Apparatus and method for enhanced data communications and control between a vehicle and a remote data communications terminal

• US 6,946,953 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2002
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Innovative Global Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Vehicle Enhancement Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Weant, Bobby Ray, Lesesky, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US10/158,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20030222770A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 340/431, 340/933, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.71, 340/825.73, 340/10.1, 701/1, 701/29, 701/33, 701/36, 701/47, 701/45, 235/384, 370/912, 370/913, 455/39
• US Class Current: 340/431
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 370/913 Wireless or radio

Abstract

An apparatus and methods for enhanced data communications and control between a vehicle and a remote data communications terminal are disclosed. The apparatus preferably includes a first protocol converter adapted to be positioned in communication with at least one electronic subsystem of the vehicle, a first transceiver, a first requestor, and a first buffer. The apparatus also preferably includes a second transceiver, a second protocol converter, a second requestor, and a second buffer. The first protocol converter converts data of a vehicle communication protocol to data of an over-the-air communication protocol. After the first requestor opens a window in an over-the-air communication channel between the vehicle and the remote data communications terminal, the first transceiver in the vehicle wirelessly transmits data over-the-air from the vehicle to the second transceiver in the remote data communications terminal preferably not using the over the air communication protocol. When the vehicle is not transmitting data via the first transceiver, data received from the remote data communication terminal and stored in the first buffer is then transferred to the at least one electronic subsystem of the vehicle. Also, when the remote data communication terminal is not transmitting data via the second transceiver, data received from the vehicle and stored in the second buffer is then transferred to other portions of the remote data communication terminal.

Claims

1. An apparatus for enhanced data communications between a vehicle and a remote data communication terminal, the apparatus comprising:

a first protocol converter associated with a vehicle, adapted to be positioned in communication with at least one electronic subsystem of the vehicle, and positioned to convert data from a vehicle communication protocol to data of an over-the-air communication protocol;

a first requestor associated with the vehicle and positioned to request the opening of an over-the-air communication window in a data communication channel between the vehicle and a remote data communication terminal using the over-the-air communication protocol;

a first transceiver associated with the vehicle and in communication with the first requestor to wirelessly transmit data over-the air to the remote data communication terminal and to wirelessly receive data over-the-air from the remote data communication terminal;

a first buffer associated with the vehicle, in communication with the first transceiver and the first protocol converter to receive and temporarily store data communication received from the first transceiver, and positioned to transfer the received data to the first protocol converter and to at least one electronic subsystem when the first transceiver is not transmitting data communication therefrom;

a second transceiver associated with the remote data communication terminal to wirelessly receive data over-the-air from the vehicle and wirelessly transmit data over-the-air to the vehicle;

a second protocol converter associated with the remote data communication terminal and in communication with the second transceiver to convert the received data from the over-the-air communication protocol to a remote terminal communication protocol during the open over-the-air window in the over-the-air communication channel;

a second requestor associated with the remote data communication terminal and positioned to request the opening of a window in the data communication channel between the remote data communication terminal and the vehicle using the over-the-air communication protocol; and

a second buffer associated with the remote data communication terminal, in communication with the second transceiver and the second protocol converter to receive and temporarily store data communication received from the second transceiver, and positioned to transfer data to the second protocol converter and the remote data communication terminal when the second transceiver is not transmitting data therefrom.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the first protocol converter converts the vehicle data communication protocol to an over-the-air data communication not having the over-the-air communication protocol when the over-the-air communication window is open in the over-the-air data communication channel so that the over-the-air communication passes to the second transceiver and the second protocol converter converts the over-the-air communication to the remote terminal data communication protocol, the remote terminal data communication protocol being substantially the same as the vehicle data communication protocol so that the converted over-the-air communication after received by the second transceiver is readily recognized by the remote data communication terminal.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the first buffer responsively receives an acknowledgment from the first transceiver communicating that the first transceiver has completed the over-the-air communication prior to transferring received data from the first buffer to the at least one electronic subsystem to thereby compensate for time delay associated with the received data, and wherein the second buffer responsively receives an acknowledgement from the second transceiver communicating that the second transceiver has completed the over-the-air communication prior to transferring received data from the second buffer to the remote data communication terminal to thereby compensate for time delay associated with the received data.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, further comprising a first signal booster in communication with the first protocol converter and the first transceiver and associated with the vehicle to boost the power of data communication being transmitted with second data communication protocol to the remote data communication terminal, and a second signal booster in communication with the second protocol converter and the second transceiver and associated with the remote data communication terminal to boost the power of data communication being transmitted with the second data communication protocol to the vehicle, wherein the vehicle communication protocol comprises the SAE J1708 standard protocol, and wherein the remote terminal communication protocol comprises the RS-485 standard protocol.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the over-the-air communication protocol comprises at least one of the following:

a radio frequency communication protocol, an optical communication protocol, a microwave communication protocol, a satellite frequency communication protocol, a very high frequency communication protocol, an ultra-high frequency communication protocol, and an infrared communication protocol.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the vehicle data communication protocol comprises at least one of the following:

SAE J1708 and SAE J1939, and wherein the remote terminal communication protocol comprises at least one of the following;

the RS-485 standard, RS-232 standard, RS-422 standard, and RS-423 standard.

