Patent ID: 8812173

Claim:
A vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data bus extending throughout the vehicle and at least one operable vehicle device connected thereto, the at least one operable vehicle device responsive to at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus, the vehicle tracking unit comprising: a vehicle position determining device; a wireless communications device; and a controller spaced apart from the at least one operable vehicle device and connected to the vehicle data bus so that the vehicle data bus extends from said controller to the at least one operable vehicle device; wherein the controller is configured to: query the at least one vehicle device via the vehicle data bus and store the information provided by the at least one vehicle device in a database, wherein: the database comprises a plurality of data provided by the at least one operable vehicle device in response to data bus codes placed on the vehicle data bus by the controller independently of requests for information from a remote device; and the controller is configured to place data bus codes on the vehicle data bus during time periods when the vehicle data bus is available; receive requests for information from a remote device via the wireless communications device; query the database for the requested information independently of the query of the at least one vehicle device, where the database returns the requested information based on the information provided by the at least one operable vehicle device that is stored in the database prior to receiving the request; and send the requested information from the database to the remote device via the wireless communications device when the requested information is stored in the database.