Truck scale management system and method

A method, in a data processing system comprising a processor and a memory, for managing truck scale systems, the method comprising:

• connecting to a truck scale system through an application programming interface from a self-driving or remotely controlled vehicle, the truck scale system operating in either an autonomous manner based upon instructions provided by the server without the need for human operator input, or in a semi-autonomous manner with operator input from within a vicinity of the truck scale system or remotely;
• connecting to the truck scale system through a communication interface via at least one virtual scale, the truck scale system comprising at least one physical truck scale, a first of the at least one virtual scale comprising a data connection to the at least one physical truck scale, wherein the first virtual scale includes attributes of the at least one physical truck scale and wherein the first virtual scale defines weighing capability, behavior of the at least one physical truck scale, and formatting of data streams transmitted from the at least one physical truck scale;
• retrieving, in response to a request from a client device, a virtual kiosk from a database, the virtual kiosk associated with the first virtual scale and communicatively accessible by the client device, the virtual kiosk configured to:
• execute weighment operations through the first virtual scale, receive data streams associated with the weighment operations from the at least one physical truck scale, and parse the data streams according to the formatting for display on the client device;
• causing the virtual kiosk to be loaded onto the client device;
• and
• facilitating communication between the client device and the truck scale system via the virtual kiosk.

A truck scale management system comprising:

• a server including:
• a processor, and
• a memory having executable instructions stored thereon that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
• connect to a truck scale system through an application programming interface from a self-driving or remotely controlled vehicle, the truck scale system operating in either an autonomous manner based upon instructions provided by the server without the need for human operator input, or in a semi-autonomous manner with operator input from within a vicinity of the truck scale system or remotely;
• connect to the truck scale system through a communication interface via at least one virtual scale, the truck scale system comprising at least one physical truck scale, a first of the at least one virtual scale comprising a data connection to the at least one physical truck scale, wherein the first virtual scale includes attributes of the at least one physical truck scale and wherein the first virtual scale defines weighing capability, behavior of the at least one physical truck scale, and formatting of data streams transmitted from the at least one physical truck scale;
• retrieve, in response to a request from a tablet kiosk device, a virtual tablet kiosk from a database, the virtual tablet kiosk associated with the first virtual scale and communicatively accessible by the tablet kiosk device via a single login mode using messaging communication, the virtual kiosk configured to:
• execute weighment operations through the first virtual scale based on messaging communication information, receive data streams associated with the weighment operations from the at least one physical truck scale, parse the data streams according to the formatting for display on the tablet kiosk device, and send weighment tickets using the messaging communication information;
• cause the virtual tablet kiosk to be loaded onto the tablet kiosk device;
• and
• facilitate communication between the tablet kiosk device and the truck scale system via the virtual tablet kiosk.