J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.

Michael K Kuphal

Bruce Davis Lightner

Thomas C Harter

Randel J Thome

Tom C Harter

Bruce D Lightner

Paul A Naundorf

An electronic logging device dongle. In one example, dongle includes a housing and a circuit board located within the housing. The housing includes circuitry configured to perform at least part of a driver compliance determination and to wirelessly communicate with a portable device. The dongle also includes a connector electrically connected to the circuit board. The connector includes a plurality of pins, and is configured to be mated to a plurality of adaptors. Each of the plurality of adaptors is structured to mechanically map pins of a vehicle OBD port to the plurality of pins of the connector.

Electronic logging device

Method and apparatus for authenticating a driver for driver compliance. A base unit including an electronic processor configured to receive an identification of a portable communication device associated with a driver, determine if the portable communication device is within a configurable distance from the base unit, compare the identification of the portable communication device with a stored identification, and authenticate the driver in response to the portable communication device associated with the driver being within a configurable distance from the base unit and based on identification of the portable communication device associated with the driver being a match with the stored identification.

Method and system for authenticating a driver for driver compliance

A base unit installed in a vehicle including a vehicle communication module for communicating with a controller, the controller monitoring at least one operating parameter of the vehicle. The base unit also includes a transceiver and a processor configured to receive the at least one operating parameter of the vehicle from the vehicle communication module. A memory device stores a first threshold of the vehicle operating parameter associated with a first vehicle operator, and stores a second threshold of the vehicle operating parameter associated with a second vehicle operator. The second threshold is greater than the first threshold. The processor is configured to determine that a driving event has occurred when first threshold has been exceeded for the first driver but the second threshold has not been exceeded for the second driver.

Driver compliance machine for monitoring multiple operators

A method and apparatus for determining positioning information for driver compliance. The apparatus comprising a an electronic processor connected to an electronic control unit and a transceiver and configured to receive the vehicle data from the electronic control unit, determine whether the apparatus includes a local source of positioning information, determine whether a positioning information from the local source of positioning information meets or exceeds an accuracy threshold and an availability threshold, if the apparatus includes the local source of positioning information, and send a request to the portable communication device for additional positioning information if the apparatus does not include the local source of positioning information, or the positioning information from the local source of positioning information does not meet or exceed the accuracy threshold, the availability threshold, or both.

Methods and systems for determining positioning information for driver compliance

Systems and methods for the automatic detection of yard move status for drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMV). One method includes defining a geo-fenced region for a yard and determining a location of the vehicle in relation to the geo-fenced region. The location is used, along with other vehicle and driver parameters, to automatically detect a start of the yard move status and an end of the yard move status using a processor.

Automatic yard move status

Systems and methods for the determination and recording of positioning system compliance malfunctions for commercial motor vehicles (CMV). One method includes detecting and accumulating the fault time when positioning system information is invalid or unavailable. Additionally, when positioning system information is invalid or unavailable, the processor estimates an uncertainty distance that the vehicle has travelled since the last valid location. The system then determines and records positioning system malfunction based on positioning system fault events, the accumulated fault time, and the uncertainty distance. The system stores valid location information and data relating to the positioning system fault event on the base unit until the base unit is coupled to the portable device.

Determination of GPS compliance malfunctions

Systems and methods for the estimation of jurisdictional boundary crossings for fuel tax reporting relating to a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). One method includes defining a geo-fenced region for a jurisdiction. The location of the vehicle is determined using a positioning system and the geo-fenced region. When positioning system information is unavailable for a period of time, the location of the vehicle is estimated, including determining if a distance between two consecutive positioning system points is greater than a threshold value, and using predetermined route information to estimate where the vehicle has crossed the geo-fenced region boundary.

Estimation of jurisdictional boundary crossings for fuel tax reporting

Apparatuses, methods, and systems installed in a vehicle. One method includes identifying, with a processing unit installed in a vehicle, one of a plurality of data sources providing vehicle data over a communication interface in the vehicle, wherein the plurality of data sources provide vehicle data from at least two different vehicle control modules. The method also includes incrementing, with the processing unit, a counter associated with the one of the plurality of data sources, comparing, with the processing unit, the counter to a threshold, setting, with the processing unit, the one of the plurality of data sources as an active data source for receiving vehicle data when the counter exceeds the threshold, and processing the vehicle data received provided by the one of the plurality of data sources.

Methods and systems for automatically identifying a data source for an on-board recorder

Methods and systems for transmitting location data from a collection device installed in a vehicle to an external device. One method includes receiving, with the collection device, a plurality of instances of location data for the vehicle, wherein each of the plurality of instances of the location data includes a coordinate, a time, and a quality value, and storing, in a memory module of the collection device, the plurality of instances of location data. The method also includes receiving, with the collection device, a request from the external device, the request associated with a time period, determining, with the collection device, a set of location data from the plurality of instances of location data based on the time period, and transmitting the set of location data to the external device.

Methods and systems for selectively transmitting location data from an on-board recorder to an external device

A base unit installed in a vehicle including a vehicle communication module for communicating with a controller, the controller monitoring at least one operating parameter of the vehicle. The base unit also includes a transceiver and a processor configured to receive the at least one operating parameter of the vehicle from the vehicle communication module. The processor is further configured to receive identifying information for a driver associated with the vehicle from at least one external device and process the at least one operating parameter and a set of thresholds associated with the driver to detect a driving event. The transceiver is configured to transmit the driving event to at least one external device.

Compliance application with driver specific performance recording

A base unit installed in a vehicle including a vehicle communication module for communicating with a controller, the controller monitoring at least one operating parameter of the vehicle. The base unit also includes a transceiver and a processor configured to receive the at least one operating parameter of the vehicle from the vehicle communication module and process the at least one operating parameter to detect an event, wherein the event is used for driver compliance logging. The transceiver is configured to transmit the event to at least one external device.

Partitioned compliance application for reporting hours of service

A system for logging performance of a driver operating a vehicle that has a vehicle information system from which least one vehicle operating parameter may be obtained. The vehicle operating parameter collected through the vehicle information system and operator information collected from a portable device are wirelessly communicated to a remote host through a network such as the Internet.

Growing community of inventors

Greenville, WI, United States of America

Michael K Kuphal