Industrial Vehicle Operator Authentication Using A Removable Storage Device

Abstract

Operation of the industrial vehicle is managed by devices onboard the vehicle. One such management device includes a portable memory device issued to a person authorized to operate the vehicle. The vehicle control system, by reading data from the portable memory device, determines whether the person is permitted to operate that particular industrial vehicle and if so enables that operation. The portable memory device also can be used to transfer operating data between the control system onboard the vehicle and a remote computer.

1 . A method for restricting operation of an industrial vehicle to an authorized person, said method comprising:
 issuing a portable storage device to the person, wherein the portable storage device stores data that is electronically readable and that authorizes the person to operate the industrial vehicle, wherein the data identifies a plurality of industrial vehicle types that the person is authorized to operate;   inserting the portable storage device into a port of a control system on the industrial vehicle;   the control system reading the data from the portable storage device; and   the control system enabling operation of the industrial vehicle in response to the industrial vehicle corresponding to one of the plurality of authorized industrial vehicle types.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the portable storage device is a USB flash drive. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein issuing a portable storage device to the person comprises issuing a portable storage device containing data that uniquely identify the person. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein issuing a portable storage device to the person comprises issuing a portable storage device containing an employee number assigned to the person. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 3  wherein enabling operation of the industrial vehicle comprises comparing the data to a list of identifiers of persons who are authorized to operate the industrial vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein enabling operation of the industrial vehicle comprises determining whether the industrial vehicle is of a type that is identified in the data read from the portable storage device. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising storing data in the portable storage device defining operating parameters for the industrial vehicle while the person in operating that industrial vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 8  further comprising, the control system reading the operating parameters from the portable storage device, and limiting operation of the industrial vehicle in response to the operating parameters. 
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising storing data in the portable storage device defining an operation level for the person; the control system, reading the operation level from the portable storage device; and defining operating parameters for functions on the industrial vehicle in response to the operation level. 
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising the control system storing data in the portable storage device pertaining to performance characteristics of the industrial vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 11  further comprising transferring the performance characteristics from the portable storage device into the industrial vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising gathering operating data regarding performance of the industrial vehicle; and storing the operating data in the portable storage device. 
     
     
         14 . A method for restricting operation of an industrial vehicle to an authorized person, said method comprising:
 storing data in a portable storage device that is electronically readable, wherein the data uniquely identify the person and define an operating parameter for the industrial vehicle;   issuing the portable storage device to the person;   inserting the portable storage device into a port of a control system on the industrial vehicle;   the control system reading the data from the portable storage device;   the control system making a determination, in response to the data read from the portable storage device, that the person is authorized to operate the industrial vehicle; and   the control system, in response to the determination, enabling operation of the industrial vehicle, and wherein while the person is operating the vehicle, a vehicle function is operated in a limited manner in response to the operating parameter read from the portable storage device.   
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 14  wherein the data contains an employee number assigned to the person. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 14  wherein making the determination comprises comparing the data to a list of identifiers of persons who are authorized to operate the industrial vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled)