Method and apparatus for accessing, monitoring and controlled specified functions, features and accessories of a vehicle

Abstract

A system installed in an automobile or other vehicle includes a master pager receiver unit or acknowledgment pager receiver/transmitter which receives paging messages sent from a paging transmitter site. The master unit is also in wireless communication with a set of slave units installed in the vehicle which include electronic switches and are programmed to control relays or other in-vehicle devices upon receipt of appropriate commands from the in-vehicle master unit. The slave units may include transceivers which allow the master unit to receive acknowledgment signals indicating that its commands were followed. The paging transmitter in the master unit also allows transmission of an acknowledgment signal to the paging transmitter site. The system provides a method and apparatus for communicating with specific electrical and mechanical components in the vehicle in order to access, monitor, disable and/or enable certain functions, features, and accessories in the vehicle. Audio and/or visual warning devices can also be used to deliver messages to the owner/operator of the vehicle, such as manufacturer recall notices. When the slave unit hears a specific code it opens or closes a switch that is connected to a specific electrical circuit and thus disables and enables functions of the automobile that are associated with that electrical circuit. The main receiver and/or standalone receiver of the system may also contain wiring harnesses that can be used to wire the main receiver directly to the relays in the automobile. One application of the invention is to remotely activate an audio warning device prior to disabling the ability for the driver to start the automobile by disabling the starter motor.