Patent ID: 7102494

Claim:
An apparatus for enhanced data communications between a vehicle and a remote data communication terminal, the apparatus comprising: a first protocol convener 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; and a first buffer associated with the vehicle, in communication with the first transceiver and the first protocol convener 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.