7. An apparatus for enhanced data communications between a vehicle and a remote data communication terminal, the apparatus comprising:

a first protocol converter associated with a vehicle, adapted to be positioned in communication with at least one electronic subsystem of the vehicle, and positioned to convert data from a vehicle communication protocol to data of an over-the-air communication protocol;

a requestor associated with the vehicle and positioned to request the opening of an over-the-air communication window in a data communication channel between the vehicle and a remote data communication terminal using the over-the-air communication protocol;

a first transceiver associated with the vehicle and in communication with the requestor to wirelessly transmit data over-the air to the remote data communication terminal and to wirelessly receive data over-the-air from the remote data communication terminal;

a buffer associated with the vehicle, positioned to receive and temporarily store data communication received from the first transceiver, and positioned to transfer the received data to the at least one electronic subsystem when the first transceiver is not transmitting data communication therefrom;

a second transceiver associated with the remote data communication terminal to wirelessly receive data over-the-air from the vehicle and wirelessly transmit data over-the-air to the vehicle; and

a second protocol converter associated with the remote data communication terminal and in communication with the second transceiver to convert the received data from the over-the-air communication protocol to a remote terminal communication protocol during the open over-the-air window in the over-the-air communication channel.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the first protocol converter converts the vehicle data communication protocol to an over-the-air data communication not having the over-the-air communication protocol when the over-the-air communication window is open in the over-the-air data communication channel so that the over-the-air communication passes to the second transceiver and the second protocol converter converts the over-the-air communication to the remote terminal data communication protocol, the remote terminal data communication protocol being substantially the same as the vehicle data communication protocol so that the converted over-the-air communication after received by the second transceiver is readily recognized by the remote data communication terminal.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the buffer responsively receives an acknowledgment from the first transceiver communicating that the first transceiver has completed the over-the-air communication prior to transferring received data from the first buffer to the at least one electronic subsystem to thereby compensate for time delay associated with the received data.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, further comprising a first signal booster in communication with the first protocol converter and the first transceiver and associated with the vehicle to boost the power of data communication being transmitted with second data communication protocol to the remote data communication terminal, and a second signal booster in communication with the second protocol converter and the second transceiver and associated with the remote data communication terminal to boost the power of data communication being transmitted with the second data communication protocol to the vehicle, wherein the vehicle communication protocol comprises the SAE J1708 standard protocol, and wherein the remote terminal communication protocol comprises the RS-485 standard protocol.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the over-the-air communication protocol comprises at least one of the following:

a radio frequency communication protocol, an optical communication protocol, a microwave communication protocol, a satellite frequency communication protocol, a very high frequency communication protocol, an ultra-high frequency communication protocol, and an infrared communication protocol.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the vehicle data communication protocol comprises at least one of the following:

SAE J1708 and SAE J1939, and wherein the remote terminal communication protocol comprises at least one of the following;

the RS-485 standard, RS-232 standard, RS-422 standard, and RS-423 standard.

13. An apparatus for enhanced data communications between a vehicle and a remote data communication terminal, the apparatus comprising:

a first protocol converter associated with a vehicle, adapted to be positioned in communication with at least one electronic subsystem of the vehicle, and positioned to convert data from a vehicle communication protocol to data of an over-the-air communication protocol;

a first transceiver associated with the vehicle and in communication with the first protocol converter to wirelessly transmit data over-the air to the remote data communication terminal and to wirelessly receive data over-the-air from the remote data communication terminal;

a second transceiver associated with the remote data communication terminal to wirelessly receive data over-the-air from the vehicle and wirelessly transmit data over-the-air to the vehicle;

a second protocol converter associated with the remote data communication terminal and in communication with the second transceiver to convert the received data from the over-the-air communication protocol to a remote terminal communication protocol;

a requestor associated with the remote data communication terminal and positioned to request the opening of an over-the-air window in the data communication channel between the remote data communication terminal and the vehicle using the over-the-air communication protocol; and

