Patent ID: 8606461

Claim:
A vehicle electronic control unit, comprising: a power input port receiving electric power from a vehicle battery; a power output port providing electric power to a vehicle electronic device including an antenna that receives data transmissions from a vehicle sensor, the power output port providing substantially uninterrupted electric power from the vehicle battery to the vehicle electronic device; a communication port electrically connected to a vehicle communication bus, the communication port receiving data transmissions from the vehicle electronic device via the communication bus; and an electronic component, electrically connected to the communication port, initially in a sleep state, during which the electronic component receives but does not decode data transmissions from the vehicle electronic device, after a vehicle ignition is turned off, one of the data transmissions from the vehicle electronic device received by the electronic component via the communication port, after being in the initial sleep state and after receiving the one of the data transmissions, the electronic component then switching from the initial sleep state to a standby state, during which the electronic component receives and decodes data transmissions from the vehicle electronic device, when the vehicle ignition is still off, the electronic component, while in the standby state and while the vehicle ignition is still off, receiving and decoding additional data transmissions from the vehicle electronic device indicating statuses of respective vehicle sensors.