A method for door or tailgate operation in a transportation vehicle, wherein the transportation vehicle is equipped with an access control device with which determines whether the operating person is present with an authentication element within a proximity area around the transportation vehicle. The device is equipped with at least one communication module for wireless communication with the authentication element, wherein access authorization information is transmitted from the authentication element to the device, the information being checked in the device, and wherein access is granted to the device following verification of the access authorization. It is determined whether the operating person is located in the immediate vicinity of the door or tailgate to be operated, and whether the operating person performs an operating movement in the immediate vicinity for the door or tailgate operation.

A system includes a processor configured to receive a valet-key request from a valet mobile device. The processor is also configured to request authentication of a key transfer, responsive to the request and transfer, from an owner mobile device to the valet mobile device, vehicle data, describing a vehicle, and key data, usable to access and activate the vehicle, responsive to authentication approval.

A portable access device for wirelessly gaining access to a vehicle includes a transceiver, receive and transmit queues, and a control module. The transceiver, during a current connection event, receives first notification messages from a PaaK system of the vehicle and in response thereto transmits second notification messages to the PaaK system. The first notification messages and the second notification message are transmitted to establish a communication link between the portable access device and the PaaK system. The receive queue receives the first notification messages. The transmit queue stores the second notification messages. The control module, based on a first one of the first notification messages, determines what data was transmitted during a last connection event prior to the current connection event and generates one or more of the second notification messages to include data not previously received during the last connection event.

A vehicle theft-prevention apparatus can include a locking mechanism, at least one computing device, and a cylindrical body including a first portion and a second portion. The first portion can be configured to rotate about the second portion. The at least one computing device can be configured to determine that the locking mechanism has transitioned from an unlocked state to a locked state. In response to determining that the locking mechanism has transitioned to the locked state, the at least one computing device can disable an engaging component of the locking mechanism. The at least one computing device can be configured to receive, via a network, a command to enable the engaging component. In response to receiving the command, the at least one computing device can enable the engaging component of the locking mechanism.

A system can include at least one server in communication with a vehicle theft-prevention apparatus that comprises a plurality of sensors and at least one computing device. The at least one server can be configured to receive an authentication request from a particular application executed on a mobile device comprising user credentials. The at least one server can authenticate the authentication request as a particular user account, where the particular user account is associated with the vehicle theft-prevention apparatus. The at least one server can receive instructions from the particular application that the mobile device has moved outside of a geofence associated with the vehicle theft-prevention apparatus. The at least one server can send a command to the vehicle theft-prevention apparatus to enter an armed mode.

A vehicle theft-prevention apparatus can include a first sensor, a second sensor, and at least one computing device coupled to the first and second sensors. The first sensor and second sensors can be configured to sense a first type and a second type of measurement, respectively. The at least one computing device can be configured to read a plurality of measurements of the first type at a predetermined frequency from within a vehicle. In response to one of the plurality of measurements meeting a predetermined threshold, the at least one computing device can read, from the second sensor, at least one measurement of the second type from within the vehicle. The at least one computing device can be configured to determine, based on the at least one measurement from the second sensor, that the one of the plurality of measurements that met the predetermined threshold corresponds to a false positive.

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 receive, via the wireless transceiver, an indication to enter an armed mode from an unarmed mode. In response to entering the armed mode, the at least one computing device can set a configuration of at least one property of a subset of the plurality of sensors. The at least one computing device can receive, via the wireless transceiver, a second indication to enter a special mode from the armed mode. In response to entering the special mode, the at least one computing device can alter the configuration of the at least one property of the subset of the plurality of sensors.

A vehicle theft-prevention apparatus can include at least one computing device and a cylindrical body configured to be positioned within a cup holder of a vehicle, the cylindrical body having a cup holder element on a top side. The vehicle theft-prevention apparatus can further include a fish-eye camera sensor on an upper portion of the body, a passive infrared sensor positioned in the body, and a plurality of legs mechanically connected to a locking mechanism and configured to extend to provide an outward force on the cup holder to prevent removal of the vehicle theft-prevention apparatus. The at least one computing device can comprise a processor and a memory and can be configured to capture a plurality of images from the fish-eye camera sensor, read a plurality of measurements from the PIR sensor, and trigger an alarm based on the plurality of images and the plurality of measurements.

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 theft-prevention apparatus can include at least one computing device coupled to at least one sensor and a wireless transceiver. The at least one sensor configured to sense measurements proximate to a vehicle. The at least one computing device can be configured to read a plurality of first measurements of the at least one sensor at a predetermined frequency, where the at least one sensor is located in a first position of the vehicle. The at least one computing device can be configured to receive a plurality of second measurements from at least one additional theft-prevention apparatus, where the at least one additional theft-prevention apparatus is located at a second position in the vehicle. The at least one computing device can determine that a person has entered the vehicle based on at least one of: the plurality of first measurements and the plurality of second measurements.