Patents by Inventor Tom C. Harter

Tom C. Harter has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10083549
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom C. Harter, Michael K. Kuphal, Randel J. Thome, Bruce D. Lightner
  • Publication number: 20170221278
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Tom C. Harter, Michael K. Kuphal, Randel J. Thome, Bruce D. Lightner
  • Patent number: 9361737
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom C. Harter, Michael K. Kuphal, Randel J. Thome, Bruce D. Lightner
  • Patent number: 9299200
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom C. Harter, Michael K. Kuphal, Randel J. Thome, Bruce D. Lightner
  • Patent number: 9235936
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom C. Harter, Michael K. Kuphal, Randel J. Thome, Bruce D. Lightner
  • Publication number: 20150325063
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Tom C. Harter, Michael K. Kuphal, Randel J. Thome, Bruce D. Lightner
  • Publication number: 20150170434
    Abstract: 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 process the at least one operating parameter to detect an event using a state machine including a plurality of states, wherein the event is used for driver compliance logging. The transceiver is configured to transmit the event to at least one external device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Tom C. Harter, Michael K. Kuphal, Randel J. Thome, Bruce D. Lightner
  • Publication number: 20150170433
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Tom C. Harter, Michael K. Kuphal, Randel J. Thome, Bruce D. Lightner
  • Publication number: 20150170428
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Tom C. Harter, Michael K. Kuphal, Randel J. Thome, Bruce D. Lightner