WO2014126524A1

WO2014126524A1 - Method and arrangement in connection with reading out of driver cards

Info

Publication number: WO2014126524A1
Application number: PCT/SE2014/050154
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fredrik Callenryd; Håkan Nilsson; Andreas HÖGLUND; Kristofer ENELUND
Original assignee: Scania CV AB
Current assignee: Scania CV AB
Priority date: 2013-02-15
Filing date: 2014-02-06
Publication date: 2014-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 2015-08-15
Also published as: SE1350174A1; SE536934C2; DE112014000502T5

Abstract

An arrangement in connection with reading out information from a driver card for a vehicle, which arrangement comprises a card reader, a first communication unit arranged in the vehicle and a second communication unit arranged in a traffic processing unit. The card reader is adapted so as to receive a driver card and read information from and add information to the driver card. The information is transferred to a processing unit through the first and second communication units. The processing unit is adapted to determine whether a read-out is to occur from the driver card. If a read-out is to occur, the processing unit generates a read-out instruction that is transferred to the card reader through the first and second communication units, which performs a read-out of driver information. The read-out information is then transferred to the traffic processing unit through the first and second communication units.

Description

Title

Method and arrangement in connection with reading out of driver cards

Technical field of the invention

The present invention concerns a method and an arrangement according to the preambles of the independent claims.

Background of the invention

A tachograph is a device that, by law, must be present in heavy goods vehicles and buses that are involved in commercial traffic (there are exceptions), which device continuously records the velocity and driving and resting times. There are two ways to record the information; the older way uses a paper diagram (analog tachograph), but since 2005 a computer memory in the tachograph has been used together with a driver card in the form of a smart card to store the information (digital tachograph).

The justification for the tachograph requirement is the ability to monitor driving and resting times. It also makes it possible to monitor the velocity. Goods vehicles can drive at a maximum of 80 km/h (90 km/h on expressways and motorways), buses 90 km/h. Goods vehicles with trailers can drive at only 80 km/h, and this applies to expressways and motorways as well.

EEC Regulation 3821/85 of December 20, 1985 made tachograph use a legal requirement in the EEC as of September 29, 1986. A "European Agreement concerning the Work of Crews of Vehicles Engaged in International Road

Transport" (AETR) went into effect as of July 31 , 1985. European Union

Regulation 561/2006/E, which was adopted on April 1 1 , 2007, specifies the driving and resting times that are to apply for professional drivers. These times can be monitored by employers, the police and other authorities by means of tachographs.

In other words, tachographs are required by law in essentially all European countries in vehicles that are subject to EU driving and resting times. This includes the majority of vehicle combinations weighing over 3.5 metric tons in total.

A driver can drive a maximum of 4 hours and 30 minutes with a break. A break of at least 45 minutes must then be taken. Maximum of 9 hours of driving time, or maximum of 10 hours per day two times a week. These regulations exist for safety reasons, so that the drivers will not become too tired, and so that competition will not give rise to unacceptable working conditions. There are also rules for weekly rest, for shortening daily rests or weekly rests, for when two people are in the vehicle simultaneously, for when the vehicle takes a ferry, for when the driver is doing loading/unloading work, etc.

Tachographs have been manipulated, e.g. by means of trickery with diagrams or the installation of devices that cause the tachograph to think that the goods vehicle is standing still when it is being driven. This has led to the introduction of digital tachographs with personal driver cards. This type of tachograph reads the vehicle velocity via an encrypted electrical interface, and also stores this information in encrypted form. Each driver can own only one driver card, and the driver must insert this card into the tachograph so that all his activities can be recorded.

The latest generation of digital tachographs is also able to automatically and wirelessly transfer data both from the internal memory of the tachograph and from the memory in the driver card to a server, where data can be stored and analyzed in the manner desired. This wireless transfer often occurs by means of a telematics unit in the vehicle that has a built-in GSM/GPRS modem. The tachograph is generally connected to the telematics unit via an electrical interface, such as a CAN data bus.

