Portable device for logging driving information

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for logging performance of a driver operating a commercial motor vehicle (“CMV”). One method includes receiving at a portable device identifying information for the driver through a graphical user interface and at least one operating parameter from a non-portable base unit installed in the CMV. The non-portable base unit includes a processor and non-transitory computer-readable medium and configured to monitor at least one operating parameter of the CMV. The method also includes determining compliance data at the portable device based, at least in part, on the identifying information and the at least one operating parameter, and wirelessly transmitting signals based on the compliance data from the portable device to a remote host.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for logging performance of a driver operating a commercial motor vehicle (“CMV”), the method comprising:
 receiving, at a portable device, identifying information for the driver through a graphical user interface; 
 receiving, at the portable device, at least one operating parameter from a non-portable base unit installed in the CMV, the non-portable base unit including a processor and non-transitory computer-readable medium and configured to monitor at least one operating parameter of the CMV; 
 determining compliance data at the portable device based, at least in part, on the identifying information and the at least one operating parameter; and 
 wirelessly transmitting signals based on the compliance data from the portable device to a remote host. 
 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the at least one operating parameter from the non-portable base unit includes wirelessly receiving the at least one operating parameter from the non-portable base unit. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein wirelessly receiving the at least one operating parameter includes wirelessly receiving the at least one operating parameter over at least one of an area network connection and a cellular network. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising prompting, at the portable device, the driver for the identifying information. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 prompting, at the portable device, the driver for trip information; and   receiving, at the portable device, the trip information.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying, at the portable device, a current status of the CMV based, at least in part, on the trip information. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying, at the portable device, a plurality of logs associated with the driver and available through the portable device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising receiving, at the portable device, a selection from the driver of a log of the plurality of logs and accessing the log from non-transitory computer-readable medium included in the portable device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising receiving, at the portable device, a selection from the driver of a log of the plurality of logs, accessing the log from the remote host, and downloading the log to a non-transitory computer-readable medium included in the portable device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the displaying the plurality of logs includes displaying an indication associated with at least one of the plurality of logs indicating that the log is not currently stored on the portable device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the compliance data includes determining an hour-of-service log of the driver. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating an alert based on the compliance data. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein wirelessly transmitting the signals based on the compliance data to the remote host includes wirelessly transmitting the signals over the Internet. 
     
     
         14 . A portable device for logging performance of a driver operating a commercial motor vehicle (“CMV”), the portable device comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by the processor to:
 receive identifying information for the driver through a graphical user interface, 
 receive at least one operating parameter from a non-portable base unit installed in the CMV, the non-portable base unit including a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium and configured to monitor at least one operating parameter of the CMV, 
 determine compliance data at the portable device based, at least in part, on the identifying information and the at least one operating parameter, and 
 wirelessly transmit signals based on the compliance data from the portable device to a remote host. 
 
 
     
     
         15 . The portable device of  claim 14 , wherein the instructions to receive the at least one operating parameter from the non-portable base unit include instructions to wirelessly receive the at least one operating parameter from the non-portable base unit. 
     
     
         16 . The portable device of  claim 14 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to display a plurality of logs associated with the driver and available through the portable device. 
     
     
         17 . The portable device of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to receive a selection from the driver of a log of the plurality of logs and access the log from the non-transitory computer-readable medium. 
     
     
         18 . The portable device of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to receive a selection from the driver of a log of the plurality of logs, accessing the log from the remote host, and downloading the log to the non-transitory computer-readable medium. 
     
     
         19 . The portable device of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions to display the plurality of logs includes instructions to display an indication associated with at least one of the plurality of logs indicating that the at least one log is not currently stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium. 
     
     
         20 . A system for logging performance of a driver operating a commercial motor vehicle (“CMV”), the system comprising:
 a non-portable base unit installed in the CMV and configured to store at least one operating parameter of the CMV; and 
 a portable device configured to receive the at least one operating parameter stored in the non-portable base unit, determine compliance data based on the at least one operating parameter, and wirelessly transmit signals based on the compliance data to a remote host, 
 wherein the non-portable base unit stores the at least one operating parameter until the portable device connects to the base unit over one of a wired connection and a wireless connection to receive the at least one operating parameter. 
 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising a controller located in the CMV and configured to output the at least one operating parameter. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the non-portable base unit is configured to receive the at least one operating system from the controller. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the portable device includes at least one of a computer, a personal-digital-assistant, and a smart phone.