Identifying and authenticating autonomous vehicles and passengers

Abstract

A method comprising receiving, by a vehicle computer, first information specifying a user, a time, and a location, the first information received by the vehicle computer from a first communication channel; causing the vehicle to navigate to the geographic location so as to arrive at the specified location; at the geographic location: receiving, by the vehicle computer, second information identifying the individual, time and location, the second information received over a second communication channel different than the first communication channel, the second information sent by a mobile device at the location; comparing, by the vehicle computer, the first information and the second information; and responsive to the comparing, causing, by the vehicle computer, one or more doors of the vehicle to unlock or open.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 detecting, by at least one sensor of a vehicle, at least one occupant inside the vehicle;   comparing, by a vehicle computer of the vehicle, the detected at least one occupant inside the vehicle with a passenger list;   in accordance with the detected at least one occupant being different than the passenger list, disabling the vehicle from driving and initiating a request for information from the at least one occupant of the vehicle;   receiving, by the vehicle computer, the information; and   confirming, by the vehicle computer, the information.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting includes one or more images captured by an image capture device inside the vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting includes analyzing audio captured by at least one microphone inside the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting includes receiving signals from at least one seat occupancy sensor indicating that at least one seat in the vehicle is occupied. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information includes information collected from at least one wired or wireless input devices located inside the vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 responsive to the information, sending, by the vehicle computer, an alert to a teleoperator or network-based service.   
     
     
         7 . At least one non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions that, upon execution of the instructions by at least one processor of a vehicle, are to cause the at least one processor to:
 detect, by at least one sensor of the vehicle, at least one occupant inside the vehicle;   compare the detected at least one occupant inside the vehicle with a passenger list;   in accordance with the detected at least one occupant being different than the passenger list, disable the vehicle from driving and initiate a request for information from the at least one occupant of the vehicle;   receive the information; and   confirm the information.   
     
     
         8 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 7 , wherein the detection of the at least one occupant is based on at least one image captured by an image capture device inside the vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 7 , wherein the detection of the at least one occupant is based on analysis of audio captured by at least one microphone inside the vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 7 , wherein the detection includes receipt of signals from at least one seat occupancy sensor, wherein the signals indicate that at least one seat in the vehicle is occupied. 
     
     
         11 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 7 , wherein the information includes information collected from at least one wired or wireless input device located inside the vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 7 , wherein the instructions are further to cause the at least one processor to:
 responsive to the information, transmit an alert to a teleoperator or network-based service.   
     
     
         13 . A vehicle comprising:
 at least one processor;   at least one sensor; and   at least one non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions that, upon execution of the instructions by the at least one processor of a vehicle, are to cause the at least one processor to:
 detect, by the at least one sensor, at least one occupant inside the vehicle; 
 compare the detected at least one occupant inside the vehicle with a passenger list; 
 in accordance with the detected at least one occupant being different than the passenger list, disable the vehicle from driving and initiate a request for information from the at least one occupant of the vehicle; 
 receive the information; and 
 confirm the information. 
   
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein the sensor is an image capture device inside the vehicle, and the detection of the at least one occupant is based on at least one image captured by the sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein the sensor is a microphone inside the vehicle, and the detection of the at least one occupant is based on analysis of audio captured by the sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein the detection includes receipt of signals from at least one seat occupancy sensor, wherein the signals indicate that at least one seat in the vehicle is occupied. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein the information includes information collected from at least one wired or wireless input device located inside the vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further to cause the at least one processor to:
 responsive to the information, transmit an alert to a teleoperator or network-based service.