Remote function control system for a vehicle having a data communications bus and related methods

A remote function device to be positioned within a vehicle for wirelessly communicating with a wireless data bus interface in the vehicle including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and coupled to a plurality of vehicle devices, and a wired vehicle electrical power system, the wireless data bus device coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system and comprising a wired interface coupled to the data communications bus in the vehicle, and a first wireless device coupled to the wired interface, the remote function device to be coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system and comprising:

• a second wireless device to wirelessly communicate within the vehicle with the first wireless device;
• a third wireless device to wirelessly communicate with a remote control device away from the vehicle;
• and
• a controller coupled to said second and third wireless devices to permit communication between the remote control device and at least one vehicle device coupled to the vehicle data communications bus.

A method of remotely controlling a vehicle function with a wireless data bus device coupled to a wired vehicle electrical system in a vehicle including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and coupled to a plurality of vehicle devices, the wireless data bus device comprising a wired interface coupled to the data communications bus in the vehicle, and a first wireless device coupled to the wired interface, the method comprising:

• using a remote function device coupled to the wired vehicle electrical power system to
• wirelessly communicate via a second wireless device within the vehicle with the first wireless device,
• wirelessly communicate via a third wireless device with a remote control device away from the vehicle, and
• permit communication via a controller coupled to the second and third wireless devices between the remote control device and at least one vehicle device coupled to the vehicle data communications bus.