EP2188785B1 - Tachograph, arrangement and method for transmitting data over a user-friendly interface - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an arrangement equipped with a tachograph and a method executable therewith for the transmission of driver and / or vehicle-related data from the tachograph to an external device.

The modern tachograph is an instrument for installation in a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, which stores driver and / or vehicle-related and other data digitally in an internal memory and an interface for transmitting the driver and / or vehicle-related data to external devices, in particular Storage devices in the form of eg so-called. Download sticks or -Keys, has. This is on the WO 2006/000507 A1 referenced, in which such a tachograph is described. This has on its front panel an interface into which such a download stick can be plugged to load the data, in particular the driver and / or vehicle-related data from the tachograph.

With the introduction of digital tachographs, hauliers have the legal obligation to download and archive the tachograph data within specified deadlines. To do this, however, they first have to authenticate themselves to the tachograph using their company card. Only then can they download the data via a special download hardware, ie via the so-called download stick or via a computer equipped with appropriate download software. Downloading data may take several minutes, depending on the size of the data. During this time, however, the company card must remain in the tachograph. Downloading the data is therefore very time consuming. Because a company usually only one Company card, the download can be done in several vehicles only one after the other. Likewise, there are companies whose vehicles do not return to the fleet center within the specified deadlines and therefore are not available for data download. This results in a large amount of time with high costs. This results in the development goal of searching for improved solutions.

Against this background, new tachographs are currently being developed, in which the data is to be transferred or downloaded to external devices by means of a standardized protocol, the so-called "Remote Download Protocol". This protocol is specified in accordance with the "Digital Tachograph Specification for remote company card authentication and remote data downloading" of the "Heavy Truck Electronic Interfaces Working Group". This protocol is intended to enable convenient remote data polling over external networks, where the data is e.g. be transmitted by mobile phone over a GSM connection to the company. The tachograph is connected to external networks via a connection to the so-called CAN bus and the board computer of the vehicle. The new remote interrogation technique has the advantage that the company card no longer needs to be plugged directly into the tachograph for authentication, but the authentication can be removed remotely via the remote download protocol, where the company card is e.g. located in a personal computer or card reader at the company's location. In addition, the download can be done while driving, so that the time required significantly reduced. However, the GSM connection creates additional data transmission costs.

In these known solutions thus arise for the haulier either indirect costs due to the time required for a direct download in the vehicle or direct costs due to the data transfer via remote download. There is therefore a desire for a convenient solution for the user, which does not have these disadvantages and is suitable for both direct and indirect data download.

From the DE 10 2005 044 483 A1 is a transportable, configurable information carrier, which is provided for data exchange with a digital tachograph known. Furthermore, it is off WO 96/31846 A1 a trip recording system for a vehicle is known, which system comprises a data download key and a data download header. Out EP 1 717 760 A a data acquisition system for the vehicle and driver data of motor vehicles is known, wherein the reading of the vehicle and driver data can be done by radio transmission.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an equipped with a tachograph arrangement and an executable method for transmitting driver and / or vehicle-related data from the tachograph to an external device.

The object is achieved by an arrangement or a method with the features of the corresponding independent claim.

Accordingly, an inventive, the features of claim 1 having arrangement proposed.

Also, an inventive, the features of claim 5 exhibiting method is proposed.

The invention thus provides a tachograph which provides a very user-friendly interface, with the front side connections to external devices are easy to produce in order to perform both the authentication and the data transmission can. In this case, it is possible, in particular, to carry out the authentication by means of remote access via remote devices, in particular card readers via GSM. All functions can be realized via the front-connected hardware and software, so that in particular the use of a board computer unnecessary is. The proposed invention is therefore particularly cost feasible.

These and other advantages emerge from the subclaims.

Accordingly, it is advantageous if the interface for a transmission of the authentication data and the driver and / or vehicle-related data according to a standardized data remote retrieval protocol, in particular according to the so-called. Remote Download Protocol, is established. In this context, the interface can also be used for a transmission of data lists in order to specify the type and / or scope of the data download.

The interface may be preferably configured to connect an external device that is an external storage device.

Preferably, the tachograph includes a control unit that checks the interface received from an external device authentication data and depending on the interface for transmitting the driver and / or vehicle-related data for a predetermined period of time, the z. B. 24 hours, unlocked.

With the aid of the invention, it is possible, in particular, to make the complete remote download protocol or its functionalities easily accessible to the user via the front-side interface of the digital tachograph. With the invention, all download tools can use the possibilities and advantages of the Remote Download Protocol and, in particular, also carry out the authentication via this protocol. Thus, the company card can also be removed or removed after the authentication and the time-consuming can be done without the card itself. The card can thus still while the download is running for Another download can be used in another vehicle.

