The invention features a method and apparatus for remotely characterizing a
vehicle's emissions performance. The method features the steps of: i)
generating data representative of the vehicle's emissions performance with
at least one microcontroller disposed within the vehicle; ii) transferring
the data through an OBD, OBD-II or equivalent electrical connector to a
data collector/router that includes a microprocessor and an electrically
connected wireless transmitter; iii) transmitting a data packet
representing the data with the wireless transmitter over an airlink to a
wireless communications system and then to a host computer; and iv)
analyzing the data packet with the host computer to characterize the
vehicle's emissions performance.
