A method for detecting theft of a vehicle, includes the following steps: detecting a vehicle movement by an inductive vehicle charging system, checking the authorization for a detected vehicle movement, and outputting a message signal if an unauthorized vehicle movement is detected. The checking of the authorization for a detected vehicle movement is started after the start of a vehicle charging process.

A method for detecting theft of a vehicle, includes the following steps: detecting a vehicle movement by an inductive vehicle charging system, checking the authorization for a detected vehicle movement, and outputting a message signal if an unauthorized vehicle movement is detected. The checking of the authorization for a detected vehicle movement is started after the start of a vehicle charging process.

A vehicle theft alarm assembly includes a vehicle theft alarm that is integrated into a vehicle to sense impact on the vehicle. A key fob is provided that can be carried by a user and the key fob is in wireless communication with the vehicle theft alarm. The key fob emits an alert when the vehicle theft alarm is turned on to alert the user when the user is not close enough to the vehicle to hear the vehicle theft alarm. A personal electronic device is provided that can be employed by the user and the personal electronic device is in wireless communication with the vehicle theft alarm. The personal electronic device produces an alert when the vehicle theft alarm is turned on. In this way the personal electronic device can alert the user when the user is not close enough to the vehicle to hear the vehicle theft alarm.

A vehicle theft alarm assembly includes a vehicle theft alarm that is integrated into a vehicle to sense impact on the vehicle. A key fob is provided that can be carried by a user and the key fob is in wireless communication with the vehicle theft alarm. The key fob emits an alert when the vehicle theft alarm is turned on to alert the user when the user is not close enough to the vehicle to hear the vehicle theft alarm. A personal electronic device is provided that can be employed by the user and the personal electronic device is in wireless communication with the vehicle theft alarm. The personal electronic device produces an alert when the vehicle theft alarm is turned on. In this way the personal electronic device can alert the user when the user is not close enough to the vehicle to hear the vehicle theft alarm.

A vehicle passenger locator and identifier system and method is provided herein. Once a vehicle is within a certain vicinity of an intended passenger via conventional mobile device geolocation or geofencing, and/or via a conventional camera-based technology, a plurality of microphones listen for the passenger to utter a predetermined word or phrase. Optionally, this predetermined word or phrase has been uttered to a mobile application used to summon the vehicle such that an accurate voice comparison can be made by the vehicle. Alternatively, the same or a different mobile device can be used to emit an auditory beacon that is detected by the vehicle. Once this word, phrase, or auditory beacon is detected, the passenger can be triangulated, located, identified, and even authorized for pickup. All of this is carried out via an onboard vehicle processor and software and/or a processor and software residing in the cloud.

A vehicle passenger locator and identifier system and method is provided herein. Once a vehicle is within a certain vicinity of an intended passenger via conventional mobile device geolocation or geofencing, and/or via a conventional camera-based technology, a plurality of microphones listen for the passenger to utter a predetermined word or phrase. Optionally, this predetermined word or phrase has been uttered to a mobile application used to summon the vehicle such that an accurate voice comparison can be made by the vehicle. Alternatively, the same or a different mobile device can be used to emit an auditory beacon that is detected by the vehicle. Once this word, phrase, or auditory beacon is detected, the passenger can be triangulated, located, identified, and even authorized for pickup. All of this is carried out via an onboard vehicle processor and software and/or a processor and software residing in the cloud.

Methods and systems for communicating between autonomous vehicles are described herein. Such communication may be performed for signaling, collision avoidance, path coordination, and/or autonomous control. A computing device may receive data for the same road segment from autonomous vehicles, including (i) an indication of a location within the road segment, and (ii) an indication of a condition of the road segment. The computing device may generate, from the data for the same road segment, an overall indication of the condition of the road segment, which may include a recommendation to vehicles approaching the road segment. Additionally, the computing device may receive a request from a computing device within a vehicle approaching the road segment to display vehicle data. The overall indication for the road segment may then be displayed on a user interface of the computing device.

A vehicle operation device includes memory and a processor. The processor is configured to store tokens received from a server in the memory to be used for authentication to a vehicle. When an operation of the vehicle is performed in a state in which communication with the server is possible, a token is used to conduct authentication to the vehicle. When a predetermined operation of the vehicle is performed in a state in which communication with the server is interrupted, authentication to the vehicle is conducted without using a token.

A vehicle operation device includes memory and a processor. The processor is configured to store tokens received from a server in the memory to be used for authentication to a vehicle. When an operation of the vehicle is performed in a state in which communication with the server is possible, a token is used to conduct authentication to the vehicle. When a predetermined operation of the vehicle is performed in a state in which communication with the server is interrupted, authentication to the vehicle is conducted without using a token.

The invention discloses an electronic sound signaling system that generates warning sounds in the forward and reverse mode of operation of a vehicle. The signaling system incorporates an electronic circuit with a standard automotive horn or alarm device in place of mechanical contacts or circuit breakers. The electronic circuitry includes electronically powered programmable microcontroller, a horn driver circuit, voltage sensing circuit, on a printed circuit board (PCB) Assembly and one or more sensors. The sound signaling system uses the standard automotive horn device to generate warning sounds in response to one or more sensor signals. The system also performs multiple functions and is compatible to operate in different voltage ranges. The system has many advantages, including increased reliability, increased operating voltage range, reduced circuit complexity, reduced cost and reduced ambient noise.