Method and apparatus for plug-in wireless safety devices

A plug-in communications device provided in connection with a vehicle, wherein the plug-in device can read camera or radar data from a vehicle CAN bus, said communications device comprising:

• at least one radio for transmitting and receiving communications signals, wherein the at least one radio is selected from the group consisting of a dedicated short range communications (DSRC) radio, a Wi-Fi radio, a Bluetooth radio and a long term evolution (LTE) radio;
• a memory for storing security information and vehicle application data;
• a location processor for providing vehicle position data;
• a verification processor for verifying messages received by the radio;
• and
• a communications processor configured to be put in electrical communication with a data bus on the vehicle, said communications processor receiving vehicle location signals from the location processor, files from the memory and signals from the radio, where the communications processor is configured to use the vehicle location signals to determine a set of regulatory standards including frequencies used by the radio, power and rate of transmitted messages, and types of control commands issuable by the communications device.

A communications device provided in connection with a vehicle, said communications device comprising:

• at least one radio for transmitting and receiving communications signals;
• a memory for storing security information and vehicle application data;
• a location processor for providing vehicle position data;
• a verification processor for verifying messages received by the radio;
• and
• a communications processor configured to be put in electrical communication with a data bus on the vehicle, wherein the data bus includes vehicle controller area network (CAN) buses or Flexray buses, said communications processor receiving vehicle location signals from the location processor, files from the memory and signals from the radio, wherein the communications device is coupled to a display module by one of the group selected from vehicle controller area network (CAN) bus, LIN, USB, Ethernet, HDMI, wireless, and audio commands, and wherein the communications device is coupled to the vehicle through a USB connection, a vehicle controller area network (CAN) connection, an HDMI connection or wirelessly, and where the communications processor is configured to use the vehicle location signals to determine a set of regulatory standards including frequencies used by the radio, power and rate of transmitted messages, and types of control commands issuable by the communications device.