Remote programmer for a vehicle control system

Abstract

A remote programmer for remotely programming a vehicle control system is provided. The remote programmer includes a display, an input for receiving user input data, a first interface for interfacing with a computer, wherein the first interface receives data associated with programming the vehicle control system from the computer; a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the data associated with programming the vehicle control system to the vehicle control system; and a controller for controlling operations of the remote programmer, wherein the controller stores the data associated with programming the vehicle control system and controls operations of the first interface and the transmitter in accordance with the user input data.

1 . A remote programmer for remotely programming a vehicle control system, comprising: 
 a display;    an input for receiving user input data;    a first interface for interfacing with a computer, wherein the first interface receives data associated with programming the vehicle control system from the computer;    a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the data associated with programming the vehicle control system to the vehicle control system; and    a controller for controlling operations of the remote programmer, wherein the controller stores the data associated with programming the vehicle control system and controls operations of the first interface and the transmitter in accordance with the user input data.    
   
   
       2 . The remote programmer of  claim 1 , wherein the first interface is one of a universal serial bus (USB), Ethernet, FireWire, radio frequency (RF), and infrared (IR) interface.  
   
   
       3 . The remote programmer of  claim 1 , wherein the input is one of a keypad and a graphical user interface.  
   
   
       4 . The remote programmer of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second interface for interfacing with a memory card, wherein the memory card comprises the data associated with programming the vehicle control system.    
   
   
       5 . The remote programmer of  claim 1 , wherein the display comprises a graphical user interface.  
   
   
       6 . The remote programmer of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is one of an RF transmitter, an RF transceiver, and an IR transceiver.  
   
   
       7 . The remote programmer of  claim 1 , wherein the data associated with programming the vehicle control system comprises codes for defining a feature set of electronically operable functions of the vehicle control system.  
   
   
       8 . A system for remotely programming a vehicle control system, comprising: 
 an interface module for interfacing with an electronic input and output device of a vehicle, wherein the electronic input and output devices are operated pursuant to a feature set of electronically operable functions;    a feature set module for detachably coupling to said interface module, wherein the feature set module comprises codes for defining the feature set of electronically operable functions; and    a remote programmer for remotely programming the feature set module, wherein the remote programmer transmits the codes for defining the feature set of electronically operable functions to the interface module.    
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a computer for providing the remote programmer with the codes for defining the feature set of electronically operable functions.    
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the interface module comprises: 
 a radio frequency (RF) receiver for receiving the codes for defining the feature set of electronically operable functions.    
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the interface module comprises: 
 an infrared (IR) transceiver for performing one of receiving the codes for defining the feature set of electronically operable functions, and transmitting a signal to erase the codes for defining the feature set of electronically operable functions stored in the remote programmer.    
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the feature set module further comprises: 
 a memory device for storing the codes for defining the feature set of electronically operable functions.    
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the remote programmer comprises: 
 a display;    an input for receiving user input data;    a first interface for interfacing with a computer, wherein the first interface receives the codes for defining the feature set of electronically operable functions from the computer;    an RF transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the codes for defining the feature set of electronically operable functions to the interface module; and    a controller for controlling operations of the remote programmer, wherein the controller stores the information associated with programming the vehicle control system and controls operations of the first interface and the RF transmitter in accordance with the user input data.    
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the remote programmer further comprises: 
 a second interface for interfacing with a memory card, wherein the memory card comprises the codes for defining the feature set of electronically operable functions.    
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the remote programmer comprises: 
 an IR transceiver for performing one of receiving the codes for defining the feature set of electronically operable functions from a computer, and transmitting the codes for defining the feature set of electronically operable functions to the interface module.    
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a software cartridge for detachably coupling to the interface module, wherein the software cartridge comprises the codes for defining the feature set of electronically operable functions.    
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the software cartridge is remotely programmed by the remote programmer.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the electronic input and output devices are part of one of a vehicle security system, a keyless entry system, a user convenience system, and an entertainment system.  
   
   
       19 . A system for remotely programming a vehicle control system, comprising: 
 an interface module for interfacing with an electronic input and output device of a vehicle, wherein the electronic input and output devices are operated pursuant to a feature set of electronically operable functions;    a software module for detachably coupling to said interface module, wherein the software module comprises codes for defining the feature set of electronically operable functions; and    a remote programmer for remotely programming the software module, wherein the remote programmer transmits the codes for defining the feature set of electronically operable functions to the software module.    
   
   
       20 . A method for remotely programming a vehicle control system via a remote programmer, the vehicle control system comprising an interface module for interfacing with an electronic input and output device of a vehicle, and a feature set module for detachably coupling to said interface module, wherein said feature set module comprises codes for defining a feature set of electronically operable functions to operate the electronic input and output devices, comprising the steps of: 
 determining, at the remote programmer, a code to be transmitted to the interface module for programming, wherein the code to be transmitted is associated with a function in the feature set of electronically operable functions; and    transmitting, to the interface module, the code for programming the function of the feature set of electronically operable functions;    receiving, at the interface module, the code for programming the function of the feature set of electronically operable functions; and    executing, at the interface module, the code for programming the function of the feature set of electronically operable functions.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the remote programmer transmits the codes for programming the function of the feature set of electronically operable functions to the interface module via one of a radio frequency (RF) transmitter, an RF transceiver, and an infrared (IR) transceiver.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 storing, at the feature set module, the code for programming the function of the feature set of electronically operable functions in a memory.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 requesting, at the remote programmer, the code for programming the function of the feature set of electronically operable functions from a computer comprising a plurality of codes for defining the feature set of electronically operable functions; and    receiving, at the remote programmer, the code for programming the function of the feature set of electronically operable functions.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the remote programmer interfaces with the computer via one of a universal serial bus (USB), Ethernet, FireWire, RF, and IR interface.