# US 9,520,005 B2 · Wireless vehicle-monitoring system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,520,005 B2 - Document ID: US9520005B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/845,007 - Filed: 2013-03-17 - Published: 2014-09-18 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-17 - Assignees: Verizon Telematics Inc. - Applicants: Verizon Telematics Inc. - Inventors: Matthew Banet; Larkin Lowrey; Paul Washicko; Michael O'Brien - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9520005B2 ## CPC - G07C 5/00: Registering or indicating the working of vehicles - G06F 17/00: Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions (information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00) - G07C 5/008: {communicating information to a remotely located station (transmission systems for measured values G08C)} - G08G 1/00: Traffic control systems for road vehicles (arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00 {; automatic vehicle control B62D}) - G08G 1/20: {Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles} - G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93}) ## Abstract Embodiments of the present invention provide a wireless appliance for monitoring a vehicle. The wireless appliance includes a microprocessor configured to select a vehicle-communication protocol of a host vehicle, and then communicate with the host vehicle through the vehicle-communication protocol. The appliance also includes a vehicle-communication circuit, in electrical communication with the microprocessor, which collects diagnostic data from the host vehicle using the vehicle-communication protocol. A GPS module, also in electrical communication with the microprocessor, generates location-based data. For transmitting these data, the appliance includes a first wireless transmitter operating on a terrestrial network and a second wireless transmitter operating on a satellite network. The microprocessor selects the first or second wireless transmitter for transmitting the diagnostic and location-based data. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: (a) a microprocessor configured to select a vehicle-communication protocol of a host vehicle and communicate with the host vehicle through the vehicle-communication protocol; and (b) a vehicle-communication circuit, in electrical communication with the microprocessor, configured to collect diagnostic data from the host vehicle using the vehicle-communication protocol, wherein the vehicle communication circuit is configured to support multiple different vehicle communication protocols. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a GPS module, in electrical communication with the microprocessor, configured to generate location-based data. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to be powered by the host vehicle, and further comprising a back-up battery. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) comprises the microprocessor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured as a wireless appliance. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is separate from an engine computer of the host vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is disconnectable from the host vehicle. ### Claim 8 An apparatus, comprising: (a) a microprocessor configured to select a vehicle-communication protocol of a host vehicle and communicate with the host vehicle through the selected vehicle-communication protocol; and (b) a vehicle-communication circuit, in electrical communication with the microprocessor, configured to collect diagnostic data from the host vehicle using the vehicle-communication protocol, wherein the vehicle communication circuit is configured to support multiple different vehicle communication protocols; wherein an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) comprises the microprocessor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the ASIC further comprises a GPS module, in electrical communication with the microprocessor, configured to generate location-based data. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is configured to be powered by the host vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a back-up battery. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is configured as a wireless appliance. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the microprocessor is separate from an engine computer of the host vehicle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is disconnectable from the host vehicle. ### Claim 15 An apparatus, comprising: (a) a microprocessor configured to select a vehicle-communication protocol of a host vehicle and communicate with the host vehicle through the vehicle-communication protocol; and (b) a vehicle-communication circuit, in electrical communication with the microprocessor, configured to collect diagnostic data from the host vehicle using the vehicle-communication protocol, wherein the vehicle communication circuit is configured to support multiple different vehicle communication protocols; wherein the microprocessor is separate from an engine computer of the host vehicle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising: a GPS module, in electrical communication with the microprocessor, configured to generate location-based data. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is configured to be powered by the host vehicle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a back-up battery. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is configured as a wireless appliance. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is disconnectable from the host vehicle.