Vehicle security and customization

Abstract

Techniques are described for enhancing security, customization, and/or group interaction of users in vehicles. For instance, a mobile device of an owner of a vehicle may be registered in a manner that allows the mobile device to control operation of the vehicle and authorize guest user operation of the vehicle. In addition, the vehicle may be adapted to receive preferred vehicle settings from mobile devices positioned in the vehicle, such as a mobile device of a guest user, and customize the vehicle settings based on the retrieved preferences. Further, the vehicle may be equipped to communicate with in-pavement vehicle detection systems and enable interaction in an ad hoc group with other vehicles positioned to connect to the in-pavement vehicle detection systems.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle comprising:
 a body carriage having rotatable wheels mounted thereunder, the rotatable wheels configured to roll along a surface of a pavement, each of the rotatable wheels including a tire mounted on a rim; and   a vehicle extension system configured to communicate wirelessly with in-pavement vehicle detection systems embedded on or below pavement on which the rotatable wheels are configured to roll, the vehicle communication extension system comprising:
 one or more road contact transceivers arranged so that at least one of the one or more road contact transceivers is within a predetermined distance from an in-pavement vehicle detection system based on the rotatable wheels being located on pavement at a position above the in-pavement vehicle detection system, the one or more road contact transceivers being configured to transmit information to and receive information from the in-pavement vehicle detection system based on at least one of the one or more road contact transceivers being within the predetermined distance from the in-pavement vehicle detection system; 
 one or more wireless transceivers that are located in the vehicle and that are configured to communicate with personal mobile communication devices that are located within a passenger compartment of the vehicle; and 
 extension circuitry electrically connected to the one or more road contact transceivers and the one or more wireless transceivers, the extension circuitry being configured to manage communications between the one or more road contact transceivers, the one or more wireless transceivers, in-pavement vehicle detection systems, and personal mobile communication devices, 
   wherein the extension circuitry is configured to:
 detect a guest personal mobile communication device that is positioned to wirelessly communicate with at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers, the guest personal mobile communication device being a communication device of a guest user that is attempting to use the vehicle; 
 based on detection of the guest personal mobile communication device, monitor for presence of an owner personal mobile communication device in position to wirelessly communicate with at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers, the owner personal mobile communication device having been registered to the extension circuitry as a device that is able to use the vehicle and authorize guests to use the vehicle; 
 based on the monitoring for presence of the owner personal mobile communication device, detect the owner personal mobile communication device in position to wirelessly communicate with at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers; 
 based on detection of the owner personal mobile communication device, authorize use of the vehicle by the guest personal mobile communication device and receive, from the guest personal mobile communication device through at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers, guest vehicle settings stored by the guest personal mobile communication device, the guest vehicle settings defining preferences of the guest user for settings associated with use of the vehicle and settings associated with communications exchanged with in-pavement vehicle detection systems by the guest personal mobile communication device; 
 after authorization of use of the vehicle by the guest personal mobile communication device, detect a passenger personal mobile communication device that is positioned to wirelessly communicate with at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers, the passenger personal mobile communication device being a communication device of a passenger user who is located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle; 
 based on detection of the passenger personal mobile communication device, receive, from the passenger personal mobile communication device through at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers, passenger vehicle settings stored by the passenger personal mobile communication device, the passenger vehicle settings defining preferences of the passenger user for settings associated with use of the vehicle and settings associated with communications exchanged with in-pavement vehicle detection systems by the passenger personal mobile communication device; 
 access, from electronic storage, vehicle rules that define permissible settings for the vehicle, the accessed vehicle rules having been defined based on communication with the owner personal mobile communication device through at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers; 
 evaluate the received guest vehicle settings and the received passenger vehicle settings with respect to the accessed vehicle rules; 
 based on the evaluation, determine current vehicle settings for settings associated with use of the vehicle by the guest user and the passenger user and settings associated with communications exchanged with in-pavement vehicle detection systems by the guest personal mobile communication device and the passenger personal mobile communication device, the current vehicle settings meeting a subset of the preferences of the guest user and a subset of the preferences of the passenger user; 
 monitor for an ability to connect with the in-pavement vehicle detection system through at least one of the one or more road contact transceivers, the in-pavement vehicle detection system being able to simultaneously connect with multiple vehicles through road contact transceivers; 
 based on the monitoring for the ability to communicate with the in-pavement vehicle detection system, detect the ability to communicate with the in-pavement vehicle detection system; 
 based on detection of the ability to communicate with the in-pavement vehicle detection system, add, in accordance with the current vehicle settings, the vehicle to an ad hoc social group that includes the multiple vehicles simultaneously connected to the in-pavement vehicle detection system through road contact transceivers; 
 based on the current vehicle settings, enable the passenger personal mobile communication device to interact with the ad hoc social group without revealing identifying information associated with the passenger personal mobile communication device; and 
 automatically, without user intervention, disconnect from the ad hoc social group based on the vehicle moving to a position in which the one or more road contact transceivers are outside of the predetermined distance from the in-pavement vehicle detection system. 
