Claims:We Claim:
1. A data acquisition device for managing a vehicle within a fleet of vehicles comprising:
a. a wired module configured to provide a wired connection to the vehicle for gathering vehicle data
b. a short-range wireless communication module configured to wirelessly send the vehicle data in real-time to a portable wireless data transfer.
c. display device near the data acquisition device during operation of the vehicle for managing the vehicle within the fleet of vehicles.
2. The device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the short-range wireless communication module is a Bluetooth wireless communication module.
3. The device of claim 1, 2 wherein the data acquisition device is configured for real-time recording of safety events data via an accident data recorder.
4. The device of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the data acquisition device is configured for computation of tax algorithms depending on location of the vehicle via a computation module.
5. The device of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the data acquisition device utilizes fault codes.
, Description:Technical Field of the Invention
This disclosure relates to techniques for transportation management, and in particular, but without limitation, techniques for management.
Background of the Invention
Fleet vehicle operators have an interest in keeping track of the vehicles and shipments, for compliance with governmental regulations as well as monitor the performance and well-being of their drivers. Fleet vehicles may be equipped with devices that are configured to track the vehicles' geographic locations, speeds, headings, cargo, cargo temperature, engine performance parameters, and other data. Such information is used, for example, to maintain the vehicles, estimate delivery times, provide warning of possible damage to cargo, and to evaluate driver performance.
Collection of fleet vehicle information may also be useful to produce records for compliance with governmental regulations or company requirements. As examples, such records may include the number of miles a delivery vehicle has travelled since its last safety inspection and the number of hours a driver has been on duty since he or she last rested. This information was traditionally recorded on paper, e.g., driver logbooks, or in proprietary electronic formats. In either case, ensuring compliance with governmental regulations or company requirements may be time consuming and such information may be inconvenient to access or share with regulatory inspectors or other third parties.
Object of the Invention
The object of the present invention is to describes a few techniques for communicating fleet vehicle information.

Summary of the Invention
This disclosure is directed to a system comprising a data acquisition device configured to mount inside a vehicle and provide a wired connection to the vehicle for gathering vehicle data from the vehicle during operation of the vehicle, the data acquisition device being free of a user interface display, a portable wireless data transfer and display device, and a remote network device. The data acquisition device includes a first short-range wireless communication module configured to wirelessly transmit, at predetermined times, the vehicle data to the portable wireless data transfer and display device.
The portable wireless data transfer and display device includes a second short-range wireless communication module configured to wirelessly receive the vehicle data from the data acquisition device, in real-time or at intervals that approximate real-time, when the data acquisition device is mounted in the vehicle and the portable wireless data transfer and display device is in close proximity to the vehicle, a communication module configured to provide a communication link with the remote network device via a long-range wireless network, a user interface configured to receive driver information from a first user and to present at least one of the vehicle data, the driver information, the communication information, an summary electronic reports to the first user via a first display. The remote network device is configured to receive the vehicle data, the driver information, the communication information, and the driver summary electronic report at predetermined times from the portable wireless data transfer and display device, and present at least one of the vehicle data, the driver information, the communication information, and the summary electronic report to a second user via second display.

Such techniques may utilize equipment for use inside a fleet vehicle to facilitate prompt and efficient transfer of vehicle data and driver information. Such techniques may further include generating electronic reports that provide one or driver information, hours of service information, and vehicle data. The electronic reports may be readily communicated to a remote network device in a few different manners. For example, a system may include a data acquisition device mountable in a vehicle and a portable wireless data transfer and display device, e.g., a cellular phone, that is configured to provide short-range, two- way wireless communication, e.g., Bluetooth communication, with the data acquisition device. In some examples, the portable wireless data transfer and display device may export the electronic information to the remote device via a long-range wireless connection, such as cellular link to facilitate real-time or approximately real-time tracking of driver and vehicle information by the remote device.
Brief Description of Drawings
FIG. 1 is flowchart illustrating example techniques for using a portable wireless data transfer and display device to transmit data to a network device.
Detailed Description of Invention
FIG. 1 is flowchart illustrating process for using a portable wireless data transfer and display device to transmit data to a network device. In some examples, process may be performed to communicate a driver summary electronic report via a cellular link established by a portable wireless data transfer and display device, e.g., portable wireless data transfer and display device depicted. Process may include an operation in which vehicle data is wirelessly received at the portable wireless data transfer and display device from a data acquisition device mounted in a vehicle. For example, data acquisition device a may collect the vehicle data over a period of time when a particular driver is using vehicle, and data acquisition device may transfer this vehicle data Docket No to the corresponding portable wireless data transfer and display device linked thereto via Bluetooth connection
In operation , an electronic report, e.g., the driver summary electronic report, is stored in a memory module of a handheld portable wireless data transfer and display device, which is in wireless communication with the data acquisition device, with other portable wireless data transfer and display devices, and with other remote computer systems. For example, portable wireless data transfer and display device may access the vehicle information along with other driver information, e.g., driver identification information and the like, to generate the driver summary electronic report for storing on the memory of portable wireless data transfer and display device.
The process may also include operation in which a cellular connection is established to a network for communication between the portable wireless data transfer and display device, in this example, a control center. For example, portable wireless data transfer and display device a may establish the wireless connection with transceiver, which is in communication with control center through the base station and the network.
In operation step the electronic report, e.g., the driver summary electronic report, is transmitted from a portable wireless data transfer and display device to the control center. For example, the electronic report and other data related to the driver or vehicle.