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 system for logging performance of a driver operating a commercial motor vehicle (“CMV”), the system comprising:
 a base unit including a non-transitory computer-readable medium and configured to be mounted in the CMV,
 receive at least one operating parameter from a controller in the CMV, and 
 store the at least one operating parameter in the non-transitory computer-readable medium; and 
 
 a portable device having a display and configured to
 communicate with the base unit through a connection selected from the group consisting of a wireless connection and a wired connection, 
 generate a graphical user interface on the display, 
 to prompt the driver for identifying information via the graphical user interface, 
 receive identifying information of the driver from the graphical user interface, 
 receive the at least one operating parameter stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium from the base unit, 
 display driver compliance data in the graphical user interface based, at least in part, on the identifying information, 
 to list a plurality of driver logs in the graphical user interface based, at least in part, on the identifying information, and 
 wirelessly transmit one or more driver logs to a remote host; 
 
 wherein the base unit is further configured to store the at least one operating parameter when the portable device is disconnected from the base unit. 
 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the portable device is further configured to prompt the driver, via the graphical user interface, for trip information and wherein the trip information includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a tractor identification, a trailer number, shipment information, and a location code. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the portable device is further configured to list, via the graphical user interface, at least one of selected from the group consisting of a log date, a driver type, a time zone, a rule set, and a distance traveled by the CMV. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the portable device is configured to selectively download at least one log unavailable in the portable device. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the portable device is further configured to prompt the driver, via the graphical user interface, for a new destination location when the CMV reaches a destination based, at least in part, on information from the base unit. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the portable device is further configured to generate an alert for noncompliant performance of the driver. 
     
     
         7 . A logging system for a commercial motor vehicle (“CMV”) operated by a driver, the logging system comprising:
 a base unit including a processor and non-transitory computer-readable medium and configured to
 be located in the CMV, 
 be connected to a controller monitoring at least one operating parameter of the CMV, and 
 receive and store at least one operating parameter from the controller in the non-transitory computer-readable medium; 
 
 a portable device having a display and configured to
 communicate with the base unit through a connection selected from the group consisting of a wireless connection and a wired connection, 
 receive identifying information from the driver, 
 receive, from the base unit, the at least one operating parameter stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium, 
 display compliance data based, at least in part, on the identifying information, and to wirelessly transmit signals based on the compliance data, 
 generate a graphical user interface on the display to prompt the driver for the identifying information, to display a current status of the driver, and to list a plurality of logs based, at least in part, on the identifying information, and 
 to selectively download at least one log unavailable in the portable device; and 
 
 a remote host configured to wirelessly receive the signals based on the compliance data; 
 the base unit storing the at least one operating parameter when the portable device is disconnected from the base unit. 
 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the portable device is further configured to prompt the driver, via the graphical user interface, for trip information. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the trip information includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a tractor identification, trailer number, shipment information, and location code. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the portable device is further configured to list at least one selected from the group consisting of a log date, driver type, time zone, rule set, and distance traveled by the CMV on the display. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the compliance data includes hours-of-service data. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the portable device is further configured to prompt the driver, via the graphical user interface, for a new destination location when the CMV reaches a destination based, at least in part, on information from the controller and the base unit. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the remote host is further configured to generate an alert for noncompliant performance of the driver. 
     
     
         14 . A method for logging performance of a driver operating a commercial motor vehicle (“CMV”), the method comprising:
 connecting a base unit including a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium to a controller of a CMV; 
 monitoring, with the base unit, at least one operating parameter of the CMV; 
 connecting a portable device to the base unit; 
 generating a graphical user interface on a display of a portable device; 
 receiving, via the graphical user interface, identifying information for the driver; 
 verifying the identifying information for the driver; 
 generating a trip screen, in the graphical user interface, to prompt the driver for trip information; 
 displaying a current status of the driver based, at least in part, on the identifying information; 
 receiving at least one operating parameter of the CMV at the portable device through a non-portable base unit coupled to the portable device; 
 displaying compliance data based, at least in part, on the identifying information at the portable device; and 
 wirelessly transmitting compliance signals indicative of the compliance data from the portable device; 
 selectively downloading to the portable device at least one log unavailable in the portable device; and 
 storing the at least one operating parameter in the non-transitory computer-readable medium. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising listing at least one of a log date, driver type, time zone, rule set, and distance traveled by the CMV. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the compliance data includes hours-of-services data. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising prompting the driver for a new destination location when the CMV reaches a destination based, at least in part, on data received from the controller and the base unit. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 wirelessly receiving the compliance signals at a remote host from the portable device;   generating managing signals based on the received signals at the remote host;   wirelessly transmitting managing signals from the remote host to the portable device;   wirelessly receiving the managing signals at the portable device; and   
       managing performance of the driver based on the received managing signals by listing on the graphical user interface a plurality of logs based, at least in part, on the identifying information.