System, apparatus and methods for data communication between vehicle and remote data communication terminal, between portions of vehicle and other portions of vehicle, between two or more vehicles, and between vehicle and communications network

• US 20030003777A1
• Filed: 01/17/2002
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovative Global Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Vehicle Enhancement Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Lesesky, Alan, Weant, Bobby
• Granted Patent: US 6,744,352 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/34
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2016/0322 Temporary code for documents to be reclassified to G08C, H04L or H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence

Abstract

A system, an apparatus, and methods are provided for data communications associated with a vehicle. The apparatus preferably includes at least one electronic subsystem associated with the vehicle and a plurality of electrical conductors connected to the at least one electronic subsystem and associated with the vehicle. A vehicle data communications protocol converter is preferably connected to the plurality of electrical conductors for converting a first data communications protocol associated with data communications along the plurality of electrical conductors to a second data communications protocol such as an infrared, an RF data, an Internet, or other network communications protocol. The apparatus also preferably includes a transceiver connected to the data communications protocol converter for transmitting the second data communications protocol from the vehicle and receiving the data communications protocol from another portion of the vehicle, a remote data communications terminal, another vehicle, or another communications network.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a cab; and

a data communications apparatus connected to said cab for communicating data to and from said cab, said data communications apparatus comprising;

at least one electronic subsystem associated with the vehicle and related to the operation of the vehicle;

a plurality of electrical conductors connected to the at least one electronic subsystem and associated with the vehicle;

a connector connected in series with said plurality of electrical conductors and positioned in said cab;

vehicle data communications protocol converting means connected to said plurality of electrical conductors for converting a first data communications protocol associated with data communications along the plurality of electrical conductors to a second data communications protocol;

a first transceiver associated with said connector and connected to said vehicle data communications protocol converting means for transmitting and receiving the second data communications protocol; and

a remote data communications terminal including a second transceiver for transmitting the second data communications protocol to said first transceiver and receiving the second data communications protocol from said first transceiver.

2. A vehicle as defined in claim 1, further comprising a transceiver housing detachably connected to said connector and positioned within the cab, and wherein said first transceiver is positioned within said transceiver housing.

3. A vehicle as defined in claim 2, wherein the second data communications protocol comprises one of either an infrared data communications protocol,an RF data communications protocol, a global communications network protocol, or a power line carrier protocol, and wherein said transceiver housing includes a translucent cover member for optically transmitting the data communications protocol therethrough.

4. A vehicle as defined in claim 3, wherein said first and second transceivers each include a signal processing physical layer, and wherein the second data communications protocol only uses the physical layer of the first and second transceivers for signal processing.

5. A vehicle as defined in claim 4, wherein said connector includes a plurality of pins having a predetermined pin configuration, and wherein said connector has one of either a generally cylindrical or a generally rectangular shape.

6. A vehicle as defined in claim 5, wherein said connector comprises a six-pin connector having first and second connector portions thereof, and wherein the second connector portion defines said transceiver housing.

7. A vehicle as defined in claim 5, wherein the first data communications protocol comprises one of the data communications protocols specified by either SAE J1708, SAE J1939, or IEEE 802.11 Standard.

8. A vehicle as defined in claim 7, wherein said at least one electronic subsystem comprises an anti-locking brake system, and wherein said connector is also connected to said anti-locking brake system.

9. A vehicle as defined in claim 8, further comprising a controller connected to said at least one electronic subsystem and said plurality of electrical connectors for controlling data communications along said plurality of electrical conductors and signal generating means connected to said controller for generating a signal related to the operation of the vehicle.

10. A vehicle as defined in claim 9, wherein said remote data communications terminal comprises a computer and further includes remote data communications protocol converting means for converting the second data communications protocol received by said remote data communications terminal to a third data communications protocol associated with said computer.

11. An apparatus for data communications associated with a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of electrical conductors associated with the vehicle;

a vehicle data communications protocol converter connected to said plurality of electrical conductors to convert a first data communications protocol associated with data communications along the plurality of electrical conductors to a second data communications protocol; and

