Systems and methods for collecting information from vehicle devices via a vehicle data bus
First Claim
1. A vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data bus extending throughout the vehicle and at least one operable vehicle device connected thereto, the at least one operable vehicle device responsive to at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus, the vehicle tracking unit comprising:
- a vehicle position determining device;
a wireless communications device; and
a controller spaced apart from the at least one operable vehicle device and connected to the vehicle data bus so that the vehicle data bus extends from said controller to the at least one operable vehicle device;
wherein the controller is configured to;
obtain information from the at least one vehicle device via the vehicle data bus and store the information provided by the at least one vehicle device in a database;
receive requests for information from a remote device via the wireless communications device;
query the database for the requested information independently of obtaining information from the at least one vehicle device; and
send the requested information to the remote device via the wireless communications device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention continuously collecting information via a vehicle data bus, store the information in a database, and retrieve the information in response to requests from remote devices. One embodiment includes a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller spaced apart from the at least one operable vehicle device and connected to the vehicle data bus so that the vehicle data bus extends from said controller to the at least one operable vehicle device. The controller is configured to query the at least one vehicle device via the vehicle data bus and store the information provided in a database, and receive requests for information from a remote device via the wireless communications device, query the database for the requested information and send the requested information to the remote device via the wireless communications device.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data bus extending throughout the vehicle and at least one operable vehicle device connected thereto, the at least one operable vehicle device responsive to at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus, the vehicle tracking unit comprising:
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a vehicle position determining device; a wireless communications device; and a controller spaced apart from the at least one operable vehicle device and connected to the vehicle data bus so that the vehicle data bus extends from said controller to the at least one operable vehicle device; wherein the controller is configured to; obtain information from the at least one vehicle device via the vehicle data bus and store the information provided by the at least one vehicle device in a database; receive requests for information from a remote device via the wireless communications device; query the database for the requested information independently of obtaining information from the at least one vehicle device; and send the requested information to the remote device via the wireless communications device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A vehicle tracking device configured to communicate with at least one vehicle device via a vehicle data bus, comprising:
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a wireless communications device; and a controller configured to connect to the vehicle data bus; wherein the controller is configured to; obtain information from the at least one vehicle device via the vehicle data bus and store the information provided by the at least one vehicle device in a database; receive requests for information from a remote device via the wireless communications device; query the database for the requested information independently of obtaining information from the at least one vehicle device; and send the requested information to the remote device via the wireless communications device.
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11. A method of obtaining data from at least one vehicle device connected to a vehicle data bus, comprising:
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obtaining information from the at least one vehicle device using a vehicle tracking device; adding information obtained from the at least one vehicle device to a database maintained by the vehicle tracking device; receiving a request for information from a remote device via the vehicle tracking device; querying the database using the vehicle tracking device to obtain the requested information independently of obtaining information from the at least one vehicle device; and sending the requested information to the remote device using the vehicle tracking device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A machine readable medium containing controller instructions, where execution of the instructions by a controller causes the controller to perform a process comprising:
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obtaining information from the at least one vehicle device; adding the obtained information from the at least one vehicle device to a database; receiving a request for information from a remote device via a wireless communications device; querying the database to obtain the requested information independently of obtaining the information from the at least one vehicle device; and sending the requested information to the remote device via a wireless communications device. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification