Patent ID: 8068952

Claim:
An interworking module for use in a vehicle, said interworking module comprising: one or more processors; and at least one memory that includes processor-executable instructions, where the one or more processors are adapted to interface with the at least one memory and execute the processor-executable instructions to: allow communications between a user terminal and a communication bus that is installed within the vehicle; implement a first user configuration which comprises: running an uplink monitoring loop that includes: receiving sensor information from the communication bus, where the sensor information is related to one or more components within the vehicle; building a message including the received sensor information; and sending the message to the user terminal which then routes the message through a wireless communication network to an application server; implement a second user configuration which comprises: running a downlink monitoring loop that includes: determining that the user terminal entered the vehicle; determining if the user terminal has user configuration data which indicates an update needs to be made to one or more components in the vehicle; if no, then re-starting the downlink monitoring loop; if yes; then determining if settings associated with the user configuration data are currently stored within the user terminal; if no, then sending a message to the application server to obtain the settings associated with the user configuration data; and if yes or after receiving the settings associated with the user configuration data from the application server, then sending the settings over the communication bus to the one or more components in the vehicle so the one or more components will be configured according to a preference of a user of the user terminal; and implement a third user configuration which comprises: storing a profile of an owner of the vehicle; determining if an identity of the user terminal that entered the vehicle matches a stored identity of a user terminal specified as being associated with the owner of the vehicle; if no, requesting an updated owner profile through the user terminal that entered the vehicle by: sending a message to the application server to obtain the updated owner profile; receiving the updated owner profile which contains user configuration data; sending settings associated with the updated owner profile over the communication bus to the one or more components in the vehicle so the one or more components will be configured according to a preference of the owner, wherein the preference of the owner prevents the vehicle from operating or controls other aspects of the vehicle depending on an identity of the user terminal that entered the vehicle.