Patent ID: 6028537
Filing Date: 2000-02-22
Classification: B60K,B60R,B60W,G07C,G08G

Abstract:
A vehicle communication and control system comprising:a transceiver for sending and receiving RF signals including messages, location data, information requests, and control codes;a processor coupled to said transceiver for supplying messages, location data, information requests, and control codes to said transceiver for transmission from the vehicle, and for receiving and processing messages, location data, information requests, and control codes intended for the vehicle;a location identifying sensor coupled to said processor for supplying vehicle location data representing a current detected location of the vehicle;a user interface coupled to said processor for providing information to a user, and for enabling a user to input commands to be executed by said processor; andvehicle bus interface for coupling said processor to a vehicle bus to enable said processor to issue and receive commands and other information from vehicle accessories and components coupled to the vehicle bus,wherein said processor is adapted to:transmit an emergency message in response to a received command through said transceiver, the emergency message including the vehicle location data received from said location identifying sensor,transmit vehicle location data through said transceiver in response to a tracking request signal received by said transceiver,request and receive diagnostic data from a diagnostic database connected to the vehicle bus through said vehicle bus interface and transmit the received diagnostic data through said transceiver in response to a request for such diagnostic data,transmit a request for roadside assistance through said transceiver in response to a roadside assistance command, the request including the vehicle location data received from said location identifying sensor,transmit an accessory control signal through said vehicle bus interface to control a designated accessory connected to the vehicle bus in response to a command received from a remote source through said transceiver.