   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the extension circuitry is configured to enable the passenger personal mobile communication device to interact with the ad hoc social group without revealing identifying information associated with the passenger personal mobile communication device by enabling the passenger personal mobile communication device to engage in a voice communication session that involves the multiple vehicles simultaneously connected to the in-pavement vehicle detection system through road contact transceivers, the voice communication session being arranged through the in-pavement vehicle detection system without revealing telephone numbers of any of personal mobile communication device used to engage in the voice communication session. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the extension circuitry is configured to enable the passenger personal mobile communication device to interact with the ad hoc social group without revealing identifying information associated with the passenger personal mobile communication device by enabling the passenger personal mobile communication device to engage in a video communication session that involves the multiple vehicles simultaneously connected to the in-pavement vehicle detection system through road contact transceivers, the video communication session being arranged through the in-pavement vehicle detection system without revealing telephone numbers of any of personal mobile communication device used to engage in the video communication session. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the extension circuitry is configured to enable the passenger personal mobile communication device to interact with the ad hoc social group without revealing identifying information associated with the passenger personal mobile communication device by enabling the passenger personal mobile communication device to engage in a text-messaging communication session that involves the multiple vehicles simultaneously connected to the in-pavement vehicle detection system through road contact transceivers, the text-messaging communication session being arranged through the in-pavement vehicle detection system without revealing telephone numbers of any of personal mobile communication device used to engage in the video communication session. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the extension circuitry is configured to authorize use of the vehicle by the guest personal mobile communication device by automatically authorizing use of the vehicle by the guest personal mobile communication device upon detection of the owner personal mobile communication device without requiring any input be provided at the owner personal mobile communication device. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the extension circuitry is configured to authorize use of the vehicle by the guest personal mobile communication device by sending, to the owner personal mobile communication device through at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers, a communication requesting authorization of the guest personal mobile communication device and receiving, from the owner personal mobile communication device through at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers, a response indicating that the owner personal mobile communication device received input authorizing use of the vehicle by the guest personal mobile communication device. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the extension circuitry is configured to access, from electronic storage, vehicle rules that define permissible settings for the vehicle by accessing, from electronic storage, vehicle rules that define permissible ranges of values for settings associated with use of the vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the extension circuitry is configured to access, from electronic storage, vehicle rules that define permissible settings for the vehicle by accessing, from electronic storage, vehicle rules that define what information about the vehicle is available for sending in communications exchanged with in-pavement vehicle detection systems. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the extension circuitry is configured to access, from electronic storage, vehicle rules that define permissible settings for the vehicle by accessing, from electronic storage, vehicle rules that define priority criteria for resolving inconsistencies in preferred vehicle settings received from different personal mobile communication devices, the priority criteria indicating that preferred settings of a driver are given priority over preferred settings of a passenger for driver-related vehicle settings, that preferred settings of a passenger are given priority over preferred settings of a driver for passenger-related vehicle settings, and that preferred settings of a driver are given priority over preferred settings of a passenger for general vehicle settings that are not specific to a driver or a passenger. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the extension circuitry is configured to access, from electronic storage, vehicle rules that define permissible settings for the vehicle by accessing, from electronic storage, vehicle rules that define best fit criteria for resolving inconsistencies in preferred vehicle settings received from different personal mobile communication devices, the best fit criteria being designed to result in one or more compromise settings that represent a best fit in matching all received settings without exactly matching any received setting. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the extension circuitry is configured to access, from electronic storage, vehicle rules that define permissible settings for the vehicle by accessing, from electronic storage, vehicle rules that adapt vehicle settings to a closest setting based on impermissible settings being received. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the extension circuitry is configured to add, in accordance with the current vehicle settings, the vehicle to an ad hoc social group that includes the multiple vehicles simultaneously connected to the in-pavement vehicle detection system through road contact transceivers by automatically, without user intervention, adding the vehicle to the ad hoc social group, the ad hoc social group being arranged in a closed configuration in which all communications between vehicles pass through the in-pavement vehicle detection system and only vehicles positioned to connect to the in-pavement vehicle detection system through a road contact transceiver are part of the ad hoc social group. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 1 :
