AUTOMOBILE DATA ABSTRACTION AND COMMUNICATION

1 . An abstraction and communication device comprising:

a connector adapted to interface with an automotive Controller Area Network (CAN) bus that communicates data signals in a first automobile-specific format with components of an automobile;

a mapping platform configured to convert a data signal from the first automobile-specific format into a mobile device format defined by an Application Programming Interface (API);

a transceiver configured to wirelessly communicate the data signal in the mobile device format to a mobile device.

2 . The abstraction and communication device of claim 1 , further comprising a certification module configured to limit access to the data signal converted to the mobile device format.

3 . The abstraction and communication device of claim 1 , wherein the certification module is configured to:

grant a first mobile device with a first authentication level access to events in the mobile device format after conversion by the mapping module; and

grant a second mobile device with a second authentication level access to raw data without conversion by the mapping module.

4 . The abstraction and communication device of claim 1 , wherein the API enables the conversion of data signals in a plurality of automobile-specific formats to the mobile device format.

5 . The abstraction and communication device of claim 4 , wherein the API further enables the conversion of write signals in the mobile device format to the plurality of automobile-specific formats.

6 . The abstraction and communication device of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of automobile-specific formats is updatable.

7 . The abstraction and communication device of claim 1 , wherein the mapping platform is further configured to:

convert a write signal in the mobile device format communicated from the mobile device to the first automobile-specific format, and

communicate the write signal in the automobile-specific format through the automotive CAN bus to affect a condition of a component of the automobile.

8 . The abstraction and communication device of claim 7 , wherein the write signal communicated from the mobile device originates at an automobile-agnostic mobile device application.

9 . The abstraction and communication device of claim 1 , wherein the certification module restricts the transmission of the data signal through authentication of read privileges possessed by the mobile device.

10 . The abstraction and communication device of claim 9 , wherein the read privileges include a first read privilege that prevents the transmission of the data signal and a second read privilege that allows the transmission of the data signal.

11 . The abstraction and communication device of claim 1 , wherein the certification module further restricts communication of write signals through authentication of write privileges possessed by the mobile device.

12 . The abstraction and communication device of claim 1 , wherein the transceiver comprises a Bluetooth transceiver.

13 . The abstraction and communication device of claim 1 , wherein the connector is adapted to interface with an On Board Diagnostics (OBD) connector.

14 . A platform comprising:

a transceiver configured to receive a wireless write signal originating at an automobile-agnostic mobile device application, wherein the write signal is formatted in a mobile device format;

an Application Programming Interface (API) configured to convert the write signal from the mobile device format to an automobile-specific format appropriate for an automobile; and

a controller configured to communicate the write signal formatted in the automobile-specific format through a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus of the automobile to alter a condition of an automotive component.

15 . The platform of claim 14 , further comprising a certification module configured to verify that the automobile-agnostic mobile device application possesses a write privilege.

16 . The platform of claim 15 , further comprising a connector adapted to interface with an On Board Diagnostics (OBD) connector that enables access to the CAN bus.

17 . The platform of claim 15 , wherein:

the certification module is further configured to verify that the automobile-agnostic mobile device application possesses a read privilege;

the controller is further configured to receive a data signal from the CAN bus formatted in the automobile-specific format;

the API is further configured to convert the data signal from the automobile-specific formats to the mobile device format; and

the transceiver is further configured to wirelessly transmit the data signal in the mobile device format to the automobile-agnostic mobile device application.

18 . The platform of claim 15 , wherein the certification module enables a manufacturer of the automobile to write a first party mobile device application exclusively accessible to the manufacturer.

19 . A method of communication between an automobile-agnostic mobile device and an automobile, the method comprising:

authenticating that the automobile-agnostic mobile device possesses a read privilege;

receiving a data signal from a Control Access Network (CAN) bus in an automobile-specific format;

converting the data signal from the automobile-specific format to a mobile device format defined by an Application Programming Interface (API);

wirelessly transmitting the data signal formatted in the mobile device format to the automobile-agnostic mobile device, such that the automobile-agnostic mobile device can access the data signal in the mobile device format according to the read privilege.

20 . The method of communication of claim 19 , further comprising:

receiving from the automobile-agnostic mobile device, a write signal formatted in the mobile device format;

authenticating that the automobile-agnostic mobile device possesses a write privilege;

converting the write signal from the mobile device format to the automobile-specific format;

communicating the write signal to the automobile through the CAN bus to affect a condition of an automotive component.

21 . The method of communication of claim 19 , wherein the write signal is wirelessly transmitted from the automobile-agnostic mobile device and originates at an automobile-agnostic mobile device application.

22 . The method of communication of claim 19 , wherein authenticating that the automobile-agnostic mobile device possesses a read privilege comprises determining that the automobile agnostic mobile device has a first authentication level.

23 . The method of communication of claim 22 , further comprising

determining that another mobile device has a second authentication level; and

giving the other mobile device access to the data signal without conversion to the mobile device format.

24 . A computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon that are executable by a computing device to perform the method of claim 19 .