Because the authentication provides a download enable within a certain time window of e.g. 24 hours, the company card needs only once before to be plugged into an internal card reader (chip card slot) of the tachograph or via an external card reader, in which case the download list can be transferred to the tachograph. Once the time window has been opened after successful authentication, the company card can be removed from the card reader. The download of the data itself, in particular the driver and / or vehicle-related data, then takes place according to the download list and can be carried out at any time within the 24h time window, thus also while driving.

Fig. 1

zeigt zur Erläuterung eine Anordnung mit einem Tachographen;

Fig. 2

zeigt anhand von Teilfiguren a) bis c) einen an dem Tachographen ausgeführten ersten Bedienungsvorgang zum Daten-Download von fahrer- und/oder fahrzeugbezogenen Daten;

Fig. 3

(gestrichen);

Fig. 4

zeigt zur Erläuterung ein Ablaufdiagramm für ein dem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren ähnliches Verfahren.

The present invention and the advantages thereof will now be described more in detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1

shows by way of explanation an arrangement with a tachograph;

Fig. 2

shows on the basis of sub-figures a) to c) executed on the tachograph first operation process for data download of driver and / or vehicle-related data;

Fig. 3

(painted);

Fig. 4

shows by way of explanation a flowchart for a method similar to the method according to the invention.

The Fig. 1 shows an arrangement 1 with a tachograph 2, which has several functional and operating elements on its front panel 4. These include, inter alia, a display 7, various controls 6 and a printer drawer 5. In addition, the tachograph 2 on its front panel 4 a slot for an internal card reader 9. Here, a dedicated authentication card, in particular the driver card 19 or the company card .32, can be introduced. The tachograph 2 now has on its front panel 4 on a special interface 8, which is set up both for the transmission of authentication data A and driver and / or vehicle-related data D. In this example, the interface is designed as a serial interface 8 according to RS232, in the form of a socket for receiving a corresponding plug 11. The plug is for example part of an external memory device 3, which also has an R-232 interface 10. By plugging in the external storage device 3, a plug-in connection 13 is created, so that data can be exchanged directly between the tachograph 2 and the external storage device 3, for example according to the Remote Download Protocol.

In this example, the external storage device 3 is designed as a pluggable module or stick, in which a radio module 14 is integrated in order to exchange data with other external devices with an external mobile radio network 21 via a corresponding radio link 20. The stick 3 thus serves not only as a pure storage device but also as a relay for remote transmission of data between the tachograph 2 and any external device, to which e.g. via the mobile network 21 and optionally via other networks (for example, DSL) can be made a connection.

In the in Fig. 1 As shown, a connection is made to a personal computer 30 which serves as an external device for data exchange via the network 21 and the stick 3 and the interface 8 is in communication with the tachograph. The personal computer 30 is located, for example, at the location of the company and is operated there in the headquarters to perform remote queries of all tachographs of the vehicle fleet. If, for example, the illustrated tachograph 2 is to be interrogated, this can be done thanks to the invention by means of the so-called remote download protocol. For this purpose, a card reader 31 is connected to the personal computer so that the authentication data A can be read by the entrepreneur card 32 inserted in the card reader 31 and transmitted to the tachograph 2 via the established connection. In addition, 30 data lists DL can be transmitted from the personal computer, which indicate which driver and / or vehicle-related data D is to be interrogated by the tachograph 2. After successful authentication, the tachograph is enabled for the actual data query or data download. Preferably, the activation applies only for a predetermined period of eg 24 hours. Within this period of time, the driver and / or vehicle-related data D and other data can then be transmitted as far as the personal computer 30 via the said connection. This data D can also initially only be transferred to the memory stick 3 and stored there locally.

It is thus easily possible initially to perform only the authentication and later to carry out a direct or indirect data transfer from the tachograph 2 to the memory stick 3 or to any other arbitrary external device within the enabled time window.

Based on Fig. 2 Now, a first example of a data download operation will be described. Based on the partial figures a) to c), the sequence of a possible procedure for data transmission or for downloading data by means of the invention provided on the tachograph 2 interface 8 is illustrated.

First, an external device, in this case a laptop 30 ', is connected to the interface 8 in order to carry out an authentication. The laptop is connected to the tachograph 2 via the interface 8 mounted on the front panel 4, for example, with a serial interface cable. The laptop 30 'has an internal or external card reader into which the entrepreneur card 32 is inserted. As shown in the subfigure a), the transmission of the authentication data A and the transmission of the data list DL to the tachograph 2 then takes place.

