Wireless vehicle-monitoring system operating on both terrestrial and satellite networks

• US 8,452,486 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2006
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: HTI IP LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Banet, Matthew, Lowrey, Larkin, Washicko, Paul, O'Brien, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Issing, Gregory C
• Application Number:
  US11/526,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20070069947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,437 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.07, 701/29, 701/31.5, 701/32.4, 701/32.7
• US Class Current: 701/32.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

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. A wireless appliance for monitoring a vehicle, 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;

(c) a satellite modem operating on a satellite network and configured to receive and transmit data collected by the vehicle-communication circuit;

(d) a single chipset that comprises the microprocessor and the satellite modem.

2. The wireless appliance of claim 1, further comprising an antenna connected to the satellite modem, wherein the antenna comprises a patch antenna.

3. The wireless appliance of claim 2, wherein the patch antenna is adhered to a windshield of the vehicle or embedded within glass of the windshield.

4. The wireless appliance of claim 1, further comprising:

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

wherein the satellite modem is further configured to receive and transmit data generated by the GPS module.

5. The wireless appliance of claim 1, wherein the wireless appliance is configured to be powered by the host vehicle, and wherein the wireless appliance comprises a back-up battery.

6. A wireless appliance for monitoring a vehicle, 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;

(c) a satellite modem operating on a satellite network and configured to receive and transmit data collected by the vehicle-communication circuit;

(d) an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that comprises the microprocessor, the vehicle-communication circuit and the satellite modem.

7. The wireless appliance of claim 6, wherein the ASIC further comprises a GPS module, in electrical communication with the microprocessor, configured to generate location-based data, and wherein the satellite modem is further configured to receive and transmit data generated by the GPS module.