Patent attributes
An apparatus and method for a remote diagnostic system for motorized vehicles. Apparatus according to this aspect of the invention includes a base station having a processor associated with a transceiver and a remote unit installed in a vehicle. The remote unit includes a controller associated with a transceiver, where the controller gathers diagnostic data. The remote unit controller transmits a vehicle identification signal in conjunction with diagnostic data to the base station transceiver such that the base station processor monitors the diagnostic data for the vehicle. Another aspect of the invention further includes a mapping processor associated with a memory. The memory stores a virtual map of a local operating area having areas that are allowable and restricted. The controller is coupled to the mapping processor and a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver is coupled to the mapping processor. The GPS receiver determines a current vehicle location and the mapping processor correlates the current vehicle location to a corresponding location on the virtual map. The mapping processor determines whether the vehicle is in a restricted area. The vehicle transceiver is configured to transmit a vehicle identification signal and location to the base station transceiver such that the base station processor monitors the location and status for each of the motorized vehicles.