a buffer associated with the remote data communication terminal, positioned to receive and temporarily store data communication received from the second transceiver, and positioned to transfer data to the remote data communication terminal when the second transceiver is not transmitting data therefrom.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the second protocol converter converts the vehicle data communication protocol to an over-the-air data communication not having the over-the-air communication protocol when the over-the-air communication window is open in the over-the-air data communication channel so that the over-the-air communication passes to the first transceiver and the first protocol converter converts the over-the-air communication to the vehicle data communication protocol, the vehicle data communication protocol being substantially the same as the remote terminal data communication protocol so that the converted over-the-air communication after received by the first transceiver is readily recognized by the at least one electronic subsystem.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the buffer responsively receives an acknowledgment from the second transceiver communicating that the second transceiver has completed the over-the-air communication prior to transferring received data from the buffer to other portions of the remote data communication terminal to thereby compensate for time delay associated with the received data.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, further comprising a first signal booster in communication with the first protocol converter and the first transceiver and associated with the vehicle to boost the power of data communication being transmitted with the over-the-air data communication protocol to the remote data communication terminal, and a second signal booster in communication with the second protocol converter and the second transceiver and associated with the remote data communication terminal to boost the power of data communication being transmitted with the over-the-air data communication protocol to the vehicle, wherein the vehicle communication protocol comprises the SAE J1708 standard protocol, and wherein the remote terminal communication protocol comprises the RS-485 standard protocol.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the over-the-air communication protocol comprises at least one of the following:

a radio frequency communication protocol, an optical communication protocol, a microwave communication protocol, a satellite frequency communication protocol, a very high frequency communication protocol, an ultra-high frequency communication protocol, and an infrared communication protocol.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the vehicle data communication protocol comprises at least one of the following:

SAE J1708 and SAE J1939, and wherein the remote terminal communication protocol comprises at least one of the following;

the RS-485 standard, RS-232 standard, RS-422 standard, and RS-423 standard.

19. A method for enhanced data communications between a vehicle and a remote data communications terminal, the method comprising:

requesting an opening of a window in an over-the-air communication channel between a vehicle and a remote data communication terminal;

wirelessly transmitting data substantially devoid of an over-the-air communication protocol from the vehicle to the remote data communication terminal during the open window in the over-the-air communication channel;

temporarily storing data received by the remote data communication terminal; and

transferring the temporarily stored data to other portions of the remote data communication terminal responsive to an acknowledgement that the remote data communications terminal is not transmitting any data to the vehicle.

20. A method as defined in claim 19, further comprising boosting power for the over-the-air data being transmitted during the open window in the over-the-air communication channel from the vehicle to the remote data communications terminal.

21. A method for enhanced data communications between a vehicle and a remote data communications terminal, the method comprising:

requesting to open a window in an over-the-air communication channel between a remote data communication terminal and a vehicle;

wirelessly transmitting data substantially devoid of an over-the-air communication protocol from the remote data communication terminal to the vehicle during the open window in the over-the-air communication channel;

temporarily storing data received by the vehicle; and

transferring the temporarily stored data received by the vehicle to an electronic subsystem associated with the vehicle responsive to an acknowledgement that the vehicle is not transmitting any data to the remote data communications terminal.

22. A method as defined in claim 21, further comprising boosting power for the over-the-air data being transmitted during the open window in the over-the-air communication channel from the remote data communications terminal to the vehicle.

23. A method for enhanced data communications and control between a vehicle and a remote data communications terminal, the method comprising:

requesting to open a window in an over-the-air communication channel between a remote data communication terminal and a vehicle;

wirelessly transmitting data substantially devoid of an over-the-air communication protocol from the remote data communication terminal to the vehicle during the open window in the over-the-air communication channel;

temporarily storing data received by the vehicle;

transferring the temporarily stored data received by the vehicle to an electronic subsystem associated with the vehicle responsive to an acknowledgement that the vehicle is not transmitting any data to the remote data communications terminal;

Receiving the temporarily stored data by the electronic subsystem of the vehicle and responsively changing the condition of the vehicle thru the electronic subsystem by the received data.

24. A computer program product residing on a computer usable medium for providing data communications between an electric subsystem of a vehicle and a remote data communication terminal, the computer program product comprising:

converting means adapted to be positioned in communication with an electronic subsystem of a vehicle for converting data from a vehicle communication protocol to data of an over-the-air communication protocol;

requesting means responsive to the converting means for requesting an opening of a window in an over-the-air communication channel between the vehicle and a remote data communications terminal to wirelessly transmit data from the vehicle to a remote data communication terminal; and

transferring means responsive to an acknowledgment for transferring data received from the remote data communication terminal to at least one electronic subsystem of the vehicle when the vehicle is not transmitting data to a remote communication terminal.