Abstract: A method and system for communicating vehicle diagnostic data to a vehicle service provider employs sensors for generating sensor signals indicative of the status or condition of vehicle components. A diagnostics module in the vehicle generates diagnostic data based on the sensor signals and transfers the diagnostic data to a communications module of a hands-free phone system in the vehicle. The communications module wirelessly communicates the diagnostic data to a Bluetooth enabled cell phone in the vehicle using Bluetooth communications. The cell phone communicates the diagnostic data to an Internet server via the Internet. The provider accesses the diagnostic data from the Internet server using a computer connected to the Internet to determine if any of the vehicle components are in need of repair or maintenance. The provider notifies a user of the vehicle of any vehicle component that is in need of repair or maintenance.

Abstract: A transmitter is configured to transmit activation signals based on transmission schemes in which one of the schemes is an appropriate scheme such that the appliance activates upon receiving an activation signal that is based on the appropriate scheme and has a code associated with the appliance. The transmitter is configured to receive a code represented by a sequence of bits and to transmit a sequence of different activation signals including different sets of first and second activation signals until user input indicating activation of the appliance is received by the transmitter. Each set of activation signals is based on a respective scheme, each first activation signal includes the sequence of bits and each second activation signal includes a bitwise reversal of the sequence of bits.

Abstract: A transmitter is configured to transmit activation signals based on transmission schemes in which one of the schemes is an appropriate scheme such that the appliance activates upon receiving an activation signal that is based on the appropriate scheme and has a code associated with the appliance. The transmitter is configured to receive a code represented by a sequence of bits and to transmit a sequence of different activation signals including different sets of first and second activation signals until user input indicating activation of the appliance is received by the transmitter. Each set of activation signals is based on a respective scheme, each first activation signal includes the sequence of bits and each second activation signal includes a bitwise reversal of the sequence of bits.

Abstract: A universal remote control interacts with a user to assist in training to one or more appliances. If the appliance is activated by a rolling code activation signal, a sequence of different rolling code activation signals is transmitted until the user indicates a successful transmission. If the appliance is activated by a fixed code activation signal, a fixed code word is used to generate and transmit each of a sequence of different fixed code activation signals until the user indicates a successful transmission. At least one of the sequences of activation signals inserts a preset amount of time after each activation signal transmission. If user input is not received within the preset amount of time, the next activation signal in the sequence is transmitted.

Abstract: A garage door opener (GDO) communications gateway module includes a receiver for receiving garage door signals and a transmitter for transmitting control signals to a GDO operable for opening and closing a garage door of a garage of a house. The transmitter transmits a control signal to the GDO to control the garage door upon receipt of a garage door signal by the receiver. The module includes a Bluetooth enabled first transceiver for communicating with a Bluetooth enabled appliance of a vehicle over a wireless communications path when the vehicle is located within the vicinity of the garage. The module includes a second transceiver for communicating with a device of the house over another communications path. The vehicle appliance and the house device communicate with one another over the communications paths via the transceivers. The receiver, the transmitter, and the transceivers are contained within a housing mountable to the garage.

Abstract: A universal remote control interacts with a user to assist in training to one or more appliances. If the appliance is activated by a rolling code activation signal, a sequence of different rolling code activation signals is transmitted until the user indicates a successful transmission. If the appliance is activated by a fixed code activation signal, a fixed code word is used to generate and transmit each of a sequence of different fixed code activation signals until the user indicates a successful transmission. At least one of the sequences of activation signals inserts a preset amount of time after each activation signal transmission. If user input is not received within the preset amount of time, the next activation signal in the sequence is transmitted.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating vehicle diagnostic data to a vehicle service provider employs sensors for generating sensor signals indicative of the status or condition of vehicle components. A diagnostics module in the vehicle generates diagnostic data based on the sensor signals and transfers the diagnostic data to a communications module of a hands-free phone system in the vehicle. The communications module wirelessly communicates the diagnostic data to a Bluetooth enabled cell phone in the vehicle using Bluetooth communications. The cell phone communicates the diagnostic data to an Internet server via the Internet. The provider accesses the diagnostic data from the Internet server using a computer connected to the Internet to determine if any of the vehicle components are in need of repair or maintenance. The provider notifies a user of the vehicle of any vehicle component that is in need of repair or maintenance.

Abstract: A universal remote control interacts with a user to assist in training to one or more appliances. If the appliance is activated by a rolling code activation signal, a sequence of different rolling code activation signals is transmitted until the user indicates a successful transmission. If the appliance is activated by a fixed code activation signal, a fixed code word is used to generate and transmit each of a sequence of different fixed code activation signals until the user indicates a successful transmission. At least one of the sequences of activation signals inserts a preset amount of time after each activation signal transmission. If user input is not received within the preset amount of time, the next activation signal in the sequence is transmitted.

Abstract: A voice-enabled, hands-free telephone system includes an appliance, speakers, and a component connected to a communications bus of a vehicle. The component provides to the bus a signal indicative of a condition monitored by the component. During a call between a user using a Bluetooth enabled phone and another party the appliance wirelessly communicates voice signals from the user to the phone for transmission to the party and the appliance wirelessly receives voice signals of the party from the phone and outputs these signals to the speakers via the bus for the user to hear. In response to the user speaking a request for the status of the condition, the appliance obtains the component signal from the bus to determine the status of the condition and audibly announces a computerized voice signal indicative of the status of the condition through the speakers via the bus for the user to hear.

Abstract: A programmable controller for activating an appliance controlled by an activation signal is voice-programmable and voice-activated. If a user verbally indicates the appliance is activated by a rolling code activation signal, the controller transmits a sequence of different rolling code activation signals until the user verbally indicates a successful rolling code transmission. The controller stores data representing the successful rolling code transmission. If the user verbally indicates the appliance is activated by a fixed code activation signal, the controller uses a fixed code word to transmit each of a sequence of different fixed code activation signals until the user verbally indicates a successful fixed code transmission. The controller then stores data representing the fixed code word and a fixed code scheme used to generate the successful fixed code transmission. In response to the user verbally identifying an activation input, the controller transmits an activation signal based on stored data.

Abstract: A method for establishing communication between a communication protocol controller and a main controller including the steps of monitoring a communication bus using a power management device wherein the bus is electrically coupled to the protocol controller, the power management device, and the main controller residing in an initial low power mode, determining when the protocol controller is attempting to communicate with the main controller, generating a wake-up signal in response to the attempted communication, presenting the wake-up signal to the processor of the main controller, wherein the main controller enters a wake-up mode in response to the wake-up signal, reading at least one communication protocol configuration parameter from the data storage device, and initiating communication between the main controller and the protocol controller using the at least one communication protocol configuration parameter such that communication between the protocol controller and a communication protocol enabled de

Abstract: A universal remote control interacts with a user to assist in training to one or more appliances. If the appliance is activated by a rolling code activation signal, a sequence of different rolling code activation signals is transmitted until the user indicates a successful transmission. If the appliance is activated by a fixed code activation signal, a fixed code word is used to generate and transmit each of a sequence of different fixed code activation signals until the user indicates a successful transmission. At least one of the sequences of activation signals inserts a preset amount of time after each activation signal transmission. If user input is not received within the preset amount of time, the next activation signal in the sequence is transmitted.