Patent ID: 7660652

Claim:
A portable telemetry/tracking device suitable for use with a motorized vehicle, the motorized vehicle including sensors for sensing and indicating vehicle status, the device comprising: a location interface, for receiving a location signal indicating a current location when operably connected to a GPS antenna; a sensor interface, for being removably connected to sensors in the vehicle and receiving sensor signals from the sensors in the vehicle indicating a sensed status of the vehicle, when electrically or electronically connected to the sensors; a processor cooperatively operable with the location interface and the sensor interface, the processor being configured to facilitate first receiving, from the location interface, indications of a current location; determining, responsive to the location signal, a determined current location of the vehicle; second receiving, from the sensor interface, a sensed status of the vehicle; first recording a pre-defined event condition in a vehicle history, when the pre-defined event condition occurs responsive to the sensed status and one of pre-determined sensor states, wherein the pre-determined sensor states include active, inactive, and don't care; and second recording the determined current location in the vehicle history; a housing; wherein the location interface, the sensor interface, and the processor are located in the housing, to form a portable unitary module to be removably mounted on the vehicle; a transceiver, for receiving communications when operably connected to a wireless communication network; and at least one relay switch for electrical connection to circuits in the vehicle, the relay switch being located in the housing to form part of the portable unitary module and configured for manual connection to one of the circuits of the vehicle; wherein the processor is further configured to facilitate receiving, in accordance with the transceiver, a communication with an indication that the at least one relay switch is to be switched; and responsive to the indication, switching the at least one relay switch.