Remote programmer for a vehicle control system

Abstract

A device for use in a vehicle, including: a plurality of connectors that connect the device to vehicle components, wherein the vehicle components are operated pursuant to a feature set of electronically operable functions; a memory that stores codes for defining the feature set of electronically operable functions; and a module that adapts the device to connect to a control unit that is disposed inside a vehicle through a serial communications interface, wherein the control unit is part of a remote start system installed in the vehicle, and the remote start system is provided with new functionality based on the codes stored in the memory.

1 . A device for use in a vehicle, comprising:
 a plurality of connectors that connect the device to vehicle components, wherein the vehicle components are operated pursuant to a feature set of electronically operable functions;   a memory that stores codes for defining the feature set of electronically operable functions; and   a module that adapts the device to connect to a control unit that is disposed inside a vehicle through a serial communications interface,   wherein the control unit is part of a remote start system installed in the vehicle, and the remote start system is provided with new functionality based on the codes stored in the memory.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein command sets are sent to and/or received from the control unit through the serial communications interface. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the serial communications interface comprises a two-way interface having at least one wire. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the module comprises codes for adapting the device to connect to the control unit. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the module further comprises codes for adapting the device to connect to different control units inside different vehicles. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the module comprises a programmable memory. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of connectors and the memory are included in a base unit and the module is configured to detachably couple to the base unit. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the module is configured to detachably couple to the base unit without connecting/disconnecting wires. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of connectors are pin connectors. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is operable via remote control. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the memory is programmable. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the memory is programmed with new codes for defining the feature set of electronically operable functions by the module. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the memory is configurable by the module. 
     
     
         14 . A system for a vehicle, comprising:
 a device, comprising:
 a plurality of connectors that connect the device to vehicle components, wherein the vehicle components are operated pursuant to a feature set of electronically operable functions; 
 a memory that stores codes for defining the feature set of electronically operable functions; and 
 a module that adapts the device to connect to a control unit that is disposed inside a vehicle through a serial communications interface, 
   wherein the control unit is part of a remote start system installed in the vehicle, and the remote start system is provided with new functionality based on the codes stored in the memory; and   a remote control that controls the electronically operable functions of the device.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the remote control comprises a transceiver. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein a range of the remote control is extendible. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of connectors and the memory are included in a base unit and the module is configured to detachably couple to the base unit. 
     
     
         18 . A device for use in a vehicle, comprising:
 a plurality of connectors that connect the device to vehicle components, wherein the vehicle components are operated pursuant to electronically operable functions;   a memory that stores codes for defining the electronically operable functions; and   a module that adapts the device to connect to a controller that is disposed inside a vehicle through a communications interface,   wherein the controller is part of a remote start system installed in the vehicle, and the remote start system is provided with functionality based on the codes stored in the memory.