A number of patent documents that represent this prior art will be discussed below.

US-2010/273476 concerns a control unit that can be used to automate the downloading of data from a tachograph. This can be performed when the vehicle is being driven, and it will also prevent the driver from neglecting to archive data. It is possible to both archive and evaluate data based on the automated download.

US-201 1 /137517 concerns a method wherein driving data for a vehicle is downloaded from the tachograph automatically. The downloaded driving data are evaluated automatically and compared against rules to determine whether the driving data are in violation of any rule.

WO-201 1/043715 describes a method and system for establishing a connection between a vehicle and a database, wherein the connection is to be used to transfer tachograph-related information. In the system, a tachograph records tachographic data when a driver card is inserted into its card reader.

One disadvantage of many current systems is that the driver himself must keep track of when it is time to download the driver card, i.e. transfer the driver information to a central unit. There are various ways of reminding the driver when it is time, but they are arranged in the vehicle and not associated with a specific driver card. This is a disadvantageous, as it is currently common for a driver to use many different vehicles. Furthermore, the driver must manually initiate the transfer of data, which can be a disadvantage because the driver may forget to do so.

Current solutions require a great deal of attentiveness to and scheduling of when a driver is to download his card in order to ensure that the download occurs in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

One problem with the known solutions is thus that they do not offer a fully automated solution in terms of reading out driver cards.

Another problem is that it is necessary to keep track of whether a driver card is the same one in connection with repeated start instances in the vehicle, e.g. if one is on an extended trip. The object of the present invention is to achieve improved reading out of driver cards that does not require any manual action on the part of the driver, and that also ensures that applicable regulations are complied with in terms of reading out information from driver cards.

Summary of the invention

The aforementioned objects are achieved by means of the invention defined by the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are defined by the dependent claims.

According to the invention, there is a server that is arranged so as to keep track of when it is time to read out each respective driver card. This preferably occurs at a regular and predetermined interval, such as every 28 days. The length of the interval can vary from country to country.

Each time a driver card is used, i.e. inserted into a card reader in the vehicle, a driver card number signal is preferably generated to an external server with information about the identity of the card.

The server monitors whether it is time to read out the card, i.e. whether the predetermined interval has run out. If it is time to read out the driver card, i.e. transfer relevant driver information to the server, then the transfer is initiated and carried out.

A fully automated and reliable solution that results in the driver card being downloaded regularly at a low cost is thereby achieved.

The following invention exhibits a number of advantages.

It is not necessary to draw up complex schedules to ensure that the driver card will be read out in accordance with legal requirements.

It is not necessary to have manual follow-up routines to ensure that the driver will remember to read out his card. Driver card readings will not be lost even though the card has not been removed from the tachograph.

The number of messages necessary to achieve the anticipated function is reduced.

Brief description of the drawing

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of the arrangement according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of a part of the arrangement according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a flow diagram that illustrates the present invention.

Figure 4 is a flow diagram that illustrates an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures. The same or similar objects in the figures have the same reference designation.

An arrangement associated with reading out information from a driver card 2 for a vehicle 4 in accordance the present invention will now first be described with reference to Figure 1 .

The arrangement comprises a card reader 6 arranged so as to receive a driver card 2, read information from and add information to the driver card. The information on the driver card comprises a driver card number, which is a unique identity for the card and links the card to a driver, plus driver information related to the activities of the driver. Examples of driver activities can include driving and resting times for the driver. The information that is stored as driver information is determined by a set of regulations, which are discussed above in the background section. The arrangement further comprises a first communication unit 8 arranged in the vehicle 4 and adapted so as to receive a read-out driver card number from said card reader 6 and to generate a wireless driver card number signal 10 containing the relevant driver card number. The card reader 6 preferably communicates with the first communication unit 8 via the CAN bus of the vehicle, as is indicated by a bidirectional arrow.

A second communication unit 12 is arranged in a central traffic unit 14, and is arranged to communicate wirelessly with said first communication unit 8. The communication occurs by means of, e.g. GSM, GPRS or another wireless transmission technology.

The second communication unit 12 is adapted so as to receive the driver card number signal 10 with the driver number, and to transfer the received driver card number to a processing unit 16. The transfer is indicated here by a bidirectional arrow. The processing unit can consist of a plurality of different units, such as servers, wherein one or a plurality thereof can be under the control of a vehicle manufacturer.

A memory unit 17 is arranged for storing and reading out information related to the driver card number in dependence upon instructions from the processing unit.

According to the invention, the processing unit 16 is arranged so as to determine whether a read-out of driver information is to occur from the driver card 2 with the received driver card number.

If a read-out is to occur, the processing unit 16 is adapted so as to generate a read-out instruction, which is transferred to the second communication unit 12, which is adapted so as to generate a wireless read-out instruction signal 18 containing the read-out instruction, and so as to transfer the signal 18 to the first communication unit 8 in the vehicle. The first communication unit 8 is adapted so as to receive the read-out instruction signal 18 and then transfer the read-out instruction to the card reader 6. As a result of the card reader having received the read-out instruction, a read-out of the driver information on the driver card is performed. The read-out driver information is then transferred to the first communication unit 8, which is adapted so as to generate a driver information signal 20 that contains the driver information, and so as to wirelessly transfer the driver information signal 20 to the second

communication unit 12. The received driver information is transferred to the processing unit 16. The driver information is stored in, for example, the memory unit 17.

The schematic block diagram in Figure 2 shows in greater detail how the communication takes place between the first and second communication units 8, 12.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the processing unit 16 is adapted so as to determine whether a read-out of driver information is to occur in dependence upon a time parameter related to a read-out of driver information from the driver card 2 with the received driver card number.

For example, the time parameter can specify the time from the last read-out instance and, if the time parameter exceeds a predetermined interval, it is determined that a read-out is to occur. The predetermined interval is regulated by the regulations discussed above, and can be, for example, 28 days. A clock that is related to a driver card number is activated when a read-out has been performed, and when the clock has logged 28 days, it is time for a new read-out.

According to another alternative, the time parameter specifies the current time when the driver card number is received and, if the time parameter has passed a predetermined time point, it is determined that a read-out is to occur. In this case the processing unit has proceeded based on the time of the preceding read-out and calculated a new predetermined time, such as 28 days in the future. According to the foregoing embodiment, the processing unit 16 is thus adapted so as to determine whether a read-out of driver information is to occur in dependence upon said time parameter. This is performed first. According to yet another embodiment, if the processing unit has determined that it is time for a read-out of driver information to occur, a check is performed to determine whether a predetermined authentication condition related to the driver card 2 with the received driver card number is fulfilled.

This authentication condition consists of relating the relevant driver card number to a company card 22.

A company card 22 is, for example, a physical smart card that, simply put, gives the central traffic unit 14 permission to read out driver information from a company card via a card reader 6. In order for driver information to be able to be read out from a driver card with a given driver card number, the number must be stored on or in some other way connected to the company card 22. If this authentication condition has been fulfilled, a read-out instruction is generated in accordance with the foregoing description.

Common to all embodiments is that, when the driver information is received by the processing unit 16, it is adapted so as to update the time parameter, e.g. to zero the clock, or to specify a new time when a read-out is to occur.

The present invention also concerns a method associated with the reading of information from a driver card for a vehicle. The method is, for example, adapted so as to be executed by the arrangement as described above, and reference is made to this description in applicable cases.

The method will now be described with reference to the flow diagram in Figure 3.

The method comprises:

A - reading out a driver card number from a driver card inserted into a card reader in the vehicle;

B - generating a wireless driver card number signal containing a read-out driver card number;

C - receiving said wireless driver card number signal in a central traffic unit and transferring the received driver card number to a processing unit.

