Method and system for connecting a telematics device to a vehicle using wireless transceivers configured to transmit and receive diagnostic data

Abstract

An embodiment provides a system for connecting a telematics device to a host vehicle. The system may comprise a short-range wireless transmitter and a short-range wireless receiver. The short-range wireless transmitter may be connected to an in-vehicle diagnostic system. The short-range wireless receiver may be connected to the telematics device installed in the host vehicle. The short-range wireless transmitter may be configured to wirelessly transmit diagnostic data to the short-range wireless receiver.

1 . A device, comprising:
 a first short-range transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit to a second short-range transceiver that composes a long range wireless transceiver device diagnostic data derived diagnostic data, or diagnostic information that a diagnostic port of a vehicle makes available.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a diagnostic port that provides connectivity to another device as if it was the diagnostic port of the vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the short-range wireless transceivers communicate via a Bluetooth™ protocol. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the short-range wireless transceivers communicate via an 802.11 communication protocol. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the long range wireless transceiver device is a telematics device. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the telematics device is a smartphone. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the telematics device is a personal computing device. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the telematics device is a remote user device. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the telematics device is configured to format the diagnostic data in separate packets before transmitting wirelessly to a host computer. 
     
     
         10 . A method, comprising:
 receiving at a first short-range transceiver device diagnostic data, derived diagnostic data, or diagnostic information from a diagnostic port of a vehicle; and   wirelessly transmitting the diagnostic data, derived diagnostic data, or diagnostic information to a second short-range transceiver of a long range wireless transceiver device.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising providing at the short range transceiver device a diagnostic port that provides connectivity to another device as if it was the diagnostic port of the vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the long range wireless transceiver device is a telematics device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the telematics device is a smartphone. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the telematics device is a personal computing device. 
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising:
 receiving with a second short range wireless transceiver diagnostic data, derived diagnostic data, or diagnostic information that was made available at a diagnostic port of a vehicle;   processing the received diagnostic data, derived diagnostic data, or diagnostic information with a telematics device application; and   wirelessly transmitting the processed diagnostic data, derived diagnostic data, or diagnostic information to a host computer.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising providing a port that provides connectivity to another device for transferring data and information that is made available at the diagnostic port of the vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the steps are performed by a long range wireless transceiver device that includes a telematics device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the telematics device is a smartphone. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the telematics device is a personal computing device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the telematics device formats the diagnostic data in separate packets before transmitting wirelessly to a central location.