A system has a communication system that is in communication with a computing system. The computing system runs computer-executable instructions that may examine a profile of a passenger. Furthermore, the system may determine based upon the profile that support is to be provided audibly to the passenger whenever support is provided to the passenger. The system may also detect divergences from a predetermined path or route, which is determined may be determined by comparing a position signal output against the predetermined path. In response to detecting divergences, the system may further output an audible support message having content based on the detected divergences. Moreover, the system may be configured to contact authorities and stop the autonomous vehicle.

One general aspect includes a system to receive a virtual key at a vehicle, the system includes a memory configured to include a plurality of executable instructions and a processor configured to execute the executable instructions, where the executable instructions enable the processor to establish a dummy short-range wireless communications (SRWC) connection with a mobile computing device; establish a standard SRWC connection with the mobile computing device; receive the virtual key from the mobile computing device through the standard SRWC connection; and where the dummy SRWC connection is configured to cause the mobile computing device to cease attempting to establish one or more additional SRWC connections.

A vehicle control device includes a processor including hardware, the processor being configured to: stop a smart key function of a vehicle when a first state in which an intensity of a radio wave received from a predetermined wireless communication device is a threshold or more has continued for a predetermined time.

A vehicle control system includes: an entry/exit management device including a first processor including hardware, the first processor being configured to detect that a user of a vehicle enters or leaves a facility, and output a first signal indicating user's entering the facility and a second signal indicating user's leaving the facility, to a server; and the server comprising a second processor comprising hardware, the second processor being configured to output to the vehicle a third signal for deactivating a smart key function of the vehicle when acquiring the first signal and prohibit unlocking of a door of the vehicle performed by wireless communication, and output to the vehicle a fourth signal for setting the smart key function of the vehicle when acquiring the second signal and permit unlocking of the door of the vehicle performed by wireless communication.

The vehicle (1) provides its identity to the portable electronic device (5) of a user not driving the vehicle, the portable electronic device displays visible features of the vehicle, the user selects the vehicle on the display to provide a signal to the wireless communication unit of the emergency stop system of the vehicle. In case of a terrorist attack, signals from a plurality of portable devices cause the vehicle to stop or slow down.

A vehicle theft-prevention apparatus can include a wireless transceiver, a plurality of sensors configured to sense measurements proximate to a vehicle, and at least one computing device coupled to the plurality of sensors and the wireless transceiver. The at least one computing device can be configured to read a plurality of measurements of the plurality of sensors and determine that at least one event has occurred based on the plurality of measurements. The at least one computing device can store data corresponding to the at least one event on a local storage coupled to the at least one computing device and can transmit, via the wireless transceiver, the data corresponding to the at least one event to a remote service.

A vehicle control apparatus includes a first vehicle communication unit performing communication with a mobile terminal, a first distance measuring unit measuring, with first precision, a vehicle-terminal distance being a distance between a vehicle and the mobile terminal, a terminal position information obtaining unit obtaining terminal position information transmitted from the mobile terminal, a second distance measuring unit measuring the vehicle-terminal distance with second precision being measurement precision lower than the first precision based on the terminal position information, and a high-precision distance measurement determining unit determining whether the first distance measuring unit is caused to measure the vehicle-terminal distance or not based on the vehicle-terminal distance measured by the second distance measuring unit.

User data stored in memory of a shared vehicle is managed in a secure manner. In some embodiments, user data stored in the vehicle is deleted in response to receiving a communication that initiates closing of usage of the vehicle (e.g., from a client device of a user that is operating the vehicle). A new user of a vehicle is prevented from being able to read or use private data of a prior user. In some embodiments, when authorizing usage of a vehicle by a new user, the vehicle is caused to delete the prior user data. After the prior user data has been deleted, a notification is received from the vehicle confirming that the vehicle has deleted the prior user data.

A vehicle control system includes an in-vehicle apparatus. The in-vehicle apparatus includes a drive device, an authentication unit, a determining unit, and an operation detecting unit. The authentication unit is configured to perform authentication of a mobile device on the basis of a wireless communication. The determining unit is configured to determine whether a vehicle is in a predetermined driving state. The operation detecting unit is configured to detect presence of an operation of the mobile device by receiving a signal transmitted from the mobile device. The in-vehicle apparatus is configured to execute a predetermined safety control, on a condition that the drive device is unlocked as a result of success in the authentication performed by the authentication unit, the vehicle is determined by the determining unit as being in the predetermined driving state, and the operation of the mobile device is detected by the operation detecting unit.

A vehicle theft-prevention system can include a mobile application that can determine a location of the mobile device. One or more computing devices can be in communication with the mobile application via a network. The mobile application and the at least one computing device configured to determine that the location of the mobile device has moved outside of a geofence associated with a vehicle theft-prevention apparatus. The mobile application and the at least one computing device can cause the vehicle theft-prevention apparatus to change from an unarmed mode to an armed mode.