Patent ID: 8373541

Claim:
A vehicle remote control system for use with a vehicle mounted module configured to control one or more vehicle systems according to instructions carried within remotely transmitted wireless signals, the system comprising: a fob configured to wirelessly transmit the instructions to the vehicle mounted module, the fob operable in response to commands wirelessly received from a portable device, the portable device being configured to wirelessly command the fob to transmit the instructions used to instruct the vehicle mounted module to control the one or more vehicle systems; wherein the fob is configured to receive wireless messaging instructions from the vehicle mounted module, the wireless messaging instructions specifying a message to be communicated to a user, wherein the fob outputs the message to the user in the event the fob supports an output requirement of the message and wherein the fob wirelessly commands the portable device to output the message in the event the fob is unable to support the output requirement, the output requirement relating to a visual indicia, the message being output by no more than one of the fob and portable device; and wherein the fob is configured to perform an output requirement arbitration test to determine whether the fob supports the output requirement of the message, whereby the output requirement arbitration test results in the fob outputting the message to the user if information need not be displayed and with the fob commanding the portable device to output the message to the user if information is to be displayed.