Abstract: In exemplary embodiments, methods, communication systems, and vehicle systems are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a vehicle system is provided that includes a fleet of vehicles and a remote server. The remote server is remote from the fleet of vehicles, and includes a transceiver and a processor. The transceiver is configured to receive, over a wireless communication network, a communication with a request for a command to be performed by the fleet of vehicles. The processor is configured to: (A) identify a plurality of vehicles of the fleet of vehicles subject to the command; and (B) provide instructions for each of the plurality of vehicles to perform a vehicle action corresponding to the command.

Abstract: A system and method of providing an immersive media experience to a user through utilizing one or more vehicle system modules (VSMs) included in a vehicle, wherein the method includes: establishing a connection with a media control device, wherein the media control device includes a display; determining whether the media control device is authorized to control the one or more VSMs as a part of the immersive media experience; receiving an immersive media control request from the media control device, wherein the immersive media control request includes a request from the media control device to perform one or more vehicle functions using the VSMs during playback of immersive media content, and wherein the playback of the immersive media content includes visually perceptible media content that is displayed using the display of the media control device; and controlling the one or more VSMs according to the received VSM control requests.

Abstract: In exemplary embodiments, methods, communication systems, and vehicle systems are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a vehicle system is provided that includes: (a) a fleet of vehicles; and (b) a remote server that is remote from the fleet of vehicles, the remote server including: (i) a transceiver configured to receive, over a wireless communication network, a communication with a request for a command to be performed by the fleet of vehicles; and (ii) a processor configured to: (A) identify a plurality of vehicles of the fleet of vehicles subject to the command; and (B) provide instructions for each of the plurality of vehicles to perform a vehicle action corresponding to the command.

Abstract: A method and system of determining a parked location of a vehicle, the method including: establishing a short-range wireless communication (SRWC) connection with the vehicle using a personal SRWC device, wherein the SRWC connection operates according to a first protocol; carrying out a SRWC service that is associated with the SRWC; detecting termination of the SRWC service independently of a termination of the SRWC connection; in response to the detection of the termination of the SRWC service, obtaining a location of the personal SRWC device; and storing the location of the personal SRWC device as a parked location of the vehicle.

Abstract: One general aspect includes a method for remotely activating a vehicle alarm via a voice command, the method including: receiving, via a processor, a voice command to activate a home emergency sequence from a system user; based on the voice command, via the processor, determining if one or more vehicles are located in proximity to a residence of the system user; and when the one or more vehicles are located in proximity to the residence, via the processor, transmitting a vehicle alarm notification to the one or more vehicles, where the vehicle alarm notification is configured to activate a horn system and a light system of the one or more vehicles in an ordered sequence.

Abstract: A system and method of determining vehicle characteristics of an unknown vehicle through evaluation of wireless signals transmitted by the unknown vehicle, wherein the method includes: obtaining information from a wireless receiving device, wherein the wireless receiving device is configured to listen for wireless signals from one or more wireless transmission devices, wherein the obtained information is based at least partly on one or more wireless signals transmitted by an unknown vehicle, and wherein the one or more wireless signals only include non-uniquely identifying vehicle information; determining one or more characteristics concerning the unknown vehicle based on evaluating the obtained information in connection with vehicle information data that is stored in a vehicle information database; and storing the one or more characteristics concerning the unknown vehicle in a database.

Abstract: A system and method of enabling an augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) device to augment image or video data using a virtual vehicle skin, wherein the method is carried out by vehicle electronics included within a vehicle, the method including: establishing a connection to the AR/VR device using a wireless communications device included in the vehicle electronics of the vehicle; and sending a virtual vehicle skin response to the AR/VR device via the established connection, wherein the AR/VR device is configured to obtain background video and to display the virtual vehicle skin over the obtained background video so that the virtual vehicle skin overlays a portion of the vehicle, and wherein the virtual vehicle skin response includes the virtual vehicle skin or virtual vehicle skin access information that can be used by the AR/VR device to derive or obtain the virtual vehicle skin.

Abstract: A method and system of determining a parked location of a vehicle, the method including: establishing a short-range wireless communication (SRWC) connection with the vehicle using a personal SRWC device, wherein the SRWC connection operates according to a first protocol; carrying out a SRWC service that is associated with the SRWC; detecting termination of the SRWC service independently of a termination of the SRWC connection; in response to the detection of the termination of the SRWC service, obtaining a location of the personal SRWC device; and storing the location of the personal SRWC device as a parked location of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method of operating a vehicle using virtual vehicle controls, wherein the method includes: capturing image or video data from an area within an interior of the vehicle; sending a virtual vehicle control graphics request to a vehicle; receiving virtual vehicle control graphics response from the vehicle, wherein the virtual vehicle control graphics response includes virtual vehicle control graphics; and presenting the captured image or video data and the virtual vehicle control graphics on a display of the AR/VR device such that the virtual vehicle control graphics are presented over the captured image or video data, wherein the virtual vehicle control graphics includes one or more vehicle-user interface components.

Abstract: A system and method of determining vehicle characteristics of an unknown vehicle through evaluation of wireless signals transmitted by the unknown vehicle, wherein the method includes: obtaining information from a wireless receiving device, wherein the wireless receiving device is configured to listen for wireless signals from one or more wireless transmission devices, wherein the obtained information is based at least partly on one or more wireless signals transmitted by an unknown vehicle, and wherein the one or more wireless signals only include non-uniquely identifying vehicle information; determining one or more characteristics concerning the unknown vehicle based on evaluating the obtained information in connection with vehicle information data that is stored in a vehicle information database; and storing the one or more characteristics concerning the unknown vehicle in a database.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing access to a vehicle by a peripheral device are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a peripheral device access request from a primary device for a vehicle application. The primary device may be configured to access a plurality of features of the vehicle application. The method may further include generating a token for the peripheral device in response to the peripheral device access request, with the token including at least an identifier and an access level indicator for the peripheral device. The access level indicator may include only a subset of the plurality of features of the vehicle application.

