle.  
         [0037]    From block  118 , the system proceeds to block  120  add the driver is free to drive. While the driver is driving, the system enters block  122  and the system periodically determines whether them are any hours of service violations about to occur in, say, 30 minutes, 15 minutes, and 0 minutes. If yes, the system proceeds to block  124  where a visible and/or audible warning is provided to the driver that he/she should rest. If no violations are about to occur, no warning is given and the system proceeds to block  126  where the driver finishes driving. At this point, the system proceeds to block  128  where the driver changes the duty status by means of keypad  14 . The system then proceeds to block  130  where the system determines whether it is a new day at the end of driving. If yes, the system proceeds to block  132  where the system completes yesterday&#39;s daily log information and prompts the driver to sign for verification. The system then proceeds to block  134  where the driver turns off the device. If no, the system proceeds directly to block  134 ,  
         [0038]    As described above, preferably, tho software program in the device  10  proactively manages the driver&#39;s time by continuous display of information including drive time remaining and recommending when to stop driving. The required log is automatically generated and the driver is prompted for the appropriate response if he/she does not appear to be following the hours of service regulations correctly. Also, in order to comply with different regulations in different jurisdictions, the device  10  may automatically update the hours of service rules when a driver crosses a border, for example, between Canada and the United States.  
         [0039]    It will he appreciated that various other applications may be provided through the system described above. The data collection device  10  may be used, for example, for recording necessary data for fuel &amp; miles tax. The device  10  may capture the truck&#39;s route via a GPS system while the driver enters fuel receipt information into the device. The driver may transmit the information to the ASP  40  where a fuel &amp; miles tax web-application compiles all of the data on a carrier&#39;s fleet and generates the reports. Fuel receipt and trip information can also be entered directly into the web-application for clients who do not have their entire fleet connected via portable devices  10 .  
         [0040]    As another example, the system may incorporate a driver time sheet application. Truck drivers are typically reimbursed for their services by either hours worked or miles driven. Drivers can enter their hours worked, on a particular job or day, directly into the data collection device  10 . A time-sheet web-application maintained by the ASP  40  can take this information and create time-sheet reports for the carrier&#39;s payroll department. Miles driven by the driver may be automatically collected using the fuel &amp; miles tax web-application.  
         [0041]    Yet another example of an application which may be incorporated into the system Is electronic mail. One of the challenges in trucking is a cost-effective method of relaying detailed information to drivers on the road. The portable devices  10  are driver based as opposed to vehicle based so they can function as a driver&#39;s own personal e-mail box. Either by sending a massage through the ASP  40  website or regular e-mail, the driver is able to receive these messages the next time he connects with the service. The advantage of this system is that anyone, including a driver&#39;s family, can send messages regardless of the driver&#39;s location or assigned vehicle. Multiple messages can be stored in the handheld for saving important information such as directions to a customer&#39;s site.  
         [0042]    In summary, the disclosed system according to the present invention exists at the convergence of technologies, including the internet, wireless communications, and handheld devices. The transportation industry is slowly beginning to awaken to the potential of these technologies but has yet to adopt any one solution that has had a sizable impact on safety or profit. To the inventor&#39;s knowledge, the system described above is unique, and fills a need in the industry that no other system on the market can presently meet.  
         [0043]    Associated with collecting the driving data are various other challenges facing motor carriers, namely, the auditing, reporting and storage of the information collected and the associated cost and difficulties of supporting the Information technology required for the task. Many companies have realized that it is more cost effective to outsource their information technology needs and concentrate on their core competencies. By hosting web-applications on a server provided by the ASP  40  to perform the necessary data processing tasks, and having clients  50  access the server via the internet, the clients are relieved from the task of generating internal reports, maintaining and storing data, and the need to purchasing expensive computer systems. The inventor believes that combining these various components together results in a more efficient and cost effective system for some motor carriers for managing their businesses.  
         [0044]    All segments of the trucking industry can benefit from the system and method In accordance with the present invention. Medium to small for-hire and private truckload carriers can benefit from outsourcing data processing services, and from application of the service strategy according to the present invention. It is expected that the scalability of the system combined with low cost hand held devices will also appeal to large international carriers that need to collect data from a wide geographical area in a cost effective manner. Advantageously, the system according to the present invention is able to achieve significant economies of scale by utilizing the Internet as the primary communications infrastructure,  
         [0045]    While a preferred embodiment of the present Invention has been shown and described by way of example, it will be appreciated that various changes and alterations may be made to the disclosed embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the following claims all of such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.