Patent ID: 7221255

Claim:
A vehicle door latch communications system, comprising: a communications receiver and transmitter unit associated with a vehicle door latch, wherein said communications receiver and transmitter unit comprises a wireless communications component for communicating with a host computer via a wireless network; an interface component for interfacing with said communications receiver and transmitter unit, wherein said interface component is co-located with said communications receiver and transmitter unit in association with said vehicle door latch; an interpreter associated with said interface component and said communications and transmitter unit, wherein said interpreter processes information received from said communications receiver and transmitter unit in order to provide latch diagnostics and functionalities; and a bi-directional communications protocol, which allows for the receiving of latch status and operational information and data during any operational cycles of said vehicle door latch and for allowing the transmitting of any vehicle latch command to said vehicle door latch, thereby permitting active debugging of said vehicle door latch without the use of a vehicle computer.