Patent ID: 6064299
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: B60R,G08G

Abstract:
A heavy duty vehicle comprising:a tractor and a trailer connected thereto, said tractor including a cab; anda data communications apparatus connected to said tractor and said trailer for communicating data to and from said tractor and said trailer, said data communications apparatus comprising:at least one electronic subsystem associated with the heavy duty vehicle and related to the operation of the heavy duty vehicle;a plurality of electrical conductors connected to the at least one electronic subsystem and associated with the heavy duty vehicle;a connector connected in series with said plurality of electrical conductors and positioned in said cab of said tractor;vehicle data communications protocol converting means connected to said plurality of electrical conductors for converting a first data communications protocol associated with data communications along the plurality of electrical conductors to a second data communications protocol;a first transceiver associated with said connector and connected to said vehicle data communications protocol converting means for transmitting and receiving the second data communications protocol; anda remote data communications terminal including a second transceiver for transmitting the second data communications protocol to said first transceiver and receiving the second data communications protocol from said first transceiver.