 wherein the extension circuitry is configured to determine current vehicle settings for settings associated with use of the vehicle by the guest user and the passenger user and settings associated with communications exchanged with in-pavement vehicle detection systems by the guest personal mobile communication device and the passenger personal mobile communication device by determining that only the passenger personal mobile communication device is set to participate in ad hoc social groups based on the evaluation revealing that the received guest vehicle settings indicate that the guest user does not wish to participate in ad hoc social groups and that the received passenger vehicle settings indicate that the passenger user wishes to participate in ad hoc social groups; and   wherein the extension circuitry is configured to enable the passenger personal mobile communication device to interact with the ad hoc social group by:
 determining that the current vehicle settings indicate that the passenger personal mobile communication device is set to participate in ad hoc social groups and the guest personal mobile communication device is not set to participate in ad hoc social groups; and 
 enabling only the passenger personal mobile communication device to interact with the ad hoc social group based on the determination that the current vehicle settings indicate that the passenger personal mobile communication device is set to participate in ad hoc social groups and the guest personal mobile communication device is not set to participate in ad hoc social groups. 
   
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 1 :
 wherein the extension circuitry is configured to determine current vehicle settings for settings associated with use of the vehicle by the guest user and the passenger user and settings associated with communications exchanged with in-pavement vehicle detection systems by the guest personal mobile communication device and the passenger personal mobile communication device by determining that the guest personal mobile communication device and the passenger personal mobile communication device are set to participate in ad hoc social groups based on the evaluation revealing that the received guest vehicle settings indicate that the guest user wishes to participate in ad hoc social groups and that the received passenger vehicle settings indicate that the passenger user wishes to participate in ad hoc social groups; and   wherein the extension circuitry is configured to enable the passenger personal mobile communication device to interact with the ad hoc social group by:
 determining that the current vehicle settings indicate that the passenger personal mobile communication device is set to participate in ad hoc social groups and the guest personal mobile communication device is set to participate in ad hoc social groups; and 
 enabling both the guest personal mobile communication device and the passenger personal mobile communication device to interact with the ad hoc social group based on the determination that the current vehicle settings indicate that the passenger personal mobile communication device is set to participate in ad hoc social groups and the guest personal mobile communication device is set to participate in ad hoc social groups. 
   
     
     
         15 . The vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the extension circuitry is configured to enable both the guest personal mobile communication device and the passenger personal mobile communication device to interact with the ad hoc social group by presenting the guest personal mobile communication device and the passenger personal mobile communication device to the ad hoc social as only the vehicle such that communications sent from the guest personal mobile communication device appear to the ad hoc social group in a same manner as communications sent from the passenger personal mobile communication device to the ad hoc social group. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the extension circuitry is configured to enable both the guest personal mobile communication device and the passenger personal mobile communication device to interact with the ad hoc social group by presenting the guest personal mobile communication device and the passenger personal mobile communication device to the ad hoc social as separate devices within the vehicle such that communications sent from the guest personal mobile communication device appear to the ad hoc social group in a different manner than communications sent from the passenger personal mobile communication device to the ad hoc social group. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle of  claim 1 :
 wherein the in-pavement vehicle detection system is a first in-pavement vehicle detection system of a first type;   wherein the ad hoc social group is a first ad hoc social group;   wherein the extension circuitry is configured to enable the passenger personal mobile communication device to interact with the ad hoc social group by determining that the first in-pavement vehicle detection system has the first type and enabling the passenger personal mobile communication device to interact with the first ad hoc social group based on the determination that the first in-pavement vehicle detection system has the first type; and   wherein the extension circuitry is further configured to:
 detect the ability to communicate with a second in-pavement vehicle detection system of a second type, the second in-pavement vehicle detection system being different than the first in-pavement vehicle detection system and the second type being different than the first type; 
 based on detection of the ability to communicate with the second in-pavement vehicle detection system, add, in accordance with the current vehicle settings, the vehicle to a second ad hoc social group that includes multiple vehicles simultaneously connected to the second in-pavement vehicle detection system through road contact transceivers; 
 determine that the second in-pavement vehicle detection system has the second type; and 
 enable the guest personal mobile communication device to interact with the second ad hoc social group based on the determination that the second in-pavement vehicle detection system has the second type. 
