The flow chart of FIG. 6 illustrates the process 600 by which the control device 75 communicates vehicular status data to one or more mobile devices within a vehicle. As stated previously, the control device 75 preferably remains in a powered-down state to preserve its battery. Thus, the control device 75 monitors its built-in accelerometer in order to detect when the vehicle in which it is installed or mounted begins to move (Step 605). Upon detection of movement, the control device 75 powers on. The process 600 continues to monitor the output of its accelerometer to determine any changes in movement of the vehicle (Step 610). Any change in movement of the vehicle, including its rate of acceleration or deceleration, is recorded and stored in memory on the control device. Preferably, such information is embedded in a suitable data field that will be transmitted by the control device using one of many potential communication protocols (Step 620). As stated previously, such vehicular status data can be transmitted or broadcast by the control device 75 using classic Bluetooth (BT) communication protocols, using Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) communication protocols, or both. Specific details about transmission of such data using classic BT and BTLE are described in greater detail hereinafter.
If the accelerometer of the control device detects (Step 625) that the vehicle has not moved for a predetermined period of time, such as ten (10) seconds, then the control device returns to a sleep or powered-down state (Step 630). The control device remains in its sleep of powered-down state until movement is again detected (Step 635).
