Wireless vehicle-monitoring system

• US 20140277917A1
• Filed: 03/17/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Larkin Lowrey, Matthew Banet, Michael O'Brien, Paul Washicko
• Original Assignee: Verizon Telematics Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Banet, Matthew, Lowrey, Larkin, Washicko, Paul, O'Brien, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,520,005 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/31.5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/00 Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/00 Traffic control systems for road vehicles arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00 ; automatic vehicle control B62D
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

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.

Claims

1-73. -73. (canceled)

74. 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.

75. The wireless appliance of claim 74, further comprising:

a GPS module, in electrical communication with the microprocessor, configured to generate location-based data.

76. The apparatus of claim 74 configured to be powered by the host vehicle, and further comprising a back-up battery.

77. 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;

(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;

an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that comprises the microprocessor.

78. The wireless appliance of claim 77, wherein the ASIC further comprises a GPS module, in electrical communication with the microprocessor, configured to generate location-based data.