An system and method for providing software upgrades to components of a vehicle,
wherein the labor, time and expense of providing the upgrades are minimized. In
one embodiment, a network is installed in the vehicle, wherein the network comprises
a transmission medium and one or more network devices coupled thereto. The network
devices are addressable using IP addresses or object terminology. Data, software
or service upgrades may be provided to the devices coupled to the network. The
data, software and services may be delivered to the network through a first device,
such as a wireless communication device, and then transmitted through the network
to the device which is to be upgraded. The network may join an external network
which is configured to query the in-vehicle network and/or automatically download
data to the in-vehicle network.