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 security device is disclosed. The security device includes multiple fingerprint sensors. Activating the security device requires users to enter an authentication sequence comprised of different finger-to-fingerprint-sensor combinations. This increases the number of available distinct elements that can be used in an authentication sequence of a given length for a fixed number of buttons. The device also combines two different modes of authentication to improve security. The security device can be integrated into motor vehicles, mobile computing devices or other systems.

A monitoring system is configured to monitor a property. The monitoring system includes a property sensor that is configured to generate property sensor data that reflects an attribute of the property. The monitoring system includes a vehicle sensor that is configured to generate vehicle sensor data that reflects an attribute of a vehicle associated with the property. The monitoring system includes a monitor control unit that is configured to analyze the property sensor data and the vehicle sensor data. The monitor control unit is further configured to, based on analyzing the property sensor data and the vehicle sensor data, determine that an event associated with the vehicle has likely occurred. The monitor control unit is further configured to, based on determining that the event associated with the vehicle has likely occurred, determine a monitoring system action. The monitor control unit is further configured to perform the monitoring system action.

Disclosed is a system for detecting an operating state of a vehicle engine. The system comprises: an input coupled to a power line of a vehicle; means to filter out relatively high frequency transient noise components of a signal received from the power line; a first detector for receiving the filtered signal and detecting when transient noise associated with the power line rises above a first threshold and generating a first detection signal in response thereto; a second detector for receiving the filtered signal and detecting when the transient noise falls below a second threshold, which is lower than the first threshold, and generating a second detection signal in response thereto; and means for generating a first output signal in response to the first detection signal and a second output signal in response to the second detection signal.

A vehicle control system (VCS) includes external communication interfaces, such as a Bluetooth interface, for communicating with a user communication and control device, such as a smart phone or a tablet. The user is enabled to operate certain features of the vehicle, such as the remote start, power locks/trunk, climate control, and security features, through the smart phone. The VCS may also communicate with a remote server via the user's smartphone, for example, providing telematics data and receiving service reminders for display to the user on the smartphone, the VCS, or a display built into the vehicle. The VCS may be custom installed in the vehicle using the user's or the installer's smartphone, without a physical connection from the VCS to the smartphone.

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.