Abstract: A vehicle sharing system and method, the method comprising the steps of: receiving an active vehicle sharing notification that indicates a shared vehicle is to be used, determining a third-party reservation availability that indicates a vehicle sharing parking space that was occupied by the shared vehicle will be available for a rental period, sending a vehicle sharing parking space availability to a third party, and receiving a notification of use of the vehicle sharing parking space during the rental period of the third-party reservation availability.

Abstract: A system and method of operating a vehicle using virtual vehicle controls, wherein the method includes: capturing image or video data from an area within an interior of the vehicle; sending a virtual vehicle control graphics request to a vehicle; receiving virtual vehicle control graphics response from the vehicle, wherein the virtual vehicle control graphics response includes virtual vehicle control graphics; and presenting the captured image or video data and the virtual vehicle control graphics on a display of the AR/VR device such that the virtual vehicle control graphics are presented over the captured image or video data, wherein the virtual vehicle control graphics includes one or more vehicle-user interface components.

Abstract: A system and method of providing an immersive media experience to a user through utilizing one or more vehicle system modules (VSMs) included in a vehicle, wherein the method includes: establishing a connection with a media control device, wherein the media control device includes a display; determining whether the media control device is authorized to control the one or more VSMs as a part of the immersive media experience; receiving an immersive media control request from the media control device, wherein the immersive media control request includes a request from the media control device to perform one or more vehicle functions using the VSMs during playback of immersive media content, and wherein the playback of the immersive media content includes visually perceptible media content that is displayed using the display of the media control device; and controlling the one or more VSMs according to the received VSM control requests.

Abstract: A system and method of enabling an augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) device to augment image or video data using a virtual vehicle skin, wherein the method is carried out by vehicle electronics included within a vehicle, the method including: establishing a connection to the AR/VR device using a wireless communications device included in the vehicle electronics of the vehicle; and sending a virtual vehicle skin response to the AR/VR device via the established connection, wherein the AR/VR device is configured to obtain background video and to display the virtual vehicle skin over the obtained background video so that the virtual vehicle skin overlays a portion of the vehicle, and wherein the virtual vehicle skin response includes the virtual vehicle skin or virtual vehicle skin access information that can be used by the AR/VR device to derive or obtain the virtual vehicle skin.

Abstract: A system and method of directing a vehicle operator of a vehicle to a particular area within a mapped location, wherein the method includes: determining a location of the vehicle; obtaining a layout of the mapped location, wherein the layout indicates one or more parking spots for the vehicle and/or one or more vehicle passageways; determining at least one parking spot for the vehicle; receiving video data of an area surrounding the vehicle; displaying the video data on a visual display of the handheld mobile device; generating one or more graphics to present on the visual display, wherein the one or more graphics guide the operator at least partly from an entrance/exit of the mapped location to the at least one parking spot; and displaying the one or more graphics over the camera feed on the visual display.

Abstract: A system and method of presenting vehicle information to a user at a handheld mobile device, the method including: receiving a request from a user for vehicle information; sending a vehicle information request to a remote server, wherein the vehicle information request includes a location associated with the user; receiving a vehicle information response at the handheld mobile device, wherein the vehicle information response includes information pertaining to one or more vehicles within a predetermined distance of the location associated with the user; displaying a camera feed on a visual display of the handheld mobile device; based on the information pertaining to the one or more vehicles, generating one or more graphics representing at least part of the information pertaining to the one or more vehicles; and displaying the one or more graphics over the camera feed on the visual display of the handheld mobile device.

Abstract: A system to exhibit vehicle information is presented herein. The system includes a data center, vehicle, and sign. The data center includes a memory, long-range transceiver, and server. The memory is configured to have one or more vehicle share records. The long-range transceiver is configured to transmit and receive one or more data transmissions over a long-range communication channel. The server is configured to communicably couple with the memory and long-range transceiver. The server is also configured to operate the long-range transceiver to transmit the vehicle-share records as data transmissions over the long-range communication channel.

Abstract: A system and method of presenting vehicle information to a user at a handheld mobile device, the method including: receiving a request from a user for vehicle information; sending a vehicle information request to a remote server, wherein the vehicle information request includes a location associated with the user; receiving a vehicle information response at the handheld mobile device, wherein the vehicle information response includes information pertaining to one or more vehicles within a predetermined distance of the location associated with the user; displaying a camera feed on a visual display of the handheld mobile device; based on the information pertaining to the one or more vehicles, generating one or more graphics representing at least part of the information pertaining to the one or more vehicles; and displaying the one or more graphics over the camera feed on the visual display of the handheld mobile device.

Abstract: A system and method of enabling a user to select a location for vehicle pickup, wherein the method is carried out by a handheld mobile device, and wherein the method includes: obtaining vehicle reservation information pertaining to a vehicle reservation, wherein the vehicle reservation information includes a reservation start location; displaying a camera feed on a visual display of the mobile device, wherein the camera feed is video data that is obtained by a camera included on the mobile device; receiving a vehicle pickup selection from a user, wherein the vehicle pickup selection is generated by a user selecting an area for pickup that is within a field of view of the camera; and sending a vehicle pickup selection message to the remote server, wherein the vehicle pickup selection message includes the vehicle pickup selection.