Vehicle security system for a vehicle having a data communications bus and related methods

A vehicle security system for a vehicle of a type including a data communications bus connecting a plurality of vehicle devices, the vehicle devices comprising at least one of a vehicle security sensor and an alarm indicator, said vehicle security system comprising:

• an alarm controller and associated alarm controller bus interface means for interfacing said alarm controller to the data communications bus;
• memory means for storing a plurality of sets of signals for different vehicles;
• and
• selecting means for selecting a desired set of signals for a desired vehicle from the plurality of sets of signals for different vehicles, the desired set of signals for enabling said alarm controller to communicate via the data communications bus with at least one of the vehicle security sensor and the alarm indicator.

A remote control system for a vehicle of a type including a data communications bus connecting a plurality of vehicle devices, said remote control system comprising:

• a remote transmitter;
• a receiver within the vehicle for receiving a signal from said remote transmitter;
• a vehicle function controller, operatively connected to said receiver, and associated vehicle function controller bus interface means for interfacing said vehicle function controller to the data communications bus;
• and
• desired signal enabling means for enabling said vehicle function controller to operate using a desired set of signals for a corresponding desired vehicle from a plurality of sets of signals for different vehicles for permitting said vehicle function controller to communicate via the data communications bus with a vehicle device so that said vehicle function controller is capable of operating the vehicle device responsive to said remote transmitter.

A method for remotely controlling a vehicle function for a vehicle of a type including a data communications bus connecting a plurality of vehicle devices, and a vehicle function controller and associated bus interface means for interfacing the vehicle function controller to the data communications bus;

• the method comprising the steps of:
• enabling the vehicle function controller to operate using a desired set of signals for a corresponding desired vehicle from a plurality of sets of signals for different vehicles for permitting the vehicle function controller to communicate via the data communications bus with at least one of the vehicle devices;
• and
• receiving a signal at the vehicle from a remote transmitter so that the vehicle function controller remotely controls a vehicle function responsive to the remote transmitter.