Patent ID: 8825289

Claim:
A method of connecting an aftermarket component with a vehicle using an interface apparatus in order to provide communication between said vehicle and said aftermarket component, said interface apparatus connected via a first connection to a factory data bus of the vehicle which transports signals according to a first data format, the interface apparatus further connected via a USB port to a data channel of the aftermarket component which transports signals according to a second data format, the interface apparatus including at least one processor, the method comprising: auto-detecting, via the at least one processor, a factory data bus type corresponding to the factory data bus, out of a plurality of potential factory data bus types, wherein said auto-detecting of said factory data bus type includes, (i) performing a first measurement on said factor data bus, said first measurement being performed by said interface apparatus, and (ii) identifying said factory data bus type among a plurality of possible types of said factory data buses; receiving digital signals from the aftermarket component via said USB port, the digital signals being in the second data format, the second data format corresponding to the aftermarket component; auto-detecting, via the at least one processor, an aftermarket component type of said aftermarket component, wherein said auto-detecting of said aftermarket component type includes, (i) receiving said digital signals from said aftermarket component over said USB port, and (ii) using said digital signals to identify an aftermarket component type among a plurality of possible types; identifying said first data format according to said factory data bus type; identifying said second data format according to said aftermarket component type; translating the digital signals from the second data format into the first data format according to the type of factory data bus and the aftermarket component type; and transmitting the translated digital signals in the first data format to the vehicle via the first connection.