TELEMATICS SYSTEM WITH LOCAL NETWORK

1 . A telematics system comprising:

a central system for receiving and processing information relating to a plurality of pieces of equipment located remotely from the central system, and for providing services relating to the information to an end user;

a telematics server unit including a telecommunications device for wirelessly communicating with the central system;

a telematics local unit for installation at a piece of equipment and including an input for receiving a condition of the piece of equipment, the telematics local unit further including a local communications device for wirelessly communicating with the telematics server unit; and

wherein the telematics server unit provides and facilitates communication between the telematics local unit and the central system.

2 . The telematics system of claim 1 wherein the telematics server unit is for installation at a second piece of equipment and further includes an input for receiving a condition of the second piece of equipment.

3 . The telematics system of claim 2 wherein the telematics server unit includes a global positioning system (GPS) device.

4 . The telematics system of claim 2 wherein the telematics server unit is configured to receive an input indicative of run-time hours.

5 . The telematics system of claim 2 wherein the telematics server unit is configured to receive an input indicative of a diagnostic code.

6 . The telematics system of claim 1 wherein the telematics server unit is a stand-alone unit.

7 . The telematics system of claim 6 wherein the telematics server unit includes a global positioning system (GPS) device.

8 . The telematics system of claim 1 wherein the telematics server unit further includes a local communications device that communicates with the local communications device on the telematics local unit.

9 . The telematics system of claim 8 wherein the local communications device on the telematics server unit and the local communications device on the telematics local unit are both radio frequency devices.

10 . The telematics system of claim 1 wherein the telematics local unit is configured to receive an input indicative of run-time hours.

11 . The telematics system of claim 1 wherein the telematics local unit is configured to receive an input indicative of a diagnostic code.

12 . The telematics system of claim 1 wherein the telecommunications device on the telematics server unit is a cellular communication device.

13 . The telematics system of claim 1 wherein the telecommunications device on the telematics server unit is a satellite communication device.

14 . The telematics system of claim 1 wherein the telematics local unit is configured to send a signal to the telematics server unit, the signal indicating the condition received at the input; and

wherein the telematics server unit is configured to send information received from the telematics local unit to the central server.

15 . The telematics system of claim 1 wherein the telematics server unit is configured with an owner code, and is configured to broadcast the owner code; and

wherein the telematics local unit is configured with an owner code, and is configured such that when a received, broadcast owner code matches the owner code of the telematics local unit, the telematics local unit sends a signal to the telematics server unit, the signal indicating the condition received at the input.

16 . The telematics system of claim 1 wherein the central system is configured to send a signal to the telematics server unit;

wherein the telematics server unit is configured to relay the signal, as appropriate, to the telematics local unit; and

wherein the telematics local unit is configured to take action at the piece of equipment, as appropriate, based on the received signal.

17 . A telematics system comprising:

a telematics server unit including a telecommunications device for wirelessly communicating with a central system;

a plurality of telematics local units, each telematics local unit being configured for installation at a corresponding piece of equipment and including an input for receiving a condition of the piece of equipment, each telematics local unit further including a local communications device for wirelessly communicating with the telematics server unit; and

wherein the telematics server unit provides and facilitates communication between the telematics local unit and the central system.

18 . The telematics system of claim 17 wherein each telematics local unit is configured to send a signal to the telematics server unit, the signal indicating the condition received at the input; and

wherein the telematics server unit is configured to send information received from each telematics local unit to the central server.

19 . The telematics system of claim 17 wherein the telematics server unit is configured with an owner code, and is configured to broadcast the owner code; and

wherein each telematics local unit is configured with an owner code, and is configured such that when a received, broadcast owner code matches the owner code of the telematics local unit, the telematics local unit sends a signal to the telematics server unit, the signal indicating the condition received at the input.

20 . A telematics system comprising:

a telematics server unit including a telecommunications device for communicating with a central system;

a telematics local unit for installation at a piece of equipment and including an input for receiving a condition of the piece of equipment, the telematics local unit further including a local communications device for wirelessly communicating with the telematics server unit; and

wherein the telematics server unit provides and facilitates communication between the telematics local unit and the central system.