Remote distribution of software updates in a transportation management network
View Patent ↗A network device includes a memory, a processor, a display, and a network communication module configured to receive vehicle data, driver information, and driver communications, at pre-determined times, from at least one portable wireless data transfer and display device via a long-range wireless network. The network device is configured to present the vehicle data, driver information, driver communication, driver summary electronic report to a user via the display. The network device is configured to remotely update of at least one portable wireless data transfer and display device or at least one data acquisition devices associated with a portable wireless data transfer and display device via the network communication module.
1. A network device for managing a vehicle fleet of a plurality of vehicles comprising:
a memory;
a processor;
a display; and
a network communication module configured to receive vehicle data, driver information, and driver communications, at pre-determined times, from at least one portable wireless data transfer and display device of one or more vehicles of the plurality of vehicles via a long-range wireless network, wherein the driver information includes hours of service records for drivers associated with the least one portable wireless data transfer and display device,
wherein the memory is configured to store the vehicle data, the driver information, and the driver communications,
wherein the processor is configured to process at least one of: the vehicle data, the driver information, and the driver communications into a driver summary electronic report, wherein the driver summary electronic report includes a composite driver score based on a plurality of a group consisting of:
fuel efficiency;
occurrences of stop idle;
occurrences of speeding;
occurrences of hard braking;
occurrences of high speed braking; and
occurrences of safety violations,
wherein the network device is configured to send the driver summary electronic report via the network communication module to the at least one portable wireless data transfer and display device via the long-range wireless network for managing the vehicle fleet of the plurality of vehicles, and
wherein the network device is configured to present the driver summary electronic report to a user via the display.
2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a management communication module configured to send at least one of: the vehicle data, the driver information, the driver communications, and the driver summary electronic report to one or more specified remote computers.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein, the network device is configured to upload at least one of: the vehicle data, the driver information, the driver communications, the driver summary electronic report to at least one website via a website communication module.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the network device is configured to present at least one of: the vehicle data, the driver information, driver communications, and the driver summary electronic report according to programmable categories and subgroups to the user via the display.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the long-range wireless network is configured to utilize the Internet.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the network communication module is configured to receive the vehicle data, the driver information, and the driver communications in real-time or at intervals that approximate real-time, from the at least one portable wireless data transfer and display device via the long-range wireless network.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle data includes international fuel tax association (IFTA) data based on locations and distances traveled of vehicles associated with the least one portable wireless data transfer and display device.
8. device of claim 1 , wherein the network device is configured to remotely update of the at least one portable wireless data transfer and display device or at least one data acquisition devices associated with the at least one portable wireless data transfer and display device via the network communication module.
9. The device of claim 8 , wherein remotely updating includes at least one of the group consisting of:
an update to conform to a change in government regulation;
an update to provide additional functionality for the at least one portable wireless data transfer and display device; and
a data acquisition device firmware upgrade.
10. A method for managing a vehicle fleet of a plurality of vehicles comprising:
receiving, by a processor, vehicle data, driver information, and driver communications, at pre-determined times, from at least one portable wireless data transfer and display device via a long-range wireless network, wherein the driver information includes hours of service records for drivers associated with the least one portable wireless data transfer and display device;
processing, by the processor, at least one of: the vehicle data, the driver information, and the driver communications into a driver summary electronic report,
wherein the driver summary electronic report includes a composite driver score based on a plurality of a group consisting of:
fuel efficiency;
occurrences of stop idle;
occurrences of speeding;
occurrences of hard braking;
occurrences of high speed braking; and
occurrences of safety violations;
sending the driver summary electronic report to at least one portable wireless data transfer and display device via the long-range wireless network for managing the vehicle fleet of the plurality of vehicles; and
presenting, by the processor, the driver summary electronic report to a user.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising sending at least one of: the vehicle data, the driver information, the driver communications, and the driver summary electronic report to one or more specified remote computers.
12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising uploading at least one of: the vehicle data, the driver information, the driver communications, and the driver summary electronic report to at least one website.
13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising presenting at least one of: the vehicle data, the driver information, the driver communications, and the driver summary electronic report according to programmable categories and subgroups to the user.
14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising receiving the vehicle data, the driver information, and the driver communications in real-time time or at intervals that approximate real-time, from the at least one portable wireless data transfer and display device via the long-range wireless network.
15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising remotely updating, by the processor via the long-range wireless network, the at least one portable wireless data transfer and display device or at least one data acquisition device associated with the at least one portable wireless data transfer and display device.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein remotely updating includes at least one of the group consisting of:
an update to conform to a change in government regulation;
an update to provide additional functionality for the at least one portable wireless data transfer and display device; and
a data acquisition device firmware upgrade.