   
     
     
         18 . The vehicle of  claim 17 :
 wherein the extension circuitry is configured to enable the passenger personal mobile communication device to interact with the first ad hoc social group by generating a first interface appropriate for interacting with the first ad hoc social group based on capabilities of the first in-pavement vehicle detection system and sending, to the passenger personal mobile communication device through at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers, the generated first interface; and   wherein the extension circuitry is configured to enable the guest personal mobile communication device to interact with the second ad hoc social group by generating a second interface appropriate for interacting with the second ad hoc social group based on capabilities of the second in-pavement vehicle detection system and sending, to the guest personal mobile communication device through at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers, the generated second interface, which is different than the first interface.   
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 detecting, by extension circuitry, a guest personal mobile communication device that is positioned to wirelessly communicate with at least one of one or more wireless transceivers, wherein:
 the guest personal mobile communication device is a communication device of a guest user that is attempting to use a vehicle, 
 the one or more wireless transceivers are located in the vehicle and are configured to communicate with personal mobile communication devices that are located within a passenger compartment of the vehicle, 
 the extension circuitry is electrically connected to one or more road contact transceivers and the one or more wireless transceivers, 
 the extension circuitry is configured to manage communications between the one or more road contact transceivers, the one or more wireless transceivers, in-pavement vehicle detection systems, and personal mobile communication devices, 
 the one or more road contact transceivers are arranged so that at least one of the one or more road contact transceivers is within a predetermined distance from an in-pavement vehicle detection system based on rotatable wheels of the vehicle being located on pavement at a position above the in-pavement vehicle detection system, and 
 the one or more road contact transceivers are configured to transmit information to and receive information from the in-pavement vehicle detection system based on at least one of the one or more road contact transceivers being within the predetermined distance from the in-pavement vehicle detection system; 
   based on detection of the guest personal mobile communication device, monitoring, by the extension circuitry, for presence of an owner personal mobile communication device in position to wirelessly communicate with at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers, the owner personal mobile communication device having been registered to the extension circuitry as a device that is able to use the vehicle and authorize guests to use the vehicle;   based on the monitoring for presence of the owner personal mobile communication device, detecting, by the extension circuitry, the owner personal mobile communication device in position to wirelessly communicate with at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers;   based on detection of the owner personal mobile communication device, authorizing, by the extension circuitry, use of the vehicle by the guest personal mobile communication device and receiving, from the guest personal mobile communication device through at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers, guest vehicle settings stored by the guest personal mobile communication device, the guest vehicle settings defining preferences of the guest user for settings associated with use of the vehicle and settings associated with communications exchanged with in-pavement vehicle detection systems by the guest personal mobile communication device;   after authorization of use of the vehicle by the guest personal mobile communication device, detecting, by the extension circuitry, a passenger personal mobile communication device that is positioned to wirelessly communicate with at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers, the passenger personal mobile communication device being a communication device of a passenger user who is located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle;   based on detection of the passenger personal mobile communication device, receiving, from the passenger personal mobile communication device through at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers, passenger vehicle settings stored by the passenger personal mobile communication device, the passenger vehicle settings defining preferences of the passenger user for settings associated with use of the vehicle and settings associated with communications exchanged with in-pavement vehicle detection systems by the passenger personal mobile communication device;   accessing, from electronic storage, vehicle rules that define permissible settings for the vehicle, the accessed vehicle rules having been defined based on communication with the owner personal mobile communication device through at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers;   evaluating, by the extension circuitry, the received guest vehicle settings and the received passenger vehicle settings with respect to the accessed vehicle rules;   based on the evaluation, determining, by the extension circuitry, current vehicle settings for settings associated with use of the vehicle by the guest user and the passenger user and settings associated with communications exchanged with in-pavement vehicle detection systems by the guest personal mobile communication device and the passenger personal mobile communication device, the current vehicle settings meeting a subset of the preferences of the guest user and a subset of the preferences of the passenger user;   monitoring, by the extension circuitry, for an ability to connect with the in-pavement vehicle detection system through at least one of the one or more road contact transceivers, the in-pavement vehicle detection system being able to simultaneously connect with multiple vehicles through road contact transceivers;   based on the monitoring for the ability to communicate with the in-pavement vehicle detection system, detecting, by the extension circuitry, the ability to communicate with the in-pavement vehicle detection system;   based on detection of the ability to communicate with the in-pavement vehicle detection system, adding, by the extension circuitry and in accordance with the current vehicle settings, the vehicle to an ad hoc social group that includes the multiple vehicles simultaneously connected to the in-pavement vehicle detection system through road contact transceivers;   based on the current vehicle settings, enabling, by the extension circuitry, the passenger personal mobile communication device to interact with the ad hoc social group without revealing identifying information associated with the passenger personal mobile communication device; and   automatically, without user intervention, disconnecting, by the extension circuitry, from the ad hoc social group based on the vehicle moving to a position in which the one or more road contact transceivers are outside of the predetermined distance from the in-pavement vehicle detection system.   
