Patent ID: 8010251

Claim:
A multi-mode in-vehicle control apparatus to be placed in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a communication device configured to transmit vehicle data over a transmission network using a transmission protocol, the vehicle data corresponding to an operating parameter of the vehicle; and a processor operatively coupled to the communication device, the processor being configured to make the control apparatus operable to: monitor an operating parameter of the vehicle; compare the operating parameter to a predefined parameter threshold for the operating parameter; recognize an operating parameter exception, the operating parameter exception comprising a violation of the predefined parameter threshold for the operating parameter; and upon recognizing the operating parameter exception, transmit the vehicle data corresponding to the operating parameter of the vehicle using the communication device and the transmission protocol; wherein the operating parameter exception comprises the violation of the predefined threshold relating to a particular operating parameter selected from a group of particular operating parameters consisting of: a shift parameter, the predefined threshold for the shift parameter comprising a time of departure from a service center; a stationary time parameter, the predefined threshold for the stationary time parameter comprising a maximum amount of time the vehicle is allowed to be stationary; a windshield parameter, the predefined threshold for the windshield parameter comprising an amount of driving time, the amount of driving time comprising a minimum amount of time and a maximum amount of time; an ignition on parameter, the predefined threshold for the ignition on parameter comprising an amount of time an ignition device of the vehicle is activated; a revisit parameter, the predefined threshold for the revisit parameter comprising an amount of times the vehicle is allowed to visit a service center; and a mileage parameter, the predefined threshold for the mileage parameter comprising a distance traveled by the vehicle.