a transceiver connected to said vehicle data communications protocol converter to transmit the second data communications protocol from the vehicle and receive the second data communications protocol from a remote data communications terminal.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, further comprising a connector connected in series with said plurality of electrical conductors, and wherein said transceiver is associated with said connector.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12, further comprising a transceiver housing detachably connected to said connector, and wherein said transceiver is positioned within said transceiver housing.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the second data communications protocol comprises one of either an infrared data communications protocol, an RF data communications protocol, a global communication network protocol, or a power line carrier communications protocol, and wherein said transceiver housing includes a translucent cover member for transmitting the second data communications protocol therethrough.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 12, further comprising at least one electronic subsystem associated with the heavy duty vehicle and related to operation of the vehicle, the at least one electronic subsystem including an anti-locking brake system connected to the vehicle, and wherein said connector is also connected to said anti-locking brake system.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said connector includes a plurality of pins having a predetermined pin configuration, and wherein said connector has one of either a generally cylindrical or a generally rectangular shape.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said connector comprises a six-pin connector having first and second connector portions thereof, and wherein the second connector portion defines said transceiver housing.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said transceiver comprises a first transceiver, and wherein the remote data communication terminal includes a second transceiver for transmitting the second data communications protocol to said first transceiver and receiving the second data communications protocol from said first transceiver.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the first and second transceivers each include a signal processing physical layer, and wherein the second data communications protocol only uses the physical layer of the first and second transceivers for signal processing.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, further comprising a vehicle light housing connected to the heavy duty vehicle for housing a vehicle light, and wherein said transceiver is positioned in said vehicle light housing.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein said vehicle light housing comprises a side-marker light housing.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said transceiver comprises a first transceiver, and wherein the remote data communication terminal includes a second transceiver for transmitting the second data communications protocol to said first transceiver and receiving the second data communications protocol from said first transceiver.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein the first and second transceivers each include a physical layer, and wherein the second data communications protocol only uses the physical layer of the first and second transceivers.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said remote data communications terminal comprises a computer and further includes remote data communications protocol converting means for converting the second data communications protocol received by said remote data communications terminal to a third data communications protocol associated with said computer.

25. An apparatus as defined in claim 24, further comprising a controller connected to said at least one electronic subsystem and said plurality of electrical connectors for controlling data communications along said plurality of electrical conductors and signal generating means connected to said controller for generating a signal related to the operation of the vehicle.

26. An apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the first data communications protocol comprises one of the data communications protocols specified by either SAE J1708, SAE J1939, or IEEE 802.11 Standard.

28. An apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein the second data communications protocol comprises one of either an infrared data communications protocol, an RF data communications protocol, a global communications network protocol, or a power line carrier communications protocol, and wherein said transceiver housing includes a translucent cover member for transmitting the second data communications protocol therethrough.

29. An apparatus as defined in claim 28, wherein the at least one electronic subsystem includes an anti-locking brake system connected to the heavy duty vehicle, and wherein said connector is also connected to said anti-locking brake system.

30. An apparatus as defined in claim 28, wherein said connector includes a plurality of pins having a predetermined pin configuration, and wherein said connector has one of either a generally cylindrical or a generally rectangular shape.

31. An apparatus as defined in claim 30, wherein said connector comprises a six-pin connector having first and second connector portions thereof, and wherein the second connector portion defines said transceiver housing.

32. An apparatus as defined in claim 28, wherein said transceiver comprises a first transceiver, and wherein the remote data communication terminal includes a second transceiver for transmitting the second data communications protocol to said first transceiver and receiving the second data communications protocol from said first transceiver.

33. An apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein the first and second transceivers each include a signal processing physical layer, and wherein the second data communications protocol only uses the physical layer of the first and second transceivers for signal processing.

34. An apparatus as defined in claim 33, wherein said transceiver housing comprises a vehicle light housing connected to said connector for housing a vehicle light, and wherein said transceiver is positioned in said vehicle light housing.

35. An apparatus as defined in claim 34, wherein said vehicle light housing comprises a side-marker light housing.

36. An apparatus as defined in claim 33, wherein said remote data communications terminal comprises a computer and further includes remote data communications protocol converting means for converting the second data communications protocol received by said remote data communications terminal to a third data communications protocol associated with said computer.

37. An apparatus as defined in claim 36, further comprising a controller connected to said at least one electronic subsystem and said plurality of electrical connectors for controlling data communications along said plurality of electrical conductors and signal generating means connected to said controller for generating a signal related to the operation of the vehicle.

38. An apparatus as defined in claim 37, wherein the first data communications protocol comprises one of the data communications protocols specified by either SAE J1708, SAE J1939, or IEEE 802.11 Standard.

40. An apparatus as defined in claim 39, wherein the second data communications protocol comprises one of either an infrared data communications protocol, an RF data communications protocol, a global communications network protocol, or a power line carrier communications protocol, and wherein said transceiver housing includes a translucent cover member for transmitting the second data communications protocol therethrough.

41. An apparatus as defined in claim 40, wherein the connector of the vehicle is positioned in a cab of the vehicle.

42. An apparatus as defined in claim 40, wherein the connector of the vehicle is positioned in associated with an anti-locking braking system of the trailer of a truck.

43. An apparatus as defined in claim 40, wherein the connector has first and second mating connector portions, and wherein said transceiver housing includes the second mating connector portion for connecting to the connector of the vehicle.

44. An apparatus as defined in claim 43, wherein said transceiver housing has one of either a generally cylindrical or a generally rectangular shape.

45. An apparatus as defined in claim 43, wherein said transceiver includes a signal processing physical layer, and wherein the second data communications protocol only uses the physical layer of said transceiver for signal processing.

