Application-to-component communications helper in a vehicle computer system

An application-to-component communication helper facilities communication between applications running an in-vehicle computer to an in-vehicle component. Each vehicle part has a corresponding object, and each object exposes a pre-defined Device Communication Application Programming Interface (DCAPI). Some objects are built-in, meaning that they are defined to some degree by the operating system, and rely on the operating system for at least parts of their functionality. Other objects are add-on objects, meaning that they are provided apart from the operating system, for subsequent installation and use in conjunction with the operating system. The operating system provides a "device helper" that allows add-on components to participate and utilize access management and notification features provided by the operating system. The device helper exposes its method for use by corresponding device-com methods of component objects. The object calls the device helper method that corresponds to the called device-com method. This greatly simplifies the tasks of application programmers, and allows access management and notification services to be coordinated between the various component objects.