A system, an apparatus, and methods are provided for data communications associated
with a vehicle. The apparatus preferably includes at least one electronic subsystem
associated with the vehicle and a plurality of electrical conductors connected
to the at least one electronic subsystem and associated with the vehicle. A vehicle
data communications protocol converter is preferably connected to the plurality
of electrical conductors for converting a first data communications protocol associated
with data communications along the plurality of electrical conductors to a second
data communications protocol such as an infrared, an RF data, an Internet, or other
network communications protocol. The apparatus also preferably includes a transceiver
connected to the data communications protocol converter for transmitting the second
data communications protocol from the vehicle and receiving the data communications
protocol from another portion of the vehicle, a remote data communications terminal,
another vehicle, or another communications network.