A method for operating an anti-theft device for a motor vehicle which is unlocked when a radio signal is received from a radio-based remote control device of the motor vehicle and, after unlocking, is started by actuating a start/stop operating element. Here, an interior of the motor vehicle is monitored by a detection device of the anti-theft device after the motor vehicle has been started. For the monitoring of the interior of the motor vehicle, a search signal restricted to the interior is output by the detection device in the interior of the motor vehicle. The radio-based remote control device is configured to output a detection signal when the search signal is received. If the detection signal is not received by the detection device before a predetermined search time, a warning message is output to a unit outside the vehicle.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to modify vehicle function based on loading conditions. An example apparatus includes a vehicle load condition manager programmed to modify a feature of a vehicle when a load condition of the vehicle satisfies a threshold, wherein at least one of the feature or the threshold is based upon a profile of a user of the vehicle.

Methods and apparatuses for providing security notification based on biometric identifier are described, in which one or more biometric information of a person may be utilized to permit or prohibit the person to access the vehicle. As such, the person may not access (or operate) the vehicle without satisfying security measures based on his/her biometric identifier generated from various biological information collected from the person. When the person is not authorized to access the vehicle, the security measures may transmit a security notification to an owner of the vehicle (e.g., a mobile device of the owner, an account of the owner) such that the owner may take appropriate steps in response to receiving the security notification. Such a notification may include the biometric information of the person, other information collected from the sensing component, a set of options for the owner to select from, among others.

A method at a vehicle computing device for identifying a driver, the method including receiving a first indicator at the vehicle computing device; obtaining, based on the first indicator, a presumed driver identity; receiving at least one second indicator at the vehicle computing device; and verifying the presumed driver identity using the at least one second indicator.

A wheel fastener alarm assembly is provided having a fastener body with a first portion defining a wrenching surface and a cavity, and a second portion with a threaded portion to attach and detach from a wheel of a vehicle. A sensor array is disposed in the cavity of fastener body to detect an attribute of the fastener body and generate an output signal based on the attribute of the fastener body. An antenna connected to the sensor array to transmit the signal to a remote location. A cap is secured to the first portion of the fastener body and covers the wrenching surface and the cavity opening to define a capped fastener body.

A detector, system and method for detecting vehicle lock status are provided. The detector comprises a motion sensor configured to sense vehicle door open and close movement; a microphone configured to record sound patterns generated with targeted events; a wireless communication module; a memory for storage; a battery for supplying power; and a controller connected to the motion sensor, microphone, wireless communication module, memory and battery respectively and configured to switch on or off the microphone and the wireless communication module according to signals provided by the motion sensor, and control the wireless communication module to transmit sound files wirelessly. The detector is designed and sized to be attached to the vehicle door. The detector is easy to use, easy to install, yet affordable for detecting the lock status of the vehicle and show the lock status on the driver's smart phone even if he/she has walked away.

A wheel fastener alarm is provided with a fastener body, a cap covering the fastener body, a sensor array disposed within the fastener body, and a cover disposed over an opening in the fastener body and a hole in the cap.

The disclosure includes embodiments for theft deterrent for a connected vehicle using Basic Safety Message (BSM)-based Vehicle-to-Anything (V2X) communication. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving, by a V2X radio, a wireless message that is transmitted by a first connected vehicle whose ignition is disengaged. In some embodiments, the method includes determining, based on a payload of the wireless message, that the first connected vehicle is being subjected to criminal activity. In some embodiments, the method includes taking a remedial action responsive to determining that the first connected vehicle is being subjected to criminal activity. In some embodiments, the remedial action is operable to deter the occurrence of the criminal activity (i.e., stop the first connected vehicle from being stolen) or gather visual evidence of the criminal activity.

A method and apparatus are presented for authenticating a vehicle equipped with a passive keyless entry and start system. The method includes sending a request for unlock or ignition start from the key fob to a vehicle's network access device (NAD), sending a first challenge signal from the NAD to the key fob, determining if the key fob is within range of the NAD, sending a second challenge signal from the NAD to the mobile device, determining if the mobile device is within range of the NAD, and sending a warning to the mobile device when the key fob or mobile device is not within range of the NAD.

A method and an apparatus for detecting and classifying sounds around a vehicle via neural network machine learning are described. The method involves an audio recognition system that may determine the origin of the sounds being inside or outside of a vehicle and classify the sounds into different categories such as adult, child, or animal sounds. The audio recognition system may communicate with a plurality of sensors in and around the vehicle to obtain information of conditions of the vehicle. Based on information of the sounds and conditions of the vehicles, the audio recognition system may determine whether an occupant or the vehicle is at risk and send alert messages or issue warning signals.