Wireless vehicle-monitoring system
View Patent ↗Embodiments of the present invention provide a wireless appliance for monitoring a vehicle. The wireless appliance includes a microprocessor configured to select a vehicle-communication protocol of a host vehicle, and then communicate with the host vehicle through the vehicle-communication protocol. The appliance also includes a vehicle-communication circuit, in electrical communication with the microprocessor, which collects diagnostic data from the host vehicle using the vehicle-communication protocol. A GPS module, also in electrical communication with the microprocessor, generates location-based data. For transmitting these data, the appliance includes a first wireless transmitter operating on a terrestrial network and a second wireless transmitter operating on a satellite network. The microprocessor selects the first or second wireless transmitter for transmitting the diagnostic and location-based data.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
(a) a microprocessor configured to select a vehicle-communication protocol of a host vehicle and communicate with the host vehicle through the vehicle-communication protocol; and
(b) a vehicle-communication circuit, in electrical communication with the microprocessor, configured to collect diagnostic data from the host vehicle using the vehicle-communication protocol, wherein the vehicle communication circuit is configured to support multiple different vehicle communication protocols.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a GPS module, in electrical communication with the microprocessor, configured to generate location-based data.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to be powered by the host vehicle, and further comprising a back-up battery.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) comprises the microprocessor.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured as a wireless appliance.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor is separate from an engine computer of the host vehicle.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is disconnectable from the host vehicle.
8. An apparatus, comprising:
(a) a microprocessor configured to select a vehicle-communication protocol of a host vehicle and communicate with the host vehicle through the selected vehicle-communication protocol; and
(b) a vehicle-communication circuit, in electrical communication with the microprocessor, configured to collect diagnostic data from the host vehicle using the vehicle-communication protocol, wherein the vehicle communication circuit is configured to support multiple different vehicle communication protocols;
wherein an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) comprises the microprocessor.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the ASIC further comprises a GPS module, in electrical communication with the microprocessor, configured to generate location-based data.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is configured to be powered by the host vehicle.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a back-up battery.
12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is configured as a wireless appliance.
13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the microprocessor is separate from an engine computer of the host vehicle.
14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is disconnectable from the host vehicle.
15. An apparatus, comprising:
(a) a microprocessor configured to select a vehicle-communication protocol of a host vehicle and communicate with the host vehicle through the vehicle-communication protocol; and
(b) a vehicle-communication circuit, in electrical communication with the microprocessor, configured to collect diagnostic data from the host vehicle using the vehicle-communication protocol, wherein the vehicle communication circuit is configured to support multiple different vehicle communication protocols;
wherein the microprocessor is separate from an engine computer of the host vehicle.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising:
a GPS module, in electrical communication with the microprocessor, configured to generate location-based data.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is configured to be powered by the host vehicle.
18. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising a back-up battery.
19. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is configured as a wireless appliance.
20. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is disconnectable from the host vehicle.