     
     
         20 . At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with at least one computer program comprising instructions that, when executed, operate to cause a computer to perform operations comprising:
 detecting, a guest personal mobile communication device that is positioned to wirelessly communicate with at least one of one or more wireless transceivers, wherein:
 the guest personal mobile communication device is a communication device of a guest user that is attempting to use a vehicle, 
 the one or more wireless transceivers are located in the vehicle and are configured to communicate with personal mobile communication devices that are located within a passenger compartment of the vehicle, 
 the one or more road contact transceivers are arranged so that at least one of the one or more road contact transceivers is within a predetermined distance from an in-pavement vehicle detection system based on rotatable wheels of the vehicle being located on pavement at a position above the in-pavement vehicle detection system, and 
 the one or more road contact transceivers are configured to transmit information to and receive information from the in-pavement vehicle detection system based on at least one of the one or more road contact transceivers being within the predetermined distance from the in-pavement vehicle detection system; 
   based on detection of the guest personal mobile communication device, monitoring for presence of an owner personal mobile communication device in position to wirelessly communicate with at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers, the owner personal mobile communication device having been registered as a device that is able to use the vehicle and authorize guests to use the vehicle;   based on the monitoring for presence of the owner personal mobile communication device, detecting the owner personal mobile communication device in position to wirelessly communicate with at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers;   based on detection of the owner personal mobile communication device, authorizing use of the vehicle by the guest personal mobile communication device and receiving, from the guest personal mobile communication device through at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers, guest vehicle settings stored by the guest personal mobile communication device, the guest vehicle settings defining preferences of the guest user for settings associated with use of the vehicle and settings associated with communications exchanged with in-pavement vehicle detection systems by the guest personal mobile communication device;   after authorization of use of the vehicle by the guest personal mobile communication device, detecting a passenger personal mobile communication device that is positioned to wirelessly communicate with at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers, the passenger personal mobile communication device being a communication device of a passenger user who is located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle;   based on detection of the passenger personal mobile communication device, receiving, from the passenger personal mobile communication device through at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers, passenger vehicle settings stored by the passenger personal mobile communication device, the passenger vehicle settings defining preferences of the passenger user for settings associated with use of the vehicle and settings associated with communications exchanged with in-pavement vehicle detection systems by the passenger personal mobile communication device;   accessing, from electronic storage, vehicle rules that define permissible settings for the vehicle, the accessed vehicle rules having been defined based on communication with the owner personal mobile communication device through at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers;   evaluating the received guest vehicle settings and the received passenger vehicle settings with respect to the accessed vehicle rules;   based on the evaluation, determining current vehicle settings for settings associated with use of the vehicle by the guest user and the passenger user and settings associated with communications exchanged with in-pavement vehicle detection systems by the guest personal mobile communication device and the passenger personal mobile communication device, the current vehicle settings meeting a subset of the preferences of the guest user and a subset of the preferences of the passenger user;   monitoring for an ability to connect with the in-pavement vehicle detection system through at least one of the one or more road contact transceivers, the in-pavement vehicle detection system being able to simultaneously connect with multiple vehicles through road contact transceivers;   based on the monitoring for the ability to communicate with the in-pavement vehicle detection system, detecting the ability to communicate with the in-pavement vehicle detection system;   based on detection of the ability to communicate with the in-pavement vehicle detection system, adding, in accordance with the current vehicle settings, the vehicle to an ad hoc social group that includes the multiple vehicles simultaneously connected to the in-pavement vehicle detection system through road contact transceivers;   based on the current vehicle settings, enabling the passenger personal mobile communication device to interact with the ad hoc social group without revealing identifying information associated with the passenger personal mobile communication device; and   automatically, without user intervention, disconnecting from the ad hoc social group based on the vehicle moving to a position in which the one or more road contact transceivers are outside of the predetermined distance from the in-pavement vehicle detection system.