Abstract: Among other things, techniques for enabling platform independent bidirectional communications between a mobile controller device and a host device over a communication protocol is disclosed. Enabling the communications includes delivering an array of bytes from the mobile controller device to the host device. The array of bytes describes one or more data packets of the mobile controller device. When detected that the host device includes a native device driver, the native device driver is used to parse the delivered array of bytes. Alternatively, when detected that the host device does not include a native device driver, a device driver is provided to parse the delivered array of bytes.

Abstract: A system and method of automatically providing a local map on a wireless handheld device based on a vehicle location in response to a triggering signal enables a user to immediately access the local map by generating an activating signal, such as one generated from the press of a button on the wireless handheld device, to assist the user in finding her final destination or to later access the local map to find her vehicle. The triggering signal may be in response to the user manually or remotely turning off the vehicle's ignition or locking the vehicle. Once the triggering signal is received, the location of the vehicle and local map information associated with the vehicle's location can be automatically stored on the user's wireless handheld device. The local map information forms the basis for the local map.

Abstract: A multi-range location tracking system for tracking a location of one or more objects, such as people, pets, or things, has one or more GPS-enabled accessory devices, with each accessory device being coupled to a corresponding one of the objects and being configured to generate location data of the corresponding object. The location tracking system also has a wireless link and one or more base units configured to communicate location data directly with the one or more accessory devices through the wireless link.