Internet based vehicle data communication system

• US 6,751,452 B1
• Filed: 05/01/2000
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Grajewski, Ron J., Kupczyk, Marek
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Sinh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Application Number:
  US09/563,259
• Time in Patent Office: 1,506 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412, 455/66.1, 455/517, 455/345, 455/99, 455/456, 455/12.1, 455/11.1, 455/427, 455/3.02, 455/3.05, 455/344, 370/400, 370/349, 370/352, 370/310, 379/265, 379/207, 379/210, 379/211, 379/221, 379/225, 340/988, 340/426, 340/955, 340/425.5, 340/438-462, 340/439.9, 340/439.22, 340/439.24, 701/29, 701/33, 701/2, 701/13, 701/207
• US Class Current: 455/345
• 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

An internet based two-way data communication system for interrogating and programming the electronics of motor vehicles, with global positioning system (GPS) and real-time class 2 communication capabilities. A vehicle communications package (VCP) is located aboard each subject motor vehicle which is electronically interfaced with selected electronics of the respective motor vehicle and which provides wireless reception of GPS signals and reception and transmission of Class 2 data with respect to communication satellites, and further includes a website having a predetermined internet URL. Wireless communication between the website and the VCP is provided via a communication satellite provider having an internet interface, or a cellular telephone provider having an internet interface. The website is by a user using any computer, located anywhere and having internet access, simply by entering the website URL and the user'"'"'s pre-established password/user name permissions. The website provides a user selectable display for organizing data received from and to be sent to the one or more motor vehicles.

Claims

1. An internet based vehicle data communication system comprising:

a vehicle communications package in communication with an automotive communication network for interfacing with electronics of a motor vehicle, said vehicle communications package having a wireless communications device for sending and receiving data;

a wireless data communication system, said wireless data communication system communicating with said vehicle communications package, said wireless data communication system having an internet connection;

a website hosted on a server having an internet connection; and

at least one computer having an internet connection;

wherein the at least one computer is enabled to receive and send data to the vehicle communications package via the aforesaid internet connections, said website and said wireless data communication system; and

wherein said wireless communication system comprises a constellation of communication satellites in communication with at least one station of a communication satellite provider, wherein the at least one station provides said internet connection with respect to the constellation of satellites, wherein the wireless communication system comprises a cellular telephone provider;

wherein vehicle communications package includes a cellular telephone modem; and

wherein cellular telephone provider provides an internet connection.

2. The vehicle communications system of claim 1, wherein said data comprises Class 2 data.

3. The vehicle communication system of claim 2, further comprising said vehicle communications package being capable of receiving global positioning system data.

4. A method of data communication between a motor vehicle and at least one computer, comprising the steps of:

transmitting data between a website and a vehicle communications package of a motor vehicle; and

using a computer to access the website to read vehicle data sent from the motor vehicle and to enter command data to the website and thereupon send the command data to the motor vehicle;

wherein said step of transmitting data comprises transmitting Class 2 data accessed from an automotive communication network; and

wherein said step of wireless data transmission comprises transmitting data between an internet connection and at least one communication satellite, and between the at least one communication satellite and the vehicle communications package; and

wherein said step of wireless data transmission further comprises transmitting data between said internet connection and at least one cellular telephone provider, and between the cellular telephone provider and the vehicle communications package.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of transmitting data further comprises the steps of:

wireless data transmission; and

internet data transfer.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said step of internet data transfer comprises transferring data between the website and a wireless communication provider, and further between the computer and the website.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said step of transmitting data further comprises transmitting Class 2 data.