After successful transmission of the authentication data A and the data list DL, the entrepreneur card 32 can be removed again. Likewise, the laptop 30 'can be removed, as illustrated by the sub-figure b).

Now, the tachograph 2 is for a predetermined period of time, e.g. Unlocked for 24 hours. Within this period of time, a data download can be made to any device connected to the tachograph 2.

As shown in sub-figure c), the data D may be transmitted to a remote external device, such as the personal computer 30. For this purpose, the already described GSM connection 20 is established via the mobile radio network 21. This can be done while driving. It is not necessary to insert the entrepreneur card 32 into the tachograph 2. Rather, the data exchange or the download of the data D can be arbitrary, as long as the time window is still open.

The Fig. 4 schematically shows a flowchart of a method 100 with the steps 110 to 192. With the aid of the illustrated method 100, an inventive data download from the tachograph into any external device carried out. The following description also takes on the Fig. 1 Reference.

In a first step 110, the company card 32 is first introduced into the tachograph 2. Then, in a step 120, it is checked whether the tachograph 2 is in the so-called company mode. This means that it is checked whether the tachograph 2 is ready for a download of driver and / or vehicle-related data D according to the remote download protocol RDP. In particular, the authentication is performed using the company card 32.

If the authentication succeeds, a next step 130 follows. If the authentication is unsuccessful or the tachograph 2 is not in the so-called company mode, step 110 is skipped back.

After successful authentication, the download list DL is transmitted to the tachograph 2 in step 130. This is followed in step 140 by the opening of the time window, which is preferably 24 hours.

In a next step 150, the card 32 can be removed from the tachograph 2 or an external reader 31. The Tachograph 2 is now enabled for a period of 24 hours for a data download.

In a later step 160, a connection 13 is made between the external storage device or download stick 3 with the tachograph. In the simplest case, the download stick is inserted into the interface 8 of the tachograph 2. Then, in a subsequent step 170, a data request can be made by the download stick 3.

When requesting a data download is first checked in a step 180, if the predetermined period of 24 hours has already expired. If this is the case, it follows the step 190, in which then a download is denied. If this is not the case, then step 191 follows, in which it is then first queried whether there is data in the data list DL. If this is the case, then step 192 follows, in which the data D are downloaded to the download stick 3 according to the data list DL.

If the data list contains no data, then step 191 returns to step 190, so that the denial of a download occurs. If the download has finally been denied or the data D has been downloaded successfully, the method 100 is ended.

In summary, the invention provides an easy-to-use interface for a data remote-controlled data download. In particular, the Remote Download Protocol and the corresponding functionalities are made easily and directly accessible via an interface on the front of the tachograph. Since the invention is preferably implemented in a standard-compliant interface, any hardware that is able to communicate with this interface can in principle also use the Remote Download Protocol for communication. Accordingly, this hardware then also the extended possibilities of a remote download are available, whereby e.g. the corporate card is required only for authentication. This results in many new download options. Thus, e.g. Short-range transmission hardware (such as infrared or Bluetooth) may be used to download from all vehicles in the yard without having to personally visit each vehicle and without incurring costs via a GSM data link.

If modification of the present invention makes the Remote Download Protocol available via the K-Line diagnostic interface on the front of the device, any hardware, which is able to communicate with this interface, basically also use the Remote Protocol for communication. It would thus z. B. a combination of diagnostic device and download device conceivable.

In addition, in the so-called company mode of the tachograph, that is, when a company card is inserted for authentication, the transmission of the download list is also used to effect the start of the time window by preferably using the timeout Tauth set in the Remote Download Specification. The timeout is not terminated by dragging or removing the company card from the tachograph. To download the data according to the download list, any download hardware can now be used within the time window Tauth. It is conceivable that the download is carried out via the remote protocol or via the direct download protocol. There are only minor changes in the software of the download tools necessary and there are no additional hardware costs, since the existing hardware (download stick or key, card reader in the tachograph) can be used. A company employee could in this way open the download window and then give the driver a download stick or key. The driver then only has to do this during the day, e.g. in a break, connect to the tachograph. After the end of the shift, he can then return the download stick or key to the company.

