Wireless configuration and programming of automotive aftermarket peripheral interfacing modules

Abstract

A method of bridging incompatibility of a radio head unit in a vehicle and a peripheral device configured to control a peripheral device in the vehicle. The method comprises receiving, from a first image sensor, a first scanned code identifying the vehicle, and receiving, from the first image sensor or a second image sensor, a second scanned code identifying the radio head unit. Based on the first scanned code, identifying a first communication protocol used by the peripheral device. Based on the second scanned code, identifying a second communication protocol used by the radio head unit. Based on the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol, determining a communication configuration ID identifying a target information exchange protocol executable to bridge the incompatibility between the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol. Additionally, the method includes the step of transmitting the communication configuration ID to an interface module, where the interface module is configured to execute the identified information exchange protocol to bridge the incompatibility between the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A system for communicating with at least one device or at least one sensor in a vehicle, the system comprising:
 a first module configured to bridge incompatibility of a radio head unit configured to communicate using a first communication protocol and a peripheral device configured to communicate using a second communication protocol incompatible with the first communication protocol, the first module comprising:
 a first communication interface for communicating with the radio head unit, 
 a second communication interface for communicating with the peripheral device, and 
 a third communication interface for communicating with a mobile device, 
   wherein the first module is configured to bridge the incompatibility by:
 wirelessly communicating with the mobile device; 
 receiving, from the mobile device, a signal identifying a target information exchange protocol executable to bridge the incompatibility between the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol, 
 utilizing the identified target information exchange protocol to bridge the incompatibility between the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol, and 
 allowing the radio head unit to control the peripheral device using a vehicle communication system; and 
   a second module in communication with the first module, the second module configured to:
 identify the first communication protocol used by the radio head unit, 
 identify the second communication protocol used by the peripheral device, and 
 based on the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol, determining the target information exchange protocol executable to bridge the incompatibility between the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol. 
   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the first module is configured to wirelessly communicate with the mobile device using near field communication. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the first module is further configured to wirelessly harvest power from the mobile device to power the first module. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the first module receives a signal identifying the target information exchange protocol by receiving a communication configuration ID from the mobile device, the communication configuration ID identifying the target information exchange protocol. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the second module determines the target information exchange protocol by utilizing a database mapping the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol to at least one of the target information exchange protocol, or a configuration ID indicative of the target information exchange protocol. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the second module utilizes the database by wirelessly communicating with a remote network providing access to the database. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the second module identifies at least one of the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol by wirelessly communicating with a remote network. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the second module identifies the first communication protocol by mapping a user input to the first communication protocol, the user input including at least one selected from the group consisting of a model number of the radio head unit and a scanned code identifying the radio head unit. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the second module identifies the second communication protocol by mapping a user input to the second communication protocol, the user input including at least one selected from the group consisting of a vehicle identification number of the vehicle, a make of the vehicle, a model of the vehicle, a year of the vehicle, and a scanned code identifying the vehicle. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the second module is disposed within the mobile device. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the second module is accessible via a remote network, the remote network being accessible via wireless communication with the mobile device. 
     
     
         37 . A method for communicating with at least one device or at least one sensor in a vehicle, the system comprising:
 establishing wireless communication between a first module installed in the vehicle and a second module, the first module configured to bridge incompatibility of a first device installed in the vehicle and a second device installed in the vehicle, the first device configured to communicate using a first communication protocol and a second device configured to communicate using a second communication protocol incompatible with the first communication protocol;   receiving, at the first module, a communication configuration ID from the second module via the wireless communication, the communication configuration ID identifying a target information exchange protocol executable to bridge the incompatibility between the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol; and   utilizing, at the first module, the identified target information exchange protocol to bridge the incompatibility between the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol.   
     
     
         38 . A method of bridging incompatibility of a radio head unit in a vehicle and a peripheral device configured to control a peripheral device in the vehicle, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a first image sensor, a first scanned code identifying the vehicle;   receiving, from the first image sensor or a second image sensor, a second scanned code identifying the radio head unit;   based on the first scanned code, identifying a first communication protocol used by the peripheral device;   based on the second scanned code, identifying a second communication protocol used by the radio head unit;   based on the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol, determining a communication configuration ID identifying a target information exchange protocol executable to bridge the incompatibility between the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol;   transmitting the communication configuration ID to an interface module, the interface module configured to execute the identified information exchange protocol to bridge the incompatibility between the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol.   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , further comprising, energizing the interface module to provide power to the interface module, and wherein transmitting the communication configuration ID to the interface module includes wirelessly transmitting the communication configuration ID. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein identifying the first communication protocol includes wirelessly communicating with a remote network, the remote network wirelessly communicating with a database via a network, a database mapping the first scanned code to the first communication protocol. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein identifying the second communication protocol includes wirelessly communicating with a remote network, the remote network having a database mapping the second scanned code to the second communication protocol. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein determining a communication configuration ID includes utilizing a database mapping the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol to the configuration ID. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein determining a communication configuration ID includes wirelessly communicating with a remote network storing the database. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the first scanned code includes a vehicle identification number, and wherein the second scanned code includes at least one of a model number and a barcode. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein transmitting the communication configuration ID to the interface module includes wirelessly transmitting the communication configuration ID via near field communication.