46. An apparatus as defined in claim 40, wherein the first communications protocol comprises one of the data communications protocols specified by either SAE J1708, SAE J1939, or IEEE 802.11 Standard.

48. An apparatus as defined in claim 47, wherein said transceiver housing comprises a vehicle light housing mounted to the vehicle, and wherein said transceiver and said vehicle data converter are both positioned in said vehicle light housing.

49. An apparatus as defined in claim 48, wherein said vehicle light housing comprises a side-marker light housing.

50. An apparatus as defined in claim 49, wherein the second data communications protocol comprises one of either an infrared data communications protocol, an RF data communications protocol, a global communications network protocol, or a power line carrier communication protocol, and wherein said side marker light housing includes a translucent cover member for transmitting the second data communications protocol therethrough.

51. An apparatus as defined in claim 50, wherein said side marker light housing of the vehicle is mounted to a trailer of a truck.

52. An apparatus as defined in claim 51, wherein said side marker light housing is also connected to an anti-locking braking system of the trailer of the truck.

53. An apparatus as defined in claim 50, wherein said transceiver includes a signal processing physical layer, and wherein the second data communications protocol only uses the physical layer of said transceiver for signal processing.

54. An apparatus as defined in claim 53, wherein the first communications protocol comprises one of the data communications protocols specified by either SAE J1708, SAE J1939, or IEEE 802.11 Standard.

27. An apparatus for data communications associated with a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

at least one electronic subsystem associated with the vehicle;

a plurality of electrical conductors connected to the at least one electronic subsystem and associated with the vehicle;

a vehicle data communications protocol converter connected to said plurality of electrical conductors to convert a first data communications protocol associated with data communications along the plurality of electrical conductors to a second data communications protocol;

a connector connected to said plurality of electrical conductors;

a transceiver housing connected to said connector; and

a transceiver positioned within said transceiver housing connected to said vehicle data communications protocol converter to transmit the second data communications protocol from the vehicle and receive the data communications protocol from a remote data communications terminal.

39. An apparatus for data communications associated with a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a transceiver housing adapted to be detachably connected to a connector mounted to a vehicle, the connector being connected to a plurality of electrical conductors associated with the vehicle;

a vehicle data communications protocol converter positioned in said housing to convert a first data communications protocol associated with data communications along the plurality of electrical conductors to a second data communications protocol; and

a transceiver positioned within said transceiver housing and connected to said vehicle data communications protocol converter to transmit the second data communications protocol from the vehicle and receive the data communications protocol from a remote data communications terminal.

47. An apparatus for data communications associated with a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a transceiver housing mounted to a vehicle;

a vehicle data communications protocol converter positioned in said housing to convert a first data communications protocol associated with data communications along a plurality of electrical conductors to a second data communications protocol; and

a transceiver positioned within said transceiver housing and connected to said vehicle data communications protocol converter to transmit the second data communications protocol from the vehicle and receive the data communications protocol from a remote data communications terminal.

55. A method of data communications associated with a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of electrical conductors associated with a vehicle;

converting a first vehicle data communications protocol associated with data communications along the plurality of electrical conductors to a second data communications protocol; and

transmitting the second data communications protocol from the vehicle to a remote data communications terminal.

56. A method as defined in claim 55, further comprising receiving the second data communications protocol from the remote data communications terminal.

57. A method as defined in claim 56, further comprising controlling data communications along the plurality of electrical conductors and generating a signal related to the operation of the vehicle.

58. A method as defined in claim 57, further comprising positioning a connector so as to be connected in series with the plurality of electrical conductors and positioning a transceiver in association with the connector.

59. A method as defined in claim 58, further comprising detachably connecting a transceiver housing to the connector and positioning the transceiver within the transceiver housing.

60. A method as defined in claim 59, wherein the second data communications protocol comprises one of either an infrared data communications protocol, an RF data communications protocol, a global communications network protocol, or a power line carrier communications protocol, and wherein the transceiver housing includes a translucent cover member for transmitting and receiving the second data communications protocol therethrough.

61. A method as defined in claim 60, further comprising providing at least one electronic subsystem associated with the vehicle and connected to the plurality of electrical conductors related to operation of the vehicle.

62. A method as defined in claim 61, wherein the transceiver comprises a first transceiver, and wherein the remote data communication terminal includes a second transceiver, the method further comprising transmitting the second data communications protocol to the first transceiver and receiving the second data communications protocol from the first transceiver.

63. A method as defined in claim 62, wherein the first and second transceivers each include a physical layer, and the method further comprising transmitting and receiving the second data communications protocol only using the physical layer of the first and second transceivers.

64. A method as defined in claim 63, wherein the remote data communications terminal comprises a computer, and the method further comprises remotely converting the second data communications protocol received by the remote data communications terminal to a third data communications protocol associated with the computer.

65. A method as defined in claim 65, wherein the first data communications protocol comprises one of the data communications protocols specified by either SAE J1708, SAE J1939, or IEEE 802.11 Standard.