Abstract: A vehicle information system including a computing system, a vehicle application, an access-layer application, a vehicle-application database, and a communication adapter is provided. The computing system may run an operating system and a plurality of applications. The vehicle application, which is executable by the computing system, may provide policy processing of a parameter received from the access-layer application. The access-layer application has a first interface adapted to communicate with the vehicle application and a second interface adapted to communicate with the operating system. The vehicle-application database may house information for processing the parameter. The communication adapter may pass the at least one parameter between the second interface and the vehicle controller.

Abstract: A vehicle information system including a computing system, a vehicle application, an access-layer application, a vehicle-application database, and a communication adapter is provided. The computing system may run an operating system and a plurality of applications. The vehicle application, which is executable by the computing system, may provide policy processing of a parameter received from the access-layer application. The access-layer application has a first interface adapted to communicate with the vehicle application and a second interface adapted to communicate with the operating system. The vehicle-application database may house information for processing the parameter. The communication adapter may pass the at least one parameter between the second interface and the vehicle controller.

Abstract: An enterprise-resource planning (ERP) system in which information processing and data management may be integrated or otherwise combined with a vehicle-diagnostic-and-information system is provided. The ERP system includes a first device for obtaining vehicle characteristic information from a vehicle, and a second device for integrating the vehicle characteristic information into an information management system. The first device is adapted to send the vehicle characteristic information over a communication link. The second device is adapted to receive from the first device over the communication link the vehicle characteristic information. When the second device integrates the vehicle diagnostic information into the information management system, the first and second devices are operable to function as the ERP system.