The method according to the invention further comprises:

D - determining, in the processing unit, whether a read-out of driver information is to occur from the driver card with the received driver card number and, if a readout is to be performed:

E - generating a wireless read-out instruction signal containing a read-out instruction and transferring the read-out instructions to the card reader,

F - reading out, from the driver card, driver information related to the activities of the driver,

G - generating a wireless driver information signal that contains said read-out driver information,

H - receiving, in said traffic central control unit, said wireless driver information signal and transferring the received driver information to the processing unit.

In step D, as described above, a determination is made as to whether a read-out of driver information is to occur. According to one embodiment, which will be clarified with reference to the flow diagram in Figure 4, this occurs in dependence upon a time parameter related to a read-out of driver information from the driver card with the received driver card number. In the flow diagram, sub-steps D1 and D2 to step D for realizing this embodiment are specified in the flow diagram. According to this, the time parameter indicates the time from the last read-out instance and, if the time parameter exceeds a predetermined interval, it is determined that a read-out is to occur. As an alternative, the time parameter indicates the current time and, if the time parameter has passed a predetermined time, it is determined that a read-out is to occur. This has also been described above in connection with the description of the arrangement. In step D1 the received driver card number is identified in, for example, a database in which, among other things, the time parameter is stored in connection to the driver card number. A determination is made in step D2 as to whether the time parameter has run out, or if a given time has run out and, if such is the case, the method continues with a step E (step D3 pertains to another embodiment). If the time parameter has not run out, it is not time to read out driver information, and the method reverts to a start status. According to yet another embodiment, a check is performed in step D3 (see

Figure 4) to check whether a predetermined authentication condition related to the driver card with the received driver card number is fulfilled. If such is the case, the process continues with step E, otherwise the method reverts to the start status. As noted above, the authentication condition includes relating said relevant driver card number to a company card, as has been discussed above.

The time parameter is updated when step H has been completed, i.e. when the driver information has been received.

The invention also comprises a computer program product 24 (see Figure 1 ) comprising computer program instructions that are configured so as to perform the steps according to the method as described above when the computer program instructions are run on a computer system, wherein the computer program product is readable by a computer.

From the viewpoint of the system, it is also better if the system itself can decide about and execute the download in order to achieve a more uniform loading of the system and avoid queues.

An improvement in scheduling is needed in order to continue to offer the current remote-controlled download services.

When a driver card is inserted into the card reader, the driver card number is read out. The driver card number is also read out each time the vehicle is started.

To avoid sending out a driver card number signal each time the card is inserted or the vehicle is started it is possible, according to one variant of the invention, to proceed on the basis of a normal driver behavior and if, for example, he normally inserts the card 10 times per month, there is no need to emit a driver card number signal the first 7 times (for example), but rather not until the eighth and

subsequent times. This reduces the data traffic from the vehicle, and its management is simplified. This can be achieved in that, for example, the tachograph or some other unit in the vehicle keeps track of how many times the card has been inserted or the vehicle started per unit of time, e.g. per month.

It is possible to optimize the frequency of queries when driver cards are not switched in a vehicle by also generating a sliding average value for the number of starts and times that have actually resulted in a download.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the processing unit, or other units in connection to the central traffic unit, is/are adapted so as to manage the situation if driver information from more than one driver card is to be read out essentially simultaneously, and if the driver cards are linked to the same company card. In such case the download will be scheduled so that the downloads occur in an order in which the first identified driver card is downloaded first, then the one identified as number two, and so forth. As an alternative, the highest priority driver card is downloaded first.

The prioritization is preferably governed by a number of rules that are based initially on the time for downloading driver information from a specific card. Driver cards must, as noted above, initially be downloaded in descending chronological order, i.e. those that were downloaded longest ago and thus have the greatest need to be downloaded so as, for example, to avoid losing data and comply with the overarching regulations are to be handled first and also have the highest priority.

