Remote vehicle system configuration, control, and telematics

A method of operating a vehicle control system (VCS) installed in a vehicle, the method comprising:

• reading vehicle information that identifies the vehicle from a memory of the vehicle;
• transmitting the vehicle information through an external wireless RF interface of the VCS to a user control and communication device (UCCD) to enable the UCCD to obtain configuration parameters for installation of the VCS in the vehicle;
• receiving through the external wireless RF interface the configuration parameters from the UCCD;
• storing the configuration parameters received from the UCCD in a non-volatile programmable memory of the VCS;
• and
• configuring the VCS in accordance with the configuration parameters.

An article of manufacture comprising at least one non-volatile machine-readable storage medium with program code stored in the at least one non-volatile machine-readable storage medium, the program code, when executed by a processor of a vehicle control system (VCS) installed in a vehicle configures the VCS to

• read vehicle information that identifies the vehicle from a memory of the vehicle;
• transmit the vehicle information through an external wireless RF interface of the VCS to a user control and communication device (UCCD) to enable the UCCD to obtain configuration parameters for installation of the VCS in the vehicle;
• receive through the external wireless RF interface the configuration parameters from the UCCD;
• store the configuration parameters received from the UCCD in a non-volatile programmable memory of the VCS;
• and
• configure the VCS in accordance with the configuration parameters.

A mobile communication device storing machine-executable instructions, wherein the instructions configure the mobile communication device to:

• pair with a vehicle control system (VCS) installed in a vehicle through a radio frequency (RF) link;
• request vehicle information for configuring the VCS in the vehicle;
• transmit the vehicle information to a remote server;
• receive from the remote server information for configuring the VCS for the vehicle;
• receive from a user of the mobile communication device responses regarding configuration of the VCS in the vehicle;
• and
• transmit to the VCS through the RF link configuration parameters based on the responses and the information regarding configuration of the VCS.