A vehicle theft-prevention apparatus can include a slip clutch mechanism, a locking mechanism, 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 locking mechanism can be configured to engage based on rotation of the first portion relative to the second portion in a first direction, and disengage based on a rotation of the first portion relative to the second portion in a second direction. The slip clutch mechanism can be configured to prevent the locking mechanism from further engaging from rotation in the first direction relative to the second portion based on a magnitude of force applied.

A method for monitoring and modifying motor vehicle functions, includes the following steps: ascertaining an anomalous behavior of a function; transmitting the anomalous behavior to a back end; receiving instructions from the back end, the instructions indicating acute measures to be taken in the motor vehicle in order to adequately react to the anomalous behavior of the function; ascertaining a motor vehicle component which is the cause of the anomalous behavior on the basis of the received instructions; converting the motor vehicle component to a degraded configuration which has a limited functional scope; and if the conversion to the degraded configuration is not possible, converting the motor vehicle component to a safe configuration.

A vehicle having at least one vehicle access secured by a first lock and at least one secure area secured by a second lock. The vehicle may also have a receiver configured to receive a command from a remote computing system to unlock the vehicle access or the secure area.

A system is disclosed that performs multi-factor authentication with respect to a hardware assembly. In one example, a method includes: storing a cryptographic identifier of a vehicle hardware assembly; transmitting, to the assembly, a validation message; receiving a response message; decrypting the response message using the identifier; and determining whether the assembly is authenticated.

Provided is a control apparatus configured to control update of a control program of an on vehicle control device which controls target equipment installed in a vehicle. The control apparatus includes: a memory configured to store an update program for the control program; a determination unit configured to determine priority levels of a plurality of update programs stored in the memory: and a control unit configured to download the plurality of update programs according to the determined priority levels in descending order of the priority levels. The determination unit determines the priority levels on the basis of one or more safety indices that are associated with each of the plurality of update programs stored in the memory.

A method and apparatus for recording information for a part, such as history information for an aircraft part. A part history blockchain network comprises part history blockchains for the part that are configured to record the information for the part. Configuration and activity history information for the vehicle is recorded in vehicle configuration and activity history blockchains for the vehicle in a vehicle configuration and activity history blockchain network. A part installation notification is received by the part history blockchain network. The part installation notification identifies the part and indicates that the part is installed on the vehicle. The part history blockchains for the part are locked in response to receiving the part installation notification to prevent adding information for the part to the part history blockchains for the part for as long as the part is installed on the vehicle.

A system is disclosed that performs multi-factor authentication with respect to a hardware assembly. In one example, a method includes: storing a cryptographic identifier of a vehicle hardware assembly; transmitting, to the assembly, a validation message; receiving a response message; decrypting the response message using the identifier; and determining whether the assembly is authenticated.

The invention relates to a system (10) for theft protection for vehicle wheels (16) of a vehicle (14), having a database server (12) for managing vehicle wheel identification data (ID.sub.S, ID.sub.W) identifying vehicle wheels (16) and a controller (18), wherein the controller (18) has a communication connection to the database server (12) via a communication network (N), wherein the vehicle wheels (16) of the vehicle (14) are each equipped with an electronic wheel unit (20) for transmitting vehicle wheel identification data (ID.sub.S, ID.sub.W), respectively identifying the vehicle wheel (16) in question, to the controller (18), and wherein the controller (18) is designed to transmit the vehicle wheel identification data (ID.sub.S, ID.sub.W), transmitted by the electronic wheel units (20) of the vehicle wheels (16), to the database server (12) via the communication network (N).

A vehicular software update system for remotely performing a software update of a vehicle and a method thereof are provided. The vehicular software update system includes a management controller installed in a vehicle and a server that performs a remote software update in cooperation with the management controller. The management controller controls the vehicle to start in response to receiving a request for the remote software update from the server, downloads software for update from the server after controlling the vehicle to start, transmits the downloaded software for update to a performance controller in the background, determines whether the transmission of the software for update in the background is completed based on the vehicle being turned off, and performs a software update of the performance controller using the software for update based on the transmission of the software for update in the background being completed.

Provided is a control apparatus configured to control update of a control program of an on vehicle control device which controls target equipment installed in a vehicle. The control apparatus includes: a memory configured to store an update program for the control program; a determination unit configured to determine priority levels of a plurality of update programs stored in the memory: and a control unit configured to download the plurality of update programs according to the determined priority levels in descending order of the priority levels. The determination unit determines the priority levels on the basis of one or more safety indices that are associated with each of the plurality of update programs stored in the memory.