Claims (20)

1. Arrangement (1) having a tachograph (2) and an external memory device (3), wherein the tachograph (2) stores driver- and/or vehicle-oriented data (D) digitally in an internal memory and has an interface for transmitting the driver- and/or vehicle-oriented data (D) to the external memory device (3), wherein the interface is an interface (8) that is configured so as to be freely accessible on the front panel (4) of the tachograph (2) and that is configured for a transmission of authentication data (A) and for a transmission of the driver- and/or vehicle-oriented data (D) on the basis thereof, and the interface (8) is a K-line diagnostic interface according to ISO 9141, wherein the external memory device (3) contains a radio module (14) for wirelessly transmitting the authentication data (A) and the driver- and/or vehicle-oriented data (D).
2. Arrangement (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the interface (8) is configured for a transmission of the authentication data (A) and the driver- and/or vehicle-oriented data (D) according to a standardized remote data query protocol (RDP).
3. Arrangement (1) according to at least either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the interface (8) is also configured for a transmission of data lists (DL).
4. Arrangement (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tachograph (2) contains a control unit that checks authentication data (A) received from an external device (31) via the interface (8) and takes this as a basis for unlocking the interface (8) for transmitting the driver- and/or vehicle-oriented data (D) for a predetermined period (Tauth).
5. Method (100) for transmitting driver- and/or vehicle-oriented data (D) from a tachograph (2) to an external device (30), wherein the transmission is effected by means of an interface (8) that is configured so as to be freely accessible on the front panel (4) of the tachograph (2), that is a K-line diagnostic interface according to ISO 9141 and that is configured for a transmission of authentication data and for a transmission of the driver- and/or vehicle-oriented data on the basis thereof, wherein a transmission of authentication data (A) from this external device (30) to the tachograph (2) is performed (110; 120) and wherein this is taken as a basis for performing (140; 192) a transmission of the driver- and/or vehicle-oriented data (D) from the tachograph (2) to this external device (30), which is a personal computer (30), to which end a GSM connection (20) via a mobile radio network (21) is set up between an external memory device (3), which is plugged into the interface (8) and in which a radio module (14) is integrated, and the personal computer (30), so that the external memory device (3) serves as a connecting element between tachograph (2) and the personal computer (30).
6. Method (100) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the transmission of the authentication data (A) and of the driver- and/or vehicle-oriented data (D) is performed according to a standardized remote data query protocol (RDP) .
7. Method (100) according to Claim 5 or 6, characterized in that a check on the authentication data (A) is performed (120) and in that the transmission of the driver- and/or vehicle-oriented data (D) is unlocked (140) for a predetermined period (Tauth) if a result of the check on the authentication data (A) is positive.
8. Method (100) according to one of Claims 5 to 7, characterized in that a first step (110) for reading in the authentication data (A) involves a data carrier being introduced into a reader that is connected to the tachograph (2) via the interface (8) as an external reader.
9. Method (100) according to Claim 8, characterized in that the data carrier is a company card (32) and the reader is a card reader (31).
10. Method (100) according to Claim 8 or 9, characterized in that a second step (120) involves checking whether the tachograph (2) is in an operating mode for authentication.
11. Method (100) according to one of Claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the first step (110) or a subsequent step involves the authentication data (A) being read from the data carrier and checked.
12. Method (100) according to one of Claims 8 to 11, characterized in that a further step (140) involves the interface (8) being used to transmit a data list (DL) from the external device (30) to the tachograph (2).
13. Method (100) according to Claim 7 and one of Claims 8 to 12, characterized in that a further step (140) involves the predetermined period (Tauth) for unlocking the interface (8) to transmit the driver- and/or vehicle-oriented data (D) being started if a2 result of the check on the authentication data (A) is positive.
14. Method (100) according to Claim 13, characterized in that a further step (140) involves the predetermined period (Tauth) for unlocking the interface (8) to transmit the driver- and/or vehicle-oriented data (D) being started if the data list (DL) has also been transmitted.
15. Method (100) according to one of Claims 8 to 14, characterized in that a further step (150) involves the data carrier being removed from the reader (9).
16. Method (100) according to one of Claims 8 to 15, characterized in that a further step (170) involves the interface (8) being used to make a request to the tachograph (2) to transmit the driver- and/or vehicle-oriented data (D) to the external memory device (3).
17. Method (100) according to Claim 16, characterized in that a further step (180) involves checking whether the predetermined period (Tauth) has elapsed.
18. Method (100) according to Claim 17, characterized in that a further step (192) involves the driver- and/or vehicle-oriented data (D) being transmitted from an internal memory of the tachograph (2) to the external memory device (3) if the predetermined period (Tauth) has not elapsed.
19. Method (100) according to Claim 17 or 18, characterized in that a further step (191) involves the data list (DL) being used to check which of the driver- and/or vehicle-oriented data (D) are permitted to be transmitted.
20. Method (100) according to Claim 19, characterized in that the further step (192) involves the driver- and/or vehicle-oriented data (D) being transmitted from the internal memory of the tachograph (2) to the external memory device (3) on the basis of the data list (DL).

Images