A method of controlling an internal combustion engine of a vehicle comprises the following steps: on determining that the engine is running, determining whether or not the engine was started using a remote start procedure; if the engine is determined to have been started using the remote start procedure, starting a timer to run for a predetermined period; determining whether a door of the driver compartment has been opened or closed after the determining that the engine is running; if it is determined that a door has been opened, determining whether a transmission of the vehicle has been engaged; if the transmission has not been engaged, turning off the engine on expiry of the period; if the transmission has been engaged, terminating the method; if the engine is determined not to have been started using the remote start procedure, performing a check to establish whether a driver compartment of the vehicle has any occupants; starting a timer to run for a predetermined period if the check reveals that there are no occupants in the driver compartment of the vehicle; resetting the timer in the event that an occupant is detected in the driver compartment of the vehicle before expiry of the period, otherwise turning off the engine on expiry of the period.

A control device includes a communication unit configured to acquire control information on a vehicle from an information processing device in a wired or wireless communication, and a processing unit configured to execute a process of starting vehicle control based on the control information. The processing unit continues or suspends the process of starting vehicle control depending on a result of an authentication process on usage authority of the control information, and the authentication process is executed while the process of starting vehicle control is executed.

A control device includes a communication unit configured to acquire control information on a vehicle from an information processing device in a wired or wireless communication, and a processing unit configured to execute a process of starting vehicle control based on the control information. The processing unit continues or suspends the process of starting vehicle control depending on a result of an authentication process on usage authority of the control information, and the authentication process is executed while the process of starting vehicle control is executed.

Methods and systems are disclosed for activating a vehicle ignition system. An example vehicle includes an ignition system, a plurality of sensors, and a processor. The processor a processor is configured to determine, based on data received from the sensors, (i) that a person occupies a driver's seat of the vehicle, (ii) that a key fob corresponding to the vehicle is present, and (iii) that an input has been received at a shifter of the vehicle. The processor is also configured to responsively activate the ignition system.

Methods and systems are disclosed for activating a vehicle ignition system. An example vehicle includes an ignition system, a plurality of sensors, and a processor. The processor a processor is configured to determine, based on data received from the sensors, (i) that a person occupies a driver's seat of the vehicle, (ii) that a key fob corresponding to the vehicle is present, and (iii) that an input has been received at a shifter of the vehicle. The processor is also configured to responsively activate the ignition system.

Systems and methods for controlling an autonomous vehicle based on a passenger-initiated action are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer implemented method includes detecting, by one or more computing devices on-board an autonomous vehicle, a first status change of a vehicle door. The first status change is associated with a first user action associated with the vehicle door. The method includes detecting a second status change of the vehicle door. The second status change is associated with a second user action associated with the vehicle door. The method includes determining one or more vehicle actions based at least in part on at least one of the first status change or the second status change associated with the vehicle door. The method includes providing one or more control signals to one or more systems on-board the autonomous vehicle to implement the vehicle actions.

Systems and methods for controlling an autonomous vehicle based on a passenger-initiated action are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer implemented method includes detecting, by one or more computing devices on-board an autonomous vehicle, a first status change of a vehicle door. The first status change is associated with a first user action associated with the vehicle door. The method includes detecting a second status change of the vehicle door. The second status change is associated with a second user action associated with the vehicle door. The method includes determining one or more vehicle actions based at least in part on at least one of the first status change or the second status change associated with the vehicle door. The method includes providing one or more control signals to one or more systems on-board the autonomous vehicle to implement the vehicle actions.

A vehicle control device includes a vehicle controller that, if a predetermined state transition condition is satisfied, makes a state transition of a vehicle from a drive possible state to a drive impossible state. The vehicle control device includes a vehicle occupant detection unit that detects a vehicle occupant in the vehicle. The vehicle controller makes the state transition to the drive impossible state that is different depending on a detection result from the vehicle occupant detection unit.

A vehicle control device includes a vehicle controller that, if a predetermined state transition condition is satisfied, makes a state transition of a vehicle from a drive possible state to a drive impossible state. The vehicle control device includes a vehicle occupant detection unit that detects a vehicle occupant in the vehicle. The vehicle controller makes the state transition to the drive impossible state that is different depending on a detection result from the vehicle occupant detection unit.

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a vehicle control device and an operating method therefore. According to one embodiment, the vehicle control device includes: an open door determination unit for acquiring an open door measurement value from an on-board diagnostics (OBD) unit of a vehicle; an acceleration sensing unit for acquiring an acceleration value from the OBD unit; and a processing unit for blocking the acquired acceleration value to be transmitted from the OBD unit to an electronic control unit (ECU) and transmitting a default value of the acceleration value to the ECU, when it is determined, on the basis of the open door measurement value, that a vehicle door is open.