Patent ID: 7498930
Filing Date: 2009-03-03
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. A communications interface module mountable in a vehicle comprising: a housing for mounting in a vehicle; a first electrical interface engaged with said housing for electrically communicating with a control system of a vehicle, the first electrical interface for receiving a selected electronic peripheral device from a plurality of different electronic peripheral devices, one of the plurality of different electronic peripheral devices communicates in first communications protocol and at least one other of the plurality of different electronic peripheral devices communications in a second communication protocol; a second electrical interface engaged with said housing and spaced from said first electrical interface for being positioned in a passenger compartment of a vehicle; a plurality of communication lines extending in said housing between said first electrical interface and said second electrical interface for exchanging a plurality of different communication formats between said first electrical interface and said second electrical interface; and, a switch coupled between the plurality of communication lines and one of the first and second electrical interfaces, the switch for receiving a signal from one of the first and second electronic interfaces, automatically determining the communications protocol being used by the received signal, and automatically directing the signal to an appropriate one of the plurality of communications lines.