The present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. Various alternatives, modifications and equivalents can be used. The embodiments above are consequently not to be viewed as limitative of the protective scope of the invention, which is defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1 . A method in connection with read-outs of information from a driver card for a vehicle, which method comprises:

B - generating a wireless driver card number signal containing the read-out driver card number;

C - receiving, in a central traffic unit, said wireless driver card number signal with said driver card number, and transferring the received driver card number to a processing unit,

c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t the method further comprises:

D - determining, in the processing unit, whether a read-out of driver information is to occur from the driver card with the received driver card number and, if a readout is to occur:

E - generating a wireless read-out instruction signal containing a read-out instruction and transferring the read-out instruction to the card reader,

H - receiving, in said central traffic unit, said wireless driver information signal and transferring the received driver information to the processing unit.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a determination is made in step D as to whether a read-out of driver information is to occur in dependence upon a time parameter related to a read-out of driver information from the driver card with the received driver card number.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said time parameter indicates the time from the last read-out instance and, if the time parameter exceeds a predetermined interval, it is determined that a read-out is to occur.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein said time parameter indicates the current time and, if the time parameter has passed a predetermined time, it is determined that a read-out is to occur.

5. The method according to any of claims 2-4, wherein it is determined in step D whether a read-out of driver information is to occur in dependence upon said time parameter and whether one or a plurality of predetermined

authentication conditions related to the driver card with the received driver card number is/are fulfilled.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said authentication conditions include relating said relevant driver card number to a company card.

7. The method according to any of claims 2-6, wherein said time parameter is updated in step H when the driver information is received.

8. A arrangement in connection with reading out information from a driver card (2) for a vehicle (4), which arrangement comprises:

- a card reader (6) adapted so as to receive a driver card (2) and read information from and add information to the driver card, wherein the information comprises a driver card number and driver information related to the activities of the driver,

- a first communication unit (8) arranged in the vehicle (4) and adapted so as to receive a read-out driver card number from said card reader (6) and to generate a wireless driver card number signal (10) containing the relevant driver card number,

- a second communication unit (12) arranged in a traffic processing unit (14) and adapted so as to communicate with said first communication unit (8), which second communication unit (12) is adapted so as to receive said driver card number signals (10) with said driver card number, and to transfer the received driver card number to a processing unit (16),

c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t the processing unit (16) is adapted so as to determine whether a read-out is to occur from the driver card (2) with the received driver card number and, if a read-out is to occur, the processing unit (16) is adapted so as to generate a read-out instruction that is transferred to said second communication unit (12), which is adapted so as to generate a read-out instruction signal (18) containing said read-out instruction and to transfer the signal (18) to said first communication unit (8), which read-out instruction is transferred to said card reader (6), which performs a read-out of driver information; the read-out driver information is then transferred to the first communication unit (8), which is adapted so as to generate a driver information signal (20) that contains said driver information, and so as to wirelessly transfer the driver information signal (20) to the second communication unit (12), whereupon the received driver information is transferred to the processing unit (16).

9. The arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the processing unit (16) is adapted so as to determine whether a read-out of driver information is to occur in dependence upon a time parameter related to a read-out of driver information from the driver card (2) with the received driver card number.

10. The arrangement according to claim 9, wherein said time parameter indicates the time from the last read-out instance and, if the time parameter exceeds a predetermine interval, it is determined that a read-out is to occur.

1 1 . The arrangement according to claim 9, wherein said time parameter indicates the current time and, if the time parameter has passed a predetermined time, it is determined that a read-out is to occur.

12. The arrangement according to any of claims 9-1 1 , wherein the processing unit (16) is adapted so as to determine whether a read-out of driver information is to occur in dependence upon said time parameter, and whether one or a plurality of predetermined authentication conditions related to the driver card (2) with the received driver card number is/are fulfilled.

13. The arrangement according to claim 12, wherein said authentication conditions include relating said relevant driver card number to a company card (22).

14. The arrangement according to any of claims 9-13, wherein the processing unit (16) is adapted so as to update said time parameter when it receives driver information.

15. A computer program product containing computer program instructions that are configured so as to perform the steps according to the method according to any of claims 1 -7 when the computer program instructions are run on a computer system, wherein the computer program product is readable